Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Three
“I appreciate you taking me to the mall to pick up my knitting supplies, Zoey.”
“I’m happy to do so. Thank you for agreeing to talk to me today instead of Thursday. I read my great-grandmother Deedra’s diary, and I have some questions I need to ask.”
When she arrived at Whispering Pines, Ms. Felicia said she needed to go into town and asked if Zoey would take her. Her son Jake was in Austin, and Diamond had left to take the kids to Jonathan and Marilyn’s house to visit Justin and Lorren’s kids, who were in town.
“Go ahead and ask your questions, dear.”
“Thank you. Why didn’t you tell me my great-grandfather Waylon had been engaged to Victoria Madaris? It was in Deedra’s diary, along with why they married.”
Ms. Felicia didn’t say anything for a minute, and then she said. “I didn’t think sharing that information with you was important. He and Deedra were married for fourteen years before she died.”
“I know, but it was a sad situation for the both of them. She never stopped loving her deceased husband, and he never stopped loving Victoria. Although Waylon and Victoria’s story was told through Deedra, it was based on what he’d shared with her, and I could still feel the love he had for Victoria.”
Ms. Felicia didn’t respond for a moment, and then she said, “Yes, Waylon and Victoria loved each other very much, and the reason that caused their breakup was a tragedy. Victoria was my best friend since we were teens. I knew how much she loved Waylon, and keeping her father’s promise, breaking up with Waylon, and leaving the country to get over him was hard on her. It nearly destroyed them both.”
“Did she ever get over him?”
“No. Victoria lived in Paris for eight years, only coming home on occasion to see her parents and meet my babies. It seemed like I was having one every year. I think she would have made Paris her home if her uncle Quantum hadn’t died. She brought his body home and decided to stay. However, instead of remaining in Houston, she left to work at a hospital in Ohio.”
“My great-grandmother wrote about a time Waylon and Victoria saw each other when she returned home.”
“Yes, I remember that day. It was at Ma Etta’s funeral. Deedra attended the services with Waylon. Victoria, Milton, and I were standing together and talking when Waylon and Deedra approached us to offer their condolences. I believe Waylon wanted to talk to Victoria alone, but would not have disrespected his wife to do so. Deedra, being the kindhearted, loving, and understanding person she was, knew and understood her husband’s heart. She surprised us all when she suggested to Waylon that he and Victoria probably had a lot to talk about as old friends. She gave them that time by holding a conversation with Milton and me while Victoria and Waylon stood under a huge tree in front of the church.”
Zoey nodded. “She wrote in her diary that she did it because she understood true love, since she had experienced it herself. And she also believed that no matter what, Waylon would honor his wedding vows.”
“Like I said, your great-grandmother Deedra was a special woman and a good wife to Waylon, and he was a good husband to her. They were good for each other.”
“My great-grandmother also wrote why they didn’t live in the cabin he built—the same one I’m staying in now. He had built it with his own hands for him and Victoria, and he refused to share it with any other woman.”
“Yes, Waylon was adamant about that. When he and Deedra married, they moved into the family house,” Felicia said. “It worked out well since Mr. Kurt had taken ill. Penny was happy that Waylon was married to anyone other than Victoria.”
“That is so sad, and it all started because of Charlotte Satterfield’s lie. She was a mean and hateful person. I hope her sons and daughter didn’t turn out like her.”
“I know she had two sons, one from her husband and another from some man she took up with years later. What makes you think she had a daughter?”
“It was written in Deedra’s diary. After Kurt Satterfield died, Penny felt emboldened to reach out to Charlotte without Waylon knowing it, although Deedra didn’t think he would have cared one way or the other. He’d even tried reaching out to Charlotte himself, but she cursed him and said he hadn’t stood for her with their father. He told Deedra that he had but it hadn’t done any good. She didn’t believe him.”
Zoey continued after bringing the car to a stop at a traffic light. “Deedra further wrote that Penny had confided in her about Charlotte’s daughter that she had from a man she met after her second divorce. She didn’t want the baby and gave it to a couple who couldn’t have children.”
“I didn’t know that,” Ms. Felicia said in a low voice.
“I finished Deedra’s diary yesterday and will start reading Arabella’s tonight. It’s almost three times the size of Deedra’s.”
She turned the car into the shopping center’s parking lot. “That’s the store over there, right?” she asked Ms. Felicia.
“Yes, dear. That’s it. There’s a nice café next door to the knit shop. They make the best sandwiches, if I must say so myself. If you’re not in a hurry, maybe we can go there for lunch to finish our talk.”
Zoey beamed. “I’d love to.”
***
“Ms. Felicia. It’s been a while.”
Felicia Laverne gazed up from her meal. “Ravena. I heard you were back in Houston. Let me introduce my lunch companion, Dr. Zoey Pritchard.” To Zoey she said, “This is Ravena Boyle. She used to be Chance’s friend.”
“I was more than a friend. I was Chance’s fiancée,” Ravena replied, narrowing her eyes and turning them to Zoey.
“Nice to meet you, Ravena,” Zoey said, extending her hand.
Ravena did not accept Zoey’s hand, saying, “I recall seeing you at Vance’s Tavern a couple of weekends ago.”
“Yes, you did,” Zoey said, pulling back her hand since it was obvious Ravena wouldn’t shake it.
“That’s a lovely necklace you’re wearing,” Ravena said, sounding more like a sneer than a compliment.
“Thank you,” was Zoey’s cool response.
“I think I’ve seen that necklace before.”
“Have you?” Zoey asked, looking back at her. Ravena was attractive, and she could see how Chance could fall in love with her. But the woman’s attitude was deplorable.
“I doubt you’ve seen that necklace before, Ravena. It’s a family heirloom. Now, if you don’t mind, Zoey and I would like to finish our lunch.”
“It might be some family heirloom, but I know who it originally belonged to. I understand it’s one of Cox Jewelers custom design pieces.”
“Is it?” Felicia Laverne asked, trying to sound uninterested.
“You know it is. Maybe I need to visit you, Ms. Felicia and refresh your memory. Which of your sons are you freeloading off this month?”
Zoey was out of her seat in a flash. “You are out of line and showing a lack of respect.”
Felicia Laverne reached out and patted Zoey’s hand. “Don’t get upset on my behalf, dear. Ravena has never displayed any manners, which is why it was meant for her to never be a part of my family.”
“I would have been if I hadn’t left Chance. Now I am back, and he and I will get back together, regardless of whether you want me in your family or not.” She shifted her gaze to Zoey. “Don’t waste your time trying to get him interested in you because it won’t happen.” Ravena then turned and walked out of the café.
Zoey stared at the door the woman had walked out of before glancing at Ms. Felicia. “What was all that she was saying about my necklace?”
“She’s just spouting off about stuff she knows nothing about. I never knew what Chance saw in that girl.”
Zoey did. “He fell in love with her. When you truly love someone, you don’t always see their faults.”
Ms. Felicia stared at her for a moment, nodded and said, “You’re probably right, dear.”
“Mama Laverne?”
Felicia Laverne looked up from her knitting. “Yes, Diamond?”
“Alex is here to see you.”
“Please send him in.” Alexander Maxwell, a top-notch private detective, was married to her granddaughter, Christy.
“Mama Laverne, I got your voice mail message.”
She placed her knitting aside. “Alexander, please have a seat.”
The grin on his face meant he found her order amusing. “What can I do for you, Mama Laverne?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard about the young woman I’m meeting with to help restore her memory.”
Alex grinned. “The one who’s caught Chance’s eye?”
She rolled her eyes. “Chance needs to keep his eyes to himself. The last thing Zoey needs is to involve herself with Chance’s issues. Her focus should be on regaining her memory.”
Alex leaned back in his chair and stretched his long legs before him. “If you called for me to do a background check on Dr. Zoey Pritchard, it’s been done.”
Felicia Laverne frowned. “Who asked you to do such a thing? Clayton?”
“No one asked me to do it. I hadn’t met her and was curious. I haven’t mentioned the report to anyone, not even Christy.”
Felicia Laverne nodded. “That’s not why I asked you here. There was nothing about Zoey I felt wasn’t trustworthy. From your report, you know she was raised by her aunt after her parents’ death.”
“Yes, Paulina Pritchard.”
“I want to know everything there is to know about the woman. For some reason, she didn’t treat Zoey the way I think she should have, withholding information that might help her regain her memory. I have a gut feeling there was more to it than her not liking Zoey’s mother.”
“Anything else?”
“Yes, I ran into Ravena Boyle today, and she wasn’t at all nice.”
Alex sat up in his chair. “What do you mean she wasn’t nice?”
Felicia told him about the incident with Zoey at the café.
“I take it you didn’t tell your family about it?” Alex asked.
“No, and I asked Zoey not to mention anything about what Ravena said to Chance. Now I’m asking you not to mention anything to anyone either. You know how overprotective my family can be. Ravena’s lack of manners doesn’t concern me. What does concern me is the idea that she knows something about that necklace, Alexander. The one Zoey wears.”
Alex appeared confused. “Is there something about the necklace I need to know?”
Felicia Laverne took a deep breath and said softly, “Spilling the tea about the family is difficult, Alexander. However, chances are you’ll find out everything during your investigation since you’re known to be thorough. I’m the only living soul who knows what I’m about to tell you, and depending on what you find out, I will decide what I need to tell the family.”
***
Zoey placed the diary aside when her phone rang. It was Chance. She was hoping he would call. “Hello.”
“I miss you.”
Chance’s words gave her pause. She doubted he knew how much they meant to her, especially after meeting his ex--girlfriend today, who’d let it be known she wanted him back and planned to get him. “I missed you, too.”
“That’s good to hear, baby. How did your meeting with Mama Laverne go today?”
“Fine. I took her to the knit shop for yarn and supplies. Then we had lunch at the café next door. It was nice spending time with her.” Should she mention anything about meeting Ravena? She’d promised his great-grandmother she wouldn’t tell him what was said but there was no reason not to mention meeting his ex-fiancée.
“I met Ravena Boyle today.”
He didn’t say anything and she wondered if he’d heard her. She was about to repeat her words when he asked, “Where did the two of you meet?”
“At the café where Ms. Felicia Laverne and I had lunch. She came to our table, and your great-grandmother introduced us.”
“I see. Did Mama Laverne answer all your questions about your great-grandfather Waylon and my great-grandaunt Victoria?”
He’d deliberately moved their discussion from Ravena. Why? “Yes, and it was like you said. She hadn’t mentioned it because she hadn’t felt it was necessary to do so. It was before my great-grandparents had married, and although Waylon and Deedra didn’t love each other, they made their marriage work.”
“Did you finish reading Deedra’s diary?”
“Yes, and tonight I started on Arabella’s. Already I see she was a daddy’s girl. The two of them were extremely close. So, how is your meeting going?”
“It’s going well. Uncle Jake will be the keynote speaker tomorrow.”
They talked for a few minutes longer and ended the call with him—in his sexiest voice—telling her to dream about him. She replied in kind. “Trust me, Chance, I will.”