35. Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Evie
I bounce over the large metal table in my apothecary, finishing the last of the products for my special bridal boxes as I bounce and shake my ass to, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” by Shaboozey.
I decided to take these last few weeks off from my work, other than finishing up wedding details. I snuck out this morning, letting Brix sleep in, knowing he is going to be pissed if he wakes up before I get back.
I have lovely boxes wrapped in purples, greens, and golds for my bridal party. I made some up for Savvy and the savage gang as my boys like to call them as well. I designed each one with their likes, dislikes, and chemistry in mind.
The black boxes with the white silk ribbons are already addressed to the last of the witches and Saints that I will never personally get to on my list from the ancestors. I have created the perfect parting gifts for each of them.
I place the bottle of beard oil in the last of the black boxes to be sent out tomorrow morning. They should be delivered on the morning of our wedding.
I will hand out the pretty ones the night before the wedding since we have decided to spend our last night at my brother’s compound. We will have to separate when the night ends and not see each other again until I am walking down the aisle.
I put the finishing touches on the box and stack it with the others. I look at the mess, sighing. I spend the next forty-five minutes cleaning everything up, getting rid of certain leftovers, and bottling up the others. I continue to dance while I clean up my shop.
I have always loved creating new things with what I have learned while shaking my ass to loud music. It’s always made the mundane things that most people hate fun for me.
I finally finish, taking a look at the clock, it’s already six a.m... Time to load up and pick up fresh beignets and coffee to surprise Brixon with, after I drop off a few things at the church. I promised him that today would be his and his alone. Plus, if I get home before he wakes up, he will have no idea I snuck out passed all of our security detail at three a.m.
Day after tomorrow I get to marry the only man I have ever loved. I get to have my very own wedding parade, even though my brother and Brix keep telling me it’s just not safe. I got them to give in and let me have this.
Brixon knows that there is only one thing about this wedding that I would never budge on, and that is our damn parade. It’s the way we do things here. It’s the celebration of a new beginning for a couple. It’s tradition, and I won’t give that up.
Even if I make it through this and live to be a hundred years old. I would never want to look back at what could have been. I want to look back and know I fucking lived every moment knowing it could be my last. I want to know that I left nothing undone. Including the letter I wrote early this morning.
Brixon won’t get it until they pick everything up from the church, where I will have it in my bag addressed to him.
I know that there is a possibility that I won’t be waking up with my husband on an Island the day after our wedding. If I do, then this letter will go into a box, and it will be there for when I do go.
I finish loading all the wedding accents for the flowers and pretty boxes into the back of the SUV. I look back at the back door to my shop, reluctant to lock it, knowing it could be the last time.
I decide to go back in, feeling a bit emotional. I look at all the beautiful things that I have acquired over the years, my gaze becoming fixed on one item in particular.
I look at the dagger hanging on the wall, sparking my memory of Brook. I could almost hear her cries when she realized she was going to die. I can hear all of them. Begging for mercy, just like their victims begged for their lives.
They all deserved everything they got.
Perhaps this is my penance for all the bad things I have ultimately done in the name of revenge. Am I really any better for taking their lives? Maybe not, but the world is a better place without all of them in it.
I reach up, grabbing the large pretty handle. I’m taken to the bayou. I see every witch who has yielded it, including me. I smile watching every life it has either taken, or at least harmed.
The light fades out, going almost black. I look around, realizing I’m standing in the middle of a marsh in the bayou. The thick bald cypress trees stand tall in the murky water of the swamp.
I panic when I try to move and can’t.
“Watch.” a voice hisses.
I swallow hard, trying to see through the darkness. I look up at the night sky, realizing the moon is barely a crescent, producing little light. I look back in front of me quickly, hearing movement in the water.
Focus Evie. I try to calm my rapid heart, feeling the anxiousness of what’s to come.
I’m ripped back to the now when the dagger is ripped out of my hands and strong arms wrap around me tightly.
“I’ve got you little witch. I’ve got you. What were you doing?” Brix asks, holding me tight against his chest.
“I’m fine. I was just feeling nostalgic. Wanted to finish up all the wedding stuff. I just finished loading everything up. When I came back in and saw the dagger and just wanted to touch it again.” I confess, kind of.
“I was worried when I woke up and you weren’t in bed with me. I told you we could pick all of this up today. You don’t need to be trying to do all the things by yourself. Mia has been taking care of everything. Today you are mine, remember? Your detail crew is a little pissed at you since they got yelled at so early this morning.”
“I know, I’m sorry. Insomnia set in and I figured it was better to be productive.” I give him as much honesty as I can.
“You, okay? Did you see anything new?” he asks as he gently rubs his hands up and down my back.
For a split second I almost tell him, but decide I really didn’t see anything, so it’s not lying when I say, “Nope, just saw the past. I need to drop the stuff off at the church and then I was planning on going to get us beignets for breakfast.”
“Perfect, I had Noah drop me off when we saw the SUV here. It’s still early, why don’t we go have breakfast, then we can drop the flowers at the church. It doesn’t open until nine a.m. Maybe we could go to the French Market.” Brix gives me a cheesy smile like he is up to something.
“I love the French Market, what’s with the face?”
“I still need to find gifts for the guys. I kind of forgot.” His face falls.
“I can make them something similar to what I did for the girls if you want, but you have to help, and I’ll need to go to The French Market to get some more essential oils from my guy.” I wink at him, making his smile widen.
“You are the best! First breakfast.” Brixon gives me another sweet kiss before we head out of the shop.
“Café Du Monde is peaceful this early in the morning.” Brix says, looking around the quarter like he is seeing it for the first time like this.
We sit at one of the outdoor tables and order two café au late and two orders of beignets. We sit and talk about what kinds of products he wants for the guys until we get our food and coffee.
I watch him take a bite of his fresh beignet, dusting powdered sugar all over his dark blue sweater. I take a long sip of my café au late, enjoying the brass band that has already started playing on the corner while laughing at my fiancé.
“Give it an hour, the tourists will come out of the woodwork. This is why I like to get an early start on Fridays, especially if I have to go to the market. The main reason is because I love watching the city come to life.” I confess.
“You always did. Why do you think some of our most precious moments have been during a sunrise. I know you are an early bird who always gets her worm. I just want to help you get the worms now.” Brix says sweetly, shoving the last bite of his pastry in his mouth.
I decide to indulge and enjoy one myself. I tear off a bite and shove it in my mouth, inhaling a little powdered sugar. I cough slightly and laugh as I chew. I finally swallow and take a drink of my coffee, trying to catch my breath.
“Did it have bones?” Brixon jokes as he wipes the side of my mouth with the pad of his thumb before offering it to me. I go to wrap my lips around it when he pulls it back quickly putting it in his mouth instead.
“Rude!” I quip, laughing as I try to swat his arm.
He dodges my swat, cupping my neck and pulling me in for kiss. We both can’t contain our laughter causing our teeth to clank, making us laugh harder.
His eyes sparkle looking at me like I’m the only thing in the world he is interested in. I love that he is the only man on earth who was ever able to, not only get my attention, but keep it.
“I love you Brixon.” I say as I smile wide, before shoving another smaller bite in my mouth this time.
“I will love you forever my little witch. Till we are ghosts.” he replies, smirking.
We finish our coffee and throw away our trash.
Brix takes my hand, spinning me as we walk out to the sidewalk, in front of the brass band playing. He pulls a twenty out of his pocket, dropping it in their open guitar case, making me smile.
“The market should have some vendors open by now. I’m hoping Jonah is there already. I’m going to need more bergamot. He always has a good supply of everything. I hate to admit it, but his jasmine oil is better than mine.” I explain as we enter the food court area of the pavilion.
“Should I be jealous?” he asks, and I can tell by the smile on his face that he is joking but I decide to play along and see if I can get a rise out of him.
“He is quite the distinguished gentleman.” I tease.
“Who is about to be in a wheelchair if you don’t quit playing.” He retorts and I can’t help but laugh.
“Too late, there’s my favorite oil man!” I holler as I get closer to Jonah’s booth.
“Hey there sha. Ya better get your little ass over here and give ya pops a hug.” Jonah, who is in fact in a wheelchair, sports his nineteen sixties tweed fedora hat, and perfect suspenders with his suit pants, replies.
I’m sure back in the day he was one hell of a looker.
I let go of Brixon’s hand and hurry behind the counter sitting on the old man’s lap to give him a hug, “How’s my favorite oil dealer today pops?”
“Still kicken, so I guess alright. How is my favorite plant girly?” His smile is infectious, and I can tell Brixon is actually enjoying himself watching the interaction.
“Well pop, my soon to be husband here forgot to get his groomsman gifts, so I need some bergamot to finish up some soaps and aftershave. Can you help your favorite plant girly out?” I ask sweetly batting my lashes.
“Of course, I gotcha. Have I ever let ya down sha?”
“Not once! You are the best!” I hug Jonah one more time before I get up off his lap and go back around his little table, admiring his oils.
“Brixon Blaze, forgetful soon to be husband.” Brix leans over the table extending his hand to Jonah.
“Jonah Monroe. Ya better take good care of my little witchy girly, ya here. She is a keeper.” Jonah shakes his hand.
“I’ll always take care of her sir.” Brix smiles bright at the old man and shakes his hand again.
I see them both nod in a gentleman’s understanding of some sort, making me feel like a cherished treasure of some kind.
“Let me get what cha need baby girl. I have somethin new for ya. I’ll add it to da bag. I think ya gonna like it girly. Use it for ya wedding day. Ya Brix here won’t be able to keep his hands off a ya.” Jonah laughs, handing me a green bag.
“Thank you pop.” I laugh.
I hand him a fifty and tell him to keep the change. We say our goodbyes, and head back towards the car.
“This should be a new thing when we get back from our honeymoon.” Brix says as we walk hand in hand by my favorite shops, stopping in to pick up some pralines from Aunt Sally’s Pralines. I get an extra dozen for tomorrow night with the girls.
“That would be nice. We can take a day to stock up everything for the shop and have fun mornings watching the city come to life.” I reply, taking a bite and humming in happiness as the sugar melts on my tongue.
We make it back to the shop and spend the next few hours dancing while I teach Brix how to make shaving cream.
Luckily, I had several green and gold boxes left.
I watch Brix finish taking the last of the boxes out the back door to the SUV while I clean up the last bit of oil off my long metal table.
“Ready? Liam just sent me a text asking if we want to have an early dinner with all of them at their place.” Brix asks, coming back in.
“It’s only three-thirty, but we did skip lunch, so yeah I could eat.” I reply, feeling my stomach growl at the thought of food.
“It’ll be ready by four-thirty. We have to stop and pick up wine though. Lily forgot.”
“Oh good, I wanted to get a few bottles of the golden honey peach wine I like for tomorrow night with the girls.” I smile wide mentally checking off something else I would have had to do tomorrow.
“Rouses or Quarter Deli?” He asks.
“Let’s flip a coin,” I grab a quarter from the center console, “Heads Rouses tails Quarter Deli.” I smile as I flip the coin up, grabbing it and slapping it on the top of my hand, “Tails.” I say smiling, letting fate decide.
“Wait we still have to drop off the stuff to the church. We can just go by the one on Decatur.” Brix replies, reminding me I forgot something.
“Shit, drop me off at the grocers, it’s right by Jackson’s Square, you go drop off the decoration stuff, then swing back to get me.”
“Sounds like a plan baby. Teamwork makes the dream work.” Brix smiles as he pulls back onto Decatur, stopping in front of the little market.
I give him a kiss and hop out of the SUV, hurrying into the little grocer. I grab a cart and go in search of my wine. I find the Stella Rosa section and start adding several of the golden honey peach into the cart. I decide to grab a few other flavors just in case some of the girls don’t like my favorite.
I move back towards the cashier, seeing Brixon’s favorite bourbon on the top shelf behind him.
“Can I get four bottles of Blood Oath Bourbon please?” I ask as I approach the counter. Thinking this is a great gift from me to the guys, including my brother.
The cashier whistles, “That’s an expensive bottle. Special occasion?” The nice-looking older man asks, giving me a warm smile.
“I’m getting married.” I reply excitedly.
“Well, that is a special occasion. Congratulations, let me get my ladder, I don’t get up there much.” The old man replies.
“Thank you.” I reply as he pushes the large metal ladder on wheels hooked onto a metal pole that goes across the entire top shelf where he needs to get to.
I’m startled by three men wearing ski masks, dressed in all black, waving guns around, coming through the sliding glass doors of the store.
My heart pounds as I put my hands up, keeping my cart between me and them.
“Everyone stay where you are! Hands up! Don’t Move! Give me the money old man!” One says as he rushes the counter pointing his pistol in the old man’s face.
Another comes towards me with his gun pointed at me. He bypasses me and I can’t help but turn, my lower back hitting the counter behind me. I watch him turn back towards me, while the other moves to the back of the store pointing his gun at other patrons.
“Everyone stay calm, and no one will get hurt. Make a wrong move and I will shoot you dead.” The man behind me says as he starts taking bottles and chips from the shelves, not paying as much attention to me anymore.