Chapter 7
Simon could sense the tension in Holly as her beautiful cousin strode across the grass like a vamp, without missing a step, a smile spreading across her face.
Instinctively, he didn’t trust the woman. Simon moved closer to Holly and rested a hand lightly at the small of her back.
Holly shifted, without taking her eyes off her cousin, and leaned into his hand. He liked that she didn’t pull away. Perhaps she was getting used to the idea of their ruse of being an item.
He was liking it more than he’d expected. House hunting with her had made the process a lot less painful. He’d appreciated her comments and views on the different homes they’d toured and found he’d agreed with everything she’d noted.
They had similar tastes in what they didn’t like. He hoped they were equally matched in what they did like.
Why that was important to him at that time, he didn’t question. He just let it be.
“Ah, my Lissette,” Madam Gautier said with a smile. “What brings you out in the bayou on such a lovely day?”
“You, of course.” Lissette climbed the stairs, dropped a kiss on her grandmother’s cheek and held out the basket.
“I brought treats from the Bayou Bakery. I swear, Amelie makes the best eclairs in all of Louisiana. They are like her motto...baked with love.” She folded back a cloth to display half a dozen of the sweet treats. “All for my sweet, little grandmama.”
“You know eclairs are my favorite after Café Dumond’s beignets.” The Voodoo queen patted Lissette’s cheek. “Thank you, my dear. Could you please put them on the counter in the kitchen? Then come join us on the porch.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Lissette said with a smile and pushed through the screen door.
Madam Gautier leaned toward the door. “And while you’re in the kitchen, bring the pitcher of lemonade from the fridge and four glasses.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Lissette called out from inside the house.
“She always brings me eclairs when she wants something,” Madam Gautier whispered.
“It used to be a potion or elixir to cure her broken heart. I’ve made more than a dozen of those for her since she turned eleven.
Lately, she wants more than elixirs for a broken heart.
She wants me to teach her everything I know about Voodoo and magic. ”
Holly frowned. “Is that a good idea? I know she’s family and all, but she’s always been one for stirring up trouble.”
Her grandmother patted her arm. “Not to worry, my dear. I’ve only taught her a few spells to make her laundry smell better. I also showed her how to make salves to ease wounds and pain. I won’t give her secrets that could cause others pain.”
“Gran, you’re a wise and powerful Voodoo queen.” Holly gave her grandmother a quick hug and then stepped back against Simon’s hand. “I’m not one to tell you who you can or cannot teach all you know. I only hope the ones you teach use the magic for good.”
Holly glanced toward the door. “Shh. She doesn’t need to hear us talking about the merits of teaching her all there is to know about Voodoo. She can be as catty and vindictive as any mean girl in high school, or blindly reckless with her own abilities or of other people’s feelings.”
Her grandmother nodded. “I’d hate to think of what might happen if she were set loose with even half of the more powerful tools in the Voodoo spell and incantations playbook. The entire town of Bayou Mambaloa would be at risk.”
The old woman sighed. “Still, she is a Gautier and my granddaughter.”
“And my cousin,” Holly added.
Madam Gautier nodded. “Family.”
Holly nodded. “Only good and beneficial spells for that one.”
“At least until she grows out of her selfish ways. I believe she will one day.”
Holly smiled “You are ever the optimist.”
“Now that you’re back, you should join me and Gisele. I’m teaching her everything. She has a good heart, that one. As do you.”
“You’ll show me all the good spells and potions?”
“And some of the not-so-nice ones,” her grandmother winked. “Some folks need a little reminder to be nice. I can teach you how to give a miscreant a case of jock itch.”
Simon frowned. “You can do that?”
Holly laughed, and her grandmother joined in, the sound warm and joyful.
At that moment, Lissette stepped out on the porch carrying a tray with the pitcher of lemonade and four glasses. “What’s so funny?”
“Jock itch,” her grandmother answered, and laughed again.
Holly stepped forward and lifted the heavy glass pitcher from the tray, while Lissette set everything else on a table. She poured tangy liquid into each glass.
As she filled the glasses, Lissette passed one to her grandmother and the second to Simon, smiling up at him with her big, beautiful brown eyes.
Holly glanced up just as her cousin batted her eyes at Simon.
Not that Simon was interested in her dark-haired cousin in the least.
Holly’s cheeks flushed pink, and her eyes flashed.
Lissette batted her eyes at Simon again and then turned to face Holly. “I heard a rumor that you and Simon are officially together. I heard another rumor that you hired him as a bodyguard. Which one is it, pray tell?”
Holly shoved a glass of lemonade into Lissette’s hand. Holding her own, she stepped between Simon on Lissette and smiled up at Simon.
Yeah, it was tight. Probably forced. But it was a smile.
“The first rumor is the one to go with. The second one is a lucky bonus of having a boyfriend who doubles as a bodyguard.” She leaned up on her toes and brushed a kiss across his cheek. “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
He wanted to laugh at her attempt at making them appear to be a couple. Instead, he wrapped his free arm around her, pulled her closer and planted a kiss on her startled lips. “That’s right, babe.” He shot a grin toward Lissette. “Holly’s my little bundle of love.”
Lissette’s eyes narrowed. She took a sip of her lemonade and swallowed before she asked. “What brings you two out to see Mémère?”
“That’s between me and Mémère,” Holly said.
“You’re here because of the curse, aren’t you?” Lissette’s eyes widened, and she turned to her grandmother. “I’d like to be here when you make the spell or potion to undue Holly’s curse. Please say you’ll show me, too.”
Madam Gautier’s brow furrowed. “I haven’t said I’d help her yet. I’m not entirely certain I can.”
“Of course you can,” Lissette argued. “You’re Madam Gautier, Bayou Mambaloa’s Voodoo queen.”
The old woman shook her head. “That doesn’t mean I can do anything and everything. Some things are beyond my control.” She nodded toward Holly. “This might be one of them.”
Holly’s shoulders slumped. “Really? If you can’t help me, how will I break the curse?”
Her grandmother stared into her glass of lemonade. “I’ll have to think about it and look through my books and notes. It could take time.”
“Mémère, I might not have time,” Holly said softly. “I’ve had two messages. That’s more than Paul and my parents had before...”
Madam Gautier patted Holly’s arm. “I know, dear. I can’t predict your future, to know if you are truly in danger, but I know someone who might.”
Holly frowned. “I’d rather work with you, Mémère.”
“I need more time. While you’re waiting, go see Lady LaChance, the nutria seer over in Bayou Miste. She might be able to tell you if you are in danger.”
“Nutria seer?” Simon asked.
“Lady LaChance communes with a nutria to predict the future.” Madam Gautier waved a hand. “Much like a fortune teller who reads tarot cards. I’ve heard she’s had significant success.”
Holly’s brow twisted. “I don’t know, Mémère.”
“Go. See her. By the time you come back, I should know more.”
“What is a nutria?” Simon asked.
Lissette snorted softly. “An animal. You think an animal can predict whether or not Holly is in danger?”
Simon was positive an animal couldn’t predict whether Holly was in danger.
They didn’t need to know whether or not she was.
Based on the threatening messages and her losses of the past, Simon was one-hundred-percent sure Holly was in danger.
He didn’t need a woman to commune with a nutria to tell him that.
Madam Gautier gave Lissette what Simon would classify as the stink-eye. “Holly will go to Lady LaChance. I will work on identifying the curse and come up with a cure, if there is one to be had.” She lifted her chin.
“If you work a cure, will you at least let me watch?” Lissette asked.
Holly tensed beside Simon.
“My beautiful granddaughter,” Madam Gautier cupped Lissette’s cheek. “When you show me that you care about anyone besides yourself, I might consider teaching you what I know.”
Lissette’s brow descended into a stormy frown. “I care about you.” She flung her hand toward Holly. “I care about my cousins, even though they don’t care about me. What? Do you want me to prove that I care about the whole damned bayou like you?” She lifted her chin. “Fine.”
Simon knew when a woman said “fine,” all was not fine. He stepped forward, placing his body a bit more between Holly and her cousin, and braced himself in case he had to dive in to save Madam Gautier.
Lissette’s cheeks had turned a ruddy red, and her eyes glistened.
“I’ll show you who and what I care about.
You’ll see.” She turned to Holly. “You all will see. I’m not just the afterthought granddaughter of the great Madam Gautier.
Sure, I’ve made some bad decisions. Yes, I’ve made mistakes.
I don’t know anyone who hasn’t, but I’ve learned that I’m a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need her family’s approval. I’ll make it on my own. I’ll show you.”
Lissette turned away and descended the steps without looking back.
Holly started to follow her cousin. “Lissette.”
Her grandmother caught her arm. “Let her go,” she said softly.
“But I have to go after her,” Holly said, tears welling in her eyes. “She’s family. And we have so little family left.”