Haunted (44 page)

“I really want to kiss you right now, Devon. Can I kiss you?”  

He smirked and set down his guitar, then pulled me onto his lap. His eyes searched my face for my reaction, but words couldn’t express to him how much his song moved me. I hoped my kiss would be enough to show him how much I wanted to do those things for him, to be that angel for him.

I pulled back and held his face in my hands, his eyes still closed. “I want to be that love for you, Devon. I’m glad you are letting me.”

He smiled and held me tight in his arms. From far off we heard children laughing and I thought it might not be appropriate for someone to come across us in this position so I slipped off his lap and sat in front of him.

"So, are you going to introduce me to the Boudreaux clan?”

He held my hands and motioned for me to turn and face the tomb. He cleared his throat and then leaned over my shoulder.

"Daddy? Maggie? I'd like for you to meet a very special person, Jaylene Charles. She's my girlfriend and I would very much like for her to be part of the family. Jaylene, this is my sister Maggie and my daddy, David Boudreaux.”

I turned my head towards him to see if he was finished. He was smiling nervously. I gave him a quick kiss and turned back towards the tomb.

”I'm very pleased to meet you both. Devon has told me so much about you. I'm very grateful he brought me here to see you today.” I glanced at him before I continued. “I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how wonderful a man you both helped to raise. He is unbelievably brave, kind, and generous. You should be so proud of how hard he has been working to put his life back together. He misses you both so very much and he's doing his best to honor you by being a great friend, son and cousin. I hope that you know your words have helped him deal with his loss, but he could still use a little help. So if you don't mind sending him some peace, that would go a long way in helping him move forward and meet his obligations to the band. I'm so grateful to be a part of his life and I will be here to hold his hand through whatever else life decides to throw his way, you can count on that. Thanks for listening.”

Devon shook his head and laughed. “Leave it to you to find conversing with my dead relatives perfectly understandable. You're incredible, you know that?”

He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind me and at that very moment, two white butterflies flew out from behind the tomb, circled each other, flew around us while doing their dance upon the breeze, and then fluttered off into the trees.

We looked at each other, shaken by the experience. We knew something important had just happened.

”I’m kind of looking for Mage to be hiding behind a tomb or something,” Devon said nervously.

“I think it’s beautiful. You know they supposedly symbolize death and the spirits of those who’ve left to the families and loved ones they left behind.”

He shook his head. “I didn’t know that. Do you believe they are really still with us?”  

I thought about it for a minute. “I’m not actually sure. I’d like to think they are watching us and sending us hope and love when we need it. But I also want to think of them as beyond pain, and I would think it would pain them to see us suffering. So I don’t know.”

Devon nuzzled my neck and inhaled a few deep breaths. “How about we go get some lunch?”  

I looked to him and smiled. “Sure, unless you need more time?”  

He shook his head. “Nope. I did what I came to do.”

We stood and I made quick work of folding the blanket and putting it back into the backpack. Devon stepped over to the wall of the tomb and he ran his fingers lightly over David’s and Maggie’s names. When he turned to look at me he was smiling a half smile. He looked better. Much of the sadness had left his gaze. As he took my hand and led me to the cemetery gates, I said a silent prayer that he would be able to keep this peace in the coming weeks.

We drove back down Main Street and stopped at the Houma Grill.

”Isn’t this your family’s place?”  

He nodded. “Haven’t been here for a while, thought maybe you could meet more of the family. The living ones.” He laughed and kissed me lightly as we entered the restaurant.

The restaurant was very much a seafood shack kind of place. The tables were wooden picnic benches with red and white-checkered tablecloths. Wood beams hung low and there were family pictures all over the walls along with some of local celebrities. I quickly noticed pictures of the band and smiled at the thought of how proud these folks must be of the boys’ success. There were also several pictures of Maggie at various ages. I particularly liked one of her and Devon hugging that must have been taken not too long ago. He looked as he did now. Maybe his hair was a little longer.

As we approached the hostess stand, a girl in her late teens ran forward screaming, “MAMA!!! Devon’s here!!”  

She hurled herself at Devon and he caught her and swung her around in his arms. Three other women came forward and hugged him as well. He kissed them all on the cheek.

“Ladies, I would like you to meet my girlfriend, Jaylene Charles. Jaylene this is my Aunt Claudine and cousins Deborah, Ada and Jeanette.”

The women looked at me in shock and only caught themselves in time to avoid a look of scorn from Devon and hugged me warmly.

“It’s very nice to meet you,” I said nervously, Devon’s hand at my back keeping me from completely freaking out.

They all exclaimed how happy they were to see us and seated us at a table near the back of the restaurant. Jeanette was the young girl and she took our drink orders while the older ladies, in their 30’s and 40’s maybe, asked after Devon’s mama and the rest of the gang.

“Jaylene, these ladies are cousins on the Boudreaux side. Aunt Claudine was Daddy’s sister and Jeanette is her daughter. Deborah and Ada are my second cousins.”

The ladies continued to gaze at me in curiosity. Claudine saw my confusion and spoke. “So Devon, what brings you home?”  

He smiled and said, “Uncle Daryl helped us rent the St. Germaine House in the Quarter so we could work on songs for the next album. Jaylene and I had a day off so we came on out. We went by the cemetery first.”

They all nodded in understanding. Deborah reached out and touched his shoulder and he smiled sadly.

Claudine said, “We haven’t seen Daryl much lately, how’s he doing?”  

Devon told her he was good, that he’d spent some time with the guys recently. They asked about Marcus and Jade and Devon said they were fine, leaving out the part where Marcus behaved like a jackass.

When Jeanette came back with our drinks, Devon’s cell phone rang. “It’s Marcus, I need to take this, chère.”

I waved to him to go ahead. He leaned forward to kiss me on the cheek and then stepped outside, leaving me with his four gaping relatives. I looked up at them, and they must have sensed my growing discomfort. Claudine sat across from me and smiled.

“Darlin’, I apologize if we was bein’ rude when y’all first came in but we’ve just never met any girlfriend of Devon’s before. I think we were all a bit shocked.”

I laughed and the others relaxed a bit. “I’ve been getting that a lot.”

They all smiled, obviously relieved, and Deborah said, “We were almost beginning to worry.” Ada elbowed her and she said, “What? We were! He’s never brought any girls around before and you know what it’s like out there in Los Angeles.”

I stifled a laugh. Poor guy, if he knew what his family thought…

I glanced out the window to see him pacing with his phone to his ear and a cigarette dangling from his lips. That didn’t look good.

“So if you don’t mind my askin’, how did y’all meet?” Claudine seemed very friendly and I didn’t think it would hurt to at least tell them the basics.

“I met him a couple of weeks ago. Daryl brought the band into my shop.”

They were staring as if they expected more.

Deborah asked, “What kind of shop do you have, chère?”  

I smiled and thought to myself that if Devon brought me to meet them, I guess he was prepared for their reaction to me. “I run a tattoo shop in the Quarter called Pins and Needles. My girlfriend Mackenzie does piercing and hair there as well.”

They were trying desperately to not be intrusive or discourteous to me but I could tell this was surprising for them.

“Well, that sounds interesting. Where ya from originally?” Claudine was obviously the most diplomatic of the group.

“I’m from Northern California. Near San Francisco. I moved here a year and a half ago. We opened the shop almost a year ago. Daryl knew the guy who was selling and helped us get set up. I’d tattooed him and a bunch of his friends already so I almost had a built in clientele.”

A few other customers came in so Deborah and Ada went back to the kitchen and Jeanette went to take care of them.

Claudine smiled at me. “And how do you like living in New Orleans?”  

“I love it there. I’ve met some great people and my business is doing very well.”

She smiled and looked out the window to where Devon was still pacing. “Well, I’m glad Devon has met someone. That poor man has been through so much heartache.”

I nodded. “He has. I’m grateful we met, too.”

She winked at me and I took a drink of my Diet Coke as Devon came back in. He sat on the bench next to me, his body turned toward me with one leg still behind me. He placed his hand on my lower back and let out a frustrated sigh.

“Everything ok,” I asked him.

He took a drink of his sweet tea and nodded. “Yeah, he was just calling from the airport to tell me that Rudy is picking him up because Daryl’s not feeling well.” He was scowling.

“Shall I assume that the call didn’t go well?”  

He grunted and took another drink of his tea.

“I’ll leave you two be now. Do you know what y’all would like to eat?”  

I turned to Devon and said, “Order whatever for me.”

He perked up a little and ordered the alligator boudin, biscuits, and red beans and rice. Claudine said she’d have it out right quick and we thanked her.

“I’m sorry about that. Marcus just wanted to go over the details of the studio time with Scott. I don’t even want to think about that yet.”

I placed my hand against his cheek and said, “And you don’t have to. Let yourself have the rest of the day to not think about it.”

He melted into my hand and then leaned forward and kissed me sweetly.

“Instead, you can think about whatever it is your cousins will be saying to each other in the back about your new tattooed girlfriend.”

He laughed. “Funny. I’m sure they’re just glad to learn I’m not gay.”

I had been taking a drink when he said this and it went down the wrong pipe. I started coughing and sputtering.

He rubbed my back, concerned. “Sorry, chère. You alright?”  

I nodded and as soon as I could catch my breath I said, “They really thought that?”  

He pulled me into him, resting his chin on my head. “Probably. The last time I was here they were asking questions about whether I was seeing anyone, trying to find out without asking outright. I was probably not too forthcoming and might have let them think otherwise just to see them squirm.”

I slapped lightly at his thigh. “That wasn’t nice, Devon.”

He laughed again. “Well, served them right for being nosy! I’m just picky. I hadn’t found you yet. Seems I was right to be picky.”

I leaned into him and enjoyed the warmth of his embrace.

“Can’t say I’m sorry you waited.” I grinned up at him and he kissed my forehead.

Jeanette came out with our food and asked me, “Is it true you’re a tattoo artist?”  

I nodded and Devon said, “Yes, she is, and she’s amazing!”

Jeanette’s eyes flared and she looked behind her to make sure none of the ladies were  listening. “I have wanted to get a tattoo forever! Can I come see you sometime?”  

I told her, “Of course. I can get you one of my cards. I think I have one in my bag out in the car. I need to use the restroom anyway.”

She pointed towards the restroom, which was near the front of the restaurant so I told Devon I’d be right back and he winked at me. I took a second to look at him before I left. He seemed weary but happy. I figured I should get him back to my place and let him rest after this, although I had no idea what else he had planned for the day.

I walked out to the car and looked through my backpack. I found one of our shop cards at the bottom of the last pocket. I also checked my phone and saw a text from Mackenzie. I quickly answered her that we’d come out to Houma and that I would check in with her when we got back tonight. When I came back in the restaurant, I saw that Claudine and Jeanette were back talking to Devon, so I used the restroom to give them some time to grill him about me.

I was nervous about what they thought, sure, but I knew I had the blessing of Daryl and Marie. I figured that counted for something. I washed up and took a minute to collect myself. When I came back to the table, they smiled widely. I sat down next to Devon, who turned again to face me and pull me into him.

“We’ll let you two eat in peace. Thanks for coming in, darlin’ and tell your mama we miss her.”

“I will, Aunt Claudine. And thank you for lunch.”

They all smiled knowingly at me and walked back to their duties. I turned to Devon and raised an eyebrow at him.

“So?”  

He looked back innocently and took a bite of his sausage while I buttered a biscuit. “So? So what?”  

I narrowed my eyes at him. “So? Did they lecture you about being involved with a woman of ill repute?”  

It was his turn to almost choke. “No, Jaylene, they most certainly did not lecture me about you! There is nothing ill about you, would you quit! Why? Did they say anything to you?”

I shook my head taking a bite of the sausage and closed my eyes, overcome with the sensation of the delicious meal. “Oh, that’s divine.” I chewed and swallowed.

He never took his eyes off of me. Then he frowned. “Did they say something negative to you, chère,” he asked softly.

I didn’t want him to worry so I said, “No, they didn’t say anything to me. They were perfectly nice. But it’s obvious they love you and they probably think my line of work is a little scandalous.”