Love's Paradise
Authors: Celeste O. Norfleet
CELESTE O. NORFLEET
Dear Reader,
I introduced Louise “Mamma Lou” Gates in my first romance novel,
Priceless Gift,
in 2002. Since then I have written eight more novels in the seriesâincluding this one,
A Christmas Wish, One Sure Thing, Irresistible You, The Fine Art of Love, Following Love, When Love Calls
and
Love Me Now
âfeaturing the gregarious octogenarian.
Love's Paradise
is the latest book in the Mamma Lou series, and takes place on Crescent Island. Over the years, readers have asked me to revisit the island. So this story takes you back to where it all began.
In
Love's Paradise,
I introduce Sheri Summers, a historian, and reintroduce Jordan Hamilton, an architect turned developer, who is also one of the Hamilton brothers from
Following Love.
Although they are on opposite sides of a contentious dispute, the two find it impossible to walk away from their feelings a second time.
Look for more Mamma Lou novels soon.
Enjoy!
Celeste O. Norfleet
www.celesteonorfleet.wordpress.com
To Fate & Fortune
Fall carnival, Crescent Island, Virginia
October 1947
“O
h, Louise, have you ever seen anything so amazing?” Emma sighed contentedly as she and her sister walked arm in arm through the Crescent Island fairgrounds. “What do they call this island again?”
“God's garden,” Louise said.
“Yes, that's it. It's simply the most beautiful place in the world to go just to get away from everything.”
“Em, you say that about every place we go.”
“I do not,” Emma protested and then just as quickly relented. “Okay, maybe I do. But I really mean it this time. Crescent Island is like something out of a fairy tale. It's magical. It's so much better than Ocean City and Cape May where Mom and Dad always want to go. What do you think?”
“I like it. It's nice,” Louise said dispassionately.
“Nice! Nice! For heaven's sake, Louise, how can you say that? It's more than just nice! It's⦔ Emma nudged her sister. “Look, Louise, there he is again,” she whispered.
“There who is again?” Louise asked, turning around.
“No, don't turn around. It's that guy I saw earlier. I noticed him looking at you when we were over by the Ferris wheel. I think he's following us.”
“It's a carnival, Emma, everybody's following everybody.”
“I suppose,” Emma said slowly, “but still⦔
“Em, you read entirely too many of those detective novels.”
“I do not. And I know when someone is following us and he was definitely following us.” She looked around, but he had suddenly vanished. “Uhummm, I wonder where he went,” she said.
“What do you want to do next?” Louise asked.
“I have an idea. Why don't we get our fortunes told? Carnivals like this always have fortune-tellers, right?”
“Emma, I am not sitting still just to have someone look at my palm and tell me what I already know. I'm too sensible for that and you should be, too. I'm a practical woman. So why on earth would I believe a fortune-teller who's going to tell me what I already know?”
“For fun, of course,” Emma said quickly, then glanced over her sister's shoulder. “Look, there's a tent over there. It says fortune-teller. Come on, Louise, let's do it.”
“I think I'll pass. But you go ahead and have fun. I'll wait here.”
“No, you have to come, too. It'll be fun.”
“No.”
“Louise Simmons, where is your sense of adventure?” she said as she linked her arm with her sister's and headed toward the tent. Moments later they stood at the entrance. Emma looked up at the handwritten sign that read, Madam Camille, Fortune-teller.
Come on,” she whispered as she disappeared into the tent. Louise sighed loudly and followed.
The inside of the tent was everything Louise had expected. The place was dimly lit yet quite colorful. There were candles all around and ornate-looking tapestries covering the walls that surrounded a table in the center of the room. A young woman, just a few years older than Louise, sat smiling as she shuffled a deck of tarot cards while watching
them. She moved the large crystal ball to the side and spread the cards out across the table.
She was slight and willowy with a soft, whispery voice that immediately made you draw nearer to hear her words. She had a thicket of black hair piled up in a mass of curls on top of her head. She wore a dark colored print dress with a white lace collar. She was barefoot, but had a pair of high heels set neatly to the side. Her eyes were light green and piercing. “I've been waiting for you. Welcome. Who wants to go first?”
Emma smiled brightly. “Me first.”
Louise nodded and stepped back outside the tent. Ten minutes later Emma emerged smiling from ear to ear. “She's amazing,” she whispered in awe. “She told me about my life and about my future. I'm going to be an artist just like I've always dreamed. I'm so happy. Go ahead, it's your turn.”
Despite her reservations, curiosity got the best of her and Louise decided to get her fortune read. She ducked inside the tent and looked around, expecting to see the crystal ball in the center of the table again. But it was gone. “I guess it's my turn,” she said, as she walked toward the cushioned chair and sat down across the table from the fortune-teller.
“I take it you're not a believer.”
“Did the crystal ball tell you that?” Louise said sarcastically.
The young woman glanced at the large, glass
ball on the chair beside her. “Actually I only use that to check my lipstick. So no, I don't need a crystal ball, runes or tarot cards to read the expression on your face. No matter. Sit and give me your hands.”
“No tea leaves?”
“I prefer coffee,” she said, gesturing for Louise to hold out her hands.
Louise smiled. Apparently Madame Camille had a sense of humor. “Okay, I'll give it a try,” she said. She extended her handsâpalms side up.
“I don't read palms, either,” the fortune-teller said. “I sense things about people when I touch them,” Madame Camille said, holding Louise's hands. “You're not very easy to read. No surprise there. But I do see that you have a very special gift.”
“What kind of gift?” Louise asked.
Madame Camille didn't answer but instead continued to hold Louise's hand. She took a deep breath then bowed her head and closed her eyes to concentrate a bit more. A few seconds later she opened her eyes and looked up. “This won't do for you. You're too strong-willed.”
Louise nodded smugly then got up to leave.
“No, wait. Sit. Stay. There's more.”
Louise sat back down and watched as Madame Camille slowly shuffled the deck of large oversize cards. They were unwieldy, worn and tattered
around the edges. Still she shuffled them then stacked the deck in front of Louise, motioning for her to cut the deck. She did.
Madame Camille arrayed the cards on the table faceup, aligning each one precisely. She leaned in and nodded her head, smiling. “Do you have a question?” she asked.
“Yes, will I ever know true love?”
“You already do. But your heart is empty right now. It'll soon be filled. A new love is at the gates. Be open to him when he comes.”
“I don't understand.”
“There was true love in your life for a short time. He's gone now, but he will return later. But for now⦔
“When, when will he return?” Louise asked impatiently.
Madame Camille shook her head. “Not for a very, very long time. But for now, know that there is a new love on the horizon. He's waiting for you right now. Your heart's emptiness will soon be filled. That's all I can tell you.”
Louise paid the fortune-teller then stood to leave. As she began to turn away she noticed that Madame Camille was staring up at her. “What gift?” Louise asked.
The fortune-teller nodded. “I knew you'd ask. You see the spark of love in others. Your gift is to show them the way.” Louise nodded and left. When
she was outside the tent, she saw Emma smiling broadly.
“How'd it go?” Emma asked excitedly. “No, don't tell me or it won't come true.”
They began walking toward the carousel. They stepped up and sat on one of the benches as young children around them scurried to climb onto the horses.
“There he is again. He's back and he's still looking at you.” Louise turned around slowly. A young man stood by the railing looking at her. “He's really handsome, too,” Emma said dreamily as she openly stared at him each time they circled past him. “Told you he was looking at you,” she said.
He smiled and nodded slightly. Louise returned the gesture.
Spinning slowly as music played, the carousel continued round and round. Louise licked her lips and steadied her nerves as they circled out of his view. She sighed and finally released the breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding.
“Do you know him?” Emma whispered excitedly as the carousel rotated away from him.
“No. Believe me, I'd remember him. Maybe he's not looking at me,” Louise said, turning her head to look behind her to confirm that she and her sister were the only two in his line of vision. “He might have just been glancing in this direction.”
“If you think that, then you need your eyes examined.”
The carousel spun at a steady rate as Louise's heart raced each time it circled around. Her eyes connected with his again and again. He was smiling now. She smiled back. The next time around she decided to wave, but there was no next time. He was gone. After a while the ride began to slow until it reached a complete stop. Louise and Emma stood to get off. She glanced around curiously, but saw her admirer was nowhere in sight. “Are you okay?” Emma asked.
“Yes, I'm fine.”
“Disappointed,” Emma added.
“About what?” Louise said lightly.
“Him not being here,” she said.
“Not at all,” Louise lied as she glanced around nonchalantly one last time. “It's time I stop mooning over guys who are not even here. I've decided. I'm turning over a new leaf. This is the new me and it starts right now.” She turned and stopped short. He was standing behind her holding a bag of popcorn, a soda and some cotton candy.
“Hi,” he said, smiling. “I got these for you and your friend. My name is Jonathan Gates.”