Love's Paradise (12 page)

When he hung up from Tamika he called Sheri. An hour later he was headed back to Crescent Island. Initially, he'd had no intention of going back until next week. And there was no way he had expected to attend the event at Gates Manor tonight. But today was different.

He got to the work site around four o'clock. He stayed in the trailer taking care of details he could
have handled from the main office or that could have waited until next week.

In truth, he didn't want to admit why he actually came back to the island. As soon as he walked into the trailer he saw the business card he left on the desk the day before. He picked it up and sat down. She was the reason he returned. There was something about her that made him want to know more. And one night with her was never going to be enough. He turned on his laptop and looked up the Crescent Island Museum. He expected the site to be pretty standard and uninteresting. Instead, what he found was an informative site dedicated to what looked like a remarkable institution.

Later, after a restless hour or so, he stood, stretched and walked over to the trailer window. It was much later than he thought. It was already getting dark and most of the workers had already left for the day. A few stragglers headed toward the gate and Cleveland and his crew walked around patrolling the site. Just as he went back to his desk and sat down, Ian came in. He was carrying a large box. “Hey,” he said, surprised. “I didn't know you were here. “When did you get in?”

Jordan looked at his watch. “A couple of hours ago,” he said.

“It's Friday, you never come on-site Fridays and Mondays. What's going on, everything okay?”

“Yeah, just tying up a few loose ends. Is there anything happening here?”

Ian frowned. “Just the usual. Why?”

“I wondered if the museum called or sent someone over.”

“No, not that I know of. Were you expecting someone?”

“No, probably not,” he said. Ian started chuckling. Jordan turned to him. “What?”

“So, what's the deal with the two of you?” Ian asked.

“The two of who?” Jordan responded.

Ian chuckled. “You and the museum lady,” he clarified.

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Yeah, okay,” Ian said slyly.

“So what's in the box?” Jordan asked, changing the subject.

“Leroy said you wanted anything that came out of that hole up on the mound. It took him a while to sort it out. Apparently one of the new guys decided he wanted a bunch of keepsakes. I think some of the stuff he had was headed to eBay. The larger pieces, mainly wood planks, are in the holding shed out back.”

Jordan got up and walked over to the side table and looked inside the box. There were several small shards of wood, an old medicine bottle and a few
smaller items that looked like trash. “Has anyone been up there since we talked?”

“Just Cleveland. He set the camera up earlier.”

“Good.” He picked up each piece and examined it then placed it on his desk. Afterward he shook his head. “It all looks like trash to me.”

“Yeah, me, too. But what do I know?”

Jordan put the pieces back in the box then picked up the bottle to examine it more closely. “There's something written on this and a date on the bottle, but I can't quite make it out. And what's this—it looks like an oversize golf tee, but it's hollow.”

Ian walked over to the desk. “You know I used to play the trumpet years and years ago. This looks like a mouthpiece for a horn.”

“Yeah, you're right, it does.” He picked up the bottle again and looked at it more closely. “I think I'll head into town this weekend and stop by one of the antique shops. Perhaps they can give me some more information.”

“Good idea. Are you leaving now?” Ian asked.

“In a little bit.”

“Are you heading back home for the weekend?”

“Actually, I have a party to attend this evening here on the island,” Jordan said, gathering his things and the box on the side table. “And a very interesting woman to meet.”

“Sounds good,” Ian said. “Enjoy.”

Jordan smiled as soon as the door closed.

B
y the time Sheri got back to the museum she was completely frazzled. She'd done her job; she'd entertained the kids while teaching them a little bit of history. She talked about the museum, the island's history and some of the digs she'd been on. They loved it. But the entire time her mind was a hundred miles away. “No, stop thinking about it,” she said aloud. “It was just a momentary lapse in judgment. It didn't mean anything.” She quickly pulled around to the rear of the building, parked and got out. She hurried up the front steps just as the museum was about ready to close for the day. She walked into the main lobby and past the last few patrons still walk
ing around looking at the exhibits. She was headed to her office when she heard her name.

She turned and realized that she'd just walked right by her friends Madison Gates and Kennedy Mason. They walked up behind her. She stopped and covered her mouth realizing she'd completely forgotten she was supposed to meet them for a late lunch. She hurried over to them with open arms. “Oh, no, Madi, Keni, I'm so sorry. I completely forgot about meeting you guys today. Have you been here the whole time?”

“No, we went shopping and just got back,” Madison said.

“Girl, you are in so much trouble,” Kennedy joked. “You'd better have a good excuse for standing us up.”

“Oh, you would not believe the week I've been having. From the moment I walked in Monday morning, things have been crazy. Come on. Let's get you signed in and then go up to my office. We can talk there.”

“Isn't the museum about to close?”

Sheri looked at her watch. It was a few minutes after four o'clock. “Don't worry, it's okay, come on.” She took them to the security station and waited as they showed ID and signed in. Afterward, they headed up the stairs, then to her office. “It's so good to see you guys. So wait, where are the kids?”

“They're at the house with Mamma Lou, Camille and the nannies. They insisted on babysitting today so we could hang out.”

“I can't wait to see them. How old are the twins now?” she asked Madison.

“They're almost three years old,” Madison said.

“Already, I can't believe it. Time flies. And Kennedy what about Nya, how old is she now?” she asked, turning to Kennedy.

“Nya's almost five months. She laughs and smiles and babbles all the time. She tries to grab everything she sees—earrings, necklaces, glasses. She loves cell phones just like the twins.”

Sheri smiled and giggled. “Aw, that's so sweet. I can't wait to see them. So when did you get here?”

“Tony, Madison and I got here this afternoon around one o'clock,” Kennedy said. Madison nodded her confirmation. “Juwan is coming later this evening. He's in D.C. right now.”

“It feels so good to be back on the island again,” Madison said. “It's been forever. I really missed being here. I know it's part of Virginia, but it always feels so remote.”

They got to Sheri's office. She unlocked the door and they went inside. She forgot she had left her desk a mess. It looked like a tornado had touched down. There were papers, charts, maps and open books everywhere. She immediately walked over to her desk and began organizing the books and
storing away the maps and charts. Since both Madison and Kennedy worked in the arts, she knew they wouldn't be too surprised to see her office in such a mess. Madison was an art history professor in Philadelphia and Kennedy worked as a museum curator in Washington, D.C. “Have a seat. Sorry, the place is such a mess. I ran out of here like the devil was hot on my tail.”

“Yeah, that's what one of the employees downstairs said earlier. So, what happened? You looked completely stressed out rushing in here just now. Is everything okay?”

Sheri sat down and shook her head. “No, not really. This week has just been crazy. I have no idea what I'm doing anymore.”

“What do you mean? What happened?”

Sheri shook her head. “I got turned down for the permanent position as curator here.”

“What?” Kennedy and Madison said.

“I was told I didn't have the passion for it.”

“That's crazy.”

“Then Genie, my assistant, got a text message about some artifacts found on a construction site. I don't know if you know this story, but this island was originally named after a freed slave ship that left port in Maryland intent on sailing back to Africa.”

“Yes, the
Crescent,
” Madison said. Kennedy nodded.

“That's right,” Sheri said. “Well, it looks like there's a very real possibility that the wreckage from the
Crescent
may have been found.”

“Oh, that's wonderful. That's amazing,” both sisters said at the same time.

“Have you started excavations?” Madison asked excitedly. “We'd love to see it while we're here on the island. It must be awesome.”

“Oh, yeah, definitely,” Kennedy added. “We gotta see it.”

“I wish we could, but we can't,” Sheri said.

“Why not?” Madison asked. “Is the site closed?”

“Something like that. It's out on Crescent Point, right by the inlet. There's construction going on in the area. They're building a resort,” she said drily. “Right over it.”

Both Madison and Kennedy picked up on her tone. “What? They can't do that,” Kennedy said. “It's a historical site.”

“They can and they are. The company bought the property. Apparently they can do whatever they want with it. The main structure is almost complete. The artifacts were actually found at a secondary location.”

“What did the Smithsonian say?”

“They're looking into it, but it's obvious my boss isn't taking this seriously. The developer is a major contributor to the Smithsonian.”

“Do you know for sure what's out there?”

“That's just it, I don't. I saw pieces of wood resembling the hull of a ship. It's promising. When this construction company cleared the debris and dug a hole, it flooded the site. They drained it. That's where I was earlier this week. I was trying to convince the owner to close the site for a few days or at the very least allow me to take samples, so I could have them examined and carbon tested.”

“I gather he said no.”

“Of course he did. He's one of those don't-stand-in-the-way-of-progress people. He'd steamroll the pyramids to make way for a parking lot and shopping mall if given half a chance. I'm sorry. I know I sound callous. When I think about it I get so angry. How can he not see the importance of finding out for sure? If I'm wrong, then so be it. But if I'm right and what's on his property is the actually the wreckage of the
Crescent
then it changes everything. History gets rewritten. It means the
Crescent
never made it back to Africa, which refutes what historians have long believed.”

Madison and Kennedy could see and understand her passion. They nodded. “Okay, so what can we do to help?”

“I'm going to try and convince him to see what he's sacrificing. If that doesn't work I'm going to my uncle's office. He's a judge. I'll ask him to grant me an immediate injunction.”

“Can he do that without sufficient proof?”

“I have proof, sort of. It's probably tenuous at best. I've pulled maps and charts and a ledger that was found a century ago. There's a possibility it could put the
Crescent
in that exact location if it were shipwrecked.”

“Will you have enough time? How long do you think an emergency injunction would last?” Madison asked.

“Seventy-two hours, that's not a lot of time,” Kennedy said, having had experience with injunctions before.

“I'm hoping I can gather samples and at least get the process started. If time runs out I'm hoping I can get a court order.”

“You know his lawyers are going to be all over this,” Madison said. “Can't you talk to him, maybe explain the historical significance of this find?”

Sheri shook her head. “I tried. He's adamant. He won't listen.”

“Maybe he just needs the right persuasion,” Madison said. Kennedy nodded her agreement.

“Like what?”

“Show him Crescent Island. Let him see and experience the history and magnificence of what the locals call God's garden.”

Sheri took a deep breath and released it slowly while shaking her head. “I have to tell you there's more to all of this. We've met before.”

“When?” Madison asked.

“About nine months ago, Mamma Lou introduced us.” Madison and Kennedy looked at each other. “She was playing matchmaking.”

“I assume it didn't exactly work out.”

Sheri shook her head. “Not even close. I think we purposely turned away from each other just because Mamma Lou tried to put us together.”

“So what's he like?”

“He's a typical know-it-all, egocentric, condescending, pain in the neck.”

Madison and Kennedy laughed. “Now what's he really like?”

“He's intelligent, attractive, sexy, funny and very talented. He's an architect and his work is brilliant.”

“Sounds like you might kinda like him,” Kennedy said.

“Yes, I'm attracted to him,” Sheri admitted.

“Is that all?” Madison asked. Sheri didn't respond.

“Truthfully, I don't know what to think. He drives me crazy and sometimes all I can think about is seeing him.”

“That sounds very familiar,” Madison said smiling. Kennedy nodded.

“What do you mean?” Sheri asked.

“It was the same way with me and Tony when we first met. The man drove me insane. Everything about him was wrong for me. He was all those things and more. After a while I saw beyond
all that other stuff. I have a feeling your guy is the same way. Maybe you should look beyond what you see.”

“Same with me, when I first met Juwan we argued constantly. There was no way we were ever going to get along. Then all of a sudden I saw his heart and his spirit. I fell in love without even knowing it was happening. I believed I was saving him from deportation. What I got instead is a fairytale life as a real princess. My life has never been the same.”

“Yeah, but that's you guys. You both met incredible men and now live incredible lives. It was a once or rather twice in a lifetime thing. That'll never happen to me and certain not with Jordan.”

“You never know.”

“When we kissed…”

“Wait, you kissed?” Kennedy asked. Kennedy and Madison looked at each other then back at Sheri. Sheri looked mortified.

“Not just that. Last night I went to the construction site to talk and one thing led to another and we made love. I know, I know. It's crazy. It's wrong, it's unprofessional and I still don't know what happened. One minute we were arguing and the next thing I knew we were in each other's arms kissing like we were long-lost lovers. He had a bedroom in his trailer and we made love. I swear my toes curled, my knees buckled, my stomach felt like I'd
swallowed a jackhammer and every nerve ending in my body liquefied like hot lava.” She shivered.

“Wow, that sounds like some kind of incredible evening.”

“Believe me, it was. The man is talented and I'm not just talking about as an architect.” She looked at Madison and Kennedy, knowing they knew exactly what she was talking about. Sheri sighed, shaking her head and licking her lips. “Now I don't know what to do. I've lost all credibility in this.”

“Maybe not,” Kennedy said hopefully.

“Yes,” Madison added quickly, “maybe not.”

“Yes, I have, I know it. After we made love do you really think he's going to listen to me or take me seriously?”

“Make him listen.”

“Yes, find him, take him out and show him the Crescent Island you know and love. Show him your passion. Maybe he'll see it, too.”

“He wants to meet tonight at the party.”

Madison looked at her watch. “Oh, speaking of tonight, we'd better get going. It's getting late,” Madison said as she and Kennedy stood to leave. Sheri came around to the front of her desk. “We'll see you tonight, right?”

“Yes, I'll be there. But I'm not staying long. My grandmother and Mamma Lou are still on a matchmaking mission and you know what that means,” Sheri said.

“Definitely,” Kennedy said, and then hugged Sheri warmly.

“Are you leaving now?” Madison asked, hugging her next.

“No. I have a few more things to take care of here. But I'll see you guys tonight.”

“Okay.”

Madison and Kennedy left Sheri's office and took the stairs down to the main level. The museum was closed and completely empty except for the security guards still at their station. Madison and Kennedy signed out and left. While heading to the car, Madison smiled happily. “How does she do it?”

“Mamma Lou? I have no idea,” Kennedy said.

“She introduced them months ago. They dismissed each other and now they can't keep their hands off each other. It's like some kind of matchmaking ESP.”

Kennedy shook her head. “Yeah I know, she's right in the center of Mamma Lou's bull's-eye and doesn't even know it. Think we should warn her?” Kennedy asked.

“No way, let's wait and see. You never know, love comes to people in the most peculiar ways,” Madison said.

“Okay, now you're scaring me. You're starting to sound just like Mamma Lou.”

They laughed as they got into the car. “Sheri
didn't mention his name, who do you think it is?” Madison asked.

Kennedy shrugged. “I don't know, but I have feeling we're gonna find out real soon.”

Madison smiled and nodded. “Me, too. It's the perfect day to observe romance in the making, isn't it?”

Kennedy looked at her sister shaking her head. “Careful or we're gonna have to start calling you Mamma Madi.”