The Wishing Stone (2 page)

Edna.

Tears gathered in her eyes as Lara remembered her dear friend. Yes, Edna was better off gone instead of suffering through another day, but Lara would still miss her.

****

Finally at home, Lara dissolved in grief without any spectators around. She would always be grateful for the love and friendship she had shared with Edna. How she wished she could talk to her friend about the man she met today and the ordeal in the elevator. Edna loved to hear stories of Lara’s life and had given her tidbits of sage advice.

Picturing again the tall handsome man in the elevator; Lara sat back on her sofa and contemplated her “vision.”

Where had he gone?

The attraction she had felt for him still lingered, giving Lara a form of proof that he had indeed existed.

Her fingers traced the lines of her lips, remembering their passionate kiss. Her eyelids drooped in exhaustion. Stretching her back, Lara curled up fully clothed on her sofa. As she drifted off to sleep, she thought she saw a dark shape in the corner of the room, but dismissed it as only a shadow.

Chapter Two

Moving from the shadows and into the room, Lucien wasn’t worried he would be detected since Lara was finally asleep. He stood silently watching her, feeling that same anguish that clawed at her.

He always felt he was helping people leave life with as much dignity as possible, bypassing the hours and days of hopeless pain. At least he gave them that last choice, which was more than he had been offered.

Staring down at Lara’s sleeping face, Lucien felt a loss so deep that he wanted to destroy Marissa, the very woman who had done this to him. The same one who had caused him this pain and inadvertently denied him that last choice.

Lucien had wanted to comfort Lara when, ten years ago, when her father was rushed into the emergency room with the paramedics working frantically to revive his heart. And especially when her mother had passed away shortly after, and then again when her ex-husband had lain in that same hospital, dying, while she stood alone.

Lucien had witnessed it all.

And discovered the woman his heart had cried out for all these centuries, the one woman who was meant to be with him.

Reaching out to the disheveled brown hair, Lucien lightly smoothed it back from her face, wishing he could smooth the worry from her brow just as easily.

****

The bright moonlight shimmered on the frothy waves of the Pacific Ocean as Lucien sat on his terrace taking in the tranquil sight. A snifter of brandy was his only companion as he patiently waited for the dawn’s lethal rays. Only then would he retreat into his home to wait the coming nightfall.

After his life had been torn asunder, Lucien left his title, his many estates, and the responsibilities they entailed to a distant relative, who was in no need of money and gladly accepted the rank the title would now give him. Keeping only his profitable investments, Lucien began to pension off his older staff members and offer glowing letters of reference to other valued house employees. Thus Lucien’s life as an exclusive member of the
ton
had ended
.

Over time, and with the absence of a normal everyday life, Lucien was free to wander the nights throughout the world, in search of some unknown answer that would bring his jaded life back to some semblance of normality.

As his travels and the years progressed, he acquired homes on several continents, with the help of numerous solicitors and those in his employ.

Every home had to be remodeled to meet his specifications. The first and foremost of those guidelines was state of the art window coverings that closed at the simple flip of a wrist.

Another specific requirement Lucien expected in all his homes was solitude. Never again did he want to witness the very things that were denied him; a long-term loving relationship, family, friends and, most of all, children.

A spite-filled feminine laugh broke the stillness of the night. Turning toward the sound, Lucien cursed silently as Marissa walked up behind him, bringing with her the cloying scent of roses, currently her favorite perfume.

“I see you’re back from your mercy killings,” she said, derisively. “I thought you would have given up on that after all of this time, or haven’t you gotten tired of being around sick people yet?”

“Go away,” Lucien absently told her, turning his attention and gaze back to the soothing ocean.

“You won’t get rid of me that easily,” Marissa laughed. “Besides, I brought someone with me who I would like you to meet.”

Motioning to the man at her side, she made the introductions. “Lucien, I want you to meet Steven. I have been training Steven for the past three years, and I must say he is doing quite splendidly. You could even say he was born to it.”

Lucien turned absently to acknowledge the man, but his familiar cruel smile sent Lucien surging to his feet, appalled at the woman standing before him. “He was dead. I saw his burned body!” He exclaimed heatedly, outraged at the audacity of the woman standing before him.

A cold smile formed on Marissa’s face. “You saw a body. You thought exactly what I wanted and expected everyone to think.”

“You couldn’t find someone else?” Lucien asked, barely controlling his anger.

“I saw how interested you were in that rather drab mortal, so I took an active interest in her previous mate. Really, Lucien, I thought you had better taste than that.”

At Lucien’s thunderous expression, Marissa asked, “Did you really believe I wouldn’t find out about her? At least Steven enjoys his new life, unlike you. In fact, he can’t seem to get enough. I was just considering taking him by the hospital to see if he wanted to renew any old acquaintances.”

Fury poured through Lucien as he reached out to catch her by the shoulders and shook her. “Get the hell out of my life. If you ever bother me or anyone I know I’ll find a way to kill you. Do you understand me?”

Steven pulled Lucien away from Marissa. The two men began to grapple while Marissa calmly, with a smile, straightened her clothing and hair. Easily flinging the other man off, Lucien strove to regain his normally icy composure before continuing the standoff.

Marissa held up her hand. “All right, you can have your fun with that frumpy mortal. I’ll stay away from the hospital, for now, and I’ll keep Steven with me since he knows how to please me.”

Taking Steven’s arm, she vanished into the night, leaving behind a trace of her rose scent.

Pink tinges began to color and lighten the dark sky, signaling to Lucien it was time to retire.

Standing at the wall of windows, he watched the frothing waves crash down on the vacant beach, then recede. A flick of the switch at his side and the heavy covering slid down to block out any light from the outside world, giving the room a tomb-like aspect. Still perplexed over the current situation, Lucien walked to his large bed and sprawled across it.

Memories of Lara’s kiss in the elevator eased him. As he laid there a plan took shape in his mind.

Springing up, he strode to his writing desk. Withdrawing several sheets of paper from the drawer, he began to write. The pages filled with words in his bold handwriting, and a satisfied smile worked its way across his face. Sealing the missives, he set them outside the bedroom door for his housekeeper to mail in the morning when she arrived.

Shrugging out of his clothing, Lucien lies down on his bed and fell into a relaxed and peaceful sleep.

Chapter Three

The following afternoon the doorbell rang, snapping Lara out of her sad musings. She walked across the modest living room and opened the front door to find a short, sharply dressed man standing there.

“Mrs. Lara Miller?” he asked a smile on his face as he peered up at her through thick, black, horn-rimmed glasses.

“Yes,” she answered hesitantly, not recognizing the gentleman.

“My name is Abernathy. Leo Abernathy. I’m in charge of settling the estate of Mrs. Edna Sanders. Mrs. Sanders named you as a beneficiary. May I come in?”

Apologizing for her seemingly lack of manners, Lara ushered the gentleman into her apartment.

Looking around the small room, Leo settled himself on a worn sofa. Setting his briefcase on the coffee table in front of the couch, he snapped the locks, opening up the rich, black leather case and displaying a tidy pile of documents.

Leo cleared his throat. “I have been instructed to inform you that Mrs. Sanders arranged for you to have the use of her estate on the island of Maui. You do know the Hawaiian Islands?”

She nodded.

“I was given instructions that at the time of her death I was to purchase an airplane ticket for you. I took the liberty of scheduling your flight for this coming Monday, which is three days from today. If that date is unsatisfactory, let me know and I will be happy to reschedule it for you.”

Lara was dumbfounded at this news and could only stare vacantly at the man.

At her extended silence, Leo continued, “Mrs. Sanders also left this for you.” Opening a small box, he presented her with a gold crucifix, embedded with diamonds and hanging on an intricate golden chain. “I believe it was a family heirloom.”

Staring down at the impressive and obviously expensive necklace, Lara shook her head and handed it back toward him.

“I couldn’t possibly accept this. I’m sure one of her family members should have it.”

Leo stood, waving away her outstretched hand.

“No, she wanted you to have it. She never had any daughters, and her only relative is a bachelor and will most decidedly stay single,” Leo assured her, with a friendly smile.

Dazed and confused, Lara finally appealed to him, “Can I just think on this, please? Everything is happening way too fast for me.”

Leo patted her hand, giving her his business card as he quietly exited, leaving the ticket and necklace behind.

Lara’s finger’s traced the delicately fine lines of the crucifix as she thought of the elderly lady. Tears welled up in her eyes, remembering the kindness Edna had shown her for the short time they had known each other and how she would truly miss her.

After a lonely meat loaf TV dinner that night, Lara’s glance kept straying to the necklace and ticket sitting alongside each other on the table in front of her. Then, as her gaze moved up and around her tiny apartment, she tried to imagine how a stranger would view it. A less than feminine snort escaped her lips, and Lara wondered just what was keeping her from using that ticket.

Taking an extended leave of absence from her legal secretarial position to settle her life after the losing so many of her loved ones; Lara determined that she would indeed accept Edna’s bequest and take a holiday. Lifting the delicate gold chain out of its box, she carefully put the necklace around her neck and secured the clasp. She moved to the bathroom mirror and studied the crucifix lying against her milky white skin. Nodding decisively at her image, she strode into her bedroom and began to sort through her clothing, making a mental list of the things she would need to take for her “holiday.”

****

Still in a disbelieving haze on Monday, Lara answered her door to find a young man smartly dressed in a black chauffeur’s uniform.

Showing the driver where her suitcase and makeup bag were located, Lara locked the door and followed him to a gleaming black stretch limousine. She slid into the roomy back seat and marveled at the luxurious trappings that were inside.

Lowering the privacy shield, the driver spoke, “Mr. Abernathy had the bar stocked and wanted me to convey his wish for you to help yourself, then to sit back and enjoy.” He pressed another button and the door to the bar opened before the privacy window closed.

In the bar compartment, the variety of drinks was simply amazing. Everything from soda to champagne was there, along with several Waterford goblets. The comfortable ride gave her the needed time to come to grips with how fast and smoothly things were going.

They were certainly not like they had been lately in her life.

It wasn’t until Lara checked in at the airline’s busy terminal that she realized her ticket was for first class.

A flight attendant personally escorted her to a plush seat next to the window aboard the plane. Numbly, Lara sank down in its soft cushion, thankful that she had worn her tailored, white linen suit.

As the plane taxied down the runway, she leaned back and began to enjoy her holiday.

****

The bright sun was just starting to lower in the sky when Lara stepped off the plane in Maui. The relaxed atmosphere was noticeable in the wardrobe of the workers scattered around in the terminal.

A tall young man Lara estimated to be somewhere in his early to middle twenties, with dark blond hair and impeccably dressed in a black business suit, approached her carrying a large flower lei.

“Ms. Lara Miller?” he asked, with a smile.

“Yes, I’m Lara Miller.” Lara silently thanked Mr. Abernathy for arranging to have someone here to greet her at the airport.

Settling the lei around her neck, he then introduced himself. “I’m Ethan Bellamy. My instructions are to take you directly to the house. I’m parked just over here.”

At his added request, Lara handed him her baggage claim tickets. Following in his wake, she was in awe of the presence he commanded for one so young, as various men hurried to do his bidding.

Ethan patiently stood at the opened passenger door of the sleek black Mercedes Benz sedan as Lara looked up admiringly at the golden embers of the disappearing sun mirrored by the ocean’s water before seating herself inside.

The drive was purely unbelievable. An explosion of lush ferns and tall mountains were on the one side of the road, while the waves crashed down into frothing foam on the shore on the opposite side. Lara was at odds as to which sight was more breathtaking and deserved her undivided attention.

Ethan chuckled. “You will have all of time in the world to look at everything, so don’t strain your neck on your first day here.”

Smiling at his true statement, Lara decided to take his advice and relaxed back in the leather seat. “How long have you lived here?”

“Most of my life,” Ethan replied with a smile.

“I’m jealous,” Lara sighed. “To have all of this beauty around you, I would never leave. Is it much further to the house?”

“Not too far. It’s just on the other side of the island. Whenever you would like to go to town just let me know and I’ll take you into Lahaina. You can find just about anything you want there,” he told her.

Not wanting to further inconvenience anyone, Lara swiftly objected, “Oh, I don’t want to pull you away from your work. All I’ll need to do is some grocery shopping, and then I’ll be happy just spending my time exploring.”

A light brown brow rose as he glanced at her with a faint smile curving his lips. “First off, you will not take me away from my work since I work at the house and I do enjoy any and all of the breaks I can get. And secondly, you do not have to ‘grocery shop’ since the housekeeper handles all of the supplies and cooking.”

“I...I didn’t think the house was occupied,” Lara stammered.

“Of course it is. Mr. Saint keeps it fully staffed, since he never knows when he will visit,” Ethan explained.

“Who is Mr. Saint?” she asked, now confused. “Is he Edna’s nephew?”

“Oh, that’s right,” Ethan said. “You have never had the opportunity to meet my employer. Never fear, you still might have that prospect.” Before she had a chance to question him any further, he began to point out the many areas of interest while relating the facts and stories surrounding each place.

They arrived at the house shortly after darkness settled on the island, giving Lara only a shadowed view of her temporary home. The dimensions of the house dazzled her senses. It appeared to encompass the whole mountainside it sat on, with levels climbing up to the peak.

The car pulled to a stop at the clay tiled front entrance. Ethan got out of the car and walked around to Lara’s side. Opening her door, he held out his hand.

Lightly placing her hand in his, she rose and let her eyes appreciate the elegance before her. The light tan stucco gave an exotic flair to the home. As the double wooden front doors opened, she followed Ethan into a large tan-colored foyer with complementing white wainscoting.

A tall older woman awaited them. “Welcome, Ms. Miller. We hope you had a pleasant flight. My name is Margaret, and if there is anything at all you need, all you have to do is ask.” The cheerful smile on Margaret’s welcoming face helped ease some of the confusion Lara still felt.

“Thank you, Margaret. Please call me Lara.” Turning around, Lara marveled at the beauty inside the home. “I think there has been some sort of mistake. I was told that Edna Sanders specified in her will I was to stay at her home here on Maui.” Lara spread out her hands in a helpless gesture. “I mean, there has to be some kind of oversight here.”

Giving a hand signal to Ethan to carry in Lara’s bags, Margaret put her arm around Lara’s shoulders and escorted her further into the house.

“No mistake, this is the place. We have very specific orders to make sure your stay here is memorable. I’m going to show you to your room now and help get you unpacked, and then you will have a nice dinner and relax. Tomorrow, when you are completely refreshed, I will give you a personal tour of the house and grounds. How does that sound?”

****

Lucien watched Lara and his housekeeper walk away, as he quietly closed the study door and fastened its lock. Everyone in the household knew this particular room was off limits. At times he would invite Margaret in to clean the windowless room, but other than that, this room, with its book-lined shelves, was his private sanctuary.

Turning toward the wall adorned with the only two pieces of artwork in the room, Lucien’s brooding gaze studied his most prized possession. The delicate face that returned his stare was Lara’s.

The picture had been painted by a gifted artist who Lucien hired specifically for this portrait, along with a copy for his other home years ago, when he first found Lara at the hospital. He had worked closely with the reputed gentleman, telling him in great detail her description. The painting showed Lara on a beachfront, wearing a white linen shift and enjoying the waves rolling onto the shore. Nodding to himself, he was satisfied that the artist had indeed captured her grace and inner beauty.

His gaze traveled to the porcelain figurine sitting atop the credenza, the one she had been forced by her husband to sell. Many nights he sat in this room reading but became distracted, dreaming of her here by his side. He also knew that the woman and the figurine were meant to be together, and he would surely put forth every effort to keep them that way.

And now he could actually see and listen to her and not have to rely on his many memories or this paint-filled canvas anymore. Lara was the only woman who had triggered the many emotions that had lain dormant for all these centuries.

Only to be awakened now in a beast.

That was what Lucien considered himself; a beast.

How he damned Marissa and all of her ilk for making his life a virtual living hell.

Looking up at the ceiling, Lucien prayed he could keep Lara safe.