Voodoo Love (And the Curse of Jean Lafitte’s Treasure) (22 page)

             
Two balls of lights drifted into the clearing. They materialized into the now familiar form of Jean Lafitte and my beloved Juan.

             
But something about them was different.

             
Lafitte looked like a ghost still, but Juan…he appeared more solid. Like a living person.

             
"Come here," he said. I ran to him and found myself swept up into his strong arms. "You did it. You broke the curse and set us free."

             
"I know, but what does this mean now?" I could feel tears stinging my eyes. "Are you moving on? Going to the next dimension or whatever?"

             
"I think I'll leave that to Jean," Juan said. He tilted my chin up so he could see my eyes. "Your love created a final gift from the Baron."

             
"What do you mean?" Hope surged in my heart.

             
"I'm alive."

             
Overwhelmed, I began to cry.

             
"Is she always such a blubbering fool?" Euralie's bored tone made me laugh. I turned to see her and Eddie embracing. I guess everyone had gotten what they wanted.

             
"Goodbye, mademoiselle. I go now to find my beloved, Marie," Lafitte said. He began to fade away. "Euralie, do with the treasure as you wish. It is yours."

             
We watched as his spirit lifted up and then faded into the night sky.

             
"Are you okay?" Eddie directed the question at me. I smiled at him and looked at Juan.

             
"Yes. I'm better than okay. I'm perfect."

             
"Well, we should get out of here," Eddie said. "No telling what else is lurking out in the bayou."

             
"I'm not leaving without the treasure." Euralie said.

             
Euralie and Eddie began grumbling about what to do. I hoped he knew he had his hands full with that one.

             
"I love you, Elizabeth," Juan whispered. "You are my good luck charm now."

             
As the wind brushed through the bayou soft and low, I felt that my heart couldn’t be any fuller. The man of my dreams stood next to me and no matter what adventure happened to us next, I would never lose sight of him again. Juan reached into his pocket and pulled out the gold coin. With a laugh, he tossed it into the bayou.  He kissed me then, and I felt the depth of his love down to the very core of my soul. Only one thought remained crystal clear to me.

             
Not even death could keep us apart.

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