Legacy of Love. Donna Hill

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СКАЧАТЬ you all right? You look flushed.”

      Zoe quickly shook her head. “Fine. Just tired.”

      Even Sharlene, who was as open-minded as they came, would think she was losing it if Zoe told her what had been going on at night. “And hungry.” She forced a grin. “Can you get away for a bit?”

      “Sure. My eyes were starting to cross looking at all these fabrics.” She stood and took her purse from the shelf behind her desk. “Want to head over to Gladys Knight’s place?”

      “I was thinking the same thing. We should be able to get a table. It’s still early.”

      The two friends walked out together staying on Peachtree Street to the restaurant three blocks away. The locale was famous not only because of its owner but for its mouth-watering menu, specifically the chicken and waffles, the house specialty. After a short wait, they were seated in a booth by the window and their orders were taken.

      “You look like you could use a drink to go with that vacation,” Sharlene commented, once the waitress was gone. “Is something else bothering you?” She gazed steadily at Zoe.

      Zoe lowered her eyes then finally focused on Sharlene. “This is going to sound totally crazy.”

      “Maybe, but tell me anyway.”

      Zoe leaned back, stretched her arms out in front of her and cupped her water glass. “The dreams are more than…just dreams.”

      Sharlene’s perfectly arched brows rose. “Okay, so what are they?”

      “They’re physical.”

      “Physical?”

      “Yeah.” She leaned closer. “He comes to me in my sleep,” she said under her breath.

      “What?” Sharlene said in confusion.

      “The image of a man… He comes to me in my sleep, and…he makes love to me.” She swallowed and realized how ridiculous it sounded.

      Sharlene was quiet for a moment. “You dream about being made love to?”

      “Yes.”

      “By a stranger?”

      “Yes, but it’s as if I know him.” Her voice was beginning to take on a desperate edge. “But I can’t see him. Not really.” She shook her head. “Forget it. It doesn’t make sense.” She took a sip of her water.

      “Zoe, remember what Nana Zora said,” Sharlene reminded her gently.

      Zoe’s eyes jumped, as she stared at Sharlene, whose earnest expression seemed to invite a response. Sharlene was as much a family member as any blood relation, and had been privy to Zoe’s Nana, her mother and aunts’ tale of the Beaumont women’s curse. Unlike Zoe, Sharlene was fascinated by it all, and wished that her own family history was as exotic and exciting.

      “Well, come on. Your thirtieth birthday is in three months. Nana said—”

      “Don’t! Don’t start. Okay.” She rolled her eyes and looked away.

      Sharlene leaned across the table. “What if it’s true?” she said in a low whisper. “Wouldn’t that be too fabulous and romantic?”

      The waitress appeared with their lunch. When Zoe glanced up to thank her, she caught a glimpse in the corner of her eye of the broad back of a man who was walking out the front door. Blood rushed to her temples. She jumped, knocking over the glass of water on the table. In the moments of confusion and apologies, Zoe lost sight of him.

      “What in the world is the matter with you?” Sharlene asked, checking around for any more puddles of water on the table.

      “I…I thought I saw him.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. Exhaustion is getting the better of me.”

      Sharlene dabbed at the last bit of water. “You saw him?” she asked with a look of confusion.

      Zoe waved her hand. “Forget it. Let’s eat.”

      Sharlene studied the faraway look in Zoe’s eyes and believed more than ever that the Beaumont legacy was real and her friend was simply unwilling to admit it.

      Chapter 2

      Jackson Treme continued on his walk back to his car with his bag of fried chicken and waffles, completely unaware of how his tall, lean figure cut a sharp outline against the busy downtown landscape, or how many admiring women’s eyes took second looks as he passed. His thoughts were elsewhere.

      He’d had the strangest sensation while he was waiting on his take-out order, a kind of energy that seemed to suddenly flow through his body. He felt strong, almost invincible. Inwardly he chuckled. How crazy was that? It was probably from inhaling the spicy aroma of the food that had his senses on high alert.

      He stopped in front of his car. A soft, very fem inine scent wafted by him. He turned, looked left then right. Nothing. He released a long breath. These odd feelings that he’d been experiencing had begun a few weeks ago.

      At first he thought it was simply the stress of moving from New Orleans to Atlanta, finding a house and taking on a new job. But he’d never been one to be thrown off balance by stress.

      He opened the car door and got in, shut the door behind him and stuck the key in the ignition. Just as he looked up, in the distance, he spotted two women emerging from the restaurant. The car suddenly filled with the same heavenly scent. That feeling of power flowed through his body. He turned the key in the ignition, but his main focus was seeing her face. The car sputtered and shut off. What the… He turned the key again, gave it some gas. The engine whined and shut off. Without thinking, he hopped out of the car and jogged down the block. By the time he reached the corner they were nowhere in sight. His broad shoulders slumped. He stood on the corner like a lost tourist as passersby walked around him. Realizing how ridiculous he was behaving, he finally walked back to his car and slid behind the wheel. He turned the key and the car hummed to life.

      “I’ve been thinking of taking a quick trip home,” Zoe was saying as they walked into Pinkberry’s frozen yogurt parlor.

      Sharlene got in line behind Zoe. “Flying or driving?”

      Zoe glanced over her shoulder. “Why?” she asked with a grin.

      “You know I’m always up for a road trip.”

      Zoe twisted her lips in feigned contemplation. “Okay, road trip. Can you take Friday off?”

      “Of course, my sister. That is the joy of owning your own business.” She grinned broadly, exposing the teasing gap between her pearly white front teeth.

      “If we leave by six we can be there by one.”

      “Sounds like a plan.”

      “How can I help you?” the young woman behind the counter asked.

      “Two large mangos, to go,” Zoe said and took out her Pinkberry purchase card to be stamped. The frozen yogurt place was Zoe and Sharlene’s СКАЧАТЬ