Chapter five

Lulah and Keaton entered the hotel room. Lulah’s face was streaked with mascara, and her eyes were tearful. He put his arm around her shoulders.

“We should talk about what happened tonight.”

“Listen, let’s call it a night and go to bed. We have a long drive tomorrow.” She walked into the bathroom, stripping off her clothes.

Keaton sat on the bed while the bath ran. “Tell me what happened?”

“Not now, sir.”

“Cut the brat act. I’m not in the mood for play.”

“Neither am I!” She yelled and slammed the door.

It had been a little over half an hour, and Lulah had yet to come back out. Keaton knocked on the bathroom door. Anxiously, he paced in circles. He knocked again. “Lulah, will you please talk to me?”

He started to walk away but turned back, opening the door. He entered with his hand over his eyes. “I’ve already seen everything, but since you’re mad at me,” he paused, waiting for a comeback. When he received none, he removed the hand over his eyes. Lulah was in the tub underwater but not moving.

“Shit!” He ran to the tub and lifted her out, “Lulah? Lulah, wake up. Wake up!” He shakes her but gets no response. He laid her down on the floor and tapped her cheek. When that didn’t work, he pinched her nose, giving her mouth-to-mouth. She woke, spitting out water. He hugged her tight.

“I’m okay,” she coughs. “I guess I fell asleep.”

“Don’t ever scare me like that again!” he yelled.

“Oh, now, you’re scared. It’s a little late, isn’t it?”

“What?” He shook her hard. “Why would you say that?”

Lulah stayed silent, refusing to make contact. She pushed at his hold.

“Answer me!”

She began crying, “Where were you?”

“I’ve been right outside.”

“No, before. At the club.” Lulah cried harder. Keaton’s face crumpled, suddenly exhausted. “I called for you. Over and over, and you didn’t come. Where were you?”

“I’m sorry.” He tried to hug her, but she punched him in the chest. He kept trying to hold her, and she kept punching.

“Where were you? Where were you?” She went limp, crying hysterically. Finally, he was able to cradle her in his arms. She wrapped her arms around him as cries wracked her body.

“I’m sorry, Bunny. I’m so sorry.” He held her as they both cried together.

Lulah burst upright from the cold water of the tub, gasping for air. She quickly got out, wrapping herself in a towel. At her desk, she sat and opened her computer and began typing furiously. Within ten minutes, she had a complete outline of the new novel. Satisfied, she sent it to Roz. Completely drained, Lulah dragged herself to bed. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow—the first peaceful night since that surprising email.

The following day, Roz arrived at Lulah’s home to find her packing.

“I read over the outline. Miraculously, it was intriguing yet vague at the same time.”

“Natural talent I’ve honed.”

“I agree. Also, it lets me know there’s something you aren’t telling me. Does it have something to do with the trip?”

“In a way, yes. After the Homecoming business, I’ll stay for another month. By the time I return, the novel will be finished. I’ve never had a more solid outline than this one. It will come easy once I set aside the time to flesh it out.”

Throughout the exchange, Lulah had gone back and forth between her closet and the large suitcase on her bed. Not once did she look Roz in the eye.

“Oh, I believe you.” Roz was being truthful. She did believe what Lulah was saying. But she could see the anxiety in her friend’s body language. “I have a copy of your itinerary. I will be down for the book signing later. Russell and Roger will be joining as well.”

“Oh, you’re calling them by their real names now?” Lulah joked.

Roz flushed, “Well, it is their names.” Lulah gave her a curious look. “We’ve all had a…truce of sorts. I’ll give you the details once you return home.”

“Must be very detailed if you can’t tell me now.”

“Let’s stay focused here. Now, have you got everything?” Roz went to the suitcase, looking it over. Lulah took the hint but reminded herself to revisit the conversation later.

“I think so. I’ll swing by my parents’ house, and they’ll take me to the airport.”

Roz pulled an elegant evening dress from the top of the suitcase. She gave Lulah a curious look of her own, though her friend missed it in her haste to gather toiletries.

Lulah had grown up in a loving home. Her lively mother and mild-mannered, soft-spoken father were a beautiful match. She dreamed of having a relationship even half as wonderful as theirs all her life. They met during a jazz festival, brought together by their heartbreaking experiences.

Lulah’s mother, Adelaide, was a talented watercolor artist who had to cut her schooling short to tend to an ailing mother. As the only child of a single mother, her fate was sealed. When her mother passed away, Adelaide sought some consolation in music, which she had shared with her mother.

Adelaide had walked upon a set showcasing Lulah’s father, Samuel Joseph Morrison, aka SamJo, on piano. Her father lived for music and wrote numerous compositions for television and film. His true love, however, was playing live in his home city, the reason he chose not to pursue higher education. That was his true love until that day he spotted Adelaide in the crowd, tears in her eyes and a smile. There was no one else for either of them.

When Lulah entered her childhood home, she was enthusiastically greeted. Clad in an apron, Samuel ran to hug his daughter.

“Hello, sweetheart. It’s so good to see you!” He rocked Lulah side to side, causing a laugh to leave her.

“Hi, Dad.”

Adelaide joined them, pulling on Samuel’s shoulders. " It's my turn to hug her.” The two women embraced warmly. “Dad made your favorite for dinner.”

Samuel went to grab her suitcase, noticing the two bouquets. Lulah took those while her father took her case to the other room.

“Brought these since it’s been a while,” she handed over the bouquet of lilacs and morning glory the other she kept in hand. Adelaide led them to the kitchen, filling a vase with water and setting the bouquet inside.

“Which ones did you get this time?” her mother nodded to the bouquet in Lulah’s hands.

“The clerk said that Blue Salvia and Daisy were the perfect flowers for what I described. It came out beautiful, don’t you think?”

Adelaide gave a sad smile. “I do.” She went around the counter and squeezed Lulah’s shoulder. “I’m going to change the sheets on the guest bed. Dinner should be ready soon.”

Lulah nodded, “Thanks, Mom.” Her mother headed down the hallway, and Lulah went to the back door.

Stepping out, she walked across the yard to a smaller tree. She let her hand rest on the trunk before crouching down. A small golden plaque lay with angel wings scrawled into it. Below the wings, a date was written: September 17. Lulah replaced the dried bouquet with the fresh one before dusting off the plaque.

Landing in Philadelphia, Lulah’s anxiety was momentarily forgotten once she made it to her alma mater. It was just as she remembered it. The fall leaves were in full bloom among the swarm of trees. She stood on the expansive lawn looking up at the clock tower, a welcoming monument for the university.

“Tallulah Morrison.” A gentle voice spoke from behind her. She turned to see a tall, gangly woman with kind eyes and greying hair.

“Professor Waters. How are you?” Lulah went to her to take her hand.

“I am doing profoundly well, seeing as my star student has returned. And with such achievements. You are a credit to me and this university.”

“I’m not sure what to say except thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Truly, professor, thank you. I learned so much in my classes with you. I still admire and appreciate how you let my creativity be so free in my assignments.”

“I cannot take credit for your talent. You should not give it away so freely, either.” She glanced up at the clock tower. “I must head home, but could I persuade you to join me for class tomorrow morning? It is my senior class, and I’m sure they would love to ask some questions if it won’t mess up your schedule.”

“I’ll be there. Anything for my favorite professor.”

The students did not want to let her leave once class was out. Some asked for an autograph, a surprise and a pleasure for the newly famous author. Lulah and Professor Waters walked back toward the main lawn, catching up when the professor stopped short.

“There’s the dean with the other star pupil.” The professor motioned over Lulah’s shoulder. She did not want to turn around because she knew who the professor was referring to, yet she turned anyway. The dean’s figure blocked her view momentarily before he stepped back to reveal Keaton.

Lulah was suddenly breathless. In every sense, it was as if time had stood still. Her feelings for him, how handsome he was, and how he looked at her had not changed. And the look he gave her was as transparent as ever. He took a step in her direction. No, she was not ready.

The dean took notice and called out to Professor Waters. Fortunately, the professor was not a fan of the dean and looped arms with Lulah, giving a flimsy wave and turning them towards the parking lot.

“I loved today, Professor. Thank you for inviting me. I should get going.”

“Alright. I’ll see you tonight at the reading.”

Lulah climbed into her rental car. Just as she was backing out of her spot, Keaton came up quickly. Their eyes met in the rearview mirror. She averted her eys and drove away.

Lulah arrived back at the B&B right as Roz was exiting her car. She rushed over, grabbing Roz’s hand and pulling her inside quickly.

“Everything okay?” Roz asked once they made it to Lulah’s room.

“Yeah, fine. How was your flight?” Lulah asked, going to her suitcase and laying out an outfit.

“There were no crying babies, stinky lavatories, or vomiting passengers, so it was pretty nice.” The two women laughed. "Alright, the reading is at seven-thirty. I checked with the staff already, and it's such a cute space, which is perfect because it won’t be overcrowded.”

“So, where are you guys staying?” Lulah held up two blouses, one emerald green and one navy.

“We got a suite—” Roz froze.

Lulah cocked her head to the side, staring, “What?”

Roz, now flustered, “I like the green better. Wear the green one.”

Lulah hung the selected blouse on the closet door and stepped close to Roz. “Something happened between you and one of them.”

“No,” Roz said confidently, yet she couldn’t keep eye contact.

“Both of them! Do they know?”

Roz snorted, “Oh, yeah, they know.”

“Wait…you three? Together?”

Roz fell back dramatically on the bed with a sigh. “It has been absolutely delicious.”

“When? How?” Lulah said excitedly and joined her on the bed.

“The night you left me at the club. I was tipsy, and they showed up in leathers. I was shocked. And you know me and my big mouth. I joked that they were lovers in the nighttime…” she shrugged, “Next thing I knew, we were in one of the playrooms.”

“I knew something was up the day you came to my place.”

“I was still processing everything. Two Doms! I’ve never done anything like that before.”

“Well, I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. Hopefully, I won’t screw it up.”

“Don’t do that. Kill those kinds of thoughts. You deserve to be happy and to enjoy it.”

The bookshop was quaint and cozy, just like the rest of the small town. The dimmed lights created a calm ambiance that matched the book’s genre. The audience listened intently, locked into the world of the story. Lulah finished and was awarded immense applause.

Roz joined her at the small podium, “Thank you all for coming. We really appreciate the support and love for Tallulah and her work. And I’d like to announce that I just got word that All My Secrets has taken the number one spot in its genre for eight weeks straight. Let’s hear a round of applause.”

The small crowd did so, along with cheers and whistles. Lulah was bashful in the reception but smiled widely.

“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Now, we have time for some questions, if there are any.” Roz stepped back, letting Lulah come forward again. Numerous hands went in the air.

A voice spoke up, “I have a question.” The sound of bodies shuffling to turn to the owner echoed in the small space. At the very back sat a man with deep brown hair and blue eyes, laser-focused on Lulah.

Lulah gripped the podium's edge, but her face was the picture of loveliness. “Yes, sir.” It was a perfectly ordinary, respectable response, but the feeling it evoked in her was intense. The man cocked his head to the side, lifting a brow. He knew exactly what she was feeling because he was feeling it, too. God, she hoped no one would notice.

“How did you come up with the title? From what I read, I can tell that the protagonist didn’t have many secrets. Or are you planning on a sequel?” Gasps and excited chatter from the other attendees sounded.

“Wasn't that two questions?” Lulah sassed. The group laughed heartily. The man smirked. “It was inspired by a song I heard. The lyrics exemplified my protagonist’s personality and struggle at that time.”

“Which one?”

“Now you’re just being greedy. Three questions? Save time for others.”

“I believe they are just as curious of the answers as I am. Or am I wrong?” The man addressed the rest of the group, who responded positively.

Lulah caught herself from rolling her eyes. “Are you familiar with the band OneRepublic?”

“Yes, I am. They’re one of my favorites.”

“Naturally, you can deduce which song. Wouldn’t you say, sir?” She had done it on purpose this time. “Anyone else?”

“Ah, ah, ah,” he teased, and the group laughed again, clapping. "You never answered my second question.”

This time, Lulah had to stop herself from laughing. “I’m afraid I can’t remember the question.”

Roz returned and placed a hand on Lulah’s shoulder, “Well, time is actually up. But those of you that didn’t get to ask their questions—”

“Which was everyone but one,” Lulah chimed, the audience eating it up.

“Yes. Tallulah will have a book signing at the university on Friday afternoon for those who want another chance. Good night, everyone. Thank you for coming out.”

Russell and Roger worked on getting everyone out of the bookstore. Roz pulled Lulah towards the small employee lounge.

“What the hell was that?” the agent laughed, “I’ve never seen anything like that. You two were flirting.”

Lulah looked annoyed at Roz, “No, we weren’t.”

“Oh, don’t give me that. I’m sure no one else caught on, but I know how you flirt. You turn on your bratty side. He went with it so easily. It was clear he was interested,” Roz rambled, “I wonder if he left. Maybe you can still catch him.” She started walking to the shop, but Lulah caught her arm.

“No, uh un.”

“No? Why not?”

“Because that was Keaton.”