Chapter 38: Swampy Shed Talks

EVEET -

Next to the river was a small park area that sat under sprawling live oaks, their long hanging moss draping like mournful veils. She walked for nearly thirty minutes before she began looking for a place to sit and rest.

She moved up to the closest bench and sat under the shade of the trees. Across from her, on the other side of the park, was a large covered sitting area that had tables and benches, and a single swing set off to the side.

Eveet watched as two children ran by her, a girl and a boy who looked to be siblings. They'd just made it to the swing and were arguing over who was going to swing first.

She couldn't help but be reminded of her childhood and her playtime with Luca. After her mother had died, Sam had made it a point to bring Julien and her to places like this, but it wasn't her time with Julien that had made an impression on her mind.

It was her time with Luca when she could be herself and not have to pretend to be happy. If she didn't want to swing and smile, she didn't have to. If she wanted to break something, Luca would help her find things that she could break and wouldn't get in trouble for.

Yet, with Julien, her father expected her to be cordial and happy. He didn't want to see his daughter sad, and he'd done everything he could to alleviate her depression.

Only, neither Julien or her father ever understood. She hadn't been sad or depressed. She'd moved between being either angry or feeling nothing. She didn't need fake smiles or forced companionship. She just needed to be understood. They needed to see that her mother's death had stolen her joy, and it was Eveet's fault.

She'd finally grown enough to know that she had issues with anger over the traumatic event, and she'd been able to rein that anger in.

Sam had eventually stopped trying, whether it was because he thought she was over it or because he was tired of trying. Either way, Eveet had been thankful.

She watched as the mother of the two children finally arrived and made the boy give the swing to his sister. The action brought a smile to Eveet's face and made her heart feel fuller somehow.

As she watched the family, something moved in her peripheral and it pulled her attention back to the shop, where she noticed the bright red rose she'd left was gone, and in its place was a pretty yellow one.

Her pulse sped at the sight, and she stood abruptly.

Now I only have to wait until the sun goes down. She thought.

Finally, she would get answers to her mounting questions. Irritatingly, since coming to the cafe, she'd only created more questions that needed answering, instead of getting any answers.

She made her way back to the car and let Thomas know that she was ready to go home, but wanted to come back later for dinner.

\~~~ ~~~ ~~~

She's gone home and changed into a suit and jacket that would help fight against the chill that would accompany the night. She'd sat with her father for a while as he spoke about plans for the future.

It had been a good day for him, even if he wasn't able to move out of bed just yet. He had been happy to see the invitation mock-up and told her that he wanted to be involved in everything surrounding the wedding.

She left him when he began to show signs that he was slipping back into another vision. She couldn't handle that today.

Oddly, she'd not seen Luca today. She'd expected him to be angry with her for leaving this morning without telling him, but he'd never shown.

Thomas was pulling up to the cafe, and she couldn't help but think how pretty the small shop was at night. The bright twinkling lights gave the place an almost magical atmosphere under the night sky and colorful leaves.

She walked into the cafe and noticed absently that there were no other customers in the shop, and the man behind the counter was missing.

Confused, she turned and made her way to the table she'd sat at earlier in the day, but paused when she turned the corner.

Sitting with his back to her was an older gentleman wearing a white suit. On the table was a steaming carafe and two cups. He was sipping out of his when she'd made her way to the side of the table.

His light brown hair was cut short to his scalp, and he had a large silver ring on his ring finger. When he lifted his head to look at her, she lost her breath as her mother's grey hazel eyes, so like her own, stared back at her.

He set his cup on the table and slowly moved out from the booth to stand in front of her. With a light bow of his head and his hand to his chest, he said in a thickly accented deep voice, "Signora Eveet. It is truly my honor to finally have a meeting with you."

"You're French?" She didn't know why that was the first thing to pop from her mouth, but it was.

He laughed and said, "I am." Then he gestured to the seat across the table behind the other cup and said, "Please, have a seat. We have much to discuss."

Embarressed by her rudeness, she moved quietly to the seat and slid into the booth.

He picked up the carafe and poured her a drink of the brew. Its dark liquid was still hot as it filled the white porcelain. Then he leaned over and pulled the sugar glass over to her.

"Jasmine tea. It soothes the throat and calms the soul."

"And will I be needing help staying calm tonight?"

What's wrong with me? Once again, she chided herself.

This wasn't her enemy, yet she couldn't seem to drop her defenses.

He smiled at her and picked up his own cup and sipped from its contents before he looked over the brim and said, "I've found that in circumstances like this, it's best to be prepared. I am not sure of all that you know, and what we have to discuss may very well require some soothing."

Eveet picked up her cup and smelled the jasmine-laced tea before sipping from it. Surprised by its floral taste, she picked up the sugar and sweetened it to her liking.

"How bout you tell me who you are, and then we can go from there?" She said before she tasted the tea again. Once more surprised by how good it was.

"Very well. I'm Jean-Baptiste Dubois, and I'm your mother's brother."