Southern Spirits Page 26

  * * *

  Ellyson went down first for her afternoon nap, but Matty was a little fussy so I decided rocker time would do us both some good.

  “I love you, yes I do,

  …the moon and the stars

  And the clouds do too,”

  I smiled, singing the song I remembered my mother and Mamaw Irene singing the most to me when I was a child. As I rocked, I watched his little eyes drooping as he drifted to sleep. I could feel his heartbeat next to mine, and the emotional connection that followed as we both relaxed was one of sweet, innocent contentment.

  “This is what I need to do for therapy for my panic attacks,” I muttered as I finally rose and placed him in his crib. After I found my laptop in our room, I returned to the nursery to watch the babies as I worked. Ellyson’s little incident was always in the back of my mind, and I checked on her often when she napped.

  I read through some of my notes from the last conversations I had with Mr. Jackson, and teared up as I thought about my dear friend. After I finished the draft I was working on, I returned to our bedroom and dug through the dresser to find some notecards, and penned a quick note to Aunt Chloe to let her know about the twins birth, and to ask her for her phone number to see if I could visit her. As I addressed the note, Elly’s shrill little cries startled me from my thoughts. I retraced my steps back to the nursery, thinking I’d made it almost three hours with Banton absent, and not one hint of a panic attack. Not one hint, that is, until I reached her crib. Her eyes were closed as she squeezed out her little tears, letting me know she woke wet and hungry.

  I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Oh, sweet girl, what’s all the fuss about?” I cooed, reaching down to pick her up. As it registered with her that she heard her mother’s voice, her little eyes snapped open, glowing through the brown with flecks of sparkling turquoise. I gasped as I drew her in to my chest. I continued to meet her gaze as my heart began to pound.

  I should have been ready for this. I knew that Dr. Renault had pronounced them Aldon children when he’d put them on the blood formula. I was relieved at the time, just to have them healthy. I hadn’t thought everything through to the obvious conclusions. What would we do with them in public? How would we answer questions about their eyes…what about the fangs? What if they were venomous? Oh, God…what if one of them accidentally bit Uncle Lon, or Ava Grace or Mrs. Elaine!

  I reached over to the table beside the rocker and grabbed my cell phone. My first thought was to call Everett.

  “What’s wrong?” Everett answered on the first ring.

  “Ev, it’s Elly,” my voice shook. “Her eyes, she’s…her eyes are glowing!” I exclaimed as he sighed.

  “Bebe, calm down. I’ll be right there,” he assured me as he hung up.

  His sigh sort of irritated me. I was in full-blown panic mode. Elly continued to fuss, her eyes dimming a bit when I held her close to me. I cuddled her and kissed her forehead, hurrying down the staircase. I opened the fridge and took out a jug to mix with the formula we had ready. After preparing two bottles, I carried her and the bottles back upstairs to find Matty awake. As soon as Matty sensed Elly’s mood, he began to fuss as well. I sat down with Elly and began to rock her as she took her bottle.

  My hormones kicked in, and the overwhelming instinct a mother has to quiet her babies. Try as I might, I couldn’t fight the tears that threatened to spill at my frustration of not being able to take care of both of them at once. Elly’s eyes began to dim, and then fade back to normal as she quieted down and gazed at me. Raising her little hand, she seemed to want to touch my face as she looked at me intently, almost knowingly. It was amazing; it seemed she was still too young to be reaching for things like she knew what she wanted.

  I heard a thud in Matty’s crib, and then a break of silence in his fussy half-wail as if something had captured his attention. I rose still feeding Elly, and peered over the end of his crib.

  “Oh, my gosh,” I murmured. I walked around to the side. He lay on his stomach, his little arms pushing his upper body up to gaze at me. He’d rolled over on his own.

  The tears I’d been fighting spilled over. My babies were growing…and changing…right before my eyes. I wiped my eyes with my shoulder as I heard keys in the front door downstairs.

  “Bebe, I’m here,” Everett called out.

  “Upstairs, in the nursery.”

  I could hear Everett taking the stairs two at a time. He entered the nursery and hurried to embrace me, kissing me on the cheek and then Ellyson on the forehead.

  “What’s this about you scaring your mother, Miss priss?” Everett cooed at her as she smiled at him, temporarily letting the nipple to the bottle go, her little dimple appearing.

  “Well, they’ve calmed now, haven’t they,” he stated, looking up at me.

  “Of course, now that you’re here,” I retorted as he chuckled. “She was screaming when she woke, hungry as usual. Her eyes dimmed and then stopped when she calmed and got full.”

  “As they should. It’s a natural reaction to hunger, to anger…or to fear. We knew this would happen,” he reminded me, rubbing my back.

  “I guess I hadn’t really thought about it much. So what do I do?”

  “Well, we have to consider the people around you who don’t know the situation. It’s just out in public you will have to worry. Banton’s family, your family…the SEALs…they all know. Your Texas friends have returned home for now, so it should be fairly easy. You will just have to keep the babies at home.”

  “How old will they be when they can learn to control it?” I asked hesitantly.

  “Well, I haven’t been around Aldon children in a long time, but I think around three or four. I would imagine, knowing you and Banton, the children will be above average in intelligence. And Aldon children develop and learn much faster than human children. Their motor skills and strength will overwhelm you at times, I’m sure. I see our little Matty is already pushing up and turning over on his own,” he noticed as I nodded.

  “Yes, he just had one of his ‘firsts,’ and Banton missed it!”

  “Oh, Bebe…there will be many, many more, I assure you! Have Matty’s little eyes given him away yet?”

  “No, just Elly so far. Ev, what about the fangs?”

  “You need to ask Dr. Renault and the Pediatrician, but if my memory serves me, they will cut their normal teeth first. Then their fangs, if they cut them, will come after --about the age of six or seven. They will be old enough to learn to control them, much like knowing not to throw a temper tantrum.”

  “Oh, you make it sound so simple!” I frowned at him.

  “They may not even cut them. We just don’t know.”

  I looked down at Ellyson as she finished her bottle, and handed her to Everett so I could pick Matty up.

  “So if they do, will they be venomous?” I asked.

  “Their fangs are for feeding only, at first. They will crave more if they cut them. Then with puberty comes venom.”

  “Oh. I don’t know whether to be relieved at that or worried,” I mused as he laughed.

  “You won’t have to worry about them infecting anyone while they’re little. Like I said, take it one thing at a time. You may have to home school them until you see their level of control. Even then, I can help you place them. We very discretely know Aldon teachers on all levels, and can help place them where they can be watched and separated or sheltered if necessary,” he offered as I shook my head.

  “Wow, I would have never thought of it,” I replied, sighing.

  Elly began to squirm in his arms, making her little girl gurgle noises. As Everett looked down at her he observed, “Oh, here she goes.”

  “What?” I rose from the rocker to see what he was talking about. Her eyes were faintly glowing again.

  “I’ll bet she’s wet and she is showing her displeasure,” he surmised, placing her in her crib to change her. Noises in the foyer downstairs alerted us to someone’s arrival.

  “Andie
, I’m home…where are you? Ev’s car is out front, is something wrong?” Banton called out.

  “Upstairs with the babies,” I called out as I heard him on the staircase. He hurried breathlessly across the landing and into the nursery.

  “Well, I almost made it this time without a panic attack. This time, it wasn’t over your absence, but the babies,” I murmured as he leaned over to kiss me.

  “What? Are they all right?” he asked, alarmed. “What happened?”

  “They’re fine. I was just a little shaken when I saw Elly’s eyes,” I replied as I nodded in Everett’s direction. Banton peered over the crib.

  “Oh, wow…Ellyson Marie,” Banton breathed as he took in her eyes for the first time. “Is this…is this normal, I mean…is she the right age for this to happen?” he asked hesitantly.

  “Yes, I told Chandler that this is perfectly normal. It will happen with hunger or anger. She will learn to control it. You will just have to keep the twins sheltered here at home and with family and close friends.”

  “Has Matty,” he began as he peered back at him in my arms.

  “No, but you missed one of his firsts. He rolled over by himself and pushed up on his arms to look at me,” I said proudly, like he’s just ridden a bicycle for the first time.

  “You’re kidding. Isn’t that a little early?”

  “Yes, for a human, but not for an Aldon,” Everett said proudly as he finished changing Ellyson’s diaper and picked her up. “She’s already holding her head up and reaching like a five or six-month old.”

  “Guess we’d better start baby-proofing the house,” Banton surmised, taking Elly from Everett.

  “Well, I’m off. I have some things to do this week at Vintage, but I will call you before the weekend so we can make plans about our upcoming trip.” He leaned over and kissed me gently on the forehead. “And Bebe,” he added, gazing into my eyes, “The babies will be fine. We are all here to help you.” Then he waved as he left the room.

  “Thanks, Everett,” Banton called after him. He crossed the room and kissed me on the forehead, and then took the rocker beside me.

  “So, you had a panic attack?” he asked after a few moments.

  “No, not really. I was doing fine until I found Elly’s eyes glowing. I panicked, but not like an attack. I just realized there are all kinds of things to consider…whether they have fangs, what we will tell people about their eyes…”

  Banton laid his head back on the rocker, gazing at me as I continued, “I guess I was just being silly, worrying too much. But I don’t know if we can take them to Texas to the wedding. How do we explain it?”

  He reached over and touched my cheek. “It’s really kind of subtle so far. Maybe we can figure out a way to explain…to Laurilee and Dan, anyway. We’ll work it out, or I will just hire a nanny to keep them at the hotel,” he assured me. “Whatever you want.”

  Voices in the downstairs foyer drifted up to us when the front door slammed.

  “Would you quit trying to pacify my mother? The suck-up thing is getting a little old, Ty. Mother and Daddy are on board for us getting married, so stop already,” Constance’s voice carried up to us as they searched downstairs.

  “Banton, Andie…Y’all here?” Ty’s voice interrupted her.

  “In the nursery,” I called out as Banton rose with Matty.

  “We’re coming down,” he called out, reaching to help me to my feet.

  When we reached the living room, we found Ty seated on the sofa, watching Constance as she paced back and forth in front of the fireplace.

  “So what is it this time?” I asked. Ty rose and took Matty from me. I’d observed that Ty rarely came into the room that he didn’t pick one of the twins up to play with them. I could tell he loved kids.

  “Ty just agreed with Momma about every little plan she’s already come up with about our wedding. She thinks she can just plan the whole thing and Ty just rubber stamps everything before I can object!” Constance threw her arm out accusingly.

  “Constance, your momma is just excited, and I can tell she loves this wedding stuff.”

  “Ty, we talked about this. I don’t want a big wedding!”

  Banton sat down in the chair by the fireplace with Elly, and I joined him on the arm of the chair.

  “Have you told her?” I asked hesitantly.

  “I brought it up, and told her I would much rather get married on the beach --just family and close friends. She just waived it away with a swish of her hand, and said I was being hasty.”

  “Maybe you should talk to her again and let her know you are serious,” Banton suggested.

  She whirled and glared at Ty accusingly. “That is what I was trying to do this afternoon when we met her and Daddy for lunch. Every time I tried, Ty just agreed with her about her plans,” she said exasperatedly.

  “Constance, I just think you should humor your mother a little,” Ty countered as she shook her head and exited the room up the staircase in a huff.

  “Ty, brother…not backing your fiancée up is really not the way to go in starting out your relationship,” Banton warned as I chuckled. “And the look on her face…I’d be a little scared, brother!”

  “I know. I just hate to disappoint Mrs. Sue; she has been so great about our decision to get married.”

  I grinned down at Banton as he sat Elly up on his lap to watch her reach for her toes. “Ty, if you and Constance are in agreement about what you want, then back her up. Aunt Sue would rather you do that in the long run. She might be a little disappointed she doesn’t get to do the big affair like all of Constance’s friends will, but she’ll get over it quickly, I promise. And I really think you might score some points with Uncle Lon. He might be relieved you all want something simple,” I offered as Ty grinned and nodded.

  “I think I’ll go up and talk to her,” he said, rising and handing Matty to me and then turning to follow Constance.

  “Never a dull moment,” Banton grinned as I shook my head.

  I leaned over and placed my head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around me.

  “At least now the drama in our lives is a little more normal.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Normal. I wrapped my arms around my shoulders, giving myself a hug. My happy normal. My ecstatically ever-after piece of heavenly normal. I sighed and glanced toward the staircase. The babies had been down for a nap for a couple of hours, and should wake soon. Banton was downtown taking care of some banking business, and then he was going to meet his father for a business lunch. I leaned my head back on the sofa and smiled. Peace and quiet was nice…the only worry I had today was what to cook for supper.

  The doorbell broke into the silence.

  As I opened the door, my first thought was that this woman must have the wrong house. Appearing to be around my age, she was average height, slender…beautiful long blond hair with highlights and beach curls, and dressed in a revealing orange sundress. She smiled at me…the kind of smile that blinds, but never reaches the eyes.

  “Can I help you?” I asked, gazing behind her at the sports car parked in our driveway.

  “Yes, I hope so. I’m looking for Banton Gastaneau,” she purred. “Is he home?”

  The hackles automatically went up on the back of my neck. “No, I’m sorry. He’s out at the moment. I’m his wife, can I help you?”

  She stared at me --the comic strip stare, where the mouth hits the ground. After a pause, she recovered and her eyes narrowed, taking me in from head to toe.

  “Wife?” she spat it out like it tasted bad. “I wasn’t aware Banton was married. Hmm, well…I need to speak to him. Will he be back soon?”

  Apprehension crept up my spine, alerting me I should be wary of this woman. My inner southern belle shouted at me, guns up, buttercup!

  “I’ll be glad to tell him you stopped by, Miss…?”

  “Rhoades. Alexandra Rhoades. He’ll want to speak to me, believe me,” she added. I detected moisture gathering in her eyes. “
Please just tell him I stopped by. I need to see him. Just give him this number. I’m staying at the Embassy Suites.” She handed me a card with her number written on it, with the address of the hotel on the back.

  “I will,” I answered hesitantly as she smiled her fake smile at me again, then turned swiftly and sauntered back down the steps to her little sports car.

  I closed the door slowly, and then moved to watch her through the side windows. She looked back at the house for a moment as she fitted her keys back into the ignition, started her car, and then zoomed down the street out of sight.

  Who on earth was this woman? She obviously knew Banton, but I’d never heard of her. I’d barely had time to process our conversation when Banton returned from his trip downtown with John following.

  “…just finished talking with Dad. He drew a contract up, and you can look it over,” Banton was saying to John as he opened the front door. He dropped his laptop case and small duffel bag on the table in the foyer, and then crossed the living room to greet me.

  “Hey, beautiful, how are my babies today?” he gushed as he lowered his lips down to my hair, kissing me on top of the head while he kneaded my shoulder with his thumbs and forefingers.

  “Great. They’re still napping upstairs. Hey, John,” I greeted John as he came around the sofa and sat down in a rocker by the fireplace, first stopping to kiss me on the cheek.

  Banton sat down beside me and placed his arm around me. “John, Dad had his accountant draft three or four plans for you to look at…you can set the payments up however you’d like. I think he figured it at fifteen, twenty and twenty-five years.”

  John looked over some papers in his hand. “Banton, these interest rates are about half of what a bank would charge,” he seemed defensive.

  “I’ve told you before. You and Brie are doing us a favor. With your remodel, you just boosted the value of every house on the block. I intend to buy every property that comes on the market in a two-block radius, to flip or control. If I’m staying here, I want to control who lives here. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have as neighbors, brother. I mean that.”