Angel’s Promise by Aleatha Romig

Emma

Rett and I traveled in the back seat as Leon drove and Ian sat beside him. Rett knew our destination—he’d arranged this gathering. However, only Ian, Leon, and I knew a particular stipulation. I asked the men that Rett not know the details until it was necessary.

I squeezed my husband’s hand.

It had been over a month since our television interview. And although we refused to talk to the syndicated reporters on the street in front of our home, our interview was picked up by all the cable news networks all over the world, appearing not only on television but also on social media, and living forever on sites such as YouTube.

During the last month, we’d settled into a comfortable routine. At least once a week, we made our way out in public. Of course, Ian, Leon, or Noah was nearby and more of Rett’s men were on the perimeter. I’d even made one trip without Rett to the city library. They had a reading program that they wanted to expand. Their website had a way to give donations.

Their goal was to add on to their building as an outreach program for New Orleans’s children of all backgrounds. Ian called and set up an appointment with the president of the library board. When Ian and I entered the meeting, the board president wasn’t alone. His assistant was present.

For only a moment, I imagined the horror of what happened to my mother, to enter a room with hopes and expectations only to have them crushed. Of course, my meeting was different. I’d been the one, through Ian, to call it.

As I handed them a check for $750,000 to begin the first phase of construction with a promise to double the donation once construction was started, no one present wanted to dash my dreams. The board president gushed and thanked me profusely.

That donation was only a small part of the money that came my way from Ross’s electronic currency. It seemed, with some persuasion on Ross’s parents’ part, his death was changed from suicide to accidental. I offered them the cryptocurrency, but they refused, saying they wanted me to use it to keep Ross’s dream alive. After all, we’d both gone to the University of Pittsburgh to be great writers. By investing in libraries and literary programs, I believed that his funds would open the world of literature and writing to the next generation.

“Mrs. Ramses,” Leon said. We were still on the highway, but from what little I could remember, the secret part of our journey was about to begin.

Ian grinned my direction as I opened my purse and removed two blindfolds. I handed one to my husband.

“What the hell?” Rett asked as he took the strip of material.

I tried to contain my smile. “It’s your turn.”

By Rett’s expression, he was obviously confused.

“Do you remember the morning you came to get me in the back of the shop on St. Peter?”

“Yes, that day is etched forever in my mind.” He lowered his voice. “I especially remember after the reporters left.”

My eyelids fluttered as warmth crept up my neck and cheeks.

After the reporters and our attorneys left, we retired to our suites. Neither of us had slept the night before, and yet once we were alone, sleeping wasn’t our goal.

I cleared my throat. “Yes, well that day, Edmée questioned Leon because my mother is very private. She only allows a select few to know where she lives.”

Rett looked up from the blindfold in his grasp. “It’s the bayou. I’ll never remember.”

“Boss,” Leon said, “Ms. Edmée made me promise. If I upset her, I’ll upset the spirits.”

Rett rolled his eyes and exhaled. “Only me?”

Ian and I both held up a blindfold. “She said it was all right for Leon to see since he’s been there once before.”

“And he’s driving,” Rett added. He tied a knot with both ends of the fabric. “May I help you, Mrs. Ramses?”

“As long as you promise to put yours on too.”

“I promise.”

I turned away as he fitted the soft material over my eyes. Securing the tie, he leaned close and lowered his voice. Warm breaths skirted my neck, leaving goose bumps. “I’d forgotten how sexy you are in a blindfold.”

My smile grew as I turned to him. Even though he was obscured from my vision, I pictured him, every inch, every muscle and crevice. I reached out until I found his eyes, also covered. “Thank you.”

The tires bounced as the terrain became less refined.

I wasn’t sure how long it took. With my hand in Rett’s and my head on his shoulder, I didn’t care. I was with the man I loved, surrounded by others I knew would protect me, and on my way to see my mother.

The SUV came to a stop.

“We’re here,” Leon announced.

I tugged on the knot in time to see Rett’s eyes covered. Leaning closer, I kissed his cheek. “You can take that off now.”

His handsome features morphed to a grin as he removed the fabric and the sexiest brown stare came my way. “This gave me a few ideas.”

I shook my head as Ian opened the door beside Rett and we both stepped out onto the hard-packed ground.

“Wow,” Rett said. “This house is...” His sentence trailed away.

“It’s nicer than you expected,” I said, finishing his sentence. I tugged on his suit coat. “I’d leave that in the car if I were you. I warned you about the lack of air conditioning.”

Before he had the jacket off, Jezebel stepped onto the porch, her presence announced by the slamming of the screen door.

“You came.”

Leaving my husband, I hurried up the steps and we embraced. If it were to be a quick hug, neither of us got the memo. There weren’t words to describe my feelings at being in her arms. When the hug ended, she reached for my hand and with her other, she reached out to Rett.

I knew they’d spoken at the warehouse. He’d told me about it, yet as he stepped forward and offered a bow before taking her hand, I was certain my chest would explode. It was everything I’d never imagined.

“Mr. Ramses, welcome to my home.”

“Rett, please,” he said with a dashing smile. “Your home is lovely.”

She spoke to Leon and Ian, “Please join us.”

Leon shook his head. “We’re fine, ma’am. If it’s all right with you, we’ll sit out here on the porch.”

“You’re welcome inside anytime.”

I took in the surroundings as Rett and I followed my mother inside and walked back to the kitchen. Nothing had changed since I was there before, but this was the first time I was able to admire all that she had.

“Edmée made us supper,” Jezebel said as we entered the kitchen, “but first, I have some lemonade if you’d like a glass.”

“May I help?” I asked.

Jezebel smiled. “I’m so happy you’re here. Let me enjoy having guests.”

Before Rett and I took a seat at the table, he finished removing his suit coat, unlatched his cuff links, and rolled up his sleeves.

Mother smiled as she set two glasses of lemonade on the table. “I apologize for the heat. I’m not a fan of cold air.”

After we all had our lemonade in front of us, Mother sat across from us. She turned to Rett. “I never properly thanked you.”

Rett shook his head. “It’s not—”

My curiosity was piqued. “For what?”

Mother’s lips curled as she looked at my husband. “Didn’t he tell you what happened?”

“Yes.”

She nodded. “He saved my life.”

I sat straight before turning toward Rett and back to my mother. “I must have missed that part of the story.”

Jezebel reached across the table. I offered her my hands. Similar to what she’d worn when I first met her, each finger had a ring with a different colored stone. Looking at our union, she turned our hands one way and the next. Her blue eyes met mine. “I think my hands were the first clue.”

Rett nodded.

“Clue?”

“I didn’t know how much your mother wanted you to know. That’s why I agreed to come here today, to bring you,” Rett was speaking to me. “This way you know exactly what happened.”

Jezebel released my hands and sat back. “Don’t let him be modest. Mr. Ramses did save me even if it wasn’t his intention.”

“You didn’t want to save her?”

Jezebel continued, “I left you and Edmée at the shop because” —she grinned at Rett— “I didn’t know who to trust. I’d made misjudgments and well, I wasn’t sure about Mr. Ramses. The shop was safe, and Daniel knew to bring you back here if I didn’t survive or if here was the safest option for you.” She exhaled. “You see, I had a plan. The spirits were loud, angry. The turmoil was not just in this realm. The answer was supposed to be clear, but I didn’t want to see it. I wanted the prophecy to be for both you and Kyle. Once you were with me, I knew I’d been wrong. I’d hoped if I worked with him... And then Damas came to me.” She paused. “He lives here. He and his wife have been here as long as I can remember. I think you spoke to them when you were here, on the back porch.”

I nodded. “I remember.”

“When someone doesn’t even try to communicate, to learn a language or understand it, they become arrogant.”

“Kyle?” I asked.

“William. He became careless about what he said in front of Damas and Cleo. Damas used William’s carelessness. He later told me the spirits told him to listen.” She smiled. “Even so, he apologized for eavesdropping. I’m grateful. What he did saved my children.” She took a breath. “William was working to take over what I’d prepared. He knew about my money, my investments, and he wanted control of everything.”

“What was your plan when you dropped us off?” I asked.

“I lured William, Kyle, and” —she lifted her chin toward Rett— “Mr. Ramses. I lured them to a warehouse outside of Baton Rouge. They all thought they were coming because of you. I had to learn the truth.”

“Why that warehouse?” Rett asked.

“Sentimental reasons.”

He tilted his head before asking, “How did you get the picture? The one you sent to me.”

Jezebel sat taller. “I didn’t take it if that’s what you’re asking.”

The man beside me tensed. “I wasn’t, but how?”

“It was shown to me. When I learned the men had been killed, I was relieved.”

“Did you send them?”

She shook her head. “Sadly, I did; however, not for them to do what they did. William later explained that he gave the orders. He believed if Emma was scared, she’d go to him.”

It was as if I was watching a tennis match as one spoke and then the other. I turned to my mother. “Liam was responsible for what the men did who...?” I didn’t finish the sentence.

“They hurt you, Emma. I’m sorry. Claim it and it will never be used against you. I didn’t know what they had been told to do until it was too late. Mr. Ramses had already found you. William wasn’t far behind. He planned to save you as he did when you two were young, and then you two would be reunited. I didn’t understand it all as part of his plan, but it was. When that didn’t work, he had other ideas.”

I stared down at my hands, seeing my wedding rings.

What would have happened if Liam had been the one to save me?

“So that morning,” she said, “I lured all three men individually to the warehouse. They all thought they were coming for you, Emma.” She sighed. “Daniel helped me.”

“Helped you what?”

“He tied me to a chair.”

“Not naked,” I exclaimed.

“No, dear. He tied me facing away with my hair hanging down my back.”

I turned to Rett. “Now I remember you saying Kyle thought Mother was me, but with everything that’s happened, I’d forgotten.”

He nodded. “I didn’t bring it back up.”

Jezebel nodded. “I kept my face down. From behind with our hair...I hoped that they’d all believe I was you, unconscious.”

“Did they?” I turned to Rett. “You didn’t.”

He nodded. “I did. I saw her and I remembered when you were taken from me the first time. By the time I arrived to where I thought you were, William was already dead. I’d heard shouting so...” He looked at Jezebel. “You will have to tell us—if you want to—what they said. When I entered, a man surprised me. My guard was down.” He turned to me. “I only saw you.”

“Mr. Ramses.” She took a breath. “Rett. You’ll have to forgive me. Old habits die hard and well, the Mr. and Mrs. Ramses I knew wouldn’t be keen on me calling them by their first names.”

Rett reached for my hand. “This Mr. and Mrs. Ramses would be honored if you’d forget our last name and only call us by our first.”

“Rett,” she said, “have you told Emma what you said?”

He shook his head. “Not in so many words.”

Jezebel grinned. “So you haven’t.”

“I wasn’t sure how to say it without explaining the entire episode.”

“What did you say?” I asked.

Rett squeezed my hand. “Emma, I could claim temporary insanity. You see, my wife was missing, and then I thought I found her, but Isaiah was there with a gun pointed at her and...”

“And,” I prompted.

“I told your brother the city was his. He could kill me if he wanted to as long as he let you go. I told him to let you go back to Pittsburgh, to let you forget you knew any of what was happening.”

“And.” This time the encouraging came from Jezebel.

Rett grinned my way. “The first time you said you loved me, who did you tell?”

“I told my...” —my eyes opened wide— “mother. Did you?”

“He did, Emma. It was beautiful and heartfelt. I knew at that moment that you were right, that you had the discernment I’d lacked. You married a good man. All of the things you’d said about him weren’t manipulation or deceit. I knew then that he loved you, just as I knew you loved him.”

I leaned over and kissed Rett’s cheek. “I know that too.” I turned to Jezebel. “Whatever happened to Emily?”

Mother shrugged.

“What about Kyle?”

She shook her head. “He won’t be bothering you, I promise.”

Rett sat taller. “Are you confident?”

“Yes, I am. He tried to kill Emma. If you hadn’t rushed him, he would have killed me.”

I shook my head. “Please don’t tell me more.”

Jezebel and Rett may be able to see lives as expendable, but I wasn’t there yet. I didn’t know if I’d ever be. Nevertheless, my mother had been right. Sometimes decisions had to be made.

Jezebel smiled. “More what, dear? Oh, I saw your interview.”

My smile returned. “It’s crazy.”

“No, it’s exactly what was meant to be. I heard you were trending.”

A giggle bubbled within me. “Do you know what that means?”

“I’m sure she does,” Rett said. “Your mother here has prompted me to learn the world of cryptocurrency. I’m certain that someone who can navigate that complicated and ever-changing world understands hashtags.” He turned to her. “My people have done some digging. You’re an accomplished businesswoman. Your assets are impressive, and you’ve done more than any of us realized for New Orleans’s family-owned businesses.”

“Thank you,” she said modestly. “I’ve had things happen, but along the way I’ve been blessed with good people. If I could help in any way to repay the kindness they showed me, I’ve tried.”

“Would you like to help us?”

Jezebel smiled. “Help you?”

“Ramses is a family business,” Rett said. “I believe that means you.”

Jezebel’s blue eyes shone as she shook her head. “I’m good, but I can’t tell you what the offer means.”

“Mother, are you all right out here?” I asked. “Our house is big, and Rett and I have considered that maybe you’d like to live there.”

Jezebel shook her head. “Maybe one day I can visit. But currently, I’m where I want to be. The city is loud. I enjoy the simple melody of the bayou.” She grinned. “I would like it if you came around now and then.”

“I can do that.”

She tilted her chin toward the necklace I was wearing. “You’re wearing the jade.”

I reached for it and rolled the pendant between my fingers. “I am.” I smiled. “I hoped you’d notice.”

“It’s right that you should have it.”

“Emma said it belonged to her grandmother...Boudreau?” Rett asked.

Jezebel nodded with a grin. “The fire that took their home was tragic.” She shrugged. “Not as tragic as it could have been. You see, I was there. Perhaps it was wrong of me, but I believed that after he was gone, my children were entitled to...things.”

I turned to my husband trying to read his expression.

His spoke his question slowly. “You were there?”

She nodded. “In Baton Rouge too.”

“What are you two talking about?” I asked.

Rett’s stare was on my mother. His lips were still. It was as if for the first time since I’d met him, Everett Ramses was speechless.

Jezebel smiled. “Mr. Ramses, it seems the spirits have been crossing our paths for years as we unwittingly strove for many of the same goals. I didn’t fully understand until recently. You see, I thought I knew what was meant to be, but I didn’t. I never dreamt their plan would bring us to where we are today.”

My husband sighed as he reached for my hand. “I can honestly say the same thing.”

“Now,” Jezebel said as she stood, “shall we eat?”