Everything is You

“Thank you so much. And happy anniversary.”

He grinned broadly, his nut-brown face glistening from the humidity. “Thank you,” he said with a slight bow of his bald head. “I hope you enjoy your stay.”

“So do I.” She followed the bellhop into the cool interior of the lobby. The heat and humidity were two things that she definitely did not miss about her hometown. She walked up to the check-in counter.

“Welcome to The Belle,” the young blonde reservationist greeted. “Your name?”

“Jacqueline Lawson.” She took off her wide shades and looked around at the plush lobby.

She clicked a few keys on the computer. “Yes, Ms. Lawson. We have you in the suite on the tenth floor for three nights. I will need your credit card for incidentals.”

“Sure.” She dug in her purse and took out her wallet, fished through her cards and handed over her American Express.

“How many keys will you be needing?”

“Just one, thanks.”

She processed her room key and handed it to Jacqueline along with her credit card. “If you’re ready, I can have someone take up your bags.”

“Yes, please.”

“John will help you with your bags. And you have a package. Would you like that brought up as well?”

“Thank you. Yes.”

The bellhop came up to the desk.

“Tenth floor,” the receptionist said. “Enjoy your stay.”

“Right this way, ma’am.”

“First time to Baton Rouge?” the young man asked once they were aboard the elevator.

“No. But it’s my first time back in a number of years.”

“Are you here for the wedding? The city has been buzzing about it for weeks.”

“Wedding?”

“Yes, one of Senator Lawson’s daughters is getting married tomorrow. A real big event from what I’m hearing.” He frowned a moment. “Are you related?”

Jacqueline quickly shook her head. “No. Just coincidence.”

“My apologies. Same name and all.”

“Hmm, I get that a lot,” she murmured.

The bell tinged and the doors slid open giving her the perfect escape from his question. The least everyone knew about her the better. Coming back to her hometown was hard enough. She didn’t want to make any unnecessary connection between herself and the fabled Lawson family.

John wheeled the cart down the carpeted hall to room 1012. Jacqueline used her key and opened the door to pure luxury. The room opened onto a sprawling living space, fully furnished with a sleek, copper-toned couch, matching love seat and chair and a footstool. Low, glass-and-wood tables held blooming flora in bursting colors of orange, teal blue and white. The back wall was a window of glass that looked out onto the sprawling city. A full service bar was to the right, and beyond was a kitchen fit for a chef.

“Should I put these in the bedroom?”

“Yes, please.” She followed him down a short hall to the bedroom that was equally as lavish as the front. A king-size bed dominated the room, draped in all white. Dark cherry wood furnishings and a chaise lounge completed the room. A flat-screen television was mounted on the wall. French doors opened to a small terrace. It was well worth the money she spent.

John went to the closet and took out the luggage stand and placed the bags on top. “Enjoy your stay.”

Jacqueline reached into her bag and took out her purse. She handed him a ten-dollar tip.

He beamed his gratitude. “Thank you,” he said, bowing his way out of the door.

Jacqueline placed her purse on the small table near the terrace and opened the doors. She stepped outside and drew in a lungful of husky Louisiana air. Her gaze slowly took in the skyline.

Beyond the cityscape was the Lawson mansion, the place she’d once called home.

Chapter 5

Just as Jacqueline was getting settled, there was a knock at her door. She tied the belt around her robe and went to the door. The bellhop had her box.

“Your package, Ms. Lawson.”

She reached for it.

“I can put it inside for you.”

“Oh, of course.” She stepped aside to let him pass. “You can put it right there on that table.”

He soundlessly crossed the room and gingerly set the large box on the glass-and-wood table.

“Thank you,” she said, walking him to the door. She grabbed her purse took out her wallet and pressed a five dollar bill into his hand.

“Enjoy your stay, Ms. Lawson,” he said with a smile of appreciation.

This could get expensive. She closed the door behind him and walked over to where he’d left the box. She tore off the packing tape and tucked inside the foam balls and plastic was the iconic blue Tiffany box. Gingerly she untied the ribbon from around the box and lifted the cover. The stunning crystal bowl sparkled inside. She checked it for cracks and then closed the lid and retied the ribbon.

For a moment she paused with her hands on the box. The realization that she would see her family in less than twenty-four hours suddenly hit her. She did miss her nieces and nephews. It had been so long and the gap had only widened during the ensuing years of their estrangement. As for her brother, well that was a different story. She often wondered if he thought about her at all. And her nephew Maurice, David’s son, no one, not even she had heard from him in ages. She worried about Maurice the most. He’d been devastated by his father’s death. She had her reasons for turning away from her family but he did, as well.

A sudden wave of dizziness seized her and she gripped the edge of the table for support. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She could hear her pulse pounding in her ears. The room seemed to shift then slowly settled. Jacqueline opened her eyes. In an instant the rest of what her life would be like flashed through her head like a bad “B” movie. This visit to her family was as much an extension of the olive branch as it was a goodbye. She didn’t want their pity, sympathy or help. But she did want to see them again, as she was now, not how she would eventually become.

Gathering her strength she went into her bedroom for a nap when her cell phone rang. She walked over to the nightstand and picked up the phone. Raymond’s name was illuminated on the face of the phone.

She drew in a sobering breath and touched the talk icon. “Hi!” she said, forcing cheer into her voice. She sat down on the side of the bed.

“Hey, babe.”

The timbre of his voice, as always, rolled through her in warm waves.

“How was your flight?”