Legacy of Love

Chapter 15





Zoe walked Jackson to the front door. She leaned against the doorframe and took in his image set against the backdrop of the setting sun. Since yesterday evening they hadn’t been out of each other’s sight or reach. Zoe felt as if something inside of her was separating, leaving a hollow emptiness.

Jackson brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. “I’ll call you when I get in.”

“Okay,” she said, her voice sounding fragile as fine china.

“You okay?”

She pressed her lips together and wrapped her arms protectively around her waist. “Um, ummm.”

“I’ll just pick up a few things, check on Michelle and Shay then head back. We can catch that film you wanted to see.” His brow creased in concern. He gently clasped her upper arms. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I…I don’t know. Just a feeling.” Zoe looked into his eyes. “A feeling I’ve never had before,” she said, her voice soft and dreamlike.

“Get your jacket and purse and whatever else you women take on the spur of the moment.”

She laughed. “What?”

“You’re coming with me. I think you’ll like my sister. Besides I can rub your thigh on the drive over.”

She swatted his arm and leaned up for a quick kiss. “Be right back.”



“You sure your sister will be okay with me popping in, I mean with all that she has going on?”

Jackson glanced at her quickly as he maneuvered around a slow moving car. “Michelle is one of the friendliest people I know. And I’m not just saying that because she’s my sister. Besides, she knows about you.”

Zoe sat straight up in her seat. “Knows about me?” she cried. “What do you mean?”

He slowed to a red light. “This is going to sound crazy.” He exhaled. “I’d been having dreams about a woman.” He threw her a quick look. “They started getting stronger. And there was a growing sensation that I had to change my life, that there was something else out there waiting for me. I knew that I wasn’t going to find it in New Orleans or with Carla.”

The light turned green. He drove through the intersection and turned onto his street.

Zoe tried to make sense of what Jackson was saying. “A dream brought you here?” Her heart began to pound.

“I told you it sounds crazy. Forget it.” He chuckled nervously.

“Did you see the woman’s face?” she asked with trepidation, her thoughts running rampant.

“No. Not really. But I felt that I knew her.”

The hair on her arms began to tingle. “How long ago did the dreams begin?”

“About a year ago, give or take a month.”

Her stomach clenched. Her dreams had begun about that time as well.

He brought the car to a stop in front of a small town house. He turned halfway in his seat toward Zoe. “The only person I’ve told besides you is Michelle. I told her you were the woman in my dream. I knew it the instant I saw you that morning.”

Zoe’s breathing hitched. All of the foreshadowing, the legend was coming to pass. She couldn’t ignore it or pretend it was just a bunch of stories handed down among heartbroken women to explain away their unhappiness. But if that was true—then so was the rest.

“See, I’ve freaked you out.”

Zoe blinked back to the here and now and looked into Jackson’s eyes. She smiled softly. “Once you meet my family, you’ll realize that you’ll have to do better than that to freak me out.”

Jackson blew out a sigh of relief then leaned across the car to share a quick kiss. “Ready?”

“Yep.”



“I’m so glad to finally meet you,” Michelle said as she shook Zoe’s hand then pulled her into a quick hug. “Jackson has been telling me all about you—well, not all about you,” she said over her laughter. “Oh, and I can’t thank you enough for looking after Shay the other night.”

Zoe liked Michelle immediately. For a woman who was dealing with her own drama, she was warm and bubbly and genuinely sincere. And she could tell from the looks that she flashed in Jackson’s direction that she adored her brother.

Michelle was also tall and slender and had the same deep dark eyes and strong features as her brother. There was no mistaking that they were siblings.

“He’s told me about you as well.”

“Mommy, that’s the lady who found me.”

Michelle picked Shay up and propped her on her hip. “Yep, and she came to say hello.”

“Hi.”

“Hello, Shay. You haven’t been doing any wandering around, have you?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head vigorously back and forth.

Zoe winked. “Good girl.”

“Can I get you anything?” Michelle asked.

“No, I’m good.”

“I was just starting dinner. You are staying for dinner, right?” Her tapered brows rose.

Zoe turned to look at Jackson, who nonchalantly shrugged.

“Sure. Can I help?”

“I never turn down help. Hope you like baked salmon.”

“Love it,” she said following Michelle and Shay into the kitchen.

While the ladies were busy in the kitchen, Jackson went up to his bedroom to change clothes, but he had a feeling that they wouldn’t be going anywhere. Once Michelle got to talking there was no stopping her. He smiled and opened his closet door. Zoe might just be the medicine that Michelle needed. She could use a friend, especially now.



“So how long have you lived in Atlanta?”

“Just about five years. I came here from New Orleans.”

“You’re kidding!” She spun toward her, holding a piece of salmon in her hand. “We grew up in New Orleans.”

“I know,” Zoe said over her laughter. “It’s crazy that we never met.”

“Where did you go to school?”

“Montclair High School and then the University of New Orleans. I came to New York for grad school then moved back home, then here.”

“I’ve never lived anywhere other than New Orleans. Everything I know is there,” Michelle said, her voice losing its vitality. She turned back toward the sink.

“Atlanta is a wonderful city. Full of history, nightlife, places to eat, great schools, good people.”

Michelle was quiet then talked with her back still turned. “Did Jackson tell you why I’m here?”

Zoe wasn’t sure how much she should admit to. Was Jackson breaking a confidence by telling her? “Um…not a lot.” She sliced and diced tomatoes and added them to the spinach in a large glass bowl.

“It’s okay if he did. I trust my brother’s judgment.” She paused and sprinkled some black pepper on the salmon and then squeezed lemon juice over them. “I’m kind of at a loss right now. I feel like I’m in some kind of limbo.” Her voice began to wobble.

Zoe felt her pain right in the center of her chest. She couldn’t imagine that kind of betrayal, from not one but two people who you trusted. She got up from her seat at the table and came to stand alongside Michelle at the sink.

“Limbo is probably where you need to be right now. Just for a little while,” she added, when Michelle turned a stunned look on her. She gently touched her arm. “Give yourself some time. Time to be angry, sad, confused, hurt, whatever it takes and then you put one foot in front of the other and move forward.”

Michelle’s eyes were watery as her tears cascaded over her lashes. She sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I just…” Her slender shoulders heaved and she broke down and sobbed.

Zoe gathered her in her arms and held her close, whispering soothing words, telling her that it would be all right. Jackson appeared in the doorway and stopped short. Zoe looked at him over Michelle’s shoulder and mouthed that it was all right. He quietly turned and left.

“I feel so silly crying all over you and we just met.” She sniffed and sputtered a nervous laugh.

“As long as you don’t get all those salty tears all over that salmon,” Zoe teased.

Michelle giggled self-consciously and wiped her eyes. She blinked back the rest of her tears and focused on Zoe. “Thank you.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“I see why Jackson is with you. You’re a very special woman.”

“Mommy! I’m hungry,” Shay said, bursting into the kitchen.

The two women turned to Shay then looked at each other and knew that they’d found a new friend.



“Dinner was delicious,” Jackson said, wiping his mouth with a paper napkin. “I could get used this.”

“Don’t,” Michelle said, beginning to pick up empty plates from the table.

“I told Michelle that as long as she was going to be here for a little while, if she wanted to stay busy we have a part-time opening for a docent at the museum.”

Jackson’s brow rose. He looked from one face to the other. “Really?”

“I haven’t decided yet, but I’m thinking about it. I mean there are things that I need to take care of first, back home.”

“Whatever you decide to do, sis, you know I’m behind you one hundred percent.”

“Whenever you’re ready,” Zoe added.

Jackson checked his watch. “If you still want to catch that movie, we need to leave to make the last show.”

Zoe stretched and covered a yawn with her hand. “Hmm, maybe I should take a raincheck on that. I have to be in the office early tomorrow.”

“I’ll drive you home.”

Zoe put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher. “Great dinner, Michelle.” She lightly kissed her cheek. “Next time dinner is on me.”

“I’ll be there. And thank you,” she added for only Zoe to hear.

“Don’t even think about it. And call me. We can have lunch. I’d love for you to meet my friend Sharlene.”

“I will. Night.”

Zoe followed Jackson out of the kitchen, said good-night to Shay who was drifting off to sleep on the couch and walked out into the balmy spring night.

“You and Michelle really seemed to hit it off. I kinda knew you would.” He opened the passenger door to the Explorer.

“Did you?” She grinned and hopped in.

Jackson came around and got in. “She could use a friend. And that was really nice of you to offer her a job.”

“Our tour guides are mostly students, so they come and go. It’s easy work. Great hours and it will take her mind off of her own problems for a while.” She fastened her seat belt. “Has she said what she plans to do about her husband?”

He turned the key in the ignition. His jaw clenched. “No, not really. I think she’s still in shock. I know I am. I want her to relax for a while before she even thinks about dealing with Travis.” His head snapped toward her. “You know the bastard didn’t even call.” He slammed his palm against the steering wheel.

Zoe reached out and covered his clenched fist with her hand. “She’s going to come through this.”

He lifted his gaze. “Yeah. But she shouldn’t have to go through it at all.” He put the truck in gear and pulled off.

Shortly after, Jackson and Zoe pulled up in front of her house. He cut off the engine.

“This has been an amazing two days. I feel as if I’ve known you so much longer.”

“I know. I feel the same way.” He reached across and rested his hand against the back of neck.

She sighed softly. “Don’t go home,” she said, capturing his hand. “Stay with me tonight.”

“Do you promise to keep your hands and body to yourself and let me sleep undisturbed?”

She grinned. “No.”

“Now that’s what I wanted to hear.” He kissed her softly and they went inside.