“No, no! No way you are going to take a cab. I’m going to be there to pick you up. “Lilly hung up the phone and bounded out of bed. “She will be here this afternoon! I have to talk with Lucky. I want to borrow his van to go pick her up at the airport.”
Roland sat up, “Why borrow it? Why not get him to drive us out there?”
Lilly shook her head, “I don’t want to arrive with a posse. It has been more than ten years since I have seen her. I want her to myself for a while.”
“So, are you going to drive the van or do you want me to come along?”
Tilting her head and grinning she jumped back onto the bed and into his arms, “Hell yea! You are coming. I’m not letting you or Aunt Pearl out of my sight!”
Roland laughed, tumbled Lilly over onto the other side of the bed and rolled with her, landing on top. “She’s not getting here until this afternoon. For now, you are mine alone.” He kissed her and Lilly threw her arms around him. A few moments later her legs circled his body.
Their love making was swift and passionate. They fell asleep curled together and awoke again for lingering kisses and more slow, deliberate love making. It was noon when they climbed into the shower together.
Lilly called Lucky on the phone and arranged to use his van, while Roland made coffee and heated up two croissants.
The drive to the airport took forever. Lilly found herself biting her nails and twisting her hair. “You nervous about something, baby?”
Lilly took a deep breath, “I don’t know why I am feeling so jittery. I haven’t seen her in so long and I don’t know what to say.”
Roland laughed, “Knowing you, my love, I’m sure you will think of something. Plus, you will do it rapidly and appropriately. It’s the way you roll. I’ve seen you rise to the occasion more than once.”
“I’m glad to hear you have confidence in my social skills.”
“Yep, you are more together than you know. Stop worrying and enjoy the anticipation of being reunited with her. It is going to be super groovy.”
“I love when you talk hippie to me,” Lilly said, laughing.
She saw the rosy glow of her Aunt before she spotted her white blond hair and serene face in the line of passengers spilling out of the airplane. In only a moment, Aunt Pearl was there before her smiling brightly, a divine blush infusing her entire being.
Lilly stood still for a moment, taking in the presence of the woman she had loved so dearly and missed for so long. Aunt Pearl opened her arms and pulled Lilly gently into an embrace. “It has been too long,” she said in her musical voice.
Lilly put her arms gently around her, afraid she was an apparition and would disappear into air. “I can’t believe this is happening. It is really you!” she said at last, stepping back to get a good look at Aunt Pearl’s face.
Pearl’s green eyes shown as she smiled, “Is it you Lilly, all grown up and beautiful with red hair?”
Lilly’s hand flew to the curly mop on top of her head, “I’ll explain it later,” she said as Roland stepped up to her side. She introduced him to her Aunt and the three of them headed to baggage claim.
Tiny tears glimmered on Lilly’s eyelashes as they stepped into the sunny parking lot. “What is it Lilly? I’m hoping those are tears of joy,” Aunt Pearl said.
“Oh, they are tears of joy. It has been an amazing twenty-four hours for me. Roland has been away and he surprised me around dawn this morning with his return. Now, I am here with you and it is a dream come true.”
Pearl smiled, “For me too, my love” she said as tears sparkled in her eyes.
Once Pearl was settled in the open apartment next to Sabine’s, Lilly told her to put on her walking shoes. “I’m taking you to eat at one of the best restaurants in the city.” Pearl nodded enthusiastically.
Soon the two women were strolling arm in arm down the quiet blocks of Chartres street towards the Marigny and Valentine’s Restaurant. Gumbo and crawfish pie were placed before them and for a while there was no talking. The waitress came over to check on them and Pearl ordered bread pudding with rum sauce for desert. Looking across the table at Lilly she licked her lips and said, “It is so great to be back where food is rich and spicy.”
Lilly agreed, “So where have you been? Why did you leave and why didn’t you...?”
Pearl put her hand up and shook her head gently, “One thing at a time. I know you have a million questions, first let me say it was never my intention to hurt you. I did not want to leave my home and I didn’t want to leave you. I was threatened, you see. Threatened with my life and yours, if I did not comply with the request.”
Lilly’s green eyes narrowed as her mouth pulled into an angry grimace. “Who?”
Pearl took a breath, “It was your stepfather, Rex.”
Lilly’s hand slammed on the table and she exploded, “I knew it! He is a low life bastard.”
Aunt Pearl nodded in agreement and took Lilly’s hand in hers, “He is a dangerous man. I have seen things in his aura which lead me to believe he may have committed murder in the past. From the look in his eyes and the swirling darkness around him, I believed him when he promised to make you disappear by accident. He scared me thoroughly. I agreed to leave my home.”
“I am so sorry Aunt Pearl. I feel terrible. Your home was such a refuge and your gardens, your beautiful gardens….”
“It is not your fault, Lilly. Rex is filled with fear and anger. He sensed you and I
