Legacy of Love

“No. Just that it was personal.”

“You did say she was making you a little nervous,” Levi said as they walked into the teacher’s lounge. “Probably the best thing that could’ve happened.”

“Yeah,” he muttered and poured a cup of coffee.

“You okay, man? You seem a little out of it.” Levi reached for the milk.

“Mmm. A little tired. Didn’t get much sleep last night.”

Levi muttered knowingly. “Oh, I see.”

Jackson gave him a look. “It’s not what you think.”

“You trying to tell me that you didn’t sleep last night and it wasn’t because a beautiful, sexy woman was keeping you up?”

“Right.” Jackson started pouring sugar in his coffee. It was only partially true, he thought as he took a sip. It was a woman that kept him up—the woman from the day of the fire. Since he’d seen her and lost sight of her, he’d been driving himself crazy imagining that he saw her on every corner and in the faces of every woman who crossed his path in Atlanta. It had been a week and she was nowhere to be found.

“Got any plans for the weekend?” Levi leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee.

“I’m taking two of my classes to the opening at the High Museum tonight. Remember?”

Levi snapped his fingers. “Yeah, right. I’ve been so bogged down with this dissertation that I totally forgot. Mind if I tag along?”

Jackson grinned. “Nah, Not at all. We plan to meet in front of the humanities building at six, and then head over.”

Levi nodded. “If I’m not out front, I’ll meet you there. Maybe I’ll get lucky and bring a date.” He took another sip of his coffee. “I heard it’s supposed to be a big opening, reporters, a fancy reception—the works.” He tossed back the last of his coffee.

“It’s kind of a big deal to finally get those statues here. I’m anxious to see them up close myself.” He put his empty cup in the sink.

“You believe in all that mumbo jumbo about the statues?”

Jackson’s brows flickered. “You mean all that fertility stuff?”

Levi nodded. “Yeah.”

Jackson shrugged. “Who knows? I guess people can be convinced of anything if you tell the same story often enough.” Like he was becoming convinced about his destiny, he thought. Not so much by the things he had been told, but by the visions, the dreams and the inexplicable reasons that brought him to Atlanta. “Anything is possible,” he murmured.

The museum was closed for the day in preparation for the exhibit opening and reception later that evening. The maintenance crew was in full force polishing and shining every surface in the massive building.

“Right, three cases,” Zoe replied, as she held the phone. She massaged her temples. Her head was pounding. She hadn’t slept a wink and exhaustion weighed heavily on her lids. “Yes, I need them here no later than noon. They should have been here yesterday. Thank you. Noon.” She hung up the phone and rested her head in her hands.

Dealing with the wine delivery was only the third thing on her list of more than a dozen things on her checklist to take care of in the next few hours. The caterer had delivered the wrong tables and set-up and had to return them to the catering hall and deliver the right set-up and food in only a few hours. Two of her staff had called in sick with the flu, and Mike and Linda had gotten into a shouting match in the inventory room. She’d had to send Linda out on a break and have a heart-to-heart with Mike.

She’d never felt so unnerved and rattled before. Everything seemed to be making her jumpy, taking on mammoth proportions. She’d hosted plenty of museum opening receptions before, so that wasn’t it. Drawing in a deep breath she could actually feel her insides flutter.

It had been like that for the entire week since she’d returned from New Orleans. She couldn’t shake off her thoughts about the things her grandmother had confided in her. If anything, her feelings about what she’d been told about her family and her own future had only intensified.

She could almost say his name now. It hung on the tip of her tongue, but was always just out of reach. His scent often teased her, surprising her with its suddenness, especially in strange places like when she opened her closet door or walked into an empty room, or leafed through the pages of a novel.

He’s already here. The prophecy echoed in her ear and Zoe could no longer deny it. One of the few things she was certain of, was that the man she saw on the day of the fire was her destiny—the key that would unlock the past and free the Beaumont family from generations of heartache. Why hadn’t she asked him his name? How would she ever find him again?

The short rap on her partially opened door pulled her back to reality. Mike stood in the doorway.

Zoe pushed out a breath. “Yes?”

“Mind if I come in?”

“Actually, I do, but come in anyway.”

At least he had the decency to look sheepish, she thought and wondered if she should have taken an Aleve for her headache before it got much worse. “What’s up?”

Mike pulled up a chair and sat down. There was no denying it, Mike Williams was a gorgeous man and she could see why Linda made herself so crazy. However, he wouldn’t give her the time of day.

“I wanted to apologize again about what happened this morning. I shouldn’t have let it get that far.”

Zoe leaned back a bit in her chair and looked him straight in the eye. “No, you shouldn’t have. We’ve been down this road before, Mike. I rely on you when I’m not here. And when I’m not, I can’t be concerned that World War Three is going to break out.” She shook her head in frustration. “You’re going to have to find a way to work it out, Mike. Both of you are important members of this team.”

“Believe me I’ve tried. Some days things are fine and then others…turn out like this morning.” He lowered his head momentarily. “I don’t get it.” He looked up at Zoe.

I do, she thought but refrained from saying. Linda was in love with him. You could see it in her eyes and the way her whole body lit up when he walked into a room. Sometimes she wondered what that was like, to feel that strongly about someone. But then again, look at what it got Linda—nothing but heartache and frustration. That’s not what she wanted in her life. Every example she’d had in life had proven over and over again that love hurt.

Mike stood up from his seat, snapping Zoe back to attention. “I’ll make it work. Maybe I should take her to lunch and have a talk.”

“Hmm, I don’t know if that would be a good move. You don’t want her to get the wrong idea. Maybe coffee in the employee lounge or something?”

“Yeah, that makes sense.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Ready for tonight?”

“Pretty much. If I can just get these vendors to make their deliveries, I’d be fine.”

“Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will. Oh, if you can call the security company and make sure that everything is taken care of, confirm how many people they are giving us, and if they can cover the front of the building as well. We’re expecting a big crowd this evening and I don’t want any mishaps.”

“No problem.”

“Thanks.”

Linda appeared at the door just as Mike turned to leave.

They muttered their apologies and made a mess of stepping around each other. Zoe tried not to laugh. Those two just needed to get together and call it a day.

“Yes, Linda.”

Linda Gilmore was what her aunties would call “bright-skinned.” Back in the day she could have probably passed. Her light brown eyes were sometimes green depending on the weather and her mood. Her sleek hair hung in light waves around her shoulders framing a nearly perfectly oval face. She was a Pilates devotee and it showed in her long, lean body. And she was smart. Linda was definitely the whole package. Too bad Mike didn’t see it.

“There’s a reporter here from one of the local papers. He wants to speak with you.”

“This early? The museum isn’t even open.”