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Sunlight beamed through the window, shining brightly across the bed. Caroline looked for a clock, but there wasn't one. She patted around the nightstand until she found her cell phone. 6:04. Ugh! She tossed her phone down on the soft, fluffy bedspread. Her eyes popped open when she remembered where she was.

  Oh my goodness! I'm in Louisiana! I made it. Last night wasn't a dream.

  After the long drive and the nerves, everything seemed foggy. She rubbed her dry, aching eyes, a result of the crying last night. As she lay there replaying everything that happened, her thoughts were interrupted by someone singing outside directly beneath her window.

  She rolled out of bed, nearly falling flat on her face. Apparently the fatigue had officially caught up with her. Freezing, she put on her robe and shuffled her stiff legs to the window. This was definitely the same window in her dreams. Were they premonitions? No, premonitions predicted the future. Her dreams were of something that happened a long, long time ago.

  She peered outside and spotted a very muscular, tan body clad in a white tank top and cut off jeans. Between Trevor's naturally bronze skin, Eddie's sun-kissed hue, and this guy's tan, Caroline felt like a vampire. Even pale Delia had more color than Caroline. If everyone in the bayou was as tan as the folks she'd seen so far, her milky skin would shine like a new penny around here. He pushed a wheel barrow overflowing with dirt to a space just beneath the window. She couldn't see his face for the ball cap he was wearing. He came too close to the house for her to see him anymore.

  Clearly not thinking, she leaned forward quickly and slammed her face into the glass of the closed window. She rubbed her aching forehead, thankful no one had witnessed her smacking her face like an idiot.

  Great going, dummy. You're starting the day out gracefully.

  She waited for him to come back out, but he must have been planting. She could only hear him now. He was singing a song she'd never heard before. It was smooth and bluesy, but it also had an edge to it similar to Jon Bon Jovi. Definitely a sexy voice.

  She smelled coffee and some sort of bread baking. Blueberry muffins? Whatever it was smelled heavenly. . .especially the coffee. She hurried to the bathroom down the hall to take a shower before anyone could see her looking like death warmed over. After her strenuous, anxiety-filled evening, her muscles rebelled by knotting into baseball-sized clumps. While the scalding water worked to relax her tension, Caroline's mind raced.

  Exactly how many rooms does this mansion have? How many people live here? Are there antique treasures hidden in nooks and crannies all over the place like in some of the movies I've seen?

  She couldn't wait to explore her family's historical home. She appreciated the updated showers and wondered when the bathrooms had been restored. She bet Trevor would love to get hold of this place. This was right up his alley. Next to the shower was an antiquated porcelain claw foot bathtub that looked like it had been there for a very long time. Still in great condition, though. The home had been very well maintained over time.

  An image of the guy who had attacked her in the first terrifying dream invaded her thoughts. His black, stringy, chin length hair, sinister laugh, and the ice cold blue eyes continued to haunt her. She wondered about his significance in this mystery. Her stomach twisted with the possibility that these people might have once really existed and possibly lived in this area. . .if not in this house!

  This new anxiety quickly undid some of what the hot water had accomplished relaxing her tightly wound body so she shut off the water and the negative thoughts. She quickly dressed for the day before any more crazy thoughts crept into her mind.

  Caroline towel-dried and whipped her hair into a loose ponytail at the base of her neck and scurried down the stairs. The little bounce in her step surprised her after the dread she had felt before—and shortly after–her arrival. Strangely enough, after unloading on her dad and releasing all the pent up emotion, she was comfortable here. So far.

  Her eyes scanned the open areas around the spacious floor plan and saw no signs of life on her way to the only space she was sure about from her brief observation last night. The kitchen. Apart from the two women, Delia and the other woman with a D name, she appeared to be the only one awake. She surprised them when she walked through the kitchen doors. They had been laughing about something and instantly stopped when they saw her.

  "Oh, good morning, Miss Caroline, would you care for some breakfast?"

  She adored their southern hospitality. Something she'd missed in Chicago. "Yes, ma'am, please. It smells wonderful!"

  The other woman introduced herself since Caroline hadn't formally met her last night. "G'mohnin' bebé, the name's Delphine and I do the cookin' 'round here. You eva need anythin' you just holla, boo, ya heard?" Delphine, that was her name. The accent intrigued Caroline and she wanted to hear more.

  "Yes, ma'am, I'll be sure to do that. Supper was delicious. Thank you so much."

  "Oh, you welcome, bebé."

  She enjoyed a delicious cup of a New Orleans Blend coffee with a bit of flavored creamer. Kristy always teased her about her sissy creamers, but she didn't care. She liked coffee, but not without sugar and at least milk. The brew was so delicious she went back for a second cup.

  "This coffee is incredible. Why does it taste so much better than the other brands?"

  "It's the chicory, beb. Gives it that extra lil' kick." Delia laughed, "My daddy always said it'd put hair on your chest."

  "So dat's what caused it. I knew it wudn't dem hormones. Call my doctah. I need my money back." Delphine winked and cackled as she flipped a pancake.

  Caroline laughed with them as she soaked in her surroundings. The coffee really was amazing. The bitter chicory contrasted perfectly to make it rich and robust. Strong but smooth, it was delicious. She enjoyed listening to Delia and Delphine's verbal sparring as they joked and laughed after nearly every sentence. Their happiness was infectious.

  The accent down here wasn't like the twangy southern accents portrayed in the movies, it was like nothing she'd ever heard. The dialect was interesting and unique. Similar but different to the stereotypical New York accent, yet perfectly fitting for the exotic and mysterious bayou region. The inflection and cadence as they delivered each sentence had a French infused melodic flow which caused it to almost sound like another language, but Caroline understood them. Mostly. She wanted to sit there and listen to them longer, but they had come to a lull in their conversation.

  "Delia, who was the guy singing loudly beneath my window this morning?"

  She and Delphine giggled, "Oh, that's Beau. Don't mind him, boo, he's the gardener. He loves to sing for us and we love lookin' at him—I mean, listening to him." She winked and they all laughed. Now Caroline really wished she had seen his face. Sure, she'd already promised her heart to someone else, but it wouldn't hurt to look.

  Eddie sauntered into the kitchen. "Good morning, ladies. What's all the giggling about? Hmm? Checking out the gardener again, Delia?"

  Delia scurried around collecting the dirty dishes as she quickly said, "Oh, no sir, we was just filling Miss Caroline in on who woke her up this morning."

  He looked at Caroline and frowned, "Did he wake you? He usually starts early so he can be done before it gets too hot. I can ask him to wait a bit before he starts."

  "No, no it's fine, really. Honestly, the sun woke me up first. The singing was just what got me out of bed. Curiosity, I suppose." She sheepishly grinned and he smirked, triggering her defenses. "What?"

  "Oh, nothing. What would your fiancé think about your curiosity?" he teased playfully.

  "Oh, come on, I'm engaged, not dead! I like a little eye candy every now and then, too."

  "Eye candy? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"

  She sipped her coffee, "More like ten years ago, but yeah."

  He smiled admiringly. She could tell he was grateful she was there. "Good morning, Caroline. I can't tell you how lovely it is to see your smiling face in my kitchen. . .after all these years."<
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  She couldn't explain why, but things felt right. Like the missing link in her life had been restored. "Good morning, Daddy." She kissed his cheek and swore his chest puffed with pride. Who knew one little word could make such a difference in someone's life. She headed toward the stairs to finish unpacking.

  "Uh, Caroline. Do you have a minute?"

  She stopped quickly after only two stairs up and turned. "Sure, what's up?"

  "Last night, in my desperate attempt to convince you to stay, I forgot to disclose a very important detail. I did get to see you when you were two-years-old."

  "Yes, my mom told me that. She never told me why, but she did tell me you hadn't seen me since I was two."

  He hesitantly continued, his face serious. "I mentioned last night that I'd left when you were only six-months-old, but when you were two, I remarried and requested you guys come down here for the wedding." He cautiously studied her face for a reaction.

  "That's great. I'm glad you were able to find someone who made you happy. Where is she? What's her name? Why wasn't she here last night for dinner?"

  He grinned, amused with her interrogation. "Her name was Elizabeth and she passed away a long time ago."

  "Oh. How sad! I'm so sorry for your loss."

  Eddie's head tilted slightly and his eyes brimmed with emotion. "Thank you. That's very sweet. It was a real tough time."

  He paused and Caroline held her breath wondering what else he had neglected to tell her. "It wasn't too long before I met my current wife, April. And, um, well. . ." He didn't look away, focusing intently on her reaction. "You have a brother and a sister, Caroline." Her stomach churned preventing her brain from forming a proper response, so she simply stared at him. "Unfortunately, they spent last night with friends and April went to New Orleans this weekend. They'll all be back today so you'll be able to meet them."

  Caroline didn't know how to react. "Oh. Okay." She needed time to digest this new information, so rather than blurt something embarrassing, she slowly started up the stairs. He hadn't told her this information last night probably for fear she would storm out of his life without looking back. And he would have been correct. He waited until things were okay between them to drop this bomb. Smart, Eddie.

  She'd always wanted siblings, but her mother never remarried. Now she had two, plus a stepmother. Excitement rather than resentment bubbled in the pit of her stomach regarding her family in-a-box. Halfway up the staircase she turned to find Eddie looking pensive and worried. "You know, I'm really glad I came down here. I am. I'm not resentful anymore. Now I'm really eager to learn more about you and your family. . .my family." His shoulders sagged with relief as she made her way to her room.

  Back at her window, Caroline looked out hopefully, but Beau must have finished. She frowned, disappointed she missed her chance to see what Delia and Delphine were talking about. Caroline couldn't imagine anyone more beautiful than Trevor. He was by far the most handsome specimen of a man she had ever seen.

  She took in the furnishings of her new room in the fresh light of the morning sun. Could it all be the original furniture and fixtures from when the house was built? They were in pristine condition. And what was the significance of the window? Caroline noticed something on the left side of the glass, just above the middle window pane. An etching. She rubbed her fingertip across the raised edges of the perfect script as she made out the letters, shocked when she recognized her own initials. Her heart raced as she brushed the pads of her fingers repeatedly across the peculiar find.

  R. C. F.

  No way. Coincidence? Fate? How is this possible? As she scraped her fingernail across the ridges of the scratched glass, the hairs on her neck prickled. Caroline couldn't imagine why her initials were branded in a window she'd never seen before. In real life, at least. Did they belong to the girl from her dream? Who was she, anyway? Was the poor woman enslaved in her own home? Perhaps leaving her mark like a prisoner in a cell?

  Caroline's mind effectively blown, she finished her coffee and unpacked her things as she resolved to learn more about this mystery. If it was indeed a premonition she'd had, fate clearly sent her a message, but what? It was Trevor's idea for her to come here, maybe the message regarded him? Maybe God knew deep down she needed her father in her life. She didn't know or understand how, but Trevor's silly condition had some significance to it, and now she was determined to find out what.

  Portions of her dreams had literally come to life in this antebellum home, and the puzzling ginger-haired woman who, if she really existed, possibly left clues all around for someone to find. That, combined with the packaged family and all the interesting people Caroline had met thus far, successfully piqued her raging curiosity.

  Miss Scarlet in the conservatory with the sexy gardener's shovel. Caroline snickered to herself as she hung her clothes in the closet. She loved a good mystery and had a feeling she'd be staying the whole three months.

  After calling Trevor and her mom to say good morning and let them know she arrived safely, she left a voicemail for Kristy letting her know she'd made it, and slipped away unnoticed to explore the house. Three stories of open hallways crowning a beautiful winding staircase. Caroline recognized the immaculate hand carved woodworking of the scrolled stair rails from spending quality time with her grandfather in his workshop.

  As she descended the ruby-carpeted steps, she slid her hand over the smooth mahogany railing, inspecting its brilliance. This type of precision and detail could only be crafted by someone who took pride in his talent and poured his time, sweat, and heart into his work. The quality a reflection on his good name.

  The first floor consisted mostly of the extravagant entertaining rooms. The formal and informal living areas, formal dining, parlor, kitchen and breakfast nook, though this particular breakfast nook was much larger than any she'd ever seen. The second floor housed bedrooms of all types and sizes, several of which were occupied, further piquing her curiosity. Also, a huge bathroom with another antique claw foot tub, and a lovely library stocked with enough books to rival any bookstore.

  The third floor, where her chosen room was located, also had bedrooms and a solitary but elegant bathroom, as well as a large space that had been renovated into a theater room with stadium seating and surround sound. Eddie's centrally located office sat just to the right of the stairway preceding a hallway of several locked doors. Caroline wondered what kind of secrets or treasures needed locking up, but opted not to snoop. . .yet.

  Satisfied with her brief exploration of her temporary new digs, she enjoyed lunch with Delia and Delphine before finally stretching across her comfy bed for an afternoon power nap. She hadn't quite fallen asleep when she heard the front door open. She stayed in her room to allow Eddie the chance to explain to April what was happening. That is, if it was April who came through the door.

  Caroline heard a very adolescent-sounding voice. She peeked from her room and saw a young boy with shaggy brown hair wearing headphones. He flipped through his iPod while pacing around downstairs. Eddie strode into the foyer, handed him something, and tugged the headphones out of his ears to talk to him.

  "Listen, I don't want you over there all day, understand? I have someone I want you to meet, but she's unavailable right now, so make sure you're home for dinner. Be here by six o'clock and no later, got it?"

  "Yeah, Dad. I got it."

  Her brother. This was crazy. She considered going down to meet them right now since she was awake, but chickened out. She didn't know what to say and wasn't quite ready yet.

  Just as this reality was sinking in, a teenage girl with long blonde hair came prancing from the kitchen. "Can I have some money to go shopping with Lindsey? She said we're going out to eat for lunch, too, and I don't want to be the only one there with no money."

  "How much do you need? Will forty bucks cover it?"

  She smiled, but it wasn't the same as Eddie's. She must take after her mom. "Thanks, Daddy!" The blonde girl looked at the boy and her smile f
aded. "Come on, Remy, it's time to go." Remy didn't budge. He was still playing with his iPod. She yanked the headphones from his ears, nowhere near as gently as Eddie had.

  "Hey! Stop it!"

  "Come on! Lindsey is waiting and I still have to drive you to your little troll's house! Let's go!"

  "Hey, you two will get along or neither of you will be going anywhere this week. Is that clear? Claire, make sure you pick him up and get back here by six o'clock, do you understand? I have a special surprise for everyone tonight and I want you all here. Got it?"

  She rolled her eyes, "Got it. We'll be here." They walked out the door and there Caroline stood. . .utterly astonished.

  I have a brother and sister. Claire and Remy. I love their names.

  Only her second day and she already discovered an entire family she'd never known. She still had to meet them, and frankly that terrified her. Nervous excitement laced with uncertainty rumbled through her chest, so she focused on her reason for coming down here. A simple task to find closure had bloomed into a potentially loving relationship with the big family she'd always wished she had. And, of course, the bonus hot gardener, Beau. Wow, this was a lot to absorb all at one time. She wondered how they would react to her. Guess she'd find out soon enough.

  While unpacking her things, Caroline pulled her engagement ring from the inside zipper pocket of her purse and quickly slipped it on before her stroll around the grounds. She told Eddie her plans, and he offered to give her a tour of the grounds, but she told him she'd rather explore on her own for now. She needed time to think and absorb everything that's happened, and a solitary walk through nature was the perfect way to do that. She sensed his disappointment and appreciated his desire to spend time with her, but she really needed some alone time to reflect and explore this new spectrum of her life.

  Eddie drew a small map of the outbuildings and trails so she wouldn't get lost. Lost? Was the property that big? She hoped she wouldn't regret her decision to go alone as she changed from flip flops into a pair of sneakers, and grabbed a bottle of water just in case she wound up walking several miles. From the sound of it, there would be plenty of exercise involved.

  As she stepped out, her dad offered her a warning. "Watch out for alligators."

  Caroline froze. "Seriously? There are alligators on the property?"

  He chuckled. "This ain't Chicago, honey, you're in the Bayou now. There's always a possibility of gators in the woods. . .and snakes, too."

  Now she was officially a little freaked out. She glanced at the hand-drawn map and randomly chose a trail to start her journey. The grounds were fairly clear with nothing special to see except the wild dogwoods woven throughout majestic oak trees. The path was sparsely lined with a mixture of cypress and super tall pine trees with squirrels jumping from branch to branch overhead.

  The day was already hot and the skies clear, but after the storm last night, the humid air was stifling and burned her lungs as she felt the need to gasp for breath. However, she enjoyed the freedom of being outdoors. The soothing sounds of birds chirping, and the winds whispering through the leaves were calming, like a lullaby. Scents of pine and earth rooted her to the natural world around her.

  After traveling that lovely but monotonous path, Caroline needed a change of scenery, and studied her map. If she cut through to the left she would intersect a different, more curvy trail. Caroline paused to take in the scenery. Incredibly beautiful oak trees dripping with Spanish moss stood like quiet sentinels towering protectively over fragrant, blooming magnolia trees. The landscape surrounding her was like a painting come to life. This was exactly what she expected, only she imagined it a little more swampy and less woodsy. It was gorgeous. Maybe this trail would lead to more interesting things.

  Honestly, she knew exactly what she was searching for. After the room that was so much like the one in her dream, she knew she was looking for the trail she'd been on when she overheard the argument in her most recent dream. She cut through the brush to make her way across another trail.

  She snapped twigs and crushed pine cones with each step, just like in the dream, searching for that lone, citrus tree under which she discovered the journal. She reached the other trail without finding the specific setting or the tree she needed. Caroline wished her conscience, or sixth sense, or whatever it was stalking her for the past few months, would give her a little insight and lead her in the right direction. Oh well, maybe next time.

  She shook her head at the ridiculous thought. Looking for landmarks as if her dreams were literally coming true. Wishing for some otherworldly power to lead her to a fictional dream-inspired citrus tree to find a journal that probably never existed. Stupid. All just a coincidence with the room, canopy bed, and window. . .in the perfect place. . .with the same view and antique dressing table nearby, and her initials engraved in the window pane. Coincidence. Right.

  Caroline followed that trail for another ten minutes with no idea how far from the house she was, or if even still on Eddie's property, and wiped the sweat dripping from her hairline. Thankful she hadn't stumbled on any alligators, she chugged her water, mentally complaining about the miserable heat and humidity. She wished she had a cool place to rest before heading back to her dad's house. Caroline had grown accustomed to Chicago weather, so her body wasn't used to this climate. She fluffed her shirt to cool her overheated body when she heard a voice in the distance. She tried to decipher which direction it was coming from, but it bounced off the trees. She couldn't tell where the sound originated.

  She checked her map to see if she could pinpoint any of the outbuildings her dad had drawn, but she wasn't exactly sure which trail she was on now. If she guessed correctly, there should be a small one on this path around two more curves. She saw a roof as she rounded the second curve. Caroline stopped walking to listen for the voice again, but heard nothing.

  She walked closer to a small log cabin, careful not to surprise anyone. Over the dull hum of the A/C unit, she heard music coming from inside. Caroline looked around and spotted a big log near the corner of the cabin and rolled it beneath the window. Using her makeshift step stool, she peeked inside.

  The small kitchenette held a bistro-style table and two chairs. To the left, close to the front door, a sofa and a recliner faced a flat screen television mounted on the wall. Apparently somebody lived here, but didn't seem to be home. It could be a guest house, but not likely with the air conditioner running. Caroline hopped off her perch and checked the front door, hoping to ask the tenant for five minutes of relief. She knocked, and no one answered, but the door wasn't latched well and opened slightly.

  A gust of cold air caressed her face luring her inside for a more thorough helping. Caroline breathed deeply and sighed, longing for more and gave in to her powerful desire to have a bigger dose of the refreshing air conditioning. Unsure why, insanity, she supposed, she stepped inside and hoped whoever lived here wasn't home. Jazz music blasted from the back room, probably a bedroom, but she didn't care. She only needed a moment to cool off before her long trek back and then she'd be on her way. She took a good look at the cozy little cabin, drawn to its appeal and hummed along with a song she recognized.

  "Hello? Is anyone home?" At least the occupant has good taste in music.

  As if someone else controlled her limbs, she inched farther into the space noting the remarkable order and cleanliness. The rejuvenating frigid air cooled her sweaty skin and she could finally breathe normally again. The tiny cabin should've seemed cramped, but it wasn't. There was a place for everything and everything was in its place.

  Insanity. That had to be it. She had to be insane wandering into this house, but she couldn't stop herself. At least that might work in court when she was arrested for trespassing.

  She walked into the comfortable living area clutching her water bottle and nervously looked around. Why am I doing this? Turn around and walk out. Now. Don't be stupid, even if nobody's here, this is someone's home.

  Caroline should've l
istened to her conscience, turned around and left as if she'd never been there. But something kept her walking. A powerful force pulled her down a short hallway, past a closed door she assumed was the bathroom, until she had stopped outside the source of the music. The bedroom. The door was only open a few inches. If someone was in there, she at least wanted to apologize for trespassing and thank them for letting her share their air conditioning. She gently knocked and slowly pushed it open to take a peek. The room was empty. Strange that someone would leave with the music blaring.

  A neatly spread Queen size bed centered the room banked by a chest of drawers with two picture frames on top. A gun rack with four rifles hung on the wall. She stared at the weapons for a moment. Specifically the bottom rifle. It was more of an assault weapon rather than a hunting rifle.

  She didn't know who lived in this cabin or how close she was to the plantation house. But she desperately wanted to see what the occupant looked like and then get out of there. She stepped into the bedroom to look at the pictures in the frames when she heard the unmistakable pop of the shower shutting off. Oh, crap! There is someone here!

  Caroline's heart leaped into her throat and she quietly, but quickly headed back down the hall toward the front door. Just as she reached the closed door she'd assumed was the bathroom, it flung open and a wet, very muscular, very naked, male body emerged. Wearing a towel draped over his head, and humming to the music, he slammed into Caroline, nearly knocking them both down. She fell to one knee and dropped her water bottle as she reached out to catch her balance. It was then she realized both of her hands were gripping his bare, wet hips.

  Caroline screamed. He gasped and grabbed at the towel with one hand and her arm with the other hand, but his hands were wet. She slipped from his grasp and ran past him, sprinting toward the door to get out of the house before he could attack her. She hadn't seen his face and the moment she realized he was naked, she closed her eyes, but not without first getting an eyeful of everything else. Using her wet hands like blinders on a race horse, she only opened her eyes to see the floor while running for the door. Exiting his house, she yelled, "I'm so sorry!"

  She did not look back as she ran full speed to the plantation house in panic and complete humiliation. She faintly heard someone yelling after her, but dared not slow down or turn around. She had an advantage since he was naked. Oh, boy was he naked.

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