Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Violet struggled to wake up. She tried to will her eyes to open but they would not obey. Chills ran up and down her spine like playful children. It was hard to breath. The pressure on her chest seemed to surround her lungs and with each breath that pressure increased. She felt the pressure on her chest spread. There was a heaviness that engulfed her entire body she clenched her fist in an attempt to endure the weight crushing down on her… And just as suddenly as the episode had begun her invisible attacker ceased. Violet was immediately alert and at full attention.
“What?! Where am I?”
The room was pitch black. The last thing Violet could remember was being in a warm bath, the sensation of floating and drifting, she could swear she heard Nahmie and Toby’s voices. Violet was clean and warm. There was a familiarity in the room.
Violet climbed out of the bed and made her way to the light switch by the door. She knew this space, this felt like home. She found herself in a room surrounded by all of her things. She had been lying on her bed on her sheets. She looked down and saw that she was wearing an oxford sweatshirt and matching sweats. Could this be real? Violet had not been able to project herself over such a vast distance before and she wasn’t sure if she was strong enough to make it last.
Violet took in a deep breath and rubbed her chest. “I don’t remember it hurting so much.”
There was a slight tugging at her spirit. She could feel gravity pulling at her. She tried to focus in order to ground herself in this location but she knew she was still to weak. It would be only a matter of moments before she would have to return. She promised herself that she would maintain control this time.
Violet rushed to write a note for Nahmie. She wanted to let her know that she will be in Louisiana.
Nahmie,
I don’t know how long I have I feel the pull of gravity on my spirit as I write these words. I have so much to tell you about my journey but I am sure you already know that since you always seem to know.
I just wanted to let you know that I am in Louisiana. I think this may be a sign Nahmie, a sign that it is time to stop running from my past. It is time to face him and what happened so many years ago.
In 3 days I will meet you at Le Petite Chateau on Bourbon Street. I know that you are worried but I feel this is something that must be done. If I don’t do this now I may never do it and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life running. It is time to reclaim my life.
Try not to worry too much. I will see you soon.

Always,
Violet (soon to be Lillian)

Violet put the note on the pillow she had been resting on and rushed to the closet. Quickly she changed clothes and packed another bag of supplies. She sat on the edge of the bed and closed her eyes. She started by focusing on her heartbeat and matching the heartbeat to her breath. Then she recreated the room that she was in, the slight smell of lavender and the warmth in the room. She could hear the faint sound of a baby laughing and Kaye’s grandmotherly taunts to her new grandson.
Violet opened her eyes and she was once again in the bathroom of the little shack in the bayou. She rested her head against the freestanding bathtub. Violet was back. She smiled to herself and climbed to her feet and exited the little room.
“I was bout to come in der on ya gurl. You was in dat tub fo a long time. I thought maybe you was took down the drain.” Kaye said with a sight giggle.
“I am okay. I just needed to take a moment to get my mind together.”
“I see you got yo self a change a clothes. If I done learned anyting travellin wit you I know anyting is possible so I aint even gon ask where you got dem from.”
“Thanks, Kaye. Will you point me in the right direction to get to town.”
“Oh, don’t you worry none. After we eat Sarafeen here is gon take you into town.”
Violet turns to Sarafina and nods as a sign of gratitude. Sarafina nods back. The three ladies have a jovial dinner together. Sarafina tells her mother about all the neighborhood gossip that she has missed over the years.
When dinner was over Violet and Kaye said their goodbyes quietly. Kaye did her best to hold back her tears and she was almost successful. In a burst of emotions Kaye began to cry.
“Ms V. I owe you my life. You gave me hope. You were the light in the darkeness and I jus aint got tha words to sho you how I feel. You brought me from the dead and gave me back my family.”
“Kaye, we saved each other and I will never forget you.”
The two ladies embraced. And Violet and Sarafina leave.

Violet takes the trolley to St. Charles Ave to the famous Garden District. She walks down Jackson Ave and making a right on Prytania to find herself standing in front of a large mansion. The building is an odd combination of Greek revival and Victorian architecture. It is a large two-story house with an upstairs deck supported by round columns and a cone-topped tower. A large willow tree stands in the front yard with its twisted branches reaching towards the entry gate as if to scare off intruders but to Violet it was like the welcoming arms of an old friend.
She ran up to the tree hugging its trunk. She ran her hands across a heart that had been carved into the center of the trees trunk. LV + FB 4ever. Her heart began to ache for her previous life, her past and the lost love a boy who grew into the man that she loved and had to leave behind.
The house had been closed up for many years. With the excitement of a child Violet ran through the house tearing the sheets off the furniture, opening the windows and doors. She ran up the stairs and burst through the double doors at the end of the hall.
The master bedroom was huge with silk tapestries hanging from ceiling to floor. In the far corner was a large four-poster bed. Each post had the history of a great family carved into its flesh. Violets family no Lillian’s family. This place held her life’s story, her real story. Her story before she became Violet, before Lillian Blue, back when she was just Lillian Valmont a little girl that lived on Prytania and played with a little boy named Francios Baptist.
Lillian missed Francios, she missed his smell, his touch they way his body felt next to hers, the taste of his mouth on hers. But so much has happened, much time has passed.
“I wonder if he is still here? If he would ever forgive me?” She asked herself.
Violet, now Lillian (again) knew that it would only be a matter of time before word got out that she had returned. She missed New Orleans and would take some time to enjoy the city. She walked through the garden district taking in the beauty and familiarity of the area. She let the memories of her childhood lead her through the neighborhood onto the trolley and to the entryway to the French quarter.
Lillian allowed the sights and sounds wash over her. The music of home, of New Orleans filled her soul. She remembered walking hand in hand with her grandfather through the quarter. She remembered visiting Madame LaRue’s house and while her grandfather visited with Madame in her boudoir she would eat lemon cake in the kitchen with Nahmie and Toby.
Zydeco music filled the air around her a parade of drunken revelers pass Lillian on the street. She allows herself to get caught up in the celebration finds herself submerged in the joy of a group of strangers dancing their way down bourbon street.
There is a small bistro that serve the best shrimp in the world. Lillian finds a small wine table in the back of the restaurant.
“Bon Soirée, madame” the cute waitress said. “What may I get for you?”
“I will have a half order Creole shrimp with rice, some crawdads, a small order of jambalya, 2 pieces of fried chicken, cornbread muffins, green beans, sautéed squash and some turnip greens.” Lillian said with a smile.
“Will someone else be joining you?” The waitress asked.
“No, its just been awhile since I’ve been home and I want to take as much of it in as possible”
“Oh, so you from round these parts.” The waitress said.
“Yessum, I grew up in the Garden District on Prytania.”
“Well, isn’t that special. I know pretty much everyone. My family has been here for generations, since New Orleans was first settled. So who your people be.”
Lillian figured now’s as good a time as any to let the cat out the bag. She just hopped she would get to finish her meal before anything happened.
“My mother was Marianne Valmont and my father Jean Pierre Valmont…”
“So that mean’s your Lillian Valmont? Well, I have heard lots about you. I must say, I am very excited to meet you Ms. Lillian Valmont.” The waitress said as she scurried away.
It was odd for Violet to be addressed by her real name. She couldn’t help but smile at the relief of being Lillian Valmont again.
It was only a few moments before the food arrived. The waitress carefully placed the different sized plates on the table. The waitress leaned over the table to Lillian and in a whisper said, “There are a lot of people looking for you. If I were you I would go back wherever you came from. But rest assured those people who are looking for you are no friends of mine and they won’t be hearing about your return from me.”
Lillian sat back in her chair to enjoy her meal she let the broth from the shrimp dance across her tongue. She enjoyed the butter as it dripped off the green beans into her mouth. It gad been a long time since she enjoyed a meal so entirely.
Full and a little drunk from the Moscato wine Lillian made her way through the quarter in hopes of catching the last trolley back home.
“BonJour mon petite fluer” A deep familiar voice called out to Lillian from behind.
The faint smell of cedar and lavender danced around Lillian’s head filling her sinuses and overwhelming her senses. She knew he would come for her and she smelled him well before she heard his voice. Without moving she said “I knew you would come for me.”
“Did you miss me?” He said.
Lillian turned to face her past. There he stood before her, he looked the same as he did the day she left. She had memorized every inch of his 6 foot 2 inch frame drenched in the deepest and purest molasses. She knew every line on his face, every change in his skin.
“The years have been kind” She said.
“For you as well, I see.” He relied.
“How tragic, you cut your hair.”
“Much time has passed and a change was needed.”
She wanted to rush into his arms and pick back up right where they had left off. Before she could stop herself she was running into his arms. For a moment they were back as they had been once before but it was only for a moment. He evicted her from his arms her head no longer allowed to make a pillow of his chest. That was no longer her home. Lillian could sense many women had lived there since she had gone away.
He was the first to break the silence. “She will kill you if she sees you again. She promised and she never breaks a promise.”
“I know and I will deal with her. But if she doesn’t what doesn’t that mean for us?” Lillian asked.
“I can’t have this conversation now. Are you staying at the old house?”
“Yes”
“Then go there and I will come to you soon.”
“No! I must face her.”
“Not now!”
Lillian began to feel weak. It must be the wine. She couldn’t keep her mind focused. There was a fog over her preventing her from maintaining herself. “Just relax… I will come for you.” The familiar voice of her once lover whispered.
When Lillian opened her eyes it was a new day and she was laying safely in her bed.