Blue Autumn in the Bayou (Gumbo Love) (35 page)

When
he was finally done, he prayed over them and gave them specific instructions. “You must reframe from consummation until this marriage is validated.”

“Yes, Bishop.” They both submitted. Both knew they would receive th
ose instructions, so they weren’t surprised. Travis didn’t like the idea of not being able to make love to his wife, but he would obey to bring their marriage in line with their church.   

“See Monica. She will schedule a date for renewal of consent.”

“Yes, Bishop.” Travis stood. He handed the priest an envelope, one of three donations he would make for the convalidation. He would give another one at mass, and then another at repast.

“Bless you, son
; and you, my daughter.” Autumn stood when the priest touched her forehead. “God be with you.”

“And also with you, Bishop.” They both left his office and stopped by the secretary’s desk to find out when the first available date was open to do the ceremony.

Monica smiled. “You’re truly favored because it just so happens that we have Friday open. Is that too soon?”

“No!”
they both said in unison, and then looked at each other smiling. They didn’t expect to get in so soon. Autumn expected to have to come back for the ceremony at a later date. They’d discussed it the night before. As it stood, they would be able to get it done while she was still in the city. She just hoped her family would be able to come on such short notice. With the cleanup and all, from the storm, she couldn’t be certain that they could get away.

“Friday will be great
,” Travis beamed. “Thank you.”

Monica couldn’t help but smile back at the young couple. “Well, okay. Here are the papers you need to fill out and bring back before Friday. Mass will be
gin at 2:00 p.m. You need to be here at least an hour before for confession. Any questions?”

“No
. Thank you again.”

“You’re welcome. God Bless you both.”

“Thank you.” They left hand in hand. When they reached the car he pulled her into his embrace. “I love you, you know that?”

“Yes. And I
love you.”

“Call your parents. See if they can come for the ceremony on Friday. I’
ll send a car for them if you’d like.” He squeezed her tight. “I want Mer Drace here, even if no one else can come.”

Autumn eased from his embrace. “That may not happen
, Travis. You understand that, right?”

“Yes. She said she wouldn’t come back to this city, but that was before her granddaughter met me
, and was pledged to have her wedding blessed in church. I think she knows how important this is to you.”

“I can’t say she’ll defy her pledge to never set foot in New Orleans again, even
for me.” She glanced away.

“We
’ll see. Let’s hope for the best.” He pulled her gaze back to his. “I want you to be happy.”

Autumn searched his face.
She loved the concern she showed for her. “I am happy, Travis. You make me happy.” She knew deep in her heart that Mer Drace was not coming to New Orleans, but she didn’t say that to him.

* * * *

All the running around to get things ready was more taxing than the three weeks of getting Reggie ready for her wedding. However, Diane had a knack for pulling last-minute events together. She managed to secure one of her friend’s clubhouses for the reception, intended for close family and friends.

Maree, Gator, and Tempest were scheduled to arrive midmorning. Mer Drace
had flat out refused to come. “I love you, Autumn, girl, and you have my blessing, but I’m not coming, honey.” Autumn expected the answer but was sad that her grandmother would not be there.

Travis’s heart broke as he consoled her with warm kisses. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

* * * *

Autumn and Travis met with the Bishop in his study before
mass was to begin. They each separately made confession in the confessional. Travis went first. He talked to the Bishop for a long while. When he was done, Autumn went next. Afterward, Travis handed the papers to Monica, and then he and Autumn joined their families for the ceremony. He felt the tremble in her hand, looked down at her, and squeezed it. “I love you.”

Autumn gazed up at this beautiful, strong man, and couldn’t believe how lucky she was to be his wife. He exemplified everything a man should be, strong, committed, loving, and gentle all rolled into one. He was that and so much more. She smiled. “I love you with all of my heart, Travis.”

The Bishop joined them at the door. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, sir.” They acknowledged together.

They entered the sanctuary with the Bishop and everyone stood. Autumn smiled and nodded at glances she caught as they made their way to the altar. She nearly lost her balance when she looked over and saw her mother, father, brother, and there in plain sight, stood her grandmother. Tears welled in her eyes as she set sights on this special woman who meant so much to her.

Travis
guided her past her family, as she hesitated—stunned and happy—to the altar. Autumn wanted to linger a moment but followed Travis’s lead. He reached into his breast pocket and handed her his handkerchief for the tears streaming down her face.

The Bishop gave her a moment to gather herself before he
continued with the ceremony. When the last prayer was offered just before communion, he said. “If anyone comes to me, I want to lead them to Him. May you have a successful, happy, and life-long union. God be with you.”

“And also with you.” Everyone responded.

When the ceremony concluded, they all exchanged lots of hugs and kisses. Autumn hugged Mer Drace so tight and for so long, she had to ask Autumn to release her. “Are going to squeeze me to death, child?” Autumn squeezed her even tighter. “Now hush. You didn’t think I’d miss my only living granddaughter’s renewal did you, Autumn? I may be stubborn, but nothing in this world means more to me than my children.”

“I’m so full
, Mer Drace.”

“And you’re ruining that beautiful face of yours. Now put a smile there, little one.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Travis gave Mer Drace a hug of his own. “Okay, not you too.”

“I don’t know how to thank you, Mer Drace. This meant the world to Autumn, and me too.” He held tight to his new grandmother.

“Well, you can start by giving me some great-grandbabies. You might be my only hope. Tempest here is just not getting
on board.” Everyone including Tempest laughed.  

After the reception, Travis and Autumn made sure her family got settled at their house. She and Travis w
ere spending a night at the Loews New Orleans Hotel in the Riverfront District. “We’ll see you in the morning, Mom. Call us if you need anything.” They’d stocked the house earlier that day.

“Don’t worry, honey. You and Travis enjoy yourselves
,” Maree told them.

“And make me some grandbabies while you’re at it
,” Mer Drace added. She’d never thought she would set foot in New Orleans again, but here she was, and it didn’t stir the unhappy feelings she’d left there so many years ago.

Autumn kissed her cheek. “Mer Drace, I don’t know what
I’m going to do with you.”

“Good night.” Travis kissed her cheek and they left the house.

Later that evening Mer Drace sat up straight in her bed. A cool chill ran up her spine. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms to ward off the feeling. After a few minutes she got up, put on a robe, and went to the kitchen. She fumbled through Travis’s refrigerator and cabinets until she found all the things she needed.

CHAPTER 35

Mer Drace liked Travis’s big fancy kitchen. It had gadgets galore
, and the three ovens sent her to heaven and back. Hours later, she placed loaves of freshly made yeast bread into one of the ovens, and two different kinds of quiches into the other. Gator emerged first. Where there was food, there was Gator and generally Tempest right behind him.

“Morning
, Mer Drace. You’ve got it smelling good in here.”

“Morning son, coffee is over there. Help yourself. Breakfast should be ready in a few.”

By midmorning, Travis and Autumn came up for air after a night of fierce lovemaking. “We have to be back to get your parents on their way home.”

“I know.” She kissed him. “I want them to stay another day, or two, or three
,” she whined.

“It was hard to leave them at the house, but you know you wouldn’t have gotten the thorough loving you did
if we were at home.”

She smiled. The sinister lift of her kiss-swollen lips made her
even sexier. “Hmm, hm.” She kissed him again.

“Let’s go
, Mrs. Brooks. Our folks are waiting on us.”

Traces of Mer Drace’s cooking assaulted them the moment
they walked into the house. They spent time talking before they left to join Travis’s family at his parents’ house. When the hired car finally pulled up, everyone shared goodbyes. Autumn lingered at Mer Drace’s side almost the entire afternoon, and helped her into the car after one final hug. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” She looked into eyes that mirrored her own
, and she shouldn’t have. Autumn caught a glance of something in her grandmother’s gaze that she couldn’t hide.

“What’s wrong, Mer Drace?”
she quickly asked.

Mer Drace shook her head. “Nothing for you to worry about. Enjoy your new life. I know you will be happy, my sweet child.”

Autumn studied her face for a moment before pulling away. “I will. Love you.” Mer Drace waved at them as the car pulled away. Travis stood behind her with his arms wrapped protectively around Autumn. She glanced up at him and smiled.

The next day Travis and Autumn went to early morning mass.
The days were flying by. She cringed when she thought about her flight back to New York on Wednesday. Mona and Erica came up for the day. And surprisingly, so did Rykard. They were supposed to show up for the ceremony on Friday, but Erica had to work. The house was buzzing with conversations, laughter, and music. She wasn’t sure how many people Travis had invited over, but it looked like at least thirty people.

Autumn was in the kitchen adding freshly chopped tomatoes to her homemade salsa when the doorbell rang. She turned off the blender and wiped her hand when the doorbell rang again
, and no one from the other room came up to answer the door.

She hummed quietly to the music blasting from the den. She sashayed from the kitchen to the foyer
, and without checking to see who it was, she opened the door. Her brilliant smile faltered and her clear blue eyes narrowed. Her frown showed her displeasure, and her icy query clarified what she was feeling. “What are you doing here?” All she could think about at that moment was what Travis told her about Savannah’s sudden return to New Orleans. Autumn narrowed her gaze even further. She wanted to slap the taste out of her mouth.

“Honey, I came to see Travis. Where is he?” Savannah looked past Autumn and into the foyer.

“I’m certain he’s not expecting you.” Autumn continued to guard the door. Lucky for her, she’d left the knife she had in her hand earlier on the counter.

“Well, I
’m sure he’ll be happy to see me once you move and let me by. You didn’t think you would be rid of me so easily, did you? Travis is here, and so am I.”

If Autumn could snatch a knot in her tail without lifting a finger
, she would have willed it so. Instead, she took a calming breath before she responded. Hell was about to freeze over if Savannah thought she was going to step foot into her home. “Well, it’s not happening today, so you need to move on.” She continued to stand at the door. She was just about to slam the door in her in her face, when they heard Travis’s voice.

Travis heard the doorbell but didn’t see anyone appear after a few minutes, so he went to see why. He assumed Autumn answered the door but couldn’t be sure. He walked up behind her with a huge smile on his face that faltered when he saw Savannah standing at his door. Autumn stood
there as if she was on duty. “What are you doing here, Savannah?”

Savannah’s face lifted into a brilliant light when she saw Travis. She ignored the scorn on his face. “Your little friend here won’t let me in. I’m here to see you.”