The Rosaries (Crossroads Series) (24 page)

“So am I, Mr. Wheeler. Our bank has served the needs of your family for decades. I would like to see that relationship continue through time. Good day.”

“Good day, Mr. Schuler. I will be in touch.”

Right after William Schuler left, Ryan returned to his desk, and began to think about strategies. He had thirty days to convince Natalie to marry him, since he didn’t find the blasted rosary yet – maybe he could surprise her by secretly going to London and showering her with attention while she introduced her artistic skills to the world.

Armed with a new plan – and secure victory was right around the corner and across the
Atlantic
– Ryan told his secretary he was going to be out for the day. Ashton had finally agreed to meet him, and he was as nervous as a school boy on his first date. He could save his family from financial destruction and spend the day with his true love. Life was very good indeed.

“I have been so busy, lately, it’s not even funny.” Isabel told Melody as they sat at one of the outdoor tables of the Silver Spoon and waited for the waitress to bring the entrees they had ordered.

“So, what have you been up to this past month, Isabel?”

“I started a new job. I was laid off from my other place of employment, and was getting a little discouraged when nothing else seemed to come along, but at the time I didn’t realize that it was only a nudge from God toward the realization that I needed to do something else. I decided to sign up for nursing school, and almost immediately found a job taking care of an elderly lady who needed a companion more than anything; she also needs light medical assistance, but her
daughter feels comfortable enough to let me take care of her, even if I am not licensed yet. It’s like advanced training that I’m being paid for.”

Isabel was exuding happiness and peace – her good energy was exactly what Melody needed today.

“I’m so happy for you, Isabel! In this tough economy it is hard to find a job of any kind. You were smart to weigh your options and consider a new course of action.”

“I know…I have watched so many around me lose everything they own. Houses are in foreclosure everywhere, and things are getting tougher by the day. Never mind the prices of everything constantly going up.”

Melody nodded.” I’ve seen it too. Sometimes I even worry about Mario’s job. I hear they are cutting positions due to the tough economic times.”

“You will be alright, Melody, we all will. You know this is part of the plan.”

“It is? What do you mean?’

“We have become too attached to earthly security, Melody. We can’t approach a collective shift of consciousness until more people get with the program. Look around – because of the economic crash families are drawing closer, people are venturing out less, and are going within to look for happiness instead, rather than endlessly searching for a constant flow of sensory stimulation. We are going back to the simple joys of life, the ones that truly make us happy.”

Melody thought about Isabel’s words for a moment, and then asked, “But what about the desperation, the increased number of suicides, the gloomy thoughts that are spreading like wildfire?”

“That’s fear, Melody, and resistance to the shift. It’s a blow to the ego, and a complete release of control over unfolding events. Even if our spirit knows it is exactly what we need, our ego doesn’t want to let go. That’s why prayers are needed now more than ever. Once we realize that we don’t need to be afraid because we will be taken care of, everything will fall into place. And Melody, not everybody has agreed to be here for the shift; that’s why we are witnessing so many deaths. The souls that weren’t willing to go through the hardship necessary to prepare for the transition are going back before things get really rough.”

“Do you mean things will get worse than they are now?”

“It’s possible, but don’t forget that it is after the worst storms that Nature really thrives.”

As always, Isabel had worked her magic. Melody felt better about things, and was able to find answers to some of the many questions that loomed at the edge of her mind.

“And something else, Melody…although we are drawing closer together to really understand more about the oneness of all, we are also encouraged to seek that connection within ourselves, though prayer and meditation. We will be witnessing more relationships falling apart, so that folks can learn how to find love within rather than always looking for completion through the energy of others.”

Those last words really impacted Melody. Was this what was happening to her? Did she rely on Mario too much and had lost touch with her own spirit? If she had to be entirely honest, she hadn’t really done much to heal her own insecurities by finding beauty within – she had let Mario be her band-aid.

The waitress finally arrived with their food, and they began to eat while they continued their conversation.

“What about you, Melody? What’s new in your life?”

“Well, I have big news too – exciting ones! I’m going to
England
next week, to attend my cousin Olivia’s wedding. Finally Mario and I will be able to spend some time together. He’s really put in a lot of hours at work lately, and we haven’t seen each other much.”

Isabel stopped eating for a moment and looked at Melody, but said nothing, so Melody continued.

“Oh, and something crazy happened to Paul, my great-uncle. He said he is sure
Elegba
paid him a visit at his store in the Atchafalaya Basin.

Isabel’s attention was piqued.

“Really? Now, that’s not a fellow that pays visits for nothing. What did He say?”

“He told Paul that he had a task to attend to, and also gave him a message for me - I’m supposed to take the rosary
Grandmama
left me to
London
.”

“One of
the
rosaries??!”

“The
rosaries
?  You mean there is more than one out there?”

Isabel weighed her words, unsure of how much information she should disclose without affecting the way things were meant to unfold. She had no direct information, but knew from one of her grandmothers whose sister was part of a secret order of nuns, that there were indeed two sacred rosaries. Isabel didn’t know all the details, so she preferred to keep quiet.

“That’s what I know about them, Melody, which is really not much information. But no matter what, we can’t really argue with the Big Man’s instructions, can we?” She said hoping to lighten up the conversation.

Melody smiled, “I guess not. I will take it with me to
London
for sure; let’s just hope this is going to be a restful vacation.”

“Let’s hope so, Melody; let’s definitely hope so.”

They finished eating, and then Isabel excused herself. “I’d better be rolling, Sugar. My sweet old lady is waiting.”

Melody stood up and hugged her, before she said good-bye. She didn’t really want to go back to the farm yet, so she decided to surprise Mario at work.

On her way back to Clayton, she took a detour and drove to the SBI headquarters. When she walked in, she was surprised to see many new faces around, and went straight to Mario’s office. He wasn’t in, so she wandered to one of the desks closest to the office and asked a pretty blond girl of his whereabouts. She looked young but very professional, with her hair pulled tight into a bun and wearing conservative attire which still showed her fabulous body underneath. Her name tag read “T. Booker”.

“Hi, would you by any chance know if Mario Hernandez is coming back soon?”

The pretty blonde looked up from the forms she was working on and smiled. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid he will be gone on duty most of the day. May I take a message?’

“I’m Melody, his wife. Nothing important – I was just in the area and figured I’d surprise him with a visit. I guess I should have called first.”

“Oh, that’s right. I should have recognized you from the photo he keeps on his desk. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Likewise. Well, I suppose I will be going then. Please just let him know I stopped by.”

“Absolutely, Mrs. Hernandez. Have a wonderful day.”

“You too. Bye.”

Melody left and walked back to her car, a little disappointed. She decided she wasn’t going to let something so small ruin her day, after the great time she had with Isabel. She and Mario would have plenty of time to spend together once they got to
London
. Or so she hoped.

Chapter Fifteen

“Dad, are you ready? Cover your eyes…”

Paul nervously shifted his massive body on one of the fancy chairs in Bridal Dreams, as he waited for his daughter Olivia to come out of the dressing room.

“I’m ready, Olivia. I’ve been ready, Child. How long does it take to put on a dress?”

He heard Olivia giggle like a little girl, and couldn’t help smiling, although the smile was quickly replaced by hanging lips the moment she stepped out – she looked like an angel, and Paul’s breath channeled into a gasp. The romantic satin gown had a dropped torso waist with gentle pleated tucks, and a gathered bustier adorned with rhinestone crystals and beads. She looked absolutely stunning, and Paul feared that tears would show up at any moment and make him look like an old sentimental fool.

Olivia smiled when she saw the look of pure awe in her father’s face. How many times she had dreamt of this moment when she was a little girl and didn’t know who her father was! They didn’t reunite until she was an adult, and by then she had given up her childhood fantasies of being given away in marriage by her biological father. Being here today, dressed as a bride, able to stare at the stunned face of the man she had come to adore, was more than Olivia ever dared to dream. She wanted this moment to be etched in her memory, and her heart leaped as her father desperately scrambled for words.

“The cat got your tongue, Dad?’

“Olivia…you are beautiful!”

And she felt beautiful. She gently curtsied in front of him and smiled happily.

“Do you think Graham will like it?”

“Sweetheart, how could he not like it? You look stunning.”

“My hair will be up in a bun, and I will be wearing a small tiara. I wanted to stick to a simple design. So, you really like it?”

“Olivia, I don’t just like it; I think the dress is absolutely amazing; I think you are absolutely amazing, and I can’t think of anything that could make me any more proud than walking you to that altar.”

“Four days away, Dad…are you ready for the trip?”

“As ready as I’m ever going to be, Olivia, and considering that I’m not getting any younger, I’m glad that you didn’t wait too long. I would have hated to miss this.”

Olivia wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest.

“I couldn’t imagine doing this without you, Daddy. If you weren’t here I probably would have gotten married in a courthouse.”

Paul smiled. “Graham is a lucky man, Olivia. I hope he knows just how fortunate he is.”

“You and Graham share the same mind, Dad. He continues to say the same thing.”

She spun around gently, and couldn’t take her eyes off the image reflected in the mirror.

“Did you already send out the dresses for the bridesmaids, Honey?”

“I did. Melody already received hers, and she called to let me know that it only needed to be hemmed a little; other than that, it fit her perfectly.”

“Melody must be very excited to go, Olivia. When I talked to her, last week, she said she couldn’t wait.”

“Yes, she told me the same thing, but I think part of her excitement comes from the prospect of spending a little one-on-one time with Mario. He’s been working long hours lately and I really think she is getting lonely at that farm of hers.”

“I think you are right, Olivia. I had the same feeling when I spoke with her – she lingered on the phone talking about anything under the sun. It sounded like she needed someone to talk to.”

“Well, they will have plenty of time to spend together once they get there.”

“Olivia…I know you don’t believe in much of the same stuff we swamp folks believe in, but would you believe me if I told you that a spirit came to see me? I wasn’t going to say anything, but I don’t like to hide anything from you.”

“A spirit? Like…a ghost??!”

“Sort of…he looked like a black man on his way to a party.”

“You saw a spirit, Daddy?” Olivia arched her eyebrow. She loved her father and believed in his sincerity, but she couldn’t help being a bit skeptical sometimes.

“Yes, I think so. Well, Melody saw him, too, on her way back to North Carolina, a couple of years ago.”

“Tell me this has nothing to do with the trip to England, Dad…In fact, can you promise me that you and Melody won’t be talking about ghouls and spooks in front of Graham? I think he would be totally freaked out by something like that.”

“In so many ways, this is part of your family legacy, Olivia. Graham may like to be privy of it.”