Focus (The Crescent Chronicles, #2) (22 page)

“
Oh. This isn’t because of
your mother’s boyfriend, is it?”

“
No, not at
all.”

“
Are you sure? I can fly
back from China early if you want me to.”

China? I had no idea he was in Asia.
“No, I’m all set.”

“
Okay, just let me know if
you change your mind.”

“
I will, but my friend is
waiting for me. I love you, Dad.”

“
I love you, too. Have
fun.”

I was finally on speaking terms with
both parents—hopefully it could stay that way for a
while.

***

“
The least I can do is help
cook. It is my fault the royal family is coming.” I washed my hands
in the large farmhouse sink in the kitchen of Hailey’s childhood
home.

Jan laughed. “Are my nerves that
obvious? I am honored they decided to come to my home for the
holiday.”

“
I wouldn’t say they were
obvious, but if they were, it would be understandable.”

It was the night before Thanksgiving
and Hailey’s mom was rushing to finish the rest of her
preparations. I hadn’t really considered that Levi would want to
spend Thanksgiving with me, but he insisted on it. Originally, he
wanted me to spend it at his house, but I’d already accepted
Hailey’s invitation. His solution was to invite himself, which also
meant his parents.

Jan filled a large pot with water. “You
wouldn’t happen to know how to make cranberry sauce, would
you?”

“
You just add sugar with
water and boil the cranberries, right?”

“
That’s pretty much it. The
cranberries are in the fridge.”

“
I’ll take care of
it.”

I was glad to be making myself useful.
Hailey and Owen were out getting a few things at the store with
their dad. I’d stayed back to help in the kitchen.

I found a saucepan, the cranberries,
and some sugar, and went to work.

“
I’m sure this isn’t easy
for you.” Jan paused from cutting up vegetables.

I was sure that she wasn’t talking
about making cranberries. “What part?”

“
Any of it. Hailey told me
you were upset about missing Thanksgiving with your
mother.”

“
I am, but I’ll find a way
to see her over the holiday break, hopefully.”

“
I’m sure she’s missing
you, too.”

I just smiled and turned back to the
stove.

Loud voices interrupted us as Hailey,
Owen, and their father burst into the kitchen. “The store was a
zoo. We’re not going out again.” Timothy paused in his rant to give
his wife a kiss on the cheek.

Jan smacked him playfully with a dish
towel. “That’s good, because I can use you in here.”

I finished up the cranberries. “Do you
want me to wait for them to cool?”

“
No, that’s okay. Why don’t
you kids go relax. Thanks for the help, Allie.” I’m pretty sure Jan
felt bad accepting my help at all.

“
It was no
trouble.”

It had actually been nice. I’d started
to really appreciate the little things. I loved when I could forget
about the craziness that was my life.

***

I’d never set a table for such a large
number of people before. Compared to many Thanksgivings, it was
small. Hailey’s extended family lived a few hours away and did
Thanksgiving with her grandparents. Still, most of the
Thanksgivings of my childhood were just Mom, my grandparents, and
I.

“
Happy Thanksgiving, babe.”
Levi wrapped his arms around me from behind. I put down the last of
the plates and turned to look at him. He’d slowly but surely
started calling me babe again.

He’d stayed away from it ever since I
screamed at him for calling me baby—too many bad memories. I
decided the shortened babe form didn’t bother me as
much.

“
Happy Thanksgiving.” Levi
looked great in a blue collared shirt and khaki slacks. We hadn’t
planned it, but we practically matched. I was wearing a blue
sweater that was the same shade as his shirt.

He leaned down and kissed me lightly on
the lips. I closed my eyes for a second, opening them to see Robert
standing directly behind Levi with a grin.

“
Oh, hello,
Robert.”

“
Nice to see you,
Allison.”

I looked around for Helen, but she must
have gone right into the kitchen to help Jan.

“
Happy Thanksgiving,” I
said awkwardly.

“
Maybe next year the two of
you will host Thanksgiving?”

“
Uh, maybe.” I might have
been able to make cranberry sauce, but any Thanksgiving I hosted
would probably have to be ordered in.

“
I should make sure they
don’t need help in the kitchen.” I slipped out of Levi’s arms and
out of the room.

“
Hi, Allie.” Helen greeted
me warmly. As I expected, she was in the kitchen trying to help
Jan.

“
Hi, Helen.”

To Jan’s credit, she wasn’t showing any
of the nerves.

We’d just sat down to eat when the
doorbell rang.

“
I’ll get it.” Hailey got
up and went out to the front hall. I heard a muffled conversation,
and then she walked back in, followed by Jared. He carried a bottle
of wine.

“
Is it too late to join
you?”

“
Of course not, Jared.
You’re always welcome here.” Jan busied herself setting another
place at the table. Jared took a seat next to Owen.

“
How nice of you to join
us.” Robert turned his attention to Jared.

“
Dad decided he didn’t want
to celebrate this year, but I didn’t agree.”

“
He’s taking Bryant’s
disloyalty hard.” Robert took a sip of his wine. “That’s to be
expected.”

“
Of course he is. The
perfect son did the unforgiveable. Now he’s just left with
me.”

It was weird hearing Jared talk about
himself so negatively. I wondered if he’d been drinking.

“
You’ll make him proud.”
Robert kept a stony expression, but behind his eyes I thought there
was something else. I think he really cared about Jared.

Dinner was pleasant enough. I ate far
too much and was more than happy to take a walk when Levi suggested
it. We walked the few blocks to Audubon Park. After a few months in
New Orleans, I’d decided the park was my favorite escape. In some
ways, it was like an oasis in the city.

“
I need to ask you
something.” Levi grabbed my hand, holding it tightly in his as we
walked under the live oaks.

“
Should I be
worried?”

“
No. It’s a good
thing.”

I pulled my left sleeve down as far as
it could go. It was probably sixty degrees, but I was cold. Levi
got the hint, and put an arm around me. “I need to go on a business
trip in a few weeks, and I want you to come with me.”

“
A business trip?” I
stopped in front of one of the ponds.

“
Yes. It’s a few hours
away, and it would be great if you could come. I promise we’ll have
fun.”

“
What happens if I say
no?”

“
Honestly? My dad will
probably want to talk to you.”

“
Are you ever going to tell
him?” I sat down on a bench watching some ducks play around in the
water.

“
There’s no reason to.
We’re back together.”

I turned to him. “Levi…”

“
Just say you’ll
come.”

“
Is it at least someplace
cool?”

“
Define cool?”

I sighed. “Oh no.”

“
So you’ll
come?”

“
Do I have a
choice?”

He grinned. “No.”

I’m sure I could have kept arguing, but
the truth was, the thought of a few days away with Levi didn’t
sound nearly as bad as it might have a month before. “As long as I
don’t have to miss class.”

“
You won’t.”

“
Okay.”

He tightened his arms around me. “It’s
going to be fun.”

“
We’ll see about that.” I
wasn’t quite sure what I was agreeing to, but at least it would be
a change of scenery.

“
Can I ask you a question
now?” Something had been bugging me since I talked to my
dad.

He got up and pulled me to my feet so
we could continue walking. “You can ask me anything.”

“
Remember how my dad was
having all those business problems?”

He turned toward me. “Yes. I remember
that well.”

“
Dad called and told me
everything is fine because they have new investors. Did you have
anything to do with that?”

“
Did he say I
did?”

“
No. But it just seemed
surprising that out of nowhere he’d have new ones.”

“
You’re family, Al. That
means I’m going to help.” He walked ahead.

I caught up. “Is that a
yes?”

“
Come to your own
conclusion.” He smiled.

“
Thanks. His company means
everything to him.”

Levi looked at me seriously. “No, it
doesn’t. It can’t mean everything, because he has you.”

I leaned up and kissed Levi on the
lips.

Chapter
Seventeen

“
Remind me again why we had
to take my car?” I cringed as Levi drove my Land Rover through
another patch of mud. He had to run the windshield wipers to clean
off enough mud for us to see.

“
Because my car couldn’t do
this. It’s what this car is meant for.”

“
So what would you have
done if I didn’t have a car that could?”

He downshifted. “I would have stayed on
the main roads.”

“
Levi!”

“
Relax, Al. I’ll have your
car looking as good as new.”

“
You think I’m only worried
about my car?”

I grabbed the ‘oh my god’ bar, needing
it more than ever as he drove through an area that shouldn’t have
been called a road. “I’m a little concerned about my life,
too.”

“
Don’t be.” He looked over
at me.

“
Watch where you’re
driving!”

“
My driving scares you more
than my flying, doesn’t it?”

“
Maybe. Come on, please
slow down.”

“
Only because you said
please.” He let off the gas a little.

I sighed. “How much
further?”

“
Another twenty minutes,
maybe.”

“
Good.”

He squeezed my hand. “I’m glad you’re
with me.”

“
At the moment, I’m
regretting it.”

“
It’s going to be
fun.”

“
Fun? Isn’t this a work
trip?” I looked out the window at the endless trees. We were
definitely in the middle of nowhere.

“
Work is a relative
term.”

“
How relative?” I stretched
out my legs.

“
Tonight’s a dinner we
can’t miss, and tomorrow I have to preside over the dispute courts,
but otherwise we’re free.”

“
And what am I supposed to
do while you’re presiding over the court?”

“
Sit and look
pretty.”

“
That had better be a
joke.”

He laughed. “You’re welcome to give me
your opinion, but a lot of these issues are going to be new to
you.”

“
Meaning they are
paranormal?”

“
Yup. It should be an eye
opening experience.” I was starting to think that everything
surrounding The Society was eye opening. Nothing was straight
forward.

“
I bet,” I grumbled. I
didn’t want to admit exactly how nervous I was. I’d agreed because
I didn’t think I had a choice, and in theory it sounded
cool.

I closed my eyes and leaned back into
the leather seat.

“
I hope you’re not worrying
about your classes again.”

I opened my eyes. “Of course, I am.
Exams are next week.”

“
You’re not even missing
class. It’s study period.”

“
Yes, study period. I’m
supposed to be studying.”

He touched my arm gently. “You’re going
to pass your tests, Al.”

“
I want to do more than
pass.”

“
You’ll be fine.” He ran
his fingers down my arm. Even over my long sleeve t-shirt, it felt
good. “All right, we’re just about there.”

“
Here? Where the hell are
we?”

“
Just outside
Shreveport.”

“
It looks like the
woods.”

“
It is the woods. Notice
how I said just outside.”

We pulled out of the trees, and Levi
turned onto another dirt road. At least this one looked like
someone had used it in the last fifty years. He parked the car in
front of a rustic looking house.