Page 12 of Secrets

“Anyway, Tick, he came into my room early on Christmas morning and woke me up. He handed me the prettiest gift bag you’ve ever seen. It had this snow scene on it with glitter,” she laughed. “I had glitter all over my hands. He’d bought me three new sweaters and a pair of warm socks and boots.”

“That sounds wonderful,” said Trevon with a forced smile.

“It was. Until Jay and my father were standing there. My dad told him that it was coming out of his cut of the work they’d done that week. Tick just nodded and said ‘yes, sir,’ like he always did. I could see the hatred in Jay’s face, though. Then it looked like he was sad. He opened his mouth to say something, then gave me a stocking he had behind his back. It was full of chocolates and fruit. I never understood it, all the hatred and anger. I didn’t bother him. I didn’t take any attention away from him with Dad. I just tried to do what I was told.”

“He knew that one day you would have a mind of your own and not do what you were told. Sounds to me like your brother Jay was a controlling person, and those kinds of people are never happy unless they control others completely.”

“It wasn’t just control with him. He wanted violence. It felt as though he craved it like most people crave food or water. Tick whispered to me once that there was something broken inside Jay and my father. Something that couldn’t be fixed.”

“You don’t have to worry about them anymore,” said Trevon. “You’re here, away from Indiana, away from Jay. Whatever happens with him, he’ll never get to you here.”

They continued to drive the boat deeper into the bayou until Trevon found the place that Matthew had recommended.

“This is it. Let’s bait those hooks, set some nets, and catch us some fish.” Millicent smiled and leaned back in the seat.

“You know what, I think I’m going to leave the fishing to you. I’m just going to watch.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Trevon smiled at the prone body of Millicent. Her white shorts and pink t-shirt showed all her curves, and he couldn’t help but be attracted to her. She’d fallen asleep, and he maneuvered the boat so that she was in the shade.

He had three buckets filled with large catfish, some bass, and other fish, ready to be cleaned and fried by the kitchen staff. In the distance, he could see the summer showers starting to come in from the Gulf and knew that they would be caught in the rain if they didn’t head back now.

Securing everything so they didn’t lose their precious cargo, he tapped the top of her foot, and she opened her eyes, smiling up at him.

“You should have woken me. The water just put me to sleep.”

“No, you were sleeping so well, I didn’t want to bother you. I think you needed it.”

“But that wasn’t fun for you,” she said, sitting up.

“It was fun for me. You’re beautiful all the time, but when you’re sleeping, it’s like looking at a fairy princess.”

“You know, you definitely don’t talk like a three-hundred-pound ex-football player who plants gardens and flowers for a living.”

“What do I talk like?” he smirked.

“I don’t know. I don’t have a lot of experience with men in general, other than bad ones. You’re like a Renaissance man. You’re smart, physically fit, handsome, you fish, you garden, you read. It’s a bit intimidating.”

“I’m intimidating to you?” he asked in surprise as he started to maneuver the boat through the bayou.

“Yes. My father and brothers were decent-sized men, but not nearly as big as all of you here. In fact, it’s kind of strange to see how large everyone is and how beautiful the women are.”

“I thought the same thing when I came, but then again, Belle Fleur is a magical place,” he said, staring ahead. She was quiet for a long moment, then looked at Trevon.

“Are you ever afraid of anything?”

He thought about it for a long moment. He’d been afraid of many things as a kid. But as an adult, there wasn’t much left any longer. Maybe one thing.

“Being alone,” he said softly.

“Alone? But you would never be alone. Look at all the people around you all the time.”

“I didn’t mean friends, Millicent. I meant a partner. Someone to be by my side for life. A friend, a lover, a wife. I’d like children one day, if it’s not too late for me. I want a family that I can give all the things to that I never got.”

“Oh,” she said, looking away.

“Don’t you think about that?” he asked hopefully.

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