Binding the Shadows (Arcadia Bell #3)(63)

I didn’t know what to say to that. I hadn’t even realized she’d been married. Lon and Jupe never mentioned it.

She gave me a tight smile. “We met in college, Samuel and I. It was love at first sight. We’d been married for a year when she came to stay with us. I think she’d been seeing Lon on and off at the time, but this was before she got pregnant with Jupe.” She stopped in front of a black-and-white photo of Jupe, one Lon took when he was a baby. “I, on the other hand, was pregnant. Three months. She seduced Samuel with her knack. He said he couldn’t stop himself. I believed him—you felt what she can do, right?”

“Yes.”

“Now imagine her when she goes all—” She mimicked horns with her fingers. “I confronted her. We fought. It could’ve been the end of it. Samuel and I would’ve pieced our life back together. But she was so angry. Petty. She slept with him again. He killed himself later that night. I lost the baby the next day.”

“Oh, God. Adella, I—”

She shook her head. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I survived—I didn’t let her pull me under. But maybe you understand a little better now. I know Lon probably keeps most of those old stories under his hat. He’s just that way.”

“He tells me some things, but it’s difficult for him to dredge it all up.”

“Oh, I know. I love Lon like a brother, but I think I’d go crazy if I had to live with him, all quiet about everything.”

I gave her a gentle smile. “He’s getting better.”

“You’re good for him. Good for Jupe, too. I’m really glad you’re in their lives.”

“Me too.” I wanted to say something more, but a silence hung between us for a moment. It was broken by the sound of the patio door sliding open.

Rose stepped inside the living room. The fringe of white bangs that normally was perfectly styled around her forehead was messily pushed to one side. Her glasses dangled from a slender chain around her neck. Her face was still as a stone. “Owner talked with all the waitresses. No pair with their description came in.”

Fuck. What the hell was going on?

“Someone needs to stay here in case they come back,” I said heading toward the foyer. “I’ll drive down to the Village. There’s only one way here, so if Yvonne’s on that road, I should see her.”

“I’ll come with you,” Adella said reaching for her purse. “Mama, you stay.”

“It’s eight,” I said, glancing at the clock on the mantle. “Lon should be finished with his business dinner and on his way home soon.”

“I’m not calling him,” Rose said. “I don’t want him worried while he’s on the highway. He drives like a bat out of hell when he’s upset.”

That was true. “He keeps his ringer off most of the time anyway, so it doesn’t matter. I’m sure Jupe is fine,” I said, more for me than them. “There’s a logical explanation for why he’s not answering my texts, and—”

“Car!” Rose shouted out of the blue. “Someone’s pulling up the driveway.”

I didn’t hear it, but I didn’t have her knack. We all raced out the front door to find Yvonne helping Jupe out of her car. Relief washed over me. Christ, I’d gotten way too worked up.

“Why haven’t you answered your phone?” Rose shouted angrily at Yvonne. “It’s been two hours. I know you weren’t at the diner, so don’t tell me you were.”

“I’m sorry,” Yvonne said as shut Jupe’s door. Why was she holding onto him like that? I couldn’t see what was going on. The driveway lights were on, but they weren’t bright. Everything was cloaked in shadow. “Time got away from me. I ran into someone Lon and I used to know from the Hellfire Club. We were chatting, and I guess I didn’t hear the phone.”

She turned around and was mumbling something to Jupe, blocking my view of him.

“What’s going on?” I said. This was all wrong. Jupe should be bounding over to see us. Why was he so quiet?

“What the hell?” Rose said. “What did you do, Yvonne? What—”

“There’s no need to throw a big hissy fit,” Yvonne snapped as she turned around. That’s when I saw Jupe’s face for the first time. His head bobbed. He took a step and faltered.

I was already running toward them.

“He had a couple of glasses of wine, that’s all.”

“What?” I reached out and caught him just as he was stumbling. Couple of glasses of wine? He smelled like he’d been smashing grapes in a vineyard. His body was limp. He fell into my arms like a sack of bricks. I hoisted him as Adella ran up and helped.

“What in the devil are you talking about?” Rose shouted. She didn’t believe it. She hadn’t caught up—couldn’t see him. He was stinking drunk. Moaning and weak. “Where did you go that serves wine? It sure wasn’t the diner.”

Yvonne was panicked. Her cool, aloof exterior had melted away completely. “We went to a different restaurant. It was Evan’s idea, and I hadn’t seen him in—”

Rose slapped Yvonne across the face.

And again.

Yvonne slid down the side of the car and crouched into ball, covering her head with her arms as Rose continued to flail at her.