Homecoming Ch. 09

The rising panic in Justine's voice was disconcerting to both Lula and Daniel who stole confused looks. Justine continued to pretend that she needed to speak to her new "best friend" as she intercepted her stepfather and swept Lula away from the drunkard. Inexplicably, she took a protective stance between Lula and the Farewell patriarch.

"Just what the hell was that all about?" Daniel wondered as he watched Justine and a confused Lula disappear into the crowd, the façade of the perfect hostess once again donned by the beautiful heiress.

Daniel shrugged with indifference. He'd let her pretend for tonight. Then they'd have a talk.

Although Justine played the part of the front-man, greeting guests and pretending to be the lady-heir to the Carven household, Emma, Caroline and Daniel knew that the title belonged to Lula. On the other hand Lula seemed content to sit in the background and allow her childhood nemesis to take most if not all of the credit for her work.

Lula simply couldn't have cared less about Justine or Daniel's newly enhanced relationship. Instead, she seemed content to be entertained by Jordan's attempts at wooing her.

Daniel watched their exchanged displays of affection with thinly disguised disgust. For the hundredth time that day, he cursed himself for the fool that he was to push her away.

However, even without Justine on his arm, Daniel was still convinced that Lula was better off with Jordan. She deserved a better man than he'd been these past few days. The incident at the pond proved as much.

Conversely, Jordan was a man content beyond measure. He arguably had the most fetching girl at the event on his arm and she was content to allow him to fawn over her without making him look like a simpering adoring sop.

At least twice during the day, she'd allowed him to hold her hand and kiss her tenderly on the cheek; and at least once during the day she'd kissed him back with genuine affection. It wasn't a declaration of undying love, but it was a good start.

It was clear that both Justine and Lula were the belles of the ball. However, Lula's light seemed to shine brighter, because her manner was genuine. The fact that she'd decided to don attire more appropriate for her newly formed feminine curves didn't hurt either. While Justine had decided to wear a lacy, white frilly affair that showed off her flawless, milky skin and her burnished coloring, Lula had opted for more subtle elegance.

Lula had chosen to wear a lemon-yellow, A-line halter dress with a fitted bodice. The frock modestly displayed her trim waist and feminine curves. She'd also pulled her hair back and secured the copper-tinged tresses with a simple, yellow, satin ribbon.

Lula's long, toned legs caught the eye of practically every male at the event in simple, sling-back sandals. The choice in footwear was preferable to the kind of platform, open-toed affairs that Justine had chosen to sport. Justine's shoes made it virtually impossible to safely negotiate the Carven estate grounds.

Jordan eyed his catch with pride; Daniel watched her with regret. Even though he was struggling to be the "better man," Daniel couldn't bare to watch the newly-formed couple. He ground his teeth in frustration every time Jordan tenderly touched Lula's arm or casually slipped his arm around her waist. The handsome shop-owner's son was the envy of most of the men at the picnic.

Notwithstanding the occasional jealous grumblings from Daniel, the Fourth of July gala seemed to be rounding out as a resounding success. At the end of the day, all of the guests, black and white, gathered on the front lawn of the estate to watch the annual Carven pyrotechnic display, which took place on a barge in the middle of the Carven estate's pond.

Inebriated party revelers who'd taken advantage of Emma Carven's generous supply of peach wine and homebrewed beer, stumbled onto the green carpet of grass, plunking themselves down wherever their feet gave way. Emma Craven was a woman who took her celebration of independence seriously. She spared no expense when it came to providing fireworks and accompanying entertainment.

For this reason alone, the diverse group of invitees mingled together in an uneasy truce from the specter of segregation — an institution for which Emma had little patience in light of her own history with racism. For one night during the hot summer month of July, in this special place, black and white acted as though color was not a factor.

As the final event got underway, Daniel got an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something was missing. Lula was missing. What's more, Jordan was missing as well.

Daniel didn't know why this observation bothered him so much. He'd made his choice even if it appeared to be the wrong one, an assessment with which Emma Carven had whole-heartedly agreed. The fact that Lula and Jordan had stolen off to find some alone time together shouldn't have bothered Daniel — but it did.

Searching for Justine in the crowd, Daniel decided he needed a pretense to walk the premises in search of the wayward couple. He'd just make sure that nothing "fishy" was going on between the two.

He couldn't be with her as her lover; but as her "brother" he'd be damned if he'd let anyone take advantage of her. At least that was the lie he told himself as his demeanor became more frustrated the longer he searched for his alibi.

By the time he spotted Justine, laughing and flirting harmlessly with a group of young men on the front lawn, Daniel had worked himself into a state. Although he tried to act nonchalant, Justine knew that something was troubling her handsome beau to distraction.

It took all of the patience and poise Justine could muster when she discovered the source of his irritation. Lula had gone off missing with Jordan.

"Justy, darlin'...you haven't seen Lula and Jordan by any chance, have you?" Daniel inquired failing miserably at his attempt to sound disinterested.

"My mother and Caroline are looking for her and I said I'd ask around to see if anyone had seen where she had gone off to?"

Justine rolled her eyes in disgust. Luckily the darkness of the evening hid her expression of frustration.

"Don't you mean where Jordan and Lula have gone off to?" Justine replied, making sure to emphasize the fact that the woman was surely not alone.

"Why don't you let her be for a change Daniel, sugar?'" Justine continued as she smiled thinly and relished pointing out the obvious.

"Lula is Jordan's problem now and I am sure he is more than capable of handling her without your efforts...he's been doing that for at least the past four years anyway," Justine's tone was patronizing and exasperated in its delivery.

"Maybe its time you let nature take its course. Lula and Jordan make a beautiful couple. I for one am ecstatic that's she's finally found someone who cares about her and will take care of her. Darlin', sometimes women need to be taken care of by a man -- even strong women."

Her words were rational but her voice laced with cyanide and sarcasm.

Daniel glared at Justine before reining in his anger and attempting to soften his tone. He didn't quite understand where "protective" Justine from earlier in the day had gone. Wherever she was, it was clear that the cold, prim, catty Justine had returned with full force. Daniel mentally rolled his eyes at the calculating southern bell.

Just what exactly had he seen in her other than a beautiful face and body? He knew she had vulnerable guarded moments, but staring at what he knew was a viciously smirking Justine, he was want to find a trace of that vulnerability.

"Well, Justine, hon, I am not too sure Mamma Corning would like to know that her daughter is letting nature take its course with some guy on the Fourth of July." Daniel fought to keep strained civility in his voice.

Justine huffed, prodding him further, "Why, Daniel, just what did you think I meant when I said that? Surely you didn't think I meant that Jordan and Lula were getting to know each other like you and I know each other?"

Daniel's jaw muscles twitched at the thought of any man touching Lula like he'd touched Justine — the emotions were irrational under the circumstances but they were there none the less. Again, he realized what a pompous, hypocritical ass he'd been these past few days. There was bitter irony to be found in this situation.

He'd wrongfully treated Lula as if she'd been behaving like a tramp. He intended to disregard a fledgling relationship with Justine after treating her like a whore, even if she didn't seem to mind. And, now it seemed that he was condemning these two women for behavior he himself had happily indulged.

Screwing around with your lover was just peachy, as long as Lula and some other guy weren't doing it. Even with his hypocrisy displayed so plainly to him, Daniel could not help behaving like a jackass when it came to Lula.

Sensing Daniel's apparent displeasure at picturing his "pristine" Lula with that stunning specimen of a colored man, Justine cautiously cleared her throat before continuing, "Oh, Daniel darlin', Lula is old enough to kiss a boy and be kissed by a boy."

She grabbed Daniel's arm and began to stroking it calmly as she purred,"I hardly think that Jordan will take advantage of her...that is unless the poor girl throws herself at him. I mean, I did see her consuming an awful lot of wine this evening... then again I'm sure you noticed that too."

Justine mentally kicked herself for those last biting words. She simply couldn't help herself.

She had nothing against Lula now that she was sure she had Daniel to herself. Unfortunately, she couldn't help but be threatened by the engaging woman, not when the stakes were so high for the diminutive beauty. A future with Daniel meant escape from him and his greedy roaming hands. The thought of it made Justine ill.

Any perceived threat to her salvation brought out the beast in her. Tragically for her,in a misplaced need for self-preservation, she'd miscalculated and said the one thing she knew was sure to pull out the "protective brother" in the young man standing by her side.

That was all Daniel needed to get him moving.

Grabbing the beautiful and bemused debutante roughly by the arm, Daniel muttered through gritted teeth, "Come on, Justine, we are going to find both of them."

Justine considered the thought of Daniel happening upon Lula and Jordan in flagrante -- discovered in a passionate embrace.

"That ought to be a sufficient wake up call for the oaf," she mused.

The selfish side of Justine simply couldn't understand why Daniel was so obsessed with his little surrogate, colored sister when there were more important matters to attend to — namely Justine Farewell. Besides, Daniel had to be crazy to expect Lula to turn down the advances of a man like Jordan.

But for the fact that he was colored and she was enamored with Daniel, Justine would have jumped at the chance to be with him if the opportunity arose. Handsome, smart, loyal, well-liked, a consummate gentleman — what was there not to like other than the color of his skin?

Daniel was in no mood to play games with the blonde temptress who seemed inexplicably reluctant to take advantage of the opportunity to point out Lula's faults as she'd been doing with saccharine charm lo these past few days. Instead, he dragged the annoyed beauty down to the pond with him. His pace quickened with every act he imagined could transpire between Jordan and Lula.

It was bad enough that the memory of his dark-hued siren pleasuring herself on the shore at that spot was driving him insane. The very thought of another man taking liberties that he'd fantasized about indulging in with his heart's desire was eating him alive with jealousy.

He was well aware of Jordan's good intentions. Reason notwithstanding something primal inside him couldn't help but be overly protective of the woman he'd so briefly considered his before wantonly throwing her away.

Jordan may be the consummate gentleman, a perfect match for Lula. But what if he wasn't? What if Jordan hurt her the way he'd hurt the girl he'd considered his sister most of his life? At the irrational thought of some perceived danger to Lula, Daniel doubled his already quickened his pace, pulling an increasingly scared and confused Justine behind him.

God help Jordan if he caught them doing what he was imagining them doing at this moment -- what he was imagining him doing to her.

God help both him and Daniel.

******************************

It had taken three failed attempts at misdirection before Lula and Jordan were able to slip away from the festivities and run down to the pond for a cool dip. Jordan had been hesitant at first, complaining that there were too many people and he'd not brought a bathing suit anyway.

After a few beers and a shared bottle of peach wine, Jordan's conservative resolve melted. He could never deny Lula something that she wanted. If she wanted to go swimming in the middle of her own Fourth of July party, then they would go swimming during the party.

Lula's wants notwithstanding, he was anxious to get her alone. Every time she caught his eye she took his breath away, especially when she didn't know he was looking. Jordan was falling hard and fast for Lula and he didn't care who knew it.

The two snuck off hand-in-hand away from the rowdy revelers and down the well-traveled path to the old watering hole. Giddy from desire and alcohol consumption, Jordan followed a giggling Lula like a love-sick puppy. As he watched her lemon-yellow clad form disappear into the bushes, Jordan swore he'd died and gone to heaven.

He'd finally captured his heart's desire. He'd follow Lula to hell and back if she was the prize at the end of the journey.

Jordan had no idea that Lula had decided that tonight she would be his prize. He'd had no idea until he'd caught up with Lula, just in time to witness a heart-stopping sight: Lula, standing at the water's edge -- naked with arms outstretched.

When he had children of his own, after they'd grown into adults, Jordan would tell them of the day that the vision of his Lula, in all her glory, had almost brought him to his knees.

Perhaps every man felt that way about his first love.