What the Dragonfly Saw: Dragonfly Deeds Volume I of the Dragonfly Series

By Selene Simone

Pearl Alexandrine Danetree has always heard stories about the house in which she lives as other generations of family before her. But every old house has stories, and every old family has secrets. Talk about curses just sounds like some bad horror movie or science fiction story.

When Pearl dies, her niece Juliette Danetree, the sole legal heiress of her family’s history and assets in Petit Coeur, returns to settle the affairs and sell Greyfriairs. She faces lies, a curse, and deception that hang like Spanish moss from all branches of her ancestral tree—a story that begins in 1742 and flows with the Danetree family from France to Louisiana.

An old trunk holds more questions than answers, and mysterious strangers attach themselves to her home and heart. Their truths lie in each other’s hearts and in the blood they share. Juliette finds escape is not an option and her law background doesn’t include lifting curses. She’ll need more than legal skills to maneuver through the misdeeds of the past

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Mar 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483428819

Book preview

Also by Selene Simone in the Dragonfly Series

(To be released in 2015)

Volume II: Dragonfly Dreams

Volume III: Dragonfly Visions

What the Dragonfly Saw

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VOLUME I OF THE DRAGONFLY SERIES

Selene Simone

Copyright © 2015 Selene Simone.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-2715-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-2717-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-2881-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015903754

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 3/23/2015

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1   Pearl Alexandrine Danetree

Chapter 2   Juliette Alexandrine Danetree

Chapter 3   Philippe Volcair Danetree

Chapter 4   Hyacinthe Delphine Drouin Danetree

Chapter 5   Philippe and Olivier

Chapter 6   Juliette

Chapter 7   Honoré Francois Darden and Eva Darden

Chapter 8   Adah, Esther, and Martha Henderson

Chapter 9   Madame Marie

Chapter 10   Plots and Plans

Chapter 11   Belle Fleur

Chapter 12   Moonlight, Madness, Murder

Chapter 13   Marie’s Misstep

Chapter 14   A Snake in the Grass

Chapter 15   A Little Comfort Grows a Long Way

Acknowledgments

~ Dedication ~

To my two intelligent parents for enhancing my creativity,

James Berwick (1935–2014) and Moyebeth

To my husband, Kent, for loving me and listening

To my two beloved bayou babies,

Rachal and Ross

To my artist for sharing his beautiful gift and taking this journey with me,

Juan Romero Rivas

And to my first readers, friends, and gentle critics,

Nichole, Andrea, Susanne, and Lily

Would I have held desire, had I known of its deadly embrace?

—Philippe Volcair Danetree

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First and foremost this is a work of fiction, although the dialogue and character attributes will most assuredly sound or seem familiar to some because I have written about human beings, and human beings must all follow certain undeniable basic patterns of growth and maturity until we cease to be. Our lives will either bestow or offer individualistic opportunities for us to think and behave differently one from another, but some experiences and conversations are commonplace regardless of the culture, language, and race.

This novel covers many time periods and generations, each stitch of humanity, glory, and guilt weaving true patterns of life and love. I have written with great lust and at times with loathing and have spent each day of this adventure portraying perfect humans—perfect in their quests for flesh, finances, validation, and survival. This would not be possible without the historical references I chose that affected the decisions and experiences of my characters. No life, regardless of longevity or cognizance, can exist void of the paths of those behind us and the guiding lights of those on the path beside us and ahead of us. History trickles as blood through our veins, mutating with each birth and then being shaped by the scars, burdens, and triumphs we carry—some visible, some hidden.

I have chosen the region of southern Louisiana as the main geography for my novel. My own heritage there is as deep as the bayous and rich as the soil. Its lands, peoples, languages, and dialects swirl like fine French brandy in a priceless snifter and survive to this very day. Though descriptive words like green, moss-covered, mysterious, tropical, and ancient can be used often enough to give color and texture to any story involving the bayous and swamps of this beautiful world, in my heart, I believe there are no proper words to describe the dangerous, seductive beauty. In my travels, I have found the bayous to be intoxicating, sensuous, and sinewy, capturing visitors like no other place I have known. It doesn’t grow on you; it grows in you. Great cypress arms to rock you while crickets and frogs croon you to dreamland. Yes, it is possible to fall in love with a place.

This book is my tribute to the visionaries. Those who see with their own eyes and the eyes of others. The struggling ones. Those who persevere and survive in the face of judgment. Those with their stories engraved on their flesh, penned on parchment, and painted on the fabric of history. Those with hearts as big as the sky and souls as vibrant as stars. May you find your character and live brightly and well in a place you have fallen in love with.

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What the Dragonfly Saw

I saw it flit and flutter by

Over and over again

A vibrant orange-red dragonfly

I saw it sweep and spin

Then land atop a fragrant bloom

On the old hibiscus tree

At once I knew what the dragonfly saw

As I laid the body deep

Water water sink it slow

From bone to mud and brine

And cover well my scars and sin

From that ole dragonfly.

~ Belle Fleur ~

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Pearl Alexandrine Danetree

April 2013

P earl Alexandrine Danetree lay on her deathbed, and she knew what was coming, same thing most every Danetree descendent faced at the end—ridiculous ravings and ramblings. She had felt the madness coming on every now and then, but thoughts of her niece, Juliette, helped to keep her steady most of the time. She had once been a strong and vibrant young woman who had held up well as the years went on, until now.

Pearl stood five foot seven with silvery-white hair that she kept in a chignon with just enough loose hair to make a braid to wrap around the bun. She had these pretty almond-shaped, hazel-green-and-brown eyes that sparkled when she got excited or when she laughed, which was often. She was rarely ever terse or severe. At the age of seventy-three, her skin still looked smooth and soft with a natural glow. She attributed that to Oil of Olay and the sweet southern Louisiana humidity. She called it the Lord’s lady helper, giving God credit for keeping His country warm and misted. Most everyone else thought of stepping outside as a second bath. She always wore her white pearl earrings and loved her polyester, paisley-patterned dresses—she had a closet full of them, two of each in case something should happen to one and she had to change quickly. Of course she had matching shoes, hats, and appropriate gloves as well. Penciled eyebrows, a little powder on the face, a swipe of Tangee on the lips—she swore it went with everything—and a dusting of Sand & Sable, and she was ready for the world stage, or just downtown Petit Coeur. Population at the last census, 10,017. She’d tried to keep busy after Juliette had left for New Mexico to practice law. She had her regular Ladies’ Altar Society meetings and Mass on Sunday, but she missed her baby girl.

She had hired longtime family friend Esther Henderson as a caretaker not too long after Juliette left, which she hadn’t told Juliette. Esther was an excellent companion and nurse. Pearl would invite her and her sisters, Martha and Adah, over for a Sunday gumbo after Mass. She invited them to Mass too, but they always declined, saying they’d had unpleasant memories of church goin’ early on and didn’t care to attend. They said they thanked the good Lord for their blessings in their way, and that was that. There was always good conversation, as both of their families had been in the parish for centuries. Their families went way back to when the sisters’ fifth great-grandmother Marie had come to Greyfriars to help Pearl’s fourth great-grandmother Hyacinthe. The families had been bound ever since, but as the times had changed, so had the families’ roles in each other’s lives and the family business. Although Pearl treasured the sisters’ company, she daily had to face the empty chairs around the dinner table, imagining them filled by her brother, Louis; his wife, Pauline; and their precious Juliette.

Juliette had been only two years old when her parents had been killed in a freak accident in Paris. They had not had a honeymoon when they’d first married, and then Juliette had come along. Louis had been busy with the family interests dealing in oil-leasing royalties, mineral rights, and their involvement in offshore rigs and drilling, just like their father, Louis Marcel, who had started the family business during the Second World War. Pauline had moved to Greyfriars when she’d married Louis. Pearl had been very happy to have another female in the house. She and Louis’s mother, Evangeline, had passed in April 1960, and their beloved father, Louis Marcel, had died from a broken heart five months later. They had been devastated and too young to lose both parents.

Pearl and Pauline had become best friends, and since Pauline did not work outside the house, their bond became unbreakable. They walked or bicycled to town together, shopped for groceries together, crocheted, fished, and played cards. Pearl even started attending Mass with Pauline, as did Louis. They were happy.

Then Louis had the opportunity to go to Paris for three weeks on business. He and Pauline talked and thought it would be a wonderful honeymoon trip since they had postponed theirs. Pearl agreed they should go. She would be more than happy to watch two-year-old Juliette while they were gone. If she needed help, she could contact the Henderson sisters. With all bases covered, the happy couple made their reservations. And Louis was truly happy.

Louis always thought he and Pauline were just like his parents, so much in love. He just wished his parents could have been around to see their first grandchild—the first of many, he hoped. He and Pauline had talked about children before they’d gotten married and decided three or four children would make a very nice family. Pauline was an only child, and Louis Alexander and Pearl were the only Danetrees left, only children of too many one-child families. Louis and Pauline felt the need to increase the blessings, and they didn’t want Juliette growing up without siblings. They would try for a second child when they got back from Paris.

Juliette and Pearl went with them to the terminal to see them off and watched as the plane took off. Part of Pearl was terrified, thinking that something awful might happen to them so far away from home. Days before they were to leave, she and Pauline had found an old box full of letters and diaries talking about a family curse and a mysterious cypress chest. The chest was small and locked, and neither one had wanted to open it up, just in case.

Pauline had seen that this discovery had upset Pearl greatly and tried to ease her mind. These are terrible things, Pearl, but they are only sad things that happened a long time ago and were explained away by a curse. I do not believe in these things, and neither should you. You are not cursed. You are a good person. A strong person. Don’t let it get to you. That is not us, Sister. It ends here and now. Okay? Pinkie swear me right now. And she’d held out her pinkie.

They both had laughed, and Pearl had locked pinkies with her. She trusted Pauline’s judgment and had sworn not to dwell on what they’d found.

Now let’s put this stuff in that old steamer trunk in the attic and forget about it until Louis and I return. Then we can all decide what to do with these things. Okay?

Okay, Pearl had answered as they’d gathered up the odds and ends and the chest, put them in a box, and carried them to the attic. Pearl reflected on this as she watched the plane disappear into the bright-blue sky.

Pearl received regular phone calls from Paris, and each night Pauline and Louis called to say good night to her and Juliette. Paris was unbelievable, they said. They had mailed off postcards and pictures and purchased souvenirs for her and Juliette. They were especially excited about visiting Le Marais—the Swamp. Louis had done a little research and found out Hyacinthe’s Drouin family had lived there in the mid-1700s. He had more information, but he said he would tell her when they got back. Pearl thought that was ironic: Hyacinthe’s husband, Philippe, had moved his bride from a fancy swamp to an undeveloped swamp. She could only think about how Hyacinthe must have suffered.

Pearl had chosen not to get married. Her parents had had a lovely marriage, and she never doubted their love for each other, but she didn’t want get embroiled in that kind of legal arrangement. She liked being unattached; she could do what she wanted when she wanted. But she was happy for her brother. At least he would carry on the family name. Then she could be the fun aunt and spoil his children rotten.

Pearl continued to think about the stash in the attic and was tempted more than once to look through more of the letters and diary entries. One thing she and Pauline had not done was look in the chest. There was an old set of keys with it. Oh, well, when they get back, we’ll just break out the brandy and pry open the old family business. That will be one hell of a hurricane party, she thought.

On the couple’s last night in Paris before heading home, Pearl had Juliette with her in the kitchen in her high chair. They were waiting for the phone to ring, as Pauline and Louis usually called around nine her time, six in the morning over there. She had placed a homemade teething biscuit, courtesy of the Henderson sisters, on Juliette’s tray to keep her busy and to soothe her little gums. She was having such a good time taking care of her niece, but it still didn’t convince her to settle down and start a family of her own. She had lost so much of herself when her own mother had died that she didn’t think she would be a very good one herself. She looked at the clock: 9:20. No big deal, she thought. They’re probably packing and checking out, trying to get an early start. She was surprised they were planning on calling at all, really.

She picked out a book to read to Juliette. Nine thirty and no call. Pearl cleaned Juliette off and took her out of the high chair. Well, let’s check the back of the house and work our way to the front before bedtime, okay? She put Juliette in her little walker and walked slowly enough for Juliette to follow her. The floors were wood, so it would be easy to maneuver with the walker. She glanced at her watch: 9:33. The phone rang. They were closer to the kitchen, so she ran back to grab the phone there. Pearl put her hand to her heart and let out a loud sigh.

"Hello? Louis? Oh. Oui. Je suis Pearl Danetree. English please. She hadn’t really used the two years of French she’d learned in school. Now she regretted that. Oh, hello. Yes, thank you. I am his sister. What? Her heart dropped, and she felt as if she was going to throw up. What are you saying? She was almost yelling. I’m sorry. I cannot believe this is happening. I am watching their baby. That’s my family. How did it happen? They? You mean both of them? When? She was shaking now and could feel tears in her eyes. Yes. I will contact our family attorney, Mr. Bergeron, and give him your number for the arrangements. Merci." She let the phone drop out of her hand.

Then she heard crying. Oh my God, Juliette! She ran toward the sound. Apparently Juliette had traveled all the way to the front of the house and into the parlor, where her walker had gotten stuck on a Persian rug in front of the fireplace. Oh, my poor baby. Pearl picked her up out of the walker and held her close, and they cried together. She went back to the kitchen and put the phone back on the hook. She rocked Juliette to sleep, then laid her in her crib and went back to call Mr. Bergeron. It was late, but he would understand. Then she called Esther.

Mr. Bergeron, Pearl, and the Henderson sisters all went to the airport along with two hearses from Newby and Stanfield’s funeral home when the coffins arrived in New Orleans. There were no tears left. Pearl had left Juliette with a friend from church for the morning while they completed the solemn task of claiming the loved ones. It was a horrible ordeal for Pearl. Her sadness was profound. A bundle of postcards, a letter, and a package for Pearl arrived one week later from Paris. The letter was from Pauline. She had mentioned the trunk and contents to Louis. He’d thought it sounded like old nonsense and best to wait until they got back to look through it. In the package was a lovely rosary with a note: Happy birthday, Sister. Something blessed for someone blessed. Love you, Louis. Thank goodness for her church group and the Henderson sisters. They helped her through everything. And dear Mr. Bergeron. He had been with the family for such a long time. He had known Pearl and Louis’s parents so well. He also had the task of informing Pearl about her guardianship over her new ward Juliette. Everything was Pearl’s now, including a child she loved but was terrified to raise.

The funeral was held at St. Mary’s, a rosary put on by the Ladies’ Altar Society, and the burial at the family crypt near the house. Pearl stood there holding little Juliette, whom she knew had fallen asleep because she could feel the drool on her shoulder. She looked at the crypt that was a miniature of Greyfriars, pillars and all. She thought, Coffins instead of beds, same old view of the bayou … Maybe this little angel and I could just step right in and let them seal us up with everybody else and be done with it. There’s no one left. And even if there was, maybe they’d be cursed too. She closed her eyes and gently squeezed her niece as they sealed the crypt door and the priest gave the final blessing. With her best friend and sister-in-law, Pauline, and sweet brother, Louis, laid to rest, Pearl followed the procession back to Greyfriars to their life celebration.

The Ladies’ Altar Society had already left to set up and prepare the house. It was lovely. There were forest-green tablecloths over white with magnolia blooms from the tree out back for centerpieces and a nice buffet. Pearl had set up portraits and pictures of the two around the house as well as a picture of Pauline’s parents next to hers. Pearl thought they were the fortunate ones, not having to watch their children being buried before them. Juliette had woken and begun to cry by the time they got back to the house. I know, sugar, I know. Don’t worry. Aunt Pearl’s going to change your diaper and then we’re gonna eat. She kissed the child’s forehead, then took her upstairs before joining the guests.

During the first month after Louis and Pauline’s passing, Pearl was so busy establishing herself as a new parent figure she had no time to even look through much less think about the contents of the steamer trunk in the attic. She hired Esther to stay with her and Juliette for the month. Although Esther was two years younger than Pearl, the Danetree children had been somewhat sheltered, with Pearl staying local her whole young life even though Louis had gotten his engineering degree at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he’d met Pauline. Pearl felt herself getting overprotective and cautious with the baby, but Esther’s nursing experience helped to temper the tension. Twenty-four-hour, constant care was very different from babysitting every now and then. Even though they had all lived together in the same house, Pauline had been the mommy and done all the mommy things for Juliette, and whenever Louis had come home, he had done the daddy things. Pearl was the perfect sister, sister-in-law, and aunt when she was needed to help watch Juliette, but none of that had prepared her for this. Thank God Esther was there for her. She handled everything so smoothly, taking care of both Pearl and Juliette. Pearl was so grateful for the company too.

One night after Juliette had been laid down, Pearl and Esther put a fire in the fireplace, and each drank a glass of Pearl’s apricot brandy. Pearl decided to confide in Esther regarding the trunk and its contents. Esther listened as Pearl shared what she and Pauline had read in a few of the letters and in excerpts from an old diary belonging to Hyacinthe Danetree. Imagine that, Esther. We’re cursed. I swear if that don’t beat all. Pauline didn’t believe in that kind of thing. I cannot imagine Louis would give it any credence either. She and Louis and I were to go through the contents when they returned from Paris. What do you think? I mean, tragedies happen in all families, and they are just that—tragedies, unfortunate situations, real life. Pearl stared at Esther, waiting for an answer.

This was the moment Esther had anticipated ever since her mother had crossed over and she and her sisters had read the mysterious letter she had left them. She put her glass down on the coffee table, clasped her hands together, and looked at Pearl, trying to find the right words. She didn’t want to lose Pearl’s trust and hoped that her disclosure wouldn’t jeopardize their future as friends. "My dear, before you go any further, there is something I must show you. It is