Antecedent

She sat inside her fathers truck, apple pie on her lap and sighed. "Does my hair look okay? Mama made me curl it-"

"Your hair looks very pretty Cordelia, a real southern' belle. I don't know why your mama' keeps dressin' you up though- it's not like these people are special."

She chuckled. "Well... I've never been to the Van Rensselaer manor before, come to think of it, I don't think anyone else has- I'm sure she just wanted me to make a good impression."

"Yeah... Or she just wanted you to snag one of those rich boys for a husband. Either way just drop off the pie, and I'll pick you up, I really need to start puttin' my foot down around your mama- she annoys the livin' hell outta me!"

"If mama was here now, she would beat you over the head for using that kind of language..."

Her father chuckled and beamed at her with his pearly whites. "Well it's a good thing she's not, aye' kid?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes before catching sight of the Van Rensselaer manor. Her father had driven up a clearing, hidden by giant oak trees that stood strong in the blistering heat. The land sat right next to the harbor of which sea breeze freely floated in. The lush nature surrounding them was beautiful. Deep green ground surrounded them as they drove over the neat stoned road, it winding itself up to an old creek that fell like a water fall before ending at two wide open iron gates covered in rose vines.

The entire path there was covered in many flowering plants, lilies and roses alike, with thick bushes, and huge ancient trees. It was almost like nature had taken over yet the flora was clearly well taken care of and trimmed regularly. Even in the dry south everything here beside fresh water and salt water was a healthy green. It was like the garden of eden; beautiful and sealed off from the rest of the world.

Green eyes glazing over as she gazed even further into the land before her. The manor was a large and victorian much like a mini castle. It's old walls covered in flowering vines and moss covered walls stood strong. It was slightly creepy and dark looking despite being covered in hearth. The eerie large red woods only made the feeling worse as they seemed to oddly curve around the manor in strange curled directions.

It was no wonder they never left, they had everything they could possibly need here!

Attached to the humongous mansion was what looked to be a completely glass conservatory holding only what she could imagine were thousands of tropical plants. The mini gardens surrounding the house were beautifully managed and held various ancient statues and fountains. Far behind the manor was a large corn field and various other crop fields. To its left was what looked to be a smaller house and a barn. Behind it she could see nothing but field after field that eventually merged with the forest.

They owned all of this?

"Woah, it's so big and pretty! Look how big their porch is pop's! I could sit out here all day drinking iced tea and knitting!" She spoke looking at the mini observatory by the pond that was held up by columns on the side of the house attached to the huge rotating waterwheel.

"Few- It's huge that's for sure- do you want me to drop you off at the gate or right in front of the manor?"

"Gate is fine pop's- I wanna get a proper look around."

"Alright then pumpkin'- out the truck you get, I'll see you in an hour." She slid out of the seat and grabbed her baking tray filled with fresh steaming apple pie before smiling at her father.

"See you in an hour."

Her feet hit the Texas ground with a swoosh, the plush glass rubbing against her white dolly shoes. The Texan sun was hot, and in the season of summer it was the hottest it had ever gotten thankfully due to all the grantee shade she felt none of the harmful rays on her skin. Though she quickly missed the air conditioning of her fathers truck so she hurried along her walk.

Inside her pocket she held a few spare apple pie crumbs which had slightly fallen off the crust. She gathered it as bird seed to feed the wildlife. Graceful heaven-bound birds of all colors glided across the sky as free souls. The winds spreading their soft wings with rays of light coming through their feathers while singing sweet and high tunes. Every movement that is so natural to them is reflected in their song, the way they turn their heads with gentle precision, cutely hopping upon branches and diving into the air. Each feather in perfect sync layered on top of one another in rows.

The bright fluffy songbirds she so loved chirped happily perching on her shoulders and nuzzled her hair. A single finch perching itself on her hand as she stuck her index finger out to gently pet its soft yellow head.

Curious deep blue eyes unknowingly watching her from afar as the golden finch lovingly rubbed back against her digit in content while continued gazing out at the rising sun.

The crops were lush, clearly well taken care of, and regularly irrigated by advanced handmade systems. Cordelia adored the gazebo, the rocking chair that stood outside- the light blue picket table inside, the wide ivory curtains and the bloodied chainsaw that rested next to them. Wait- A bloodied chainsaw? Her eyes turned to it in curiosity and slight fear- well she supposed there is a lot of wildlife out here that they'd have to kill but- a chainsaw?- oh wait- they own a meat business, of course they're gonna have a bloody ole' chainsaws lying about, silly her getting herself all worked up. Should she knock now? Gosh she hoped they liked her. Mama would give her an ear full if she made a bad impression.

Cordelia raised her hand and knocked lightly, putting on her best smile that made the boys fall like dominos as she waited for the wide set double doors to be opened. She didn't expect it, when he opened the door. She had never seen this man in her life, and her breath was taken. The farm boys she got around here tried to act big and strong, tried to act like what this man was. Good god- may the lord forgive her for taking his name in vane- but she had never been attracted to a man in her life.

His hair was a deep wavy black that tickled his shoulders and was even darker in the sun. Like the soulless pits of hell. His brow was worked with sweat as it creased in confusion as to why she was at the door. The sleeves of his white button up were rolled up to his elbows under a leather apron revealing his arms. Tanned and huge, made of pure muscle that rippled up to his shoulder blades his arms were covered in a light sweat. His upper torso was bulky, and broad covered by his white button up that was now see through due to sweat as it tightly clung to his form.

Gosh- his shoulders must have been twice her body width alone. The mans eyes were rich and colored blue like an ocean on fire, though one of them was lighter than the other. The lighter eye having a scar going through it that hooked in a smooth swirl to the left side of a pair of thick dark pink lips. He had what looked to be an axe in one of his large tanned hands that he hesitantly raised it his hip. 

"H-Hi, I'm Cordelia LaLaurie- I live in town with my mama' and old man- my mama met your mama at church you see- and she told her about my apple pie recipe... And well, long story short I'm here to drop off an apple pie, um... Are you the eldest son?

The hulking man relaxed his rigid stance slightly and inclined his head towards her before nodding. Ah, so he is the oldest- Julius Montgomery Van Rensselaer.

"Is your name Julius?"

Another nod.

She beamed. "Nice to meet you- May I come in? Is your mama home?"

He raised an eyebrow and seemed to tighten his grip on his axe before shaking his head. No?

"Ah, okay well, if I can't come in how about you, sit out on the gazebo with me- eat some pie... It's apple crisp..." She looked at him shyly as the older man looked around the grounds before grabbing his large axe and lowering it to the floor with a thud. Geez- he's so strong!

Cordelia sat down in one of the blue picket chairs and placed the round pan filled with pie onto the middle of the table- eyeing the chainsaw out of the corner of her fluttering green eyes. Gosh she knew it was for the meat but that thing sure did unnerve her- he's wearing a black leather apron, carrying an axe, was he doing work before she arrived? And it's so strange- She wasn't allowed in the house?- And here she was thinking folks around here were all about southern hospitality.

She glanced at him and smiled. He sure is cute though- She'd admit that's a nasty scar he's got on the left side of his face but it just makes him more handsome- the boys at church can't compare- though she supposed he's not a boy. He must be what, twenty five? And from the looks of those shoulders alone he doesn't have the body of a boy either. No, this wasn't a boy in front of her. This was a man. And he was making her seventeen year old heart flutter.

"I made the pie myself- it's always been one of my favorites... I brought the recipe on my trip to my pa's hometown- in Virginia. Would you like to try some?"

Julius's face turned to her and he seemed to reach into his pocket before pulling out a wooden mask that covered the left side of his face before nodding. Poor thing- should she tell him she didn't care about the scars or will that make him angry? She wanted him to feel comfortable, so she kept quiet. She'll just give him an extra large serving of pie.

"I'm guessing you're not a big talker... Can I call you Jules or is that a bit informal?"

He picked up a sliver fork set neatly on the table and stabbed a chunk of pie- Despite being isolated in the south he seemed to have more manners than the boys' around here. It was nice that he was a gentleman with manners, unlike the other men round' here. Elegantly he raised it to his mouth, and she barely heard him speak and yet the deep hollow of his voice rang loud and clear.

"My mother calls me Jules."

"Well then that's what I'll call ya'- if you don't mind that is, Julius Montgomery is a bit of a handful..."

He shook his head with what looked like a small smile on the corner of his lips as if to say, 'I don't mind.'

"What do you think about the pie? I can make more if you like-"

"It's good." She grinned at that. He thinks her pie is good-

"Would have been better if it was cherry."

Her smile dropped. "Well aren't you a sassy one when you decide to talk?"

He shrugged. She guessed she should've been offended but those shoulders were so broad... Cordelia was having impure thoughts - gosh if her mama were here to see her now she'd beat her with a belt.

"I can make a cherry one, ya know? Tweak the recipe- Bring it to you tomorrow...?"

He quirked an eyebrow, his face. Almost unreadable save for a small slither of amusement. "My mother wouldn't like you coming around here."

"Well... I won't be here to see your mother- I'll be here to see you."

He gave a small quirk on the exposed part of his lips. "How old are you?"

She puffed her cheeks. Oh please, as if she would actually act on her impure thoughts. He was a handsome man that's for sure, but she had plans of her own. No man no matter how good looking could persuade her.

"Does it matter?"

"I'm not going to be aquatinted with no little girl."

"Careful rich boy, your country talk is coming through." This made him grin.

"I'm seventeen I'll have you know- you're what? Seven years older than me? Don't start actin' high and mighty just because we have a bit of an age difference."

"A bit of an age difference is an understatement... Little girl."

She gasped in mock offense and glared at him as he gleefully continued to devour her apple pie.

There was a borough of dust as two cars rocked up on the large clearing. One was a large black truck, and the other was a small and rather sturdy white car. Expensive make and early in model, maybe a year old as one of them had a silver 23' branded under the license plate- she knew these must have been the cars of Jules' family.

"Your daddy's gonna come pick you up soon? Right?" There was a slight hint or urgency in Jules' voice that had her confused.

"Yeah, give or take ten minutes- why? You that eager to get rid of me?"

He fell silent. "Stay near me."

Three men and a lady walked up on the gazebo the lady, Molly Mae, was a pretty woman. She had greying strawberry hair and dark blue eyes just like Jules'. Cordelia could tell she must have been beautiful in her youth. She was wearing a floral dress, patterned with green ivy and white heels. The man next to her was old and imposing- Norman Van Rensselaer, his hair nearly balding and his shirt vintage. They had two other sons, one she recognized from the youth club.

Nineteen year old James Van Rensselaer was a mess of charming smiles and curly black locks. His eyes were black like his fathers- and he was wearing a white shirt puffed at the sleeves and a pair of black overalls. On his feet were expensive black dress shoes. The other son was older, twenty four from what she could remember, Clemence Grey Van Rensselaer. His hair was a deep strawberry just like his mama's- his shirt was a smart grey and white tartan and he had a pair of high waisted dress trousers on. All of them had evidently just came back from church.

"Jules!" His mother called. She ran up to him and held up her expensive emerald handbag.

"I went to the shop today- bought us some ingredients. I trust you killed us some meat?"

Cordelia regarded him curiously. So he was doing work and he didn't want her to see it- how sweet.

Julius nodded and she smiled. "Good boy... Now who in the God fearing world is this?"

"I-I'm Cordelia LaLaurie ma'am- you met my mama at church- Maggie that is- I came here to drop off a apple pie. I didn't mean to intrude but Jules here said it was alright for me to sit on the porch here with him-"

"He spoke to you?" Her smile faltered.

"Yeah- not in so many words ma'am, he's a bit of a quiet one... Sassed me about my apple pie, but don't worry I'll make him a cherry one tomorrow."

The whole family stared at her and she blushed in embarrassment. James raced to the picket table and grabbed a slice of apple pie- no manners- nothing you shouldn't expect from a boy, though. Cordelia smiled at him politely, and he grinned.

"Pie is good mama'- Can I keep her? She's Cordelia LaLaurie ya' know? Southern belle and all that, all the boys in town would be jealous if I had her-" Molly Mae swatted the young boy on the head.

"You ain't keepin' no girl! You little rascal! She's too pretty anyways- better suited for someone a little more... Mature." Cordelia coughed and looked at her hands. What did she mean by that? And the whole 'can I keep her' comment? That was kinda weird- she didn't wanna judge though, just a few more minutes and daddy' will be pickin' her up.

The strawberry haired woman turned to the girl and smiled, grabbing her husbands wallet and handed her a small slip of paper. Their landline number. "Tell you what, come around tomorrow, Jules here will be there to greet ya'- he'll take you round the land for a little tour around the property and then you can join us for lunch in the afternoon?"

"Lunch?! Oh no- I wouldn't want to intrude Miss Molly-"

"Nonsense- Now, that you've met with my little Jules you can become more acquainted with our son? I think you and Julius would- Ah- I mean get along nicely..." She let out a light laugh as she eyed the young girl up and down with a certain indiscernible look in her eyes.

"You come here tomorrow, bring us some of that pie of yours!"

"Mother." Jules growled out lowly in warning. The strawberry haired woman shook her head and laughed.

"Don't be like that Julius- now get your hulkin' bloody axe off my porch and get back to work- Just because a pretty girl came around doesn't give you an excuse to slack off. Clemence go help your brother- James I want you upstairs in your fathers office studyin'- and Norman how about you watch another episode of one of those game shows you like while I prepare dinner?"

All three men nodded but the eldest son. Their father and the youngest two went to do as they were told. Jules stayed put, eyeing his mother distrustfully and remained rigid by Cordelia's side. "Not leaving until she leaves."

"Oh? And why is that Julius? You got a crush?"

"Don't trust you."

Molly Mae's face seemed to slip a little bit but another borough of wind blasted in her direction as her fathers truck pulled up to the manor. "That's my pa'- it was terribly nice meeting you ma'am- you too Jules- I'll see you tomorrow for lunch."

She nodded. "Looking forward to it. Have a safe journey home."

Cordelia stepped down from the porch and opened the door to the air conditioned truck, sliding into the passenger side and waving goodbye as she strapped in her seatbelt.

"Were they... Err nice- pumpkin?"

"Yeah... Real nice lookin."

"That's not what I asked." Her father said with a chuckle making her blush.

"Yeah- they're nice folks- bit weird, though. They invited me over for lunch tomorrow."

"Minglin' with high society? Aye Cordelia? Your' mama will be please."

"I'm not doing it for mama- I'm doing it for him."

"And who's him?"

She gave her father a light smile that had him dreading her response. "Jules- the oldest son- I've decided he's gonna be my best friend."

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to be continued...