Page 54 of The Unseen

Rachel Juliette Belmond

A Beautiful, Beloved Soul

Next to her, a much older stone read:

IN LOVING MEMORY

Francois Etienne Villard

Beloved Son of Pierre and Therese-Louise Villard

Born February 18, 1843

Died 1878

Finally at Peace

The last line had been added to the original marker. There was still no record of the exact date of Francois’s death, but his bones had been placed in the grave, where they belonged, and Rachel had been buried at his side.

The cemetery sat on Belle Reve land. It was Nicole’s decision, and she knew without doubt it was what Rachel would have wanted. What she and Francois both would have wanted.

Nicole set a bouquet of white roses on top of the grave and wiped a tear from her cheek. They stood there awhile in silent prayer, the wind ruffling her hair and the skirt she had worn to church that morning.

“You ready to go home?” Lucas asked.

Nicole nodded.

“Sean?” Lucas asked.

His gaze remained fixed on the graves. “When I think about everything that’s happened, sometimes I still can’t believe it.”

Lucas glanced back to the graves. “Maybe it’s better that way.”

Nicole reached over and took hold of his hand, reached over and took hold of her brother’s, and they made their way back to the Lexus for the return trip to Baton Rouge.

A lot had happened in the five months since the shooting at Belle Reve. Nicole and Lucas had been married, just a small ceremony at the little white church in St. Francisville, exactly what she wanted. Nicole no longer doubted her husband’s love for her, or the deep love she felt for him.

Lucas had sold his town house and bought a much larger home at the edge of the city, with plenty of room for Sean, including a separate shop he had already converted into his man/ boy cave. Her brother still had time left on his sentence, but he was getting along without a problem.

Christian Villard was serving a two-year sentence for his part in the attempted destruction of Belle Reve. With his father dead and the company bankrupt, Nicole believed the sentence was harsh enough.

The biggest change was in Belle Reve. Nicole and Lucas had discussed what should be done with the property—now that she and Sean no longer lived there—and it certainly wasn’t turning it into a resort.

The house was a beautiful historic landmark.

With Aunt Rachel gone, and Nicole the owner, they decided to donate the property to the State of Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation.

Under the jurisdiction of local authorities, Belle Reve would be repaired, maintained, and opened daily to visitors for guided tours.

A caretaker would live on-site in the carriage house.

Belle Reve would remain the Diva, majestic as she had been since the day she was built.

And though Nicole felt a pang as they drove away, Belle Reve would always be a part of her, along with the families resting for eternity in the graveyard up on the hill.