Forever, Alabama

by Susan Sands

  “Just anticipating what we might be up against, honey. By the way, are you in?” Steve asked her.

  “Are you kidding? Of course I’m in. Sabine’s going to need a woman’s perspective in play during this fiasco. I’m certainly not leaving it up to the two of you.” Lisa was a family attorney, and handled divorces. Most often, she represented women who’d been emotionally or physically abused, or bullied at the hands of domineering husbands. Ben knew her legal history, as she’d been written up in some of the legal magazines for cases she’d represented. Plus, whether he’d wanted to hear it, word got around.

  “I know Sabine will appreciate you having her back from the female perspective. The two of you handle more divorces than I do, I’ve got to admit.”

  “So, when do we leave?” Steve asked.

  “Day after tomorrow. Can you swing it with the kids?” Ben asked.

  He’d never met their children, but he’d bet money they were adorable, considering both Lisa and Steve were both aesthetically gifted, and brainiacs to boot.

  “Are you kidding? Both our parents fuss and argue about whose turn it is to take the kids. They beg us to go on trips so they can have them to themselves overnight. It’s a blessing and a curse,” Lisa said.

  “Well, that’s certainly going to be helpful in this situation,” Ben said.

  “The question is, which set of grandparents gets to watch them? Or, will they split their time equally between the two?” Lisa asked.

  “I’m betting money on the second scenario.” Steve laughed. “Can you imagine our breaking it to one or the other that they weren’t the chosen pair?”

  Lisa rolled her eyes. “Not in a million years.”

  The yearning in Ben’s chest was becoming familiar. Witnessing Lisa and Steve banter over their children with such affection shined the light on what was missing in his life. Of course, rushing something like that was foolish, but he still wished for it like greener grass on the other side of the fence.

  “So, you and Sabine discuss having kids?” Steve gave words to Ben’s thoughts.

  “Not yet. Right now, we’re focusing on getting her free to move on with her life.”

  “Kids make everything worth the struggles.” Lisa mooned her agreement with Steve.

  She pulled out her cell phone and clicked on a photo of two tow-headed little ones who almost looked like twins, they appeared so close in age.

  “Wow. Great-looking kiddos. How old?” Ben asked.

  “Jonathan is two, and Emma is three and a half,” Lisa said.

  “I can’t wait to meet them.” He meant it.

  “You always had a soft spot for little ones. How’s your nephew and niece? Dirk and Lucy, wasn’t it?” Steve asked.

  “Dirk’s almost fifteen, and starting to date. JoJo thinks all the girls these days are far too aggressive, but Dirk seems fine with it. Lucy’s great. She’s almost eleven now. Pre-teen hell, according to Maeve, but pre-algebra is our thing. I tutor her pretty regularly, so she and I are tight.” Ben knew his pride in his family was obvious. “JoJo has little Suzie, who’s four, and Cammie married Grey Harrison last year, who has a daughter, Samantha, about the same age as Lucy. Oh, and Cammie’s pregnant.”

  “Wow. Lots of changes in the Laroux family. I heard about your mom getting married as well,” Lisa said.

  Ben nodded. “Howard has been a real godsend for Mom; I have to say. He was certainly a surprise. I’m sure you heard that he’s Maeve’s biological father.” With all the gossip in town, it would be strange if they hadn’t.

  “The gossip mill is alive and well here in Ministry. No way that could have flown under the radar around here,” Steve said. “I’m thinking that was a blow to the family.”

  “Nobody ever thinks their mother capable of such a secretive past. But we did wonder where Maeve’s dark blue eyes came from. Howard has the exact shade,” Ben said.

  Ben’s cell phone rang then, breaking up the discussion. He noticed that it was Sabine’s number on the caller ID. “Excuse me a moment.”

  He stepped toward the corner of the room. “Hey there. What’s up?”

  “Just wanted to check in with you. I got a call from Richard’s assistant letting me know the accommodations for my stay. I guess he’s planning to pay for it.”

  “Turn it down. Tell her you will make your own arrangements and let them know when you arrive. The less you do on their terms, the better. No need giving them more information than is absolutely necessary. That way, he can’t get the upper hand right away.”

  “O-okay. What should I say if she asks where I’m staying? Should I tell her you’ll be coming with me?”

  “No, don’t mention me at all. Best to make Richard and his counsel believe you’ll be in a vulnerable position alone. But I don’t want them to place you in a hotel where they can keep tabs on you twenty-four-seven. He will try to bully you into doing what he wants, so be prepared to simply say no. Or, you could say you’re staying with a friend and it’s none of his business what your plans are.”

  “I’m fine with saying any of those things to him. I don’t have a problem standing up to him. My concern was his seeing you as a rival. If he believes I want a divorce because I’ve found someone else, he’ll never agree to one.”

  “Why don’t we get together this evening and go over a game plan? In the meantime, send me the names of your favorite hotels. I can have my assistant, Chase, make reservations through the firm. Now that I’m your attorney, it can be written off as a business expense.”

  “Okay. I’ve canceled my patients for three days to be sure I’m covered, time-wise,” Sabine said. “Why don’t you come over to my house for dinner? Mom is making étouffée tonight. You got a problem with crawfish?”

  “No problem at all.” He disconnected the call and turned around. He’d nearly forgotten Steve and Lisa were still in his office.

  “Sounds like everything is going to plan. You can fill us in tomorrow on the details.

  It would be risky, but Ben agreed that it would be best they stayed nearby. “Okay. I’ll keep you posted.”

  The couple left his office and Ben sighed. Now, he truly was having serious reservations over having deceived Sabine by omission. Her safety was utmost on his mind, and he couldn’t think of a better way to ensure it than having silent backup with collective knowledge of the law.

  The only change in the plan he might suggest is that he and Sabine go to his place tonight and repeat their last meeting’s activities. It wouldn’t be especially polite to suggest a change in venue at this point, so he would suffer from wanting her in silence.

  Rachel’s number appeared on Sabine’s caller ID on her drive home. Finally, her sister was returning her call. “Hey, Rach. Everything okay?”

  “I was going to ask you the same question. You sounded a little frantic on the last message. It’s not like you.”

  “There’s a lot going on over here. Dad’s parole hearing is coming up in a couple weeks and he wants you there.”

  “No effing way, thank you very much.”

  “I figured you’d say that. But it’s more involved than that. He’s insisting his entire family’s attendance will carry more weight in swaying the parole board to let him loose. And he backhandedly intimated he would be less inclined to cause trouble for Mom if we got you on board.”

  “He basically threatened to make things more difficult for Mom if I didn’t show?”

  “Basically. And it would make the difference in Mom’s life moving forward, without his interference or his being a huge pain in the butt for who knows how long.”

  “He’s not a father, he’s a sperm donor,” Rachel hissed.

  “I know you feel that way now. But, right now, the sperm donor is in the driver’s seat.”

  “Unless none of us show up.”

  “We couldn’t do that, Rachel. For all his faults, you know he loves us, don’t you?” Jean-Claude Prudhomme had been a loving father to his girls when they were young. They knew he
cared for them, but he’d become so obsessed with his own world as they’d grown up. When he’d brought James into the household, it was as if a line had been drawn, and Dad and James were on one side of it, with Rachel, Sabine, and Mom on the other.

  “I have a hard time remembering that person,” Rachel said.

  When the scandal had broken several years ago involving Dad and the disgusting antics with other women, it had been the break of decency and all pretense between them pretending they were a viable family unit. She and Rachel were grown by then, and Mom was done suffering her husband’s indiscretions in silence. But Dad refused to allow Mom her freedom. His ego and pride were so overblown by then that he refused to admit the mess he’d made of their lives. He couldn’t accept fault or blame. Still, Sabine wouldn’t say he was a bad person, just extremely misguided, and so catered to by those in his circle that he’d lost touch with decent values most average humans maintained in their lives. He’d achieved some sort of demigod status and was insulated from the real world.

  While a district attorney’s position might not sound like it, it really was a hugely powerful position in a city like New Orleans. He’d been as much a figurehead as an attorney. Being an elected official in such an extravagant place full of vice and corruption had gone straight to his head, and been fed by the staffers and social climbers—like James’s mother. There was a nasty underbelly strongly associated with that world. One that Sabine was thrilled to never revisit, would never revisit.

  “Hey, are you still there?” Rachel’s voice brought Sabine out of her musings.

  “Oh, sorry. Just thinking about Dad’s descent into the dark side. You know, he wasn’t always like this.”

  “I can hardly remember the father he was before James came into our lives and ruined everything. The sad thing is that we tried to make that work. Dad just let him rule the household. He was horrible.”

  “Yeah. It’s a personality disorder he was born with. We couldn’t have fixed him even if we’d tried harder or done everything right. His drug-addicted mother ruined him before she gave birth to him. His brain was fried and mis-wired from all the partying when she was pregnant. He doesn’t have a conscience or empathy. That’s why we must be cautious around him, Rachel. Don’t make James too angry if you can help it. He is capable of real violence. I’m guilty of reacting poorly to him too, but we should keep in mind that if he snaps, it could be irrevocable.”

  “God, you scare me when you go all therapist on me. I’m glad you understand why our family is so incredibly screwed up, but it’s pretty damned depressing, I have to tell you.”

  Sabine laughed. She was home now, sitting outside in her car. Ben would arrive in a half-hour or so.

  “Oh, by the way, I’m sleeping with Ben Laroux.”

  A shriek. “Ben La-who? And you’re sleeping with him? Get out!”

  “He’s a local attorney. And he’s quite frankly the best-looking human being I’ve ever laid eyes on. Gorgeous.”

  “Why didn’t you just lead with that? It would have been a much more fun conversation. Thank God, Sabine. I thought you would revert back to virgin status or go sequester yourself in a damned nunnery if you didn’t get laid soon.”

  “What about you? How’s your love life?” Sabine asked.

  “My love life or my sex life?” Her sister’s voice took on a teasing quality.

  “I retract my question. Not sure I want to know that.” Sabine changed the subject.

  “So, Mom’s sleeping with Norman Harrison.” Best just to put it right out there.

  “What? Gross! I did not need to hear that. What else are you going to tell me?”

  “I’m going to New Orleans to meet with Richard and his attorneys to negotiate my divorce.” So much had gone down since the last time they’d spoken. Sabine hadn’t realized just how much until now.

  “Do you want me to have a damn heart attack? What’s the catch? I know he’s not letting you off that easily.”

  “You’re right. I have to go to the governor’s ball with him and show my support for his candidacy.” The very thought of dressing up and taking Richard’s arm made her stomach hurt.

  “Sounds like sleazy, snot ball, Richard,” Rachel said.

  Rachel had never been sold on Richard as a brother-in-law. Sabine wondered now if anything had ever happened to cause that besides the things she knew about.

  “I’m coming home. Tomorrow. I’ve just wrapped up a shoot here. When are you going to New Orleans?”

  “You’re finally coming home? Tomorrow? We’re leaving day-after-tomorrow.”

  “Well, I’ll get to see you for a little while, and then I’ll stay with Mom while you’re gone.”

  “I’m so glad, Rachel. How long will you be in town?” Sabine asked, thrilled that her little sister was finally coming for a visit, but sorry they wouldn’t have much time together.

  There was a pause. “Not sure. I’ve got a break in my schedule. We can talk when I get there. Well, gotta go. See you tomorrow afternoon.”

  The line went dead. Something was up with her sister. When it rained, it poured as always. Mom would be so happy to see Rachel, so Sabine wouldn’t share her concerns. It would all come out eventually.

  When she entered the kitchen, her mother kissed her on the cheek. “Hello, dear. How was work?”

  “People. Problems,” Sabine answered, and shrugged.

  “Well, I know you did your best to help them solve every one,” her mother said. “When can we expect that handsome hunk you’ve been seeing?”

  “About twenty minutes, I’d guess.” She sniffed appreciatively and her stomach growled. “Smells divine.”

  “Well, you’d better go back and freshen up, then. I’ve got things well in hand here. I hope that young man likes to eat,” Mom said, gesturing to the very large pot of étouffée bubbling on the stove.

  Sabine smiled. “He does; don’t worry.”

  As much as she looked forward to diving into her mother’s Cajun feast, part of Sabine wished she’d suggested a rendezvous at Ben’s place, for obvious reasons. Just thinking of him made her restless. She hoped she’d be able to concentrate on his words instead of watching his mouth and remembering what he’d done with it the last time they were together.

  Splashing cold water on her heated cheeks to cool them, she tried to reset her naughty thoughts about Ben. Better get it together. This was serious business they had to discuss. And she was a serious person, or had been until Ben Laroux entered her life and turned everything upside down. Not that it wasn’t upside down before. Maybe he just righted it and she didn’t recognize how things were supposed to be. That was a nice thought.

  Sabine changed into soft, faded jeans and a cream, lightweight jersey knit tunic. She’d come to realize how well-built she was for this Southern, cozy life here in small-town Alabama. No more planning her wardrobe every week with her assistant, keeping the constituency in mind, or waking every morning, a rigid moment-by-moment schedule set forth by the staffers. Now, she had patients to see. But Sabine was doing what she loved. She poured her heart and soul into helping the citizens of Ministry work through their problems and heal their hurts. Sure, there were some she wanted to kick to the curb, but she did her best for them as well.

  A knock on the door and her mother’s voice broke up her thoughts. She quickly brushed her teeth—because nobody deserved to greet her face-to-face at the end of the day before she’d had a serious visit with her toothbrush. Especially since she intended to get way into Ben’s personal space at some point this evening. Even if it was just for a goodnight kiss.

  Sabine entered the kitchen, where Mom was fussing over Ben. She’d put him at the small breakfast table that was set for four. Four? Oh, maybe Norman would join them. Mom knew the score as far as the subjects they’d planned to discuss this evening. And Norman was up-to-date on pretty much all the family secrets, so she figured having him here wasn’t a problem. Norman had proven to be smart, trustworthy, and completely loyal to
her mother, thus far. Who was Sabine to question her mother’s decision to confide in him? After all, she’d shared their dirty laundry with Ben. Not that she wanted any of this to go any further. With every person who knew a secret, it increased the possibility of someone letting something slip. And if Sabine had learned anything, it was that secrets had a way of getting out.

  “Hi there,” Sabine said to Ben as she entered the room.

  At seeing her, he transferred his gaze to her from her mother. The change in his expression was immediate and intense. He raked her body with his eyes, and caught her stare. Her body’s response weakened her knees.

  “Hey there, yourself.” The tone of his voice sounded completely innocent and welcoming.

  She knew better.

  “I hope you don’t mind that I’ve asked Norman to join us,” Mom said.

  Ben’s lustful look vanished immediately, replaced by a questioning one. “Is he aware of all the facts?” Ben asked.

  “Yes. I trust him completely,” Mom answered.

  Sabine added her agreement to that. “Norman is in the loop. The only other person who knows everything is my sister, Rachel. I mention Rachel because I just got off the phone with her on the way home. She’ll be here tomorrow and will be with Mom while we’re gone to New Orleans,” Sabine said, then checked her mother’s reaction.

  Tears filled Mom’s eyes. “Oh, how I’ve missed your sister. Did she say what time she planned to arrive?”

  “Sometime tomorrow afternoon. I’m not sure how long she’s planning to stay.”

  “Our home is her home, as she well knows. She can move in permanently, as far as I’m concerned.” Mom stood and walked over to the built-in bookcases beside the fireplace and pulled down a framed photograph. She stared at it for a moment, then brought it over and handed it to Ben. “This is the three of us a few years ago.”

  Ben took the frame and studied the photo. “Rachel’s tall, but I can see a strong resemblance between your girls,” he said to Mom as he handed back the frame.

  Mom laughed at the understatement. “I’ll say. Besides the height, they almost look like twins. Their eye color is slightly different, and Rachel is three years younger, but it’s almost shocking to most people who see them together the first time, or when someone sees one and doesn’t know the other. It can be confusing too.”