Dale reached his mother’s side and urged her to follow him. “Mom, we’ve got some special guests waiting to see you. Come with me.”
Lee followed, alongside Jill and her husband, Bobby.
When they rounded the corner, Lee gave a low whistle. There were white linen covered tables set in a large circle around the deck and lawn. Eileen and her daughters tended a buffet line. Party lanterns were strung from trees overhead, and flaming citronella stakes ringed the dining area. Lee estimated over a hundred guests were mingling about.
“Jill, how did all these people get here without vehicles?”
“They all parked at Rick and Janet’s place, one concession over, and Janet drove them here in a school bus.”
“You two have done brilliantly. This is an amazing set-up.” Lee looked around and dropped her voice. “Did Janjay and Dechontee make it?”
“Yes, but they’ve been staying with my cousin Matty, and he got a flat tire on the way over. He called to say they’d be here in twenty minutes.”
“So the special guests are...”
“My grandparents. They flew in yesterday and have been staying with me. It’s been kind of weird, actually. As far as I can remember, I’ve never met them, so it’s like having two elderly strangers in the house. Still, they seem nice enough, and I’m glad Dale arranged for them to be here. I’m sure Mom will be thrilled.”
Lee was doubtful. From her vantage point, she could see Gaëlle’s face as Dale brought his grandparents out from the kitchen. There was utter shock in her expression. Lee suddenly felt an urge to reach Gaëlle’s side, and she wormed her way through the crowd and up to the elevated deck.
As Lee came behind Gaëlle, her friend exchanged a stiff hug with her mother and a handshake with her father. Dale stood to the side, a mildly confused look on his face.
“Hey, Gaëlle.”
Gaëlle turned to Lee with relief in her eyes. “Hey, yourself. I wondered where you’d gotten to. Come and meet my parents.” She pulled Lee to her side. “Mom, Dad, this is a dear friend of mine, Lee Glenn. Lee, this is my mother, Sue Revkin, and my father, Allan Revkin.”
Lee extended her hand first to Gaëlle’s mom, who shook it limply, then to her father. She was startled to see distaste in Allan Revkin’s eyes, but his voice was neutral as they exchanged pleasantries.
Lee stood with Gaëlle, her parents, Dale, Jill, and Bobby and made small talk as people came and went, offering congratulations to the woman of the evening.
The longer she stood there, the more an instinctive dislike for Allan grew within her. Lee couldn’t have said why. He did nothing overtly offensive, but Lee’s long-honed people instincts had her hackles raised.
Suddenly Lee recalled Wally’s words. Blood’s black heart. Blood...as in relative? Was that what he meant? He was warning me to guard Gaëlle from her father?
It hadn’t escaped Lee’s notice that Gaëlle still clung to her arm. It was highly unusual behaviour from the normally confident, outgoing woman. But before she could give it any further thought, Dale’s face beamed as he looked past them.
“Mom, you’re going to want to turn around. Your parents aren’t the only special guests tonight.”
Lee turned as Gaëlle did.
Two African women in colourful clothes mounted the steps. The older woman leading the way wore a vivid red and yellow caftan. A necklace of coral and amber beads hung round her neck. The younger woman wore a gorgeous orange and green skirt with a short black fitted jacket and a head wrap that matched her skirt.
“Janjay? Dechontee? Oh, my God! I can’t believe you’re here!” Gaëlle rushed to embrace the two newcomers.
Janjay and Dechontee grinned broadly, their smiles a brilliant contrast to their ebony skin.
Dale sidled up next to the trio, his smile as big as theirs. “So, did we surprise you, Mom?”
“Surprise me? Oh, my sweet Jesus, did you ever! Brat! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.” Gaëlle was laughing and crying at the same time, clearly exhilarated that her friends were there.
Lee stole a look at Gaëlle’s parents. This time Allan’s distaste wasn’t restricted to his eyes. His countenance radiated revulsion. Lee overheard him mutter to his wife, “Nothing’s changed. We should never have come.”
Sue nervously patted her husband’s arm, and he led her away from the joyful scene to chairs at the far side of the deck.
I think you nailed this guy, Wally. He definitely bears watching.
Lee was about to take up a position near the entry to the kitchen, where she could keep an eye on the Revkins, but Gaëlle was suddenly at her side and tugged her over to meet the newcomers.
“Lee, you have got to meet our friends.”
Laughing, Lee allowed herself to be rushed across the deck. She found herself standing in front of Janjay, whose shrewd eyes quickly assessed her. Lee offered her hand and got a left-handed shake in return.
Janjay smiled and turned to Gaëlle. “This one is all right, my friend.”
Gaëlle shot an affectionate look at Lee. “I kind of thought so.”
Dale had his arm around Dechontee, and he gently steered her to face Lee. “Lee, this is my...this is Dechontee.”
“It is indeed good to meet you. I’ve heard so much about the work you and your mother are doing. It’s quite amazing what you’ve accomplished.”
“Thank you very much. Perhaps later we can talk about this.”
“It would be my pleasure.”
With all the special guests now in attendance, the party took off with a vengeance. Two of Hugh’s brothers and a niece and a nephew dug out musical instruments. When they weren’t eating, people danced to the sounds of guitars, a fiddle, and an accordion.
Lee stuck close to Gaëlle, who, except for the occasional dutiful chat with her parents, remained near Janjay. Dale and Dechontee danced until Lee was sure their feet would fall off.
“Do you dance, Lee?”
Lee looked over to see Janjay’s eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, ma’am, I’ve been accused of being hard on my partner’s feet, but I do enjoy it. Would you care to take your chances with me?”
“Eh, eh, eh. Not me. My ancient feet are all danced out. But you take this one out there.” Janjay pushed Gaëlle toward Lee.
Gaëlle laughed and cocked her head. “Shall we do as we’re bidden?”
Allan Revkin was in Lee’s line of sight. For a moment, she thought he was going to erupt at Janjay’s suggestion, but he visibly restrained himself.
“Sure. I should warn you, though, that Dana wore steel-toed cowboy boots when we went dancing.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
Lee decided that either her dancing had improved over the years, or Gaëlle’s avoidance skills were far superior to Dana’s. They enjoyed three rapid dances without a single injury to Gaëlle’s toes, then breathlessly returned to the deck, arm in arm.
Gaëlle nudged Lee as they climbed the stairs. “That was so much fun. Promise we’ll do that again later?”
“Absolutely.”
Lee settled Gaëlle back in the chair next to Janjay and went to find them something cold to drink. Snagging a couple of bottles out of one of the numerous ice chests, she noticed Dale and Dechontee approaching their mothers.
Lee grinned. This is it. The big announcement. As pre-arranged, she put her fingers to her mouth and gave a piercing wolf whistle.
The music stumbled to a halt, and heads swivelled in her direction.
“If I could get you to direct your attention to the deck, Dale and Dechontee have something to say.”
With all eyes on them, Dale and Dechontee knelt in front of their mothers, who began to beam with anticipation.
“Mom, Janjay, Dechontee and I would like to ask for your blessing. We want to get married as soon as—”
Before Dale could go any further, Allan leaped to his feet. “No! This is an abomination. No grandson of mine is going to marry the likes of her.” He spat the words out to the ni
ght sky as a multitude of shocked faces snapped toward him.
Lee dropped the bottles and sprang forward. Seizing Allan’s arm, she hissed, “You and I are going to have a word, Mr. Revkin. Inside. Now!” Lee hustled the protesting man past the kneeling couple and their distressed mothers.
Sue Revkin, in tears, followed close behind.
Inside the house, Lee kept on going until they reached the living room. “Sit.”
Allan looked as if he was going to ignore Lee’s order, but her flashing eyes apparently changed his mind. He dropped into the nearest chair.
“I don’t know what your problem is, Mr. Revkin.” Blood’s black heart. “I have no idea why you’d fly all this way just to make trouble, but—”
“Me make trouble?” Revkin’s voice trembled with indignation.
“Yes, you. That was a tender scene between two people who love each other deeply, and you thought you had the right to interrupt? Who the hell do you think you are?”
“That man’s grandfather. And I was trying to stop him from making a terrible mistake, just like his mother made forty years ago.”
Lee snorted and scowled at the man. “The only mistake here tonight was Dale thinking he could bring you back into the circle of a loving family.” Black heart, black heart.
“I will not sit here and be lectured by the likes of you.”
“The likes of me, eh? I see you’re an equal opportunity bigot. Race, sexuality—is there nothing your intolerance doesn’t cover?”
“Sue, go pack our things. We are leaving this instant.”
“Yeah, you are. In fact, I’m driving you to North Battleford. You can get a hotel there and take a bus to any airport you choose in the morning. The only thing I care about is getting your poison away from a whole lot of great human beings, who don’t deserve to be exposed to such filth.”
Sue scuttled from the room, and Allan followed.
Lee sought to calm herself as she paced. When Jill joined her, Lee explained what had happened.
“Thank you, Lee. I didn’t know what to do. I’m ashamed that they’re my blood.”
“Don’t be. As your mom would say, they alone are responsible for their actions.”
Jill gave Lee a quick hug and then left the room.
A few minutes later, Gaëlle came in with tears in her eyes. Reacting instinctively, Lee opened her arms, and Gaëlle hurried into her embrace.
“I can’t believe they did that. That was even worse than when Hugh and I...”
“Shhh, it’s okay. I’m going to take them away from here.”
“I know. Jill told me. Thank you, Lee. I hate to have you miss the party, but I just can’t deal with him. I’ve never been able to.”
“No worries. I’ll be back by midnight. You’ll probably all still be partying.”
“If he hasn’t put a permanent damper on things.”
Lee took Gaëlle’s face in her hands. “Don’t let him, okay?”
“Okay.”
Lee brushed Gaëlle’s tears aside. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
“That a girl.” Lee planted a soft kiss on Gaëlle’s forehead, only to hear an outraged hiss come from behind.
“I should’ve known! Sodomite! Whore!”
“Oh, for crying out loud. Gaëlle, go back to your guests. Celebrate your birthday, the engagement, and have a good time. I’m going to take out the trash.” Lee kissed Gaëlle’s cheek and turned to the Revkins. “C’mon, you nasty old bugger. It’s time you left this party.”
Chapter 13
Driving Mr. and Mrs. Revkin to North Battleford felt like one of the longest hours of Lee’s life. Sue hadn’t stopped weeping since they left Jill’s house, but even that was more tolerable than listening to Allan rant about his daughter’s shortcomings.
Mile after mile, Lee grimly resisted the urge to toss the old bigot out and leave him on the side of the road. She tried cranking up the radio, but reception was poor and the crackling was almost harder to listen to than Revkin.
Finally, Lee had enough. “Shut the fuck up!” The full-volume bellow stopped Revkin in mid-rave. “No more, do you hear me? I’ll kick you out and let you find your own way back to civilization; don’t think I won’t. You’re slandering the most decent human being I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. I can’t believe she’s actually your daughter, because you’ve got to be the nastiest human being I’ve ever encountered.”
“She’s not my daughter.”
Lee rolled her eyes. “I’m sure Gaëlle will be absolutely crushed to learn you’re going to disown her.”
“That woman is no blood of mine. Never has been; never will be.”
Lee looked in her rear-view mirror at her two passengers.
Sue had her face buried in her hands. Unexpectedly, the look on Allan’s face appeared to be one of triumph.
“Come again?”
“Ask my wife. Ask her about fornication with the adulterer Adam Woodson, which produced the devil’s issue. I raised the child up right, but blood tells. Blood always tells!”
“So you’re saying that Gaëlle is your wife’s daughter...”
“But not mine. No legitimate daughter of mine would allow her son to marry a spawn of Africa. No rightful daughter of mine would have relations with another woman.”
“Not that it’s any business of yours, but your daughter and I are just friends. End of story.”
“Don’t insult my intelligence. I know what you are, and I know what I saw.”
“What you saw was one friend comforting another. But I doubt you know much about friendship or compassion.”
“I know the word of God, and I know a sinner when I see one.”
Lee twisted her mirror until it showed him his own reflection. “Then take a close look, Revkin. It won’t be long before you’re answering for a life’s worth of nastiness. Frankly, I wouldn’t want to be you on that day.”
“Hell-bound bitch! You and my wife’s daughter can keep each other company in the lakes of fire.”
“Cool. I’d much rather be wherever she is than wherever you end up. Now shut up, or get out. Your choice.”
Revkin looked as if he’d bitten into a lemon, but he was silent for the remainder of the ride.
Lee pulled into the parking lot at the first hotel she came to in North Battleford. After confirming that they had a vacancy, she dumped her passengers’ luggage at the front door. When she looked in her rear-view mirror, Allan Revkin had already gone inside while Sue Revkin struggled with their bags.
Lee felt a moment of sympathy for the woman. She couldn’t imagine a lifetime married to such a tyrannical man. “I guess your daughter would say you chose your life circumstances for a reason, Sue. I hope you learned whatever lessons you set out for yourself and don’t have to go around with that son of a bitch again.”
Lee shuddered. It might have been her imagination, but she could almost feel the negativity the Revkins had left behind. “I’m going to have to cleanse my car with burning sage.”
When Lee realized what she had muttered, she laughed until tears ran down her cheeks. “Damn, old girl, she’s getting to you.”
But when she wiped her eyes dry and drove into the night, Lee did feel as if the atmosphere had lightened.
By the time Lee arrived back at Jill’s, it was nearing midnight. The party was still going on, though more than half of the guests had departed. There were far fewer dancers, and they now swayed to the sounds of recorded music. Some young children napped in their parents’ arms, and older children congregated near the food table.
Lee passed a steady trickle of people leaving, exchanging goodnights as she went.
Off to one side, she spotted Dale and Dechontee leaning against a tree with their arms around each other. She smiled, relieved that Revkin had not inflicted any perceptible damage.
As she rounded the corner of the house, Lee saw Gaëlle and Janjay deep in conversation on the deck. She hesitated, but Gaëlle spotted her.
“Lee!” Gaëlle jumped to her feet and met Lee at the top of the stairs. “Did you get them to a hotel?”
“I did.”
“Come sit with us. Eileen and the girls just put out midnight snacks. Let me get you a plate.”
Lee was going to refuse, but Gaëlle was already down the stairs and moving toward the buffet table. Lee took a seat facing Janjay. She rubbed her face wearily and sighed.
“It was not a pleasant drive, I’m thinking.”
Lee shook her head. “No, it wasn’t. They are not pleasant people...well, he isn’t, anyway. I’m afraid I wasn’t exactly diplomatic. I may have ruined any future chance of reconciliation.”
“Do not worry about that. I believe that Gaëlle has no such desire in any case. Poor Dale has apologized over and over since that ill-bred man’s outburst. But it was not Dale’s fault. He thought he was doing a good thing for his mother. He is a good son.”
“He’ll make a good son-in-law, eh?”
“He will. I am very pleased with my daughter’s choice, though I confess I am somewhat worried about having that nasty man’s DNA transmitted to my future grandchildren. It is so hard to believe that my dear friend has a father like that.”
“She doesn’t, actually. At least not according to the sonofabitch himself.”
“What?”
When she heard Gaëlle’s exclamation behind her, Lee whirled around, belatedly realizing what she had just disclosed. “Shit. Shit. Shit. I’m so sorry, Gaëlle. I didn’t mean to tell you like that.”
Gaëlle set the plate she’d filled on a side table. “What did you mean?”
“Your...Revkin said a lot of things on the way to North Battleford.”
“I imagine he did. Dad’s never been shy about expressing his opinions, no matter how outrageous.”
“Yeah, well, one of the things he said...he accused your mom of...he said that someone else was your biological father.”
Janjay raised her hand to the sky. “Praise God!”
Walking the Labyrinth Page 17
