by Tracy Ellen
Stella was sitting close at his side, eyes sparkling. When not batting her eyelashes in his direction, she was shooting me little questioning looks. This included tilted head nods and flaring eyes towards him. I may have mentioned subtleness is not her strongest suit. I had all I could do not to spit my wine out in laughter watching her facial movements become more grossly exaggerated the more I pretended confusion as to her meaning.
Eventually, I’d had enough of my own private fun and relented, signaling he was a real cutie. Finally satisfied, she smiled back up at him. The look of heated adoration passing between them had me hoping I did need glasses. I didn’t want Stella to find the man of her dreams at eighteen. Thirty-eight was a nice round number. I thought it’d be very educational if she spent her J terms going to school in Europe being chased by frisky Italian and French men, maybe even a swaggering Spaniard or two. That would be the epitome of my Bel Curve Mind, Body, and Soul concept in action.
James Byrd made me uncomfortable with his speculative gaze following me around. It felt like I was providing the night’s secret entertainment for him. This guy could say more with his silences than most men talking nonstop, but I shrugged it off and kept busy. I didn’t know why my sister had brought him to dinner, but Jazy never kept a man around for long- not even one as hot as this dude. Chances were I’d never be graced with his presence again after tonight. I’d give him this; the man did have great hair- if you happen to like a man with long hair the color of midnight and the shiny texture of luxurious satin.
I poured myself another Riesling and relaxed.
Amidst the conversation flowing around us, James leaned towards me and said quietly, “Jasmyn told me about the man attacking you again this morning. You seem to be coping fine, but I hope you know in here,” James put his hand to his chest, “a man like that deserves death. He seeks death. He was driven to end his own existence. I’m only sorry it was you, and your brother, that drew that unpleasant task to perform today.”
I took a sip of wine while thinking over his odd words. Skeptically, I wondered if he was some sort of Indian Shaman wannabe. Killing someone rated stronger words than ‘unpleasant task.’ For me, an unpleasant task is taking out the garbage. Shooting Gustav and being physically smashed under him, and his stinking body fluids, will wake me up gasping in terror for years to come.
James was right, though, in some respects. It had felt like Hammerschmidt kept coming after me against everything logical. I’d probably never know the why of it, nor did I care. The load off my mind that he was no longer a threat to me, or to anyone else, was immense. I felt like I had carried the weighty menace of him around my neck for twenty-four years, and not just the twenty-four hours since I’d glimpsed him in my parking lot yesterday.
I smiled politely at James over my wineglass. “Thank you for your sympathy. Maybe you can tell me how I can get out of ever drawing that short stick of a task again?” I shuddered.
His eyelids lowered seductively. “Maybe I can be persuaded.”
My eyelids blinked from the effort of not rolling them into the back of my head. Just when I’d thought maybe Mr. Gorgeous wasn’t a total douche bag.
When Reg buzzed Mac and Diego up a moment later, I ran to the top of the stairs. I wanted to get the first battle of the night over with immediately. I saw them round the staircase landing. Diego was carrying a bulging bag and I caught a glimpse of several bottles. What I didn’t catch a glimpse of was my cousin Candy’s bulging eyes.
Seeing my face, Mac spoke first and sounded irritated. “I know what you’re thinking, but she wasn’t at home when we swung by. Aunt Carol and Uncle Trevor are out of town for a few weeks, so nobody was home. I just now got a text from her that something came up. So sorry kiddo, she’s not coming.” She reached me and gave me a quick hug. “On top of all her other wonderful qualities, Candy’s got the manners of an inbred.”
Talking of manners, I waited until Mac and Diego had left the foyer to go get a beer before I let loose with a “Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!”
Reggie laughed at my mini temper tantrum, but was confused why I cared Candy wasn’t here. It was customary to be thankful for her absence at family functions.
I waved my brother off while saying distractedly, “Oh, I just wanted to discuss her stealing my gun.”
“Discuss?” He grimaced knowingly. “Discuss her one for me, the thieving bitch.”
Sometimes it’s rather nice having a little brother.
I could guess what had come up. Candy was going over to Luke’s house again to have gross sex with John. I did not like that man. He’d done nothing but cause me trouble the entire weekend. Plus, I was getting irate that my cousin was spending so much time at Luke’s house. I didn’t want her anywhere near him or his property.
It was schizophrenic to be overwhelmed with happiness Mike that had been drugged, but then be filled with rage he had been drugged. I’d held it banked inside waiting for the moment to confront my cousin. I’ve never hated anyone in my life before. I could honestly say that I hate Candy. I was elated at Mike’s plan for public retaliation against Candy for her rape, but I’m a hands-on kind of girl. I prefer the personal touch and need to confront her.
Once back in the kitchen, I took a deep breath and let it out. I guzzled some wine while agreeing with the vengeful mean mommy voice in my head. I’ll hunt her butt down if needed, and then rub her face in some yellow snow as a starter. Candy has a phobia about getting her face wet. She’s probably afraid it could cause a mudslide.
I made myself think on the positive side. I could now enjoy my night surrounded by a majority of people I like and look forward to a nice, normal evening. I try to have the wine glass half-full mentality whenever humanly possible.
The doorbell started ringing nonstop and I waved Reggie back to his seat. As I crossed the apartment to the intercom, I was positively ecstatic how great it felt to not worry that a killer was out hunting my butt.
While I waited at the top of the stairs, Reggie came up beside me and shot me a sheepish look. “I’m still not cool sitting back without keeping an eye on things, you know?’
I slung my arm over his shoulder. “I do know, brah. All of a sudden I’ll tense up, and then relax when I remember I have nothing to be a scaredy-cat about anymore.”
Jazy came sliding across the hardwood floor of the foyer in her socks like when we were kids. She halted near us at the stairs. “I’m feeling left out, you two. Who’s here now?”
Grinning, I put my other arm around Jaz and gave her a squeeze. “Miss Anna Lynn.”
Reggie tensed up at her name. He walked casually over to the master station of the intercom and started being busy.
Jazy shrugged after my brother with a questioning look at me, but then she and I were diverted when we heard loud clomping coming up the stairs. We also heard heavy, labored breathing.
“Is Anna sick?”
“Don’t think so.” I saw Anna turn onto the landing. My mouth dropped when I caught sight of Aunt Lily behind her, breath heaving in and out like the bellows for a fireplace in hell.
Jazy’s whisper was appalled. “This is fucked up!”
My lucky sister slid quietly away from me and disappeared.
Reggie took a step and peered over the ledge. He reared back and then shot me an accusing look, as if I was to blame for this oddity.
Anna saw me waiting and gave a shrug of helpless apology; a smile flitting on and off across her face. It wasn’t that Aunt Lily has never been to dinners at the apartment; it had just been a long, long time. Long enough that I had complacently thought my apartment was a Behemoth-free zone.
Anna reached me and gave me a hug. ‘I know what you’re thinking, but she insisted. You could have picked me up off the floor. My God, I have so much to tell you!” She pulled back, checking me over hurriedly. “You doing alright? You look great, but I know you’ve got to be hurting after getting tackled. You did the right thing to shoot him, Junior, don’t ever doubt that.”
/> I brushed off her sympathies. We had too much ground to cover to worry about my sore butt, or the state of my being for having committed a co-murder today.
I squeezed her back while whispering, “I have so much to tell you, too. Hell, I have forgotten some of it already- that’s how much has been going on since you went home last night.”
She grinned. “Me first!” She kept her back to my brother still standing over by the intercom. “Ask me where Jim is...hurry.”
After her urgent order to me, Anna trilled with laughter, not a care in the world. She angled herself so she had a clear line of sight over to Reg out of her peripheral vision. She was wearing tight jeans and a shirt showing off plenty of plumped up cleavage. My brother didn’t stand a chance.
Hearing Aunt Lily clomping closer as she sucked the oxygen out of the stairwell, I hurriedly played along with Anna and asked brightly, “So Anna, where’s Jim tonight?”
In a suggestive move I could only admire, Anna threw back her head and shook her brown hair out. All while wiggling her shoulders back, pushing her breasts out, and posing with a hand perched on her hip. She opened her mouth to answer with whatever Reggie-devastating response she had memorized, but Aunt Lily beat her to it. The Behemoth had reached the top stair and leaned her bulk against the half wall.
She shook her cane at my head. “That pawing beast was sent on his way with his tail between his legs when I caught him forcing himself on Anna in our front room.” She paused to catch her breath. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly under her shapeless winter coat. She roared, “I will NOT tolerate that kind of lewd behavior under my roof!”
I didn’t know if seeing Reggie doubled over with laughter was the reaction Anna was hoping for, but I could only stare back at Aunt Lily in disbelief. Lately, she’d been treating Anna more and more like a young virgin needing a chastity belt, instead of a grown woman pushing thirty. In my current mood at being thwarted from ripping off a piece of Candy’s beef jerky hide, I was not feeling tolerant.
“Remove that cane out of my face.”
Anna quickly reached in front of me, pushing Aunt Lily’s walking stick down while saying, “Oh Aunt Lily, lighten up. It wasn’t like Jim was attacking me. We had just broken up. He was simply giving me a final hug good-bye.”
Anna shot looks towards Reggie, but I didn’t take my eyes off Aunt Lily. When Anna had said the word ‘hug’ the woman was distracted from glaring at me. Her sour lemon mouth puckered into such a parody of extreme disgust, I realized she really was off her rocker when it comes to men/women relations.
Crookie walked into the foyer calling out Anna’s name. He opened his arms. Smiling, she ran over to him and was enveloped in a huge, swaying hug. Anna patted him and said consoling phrases while at the same time shaking his arms and telling him how much she had missed seeing him.
The doorbell buzzed and I darted a quick glance at my brother. He had been watching Crookie and Anna with no hint of his previous laughter. Reg hit the button, shot me a thumbs-up, and then stalked by the laughing couple to go back to the kitchen.
My attention was pulled away when Aunt Lily hissed in a venomous undertone, “His murdered whore of a wife recently found dead and this is how he acts?”
I rounded on her. I looked into her hard eyes and threatened in a low voice, “Let me be perfectly clear. Anna’s my friend, while you- not so much. You will keep a civil tongue, and you will be polite, and you will not talk badly about any of my guests. I don’t care if it kills you. If you can’t do this for one evening then go home.”
I held her murderous glare. Aunt Lily heaved off the wall. She didn’t say a word, but her scowling face was a caricature of twisted fury. She thumped off, muttering once she was past me. She approached the oblivious, chattering Anna and Crookie. Without a pause or apology, she jarred Crookie with a heavy shoulder in passing.
Rubbing his arm in surprise, Crookie and Anna looked after her retreating bulk in bewilderment. Sharing a shrug, the two resumed their animated conversation as they slowly followed the Behemoth into the living room.
I shook my head. ‘There goes someone else that doesn’t have a problem hating.’
A throat cleared. Luke was standing on the landing. He had a shit eating grin on his face.
I folded my arms and frowned down at him. “And that goes for you, too.”
Luke laughed and bounded up the last few steps. I met him at the top and threw my arms around his neck. I was happy to see him, and it didn’t escape my notice he had a gift bag in his hand.
After I gave him the big kiss promised earlier today, Luke demanded, “Who in the hell was that woman?”
I didn’t lift my head from the crook of his neck. It was quiet in the foyer. I was enjoying my one minute respite before rejoining the fray. “Evil Aunt Lily.”
Luke whistled above me. “THAT was Anna’s Aunt Lily?”
“The one and only.”
“Christ!”
“Pity him. I know I do.” At Luke’s shout of laughter, I grinned too and lifted my head. “Come on, let’s go get you introduced around and then I have last minute dinner stuff to do.”
I started to walk away. Luke pulled me back.
His eyes scanned my face. “Hey, everything okay?”
I snorted, laughing a little. “Honestly, some things are okay and some things are not okay. None of which we need to discuss right now.”
Luke’s hands ran up my arms and cupped my face. He leaned down and kissed me again, slowly and thoroughly. He pulled away and it took a second before I opened my eyes.
Smiling a little at my dazed expression, he asked, “What do you want to discuss right now?”
I frowned. “Certainly not that large gift bag with the pretty silver bow hanging on your arm.” I laughed shortly. “I remember the gift bag you brought me on our first date. Do you really think those tactics would work twice, Counselor?” I practiced Anna’s move with the hair and threw my braid behind my shoulder while wiggling. “I’m not that easy.”
His eyes glinted. “I like your blouse.”
I reluctantly pushed at his roving hands. “That’s because, Mr. Attorney, your hands can travel unimpeded underneath. Now quit; I have serious hostess duties that need tending.”
“I like your braid, too.” He ran his hand down its length until his fist was resting over my right breast.
“Thank you.” I tossed the braid behind my shoulder again, dislodging his hand. “I have plans to whip you with it later on.”
His smile was growing as he put his hands on my hips and pulled me closer. “I like that you’re a planner.”
I felt the shiny, black gift bag with the glittery, pretty silver bow nudging my thigh.
I brushed off his hands and stepped back while laughing in amusement. “Oh, do you now? I’ll be holding you to those words for a long time, Luke Drake, Esquire.”
“You can hold anything of mine you want, Anabel.”
Rolling my eyes as he laughed, I put my palm up towards him and sighed heavily. “Oh, okay then. Just to make you happy, I’ll open my present now.”
Luke ignored my wiggling fingers and walked around me. He set the gift bag on the church pew in the foyer and slipped off his black jacket. He carefully draped the jacket over the gift bag, covering its beckoning, siren call from my view.
He then gave me a teasing sideways look from under his brows. “I never said it was for you.”
Walking back towards me in dark jeans and a white shirt, Luke crackled with vitality and energy. Since I’d seen him last, he’d shaved off his beard and his coal black hair had been cut short. No more Dirtbag.
“But if it was for you, it would be a present to open sometime when we’re alone.”
Spell broken now that the gift bag was safely out of sight, I ignored his taunting and complimented him. “I like your shirt.”
He arched a brow. “Do I have to be scared you are going to whip me with it later on?”
“It’s always safe to be
scared of what I may do.”
I took his hand, swinging it between us. I don’t know why the man has such a problem sharing things like his past, his present, surveillance plans, advanced degrees, and condoms, but I like him more often than not.
How could you not highly respect a man astute enough to bring gifts when it wasn’t for the typical, boring occasions of my birthday, or quelle horreur, Valentine’s Day? A man smart enough to figure that out on his own without a peep from me deserves to be cut some slack with a very long rope. Before I use that long rope to tie him up or whip him, of course.
“Jack asked me to tell you that he’s unable to come tonight.”
“I see. Thanks for the message.”
‘Dammit, tonight’s going to be fun. The possibility Jack Banner is a Cheryl-screwing killer, or Luke’s best buddy can wait. After this weekend, Luke and I deserve a fun, normal night together.’’
Still holding his hand, I started walking with Luke through the foyer. “Hmm, that’s too bad. Guess that means you’ll have to sit in Jack’s big boy chair at the head of the table.”
“You’re referring to the big boy chair of the highest respect and consequence at the table, correct?”
“Uh...sure,” I agreed dubiously, but then brightened. “More importantly, it’s the chair next to Aunt Lily and nobody else will want to sit there.”
I squealed when Luke abruptly sat down on the church pew and swung me onto his lap. I squirmed when he tickled my sides and kissed loudly down my neck.
“Admit it’s the big boy chair of respect.”
Laughing, I grabbed his shoulders to hold him off. “Not even if you kiss me for hours, strip off my clothes, tie me up, tickle me with a feather, insert foreign objects into my orifices, and then use your tongue to lick every square inch of my body will I ever admit such a thing.”
Luke paused and stared at me.
“Aha, Bel! The mystery is finally solved why an ugly little thing like you gets so many dates.” Mac’s dry comment came from a couple feet away.
Luke’s crack of laughter echoed sharply in the foyer, as he stood up while depositing me on my feet.
