Sweet Mystery

by Emery, Lynn

  “Who was the real Vincent Dalcour? That’s as big a mystery as what happened to him,” Simon mused.

  “Yes. Deep down, I believed Daddy’s view of him all these years. And now…” Rae shook her head.

  “Well, Mr. Henry sure does go on about him. Toya says…” Simon’s voice trailed off at the look Rae gave him.

  “How is Miss Center of the Universe these days?” she snapped.

  “Come on now.” Simon wriggled under her hard stare. “Visiting Mr. Henry, I’m bound to see her. He’s her grandfather, you know.”

  “Hmm. Just why are you always over there anyway? Yeah, yeah, I know you got along with the man and still do, but it’s not like he’s your grandfather.” Rae knew she might sound childish, but the thought of Toya prancing around Simon irritated her, no end.

  “Actually, he has been like a second grandfather since I was a kid. My mother’s father died before I was born. Mr. Henry and Papa Joe took me fishing and camping; stuff my dad isn’t too crazy about.” Simon smiled. “Dad and I love to visit libraries and museums – something that mystifies Papa Joe Henry to this day.”

  “Which is how you and Toya ended up together…”

  Rae did not like the direction this discussion was taking at all. She could not compete with the strong ties and memories between the Jove and St. Cyr families. No doubt, Toya would remind him of that fact.

  Simon nodded. “We’ve known each other all our lives. But we didn’t start dating until after I was a senior in high school. Then I left the state for college. We started seeing each other again when I came home after graduation.”

  “And sugar daddy Henry helped put you in business after Toya reeled you in. Nice.” Rae wore a sour expression.

  Simon frowned. “What does that mean?”

  “Toya has her hooks ready to sink into you. All you have to do is keep hanging around old Mr. Henry enough.” Rae snorted. “Men are so gullible.”

  Simon waved a hand with a crooked smile. “Don’t be silly.”

  Rae bristled at his easy dismissal. “Mr. Henry might even be in on it.”

  “Sure. That stroke was just a ploy to get me and Toya back together.” Simon shook his head slowly.

  “Or is it that you wouldn’t mind another go with her?”

  “Cut it out, Rae,” Simon said in a tight voice.

  “It’s all real cozy, I’ll bet. Just like old times.” Rae felt that old, familiar lump of resentment at being an outsider.

  “Don’t do this to us, Rae,” Simon warned. “I had enough of suspicion and temper tantrums when I was married to Toya.”

  A tense silence stretched between them as Rae fought her natural urge to unleash another verbal barrage about Toya. When she was younger, she would have done just that. Now she knew that relationships can be easily damaged forever with words that are not easily taken back. Simon was right. This conversation was leading to one of those deadly arguments that escalate and leaves scars. Rae bit back the anger.

  “Forget what I said. I’m just worn out from work.” She inhaled deeply.

  “Honey, I’m not stupid. I know Toya takes every chance to bait you.” Simon’s tone softened and he took her hand. “Mr. Henry is still bitter against your family. But look at all you’ve accomplished. You came home a successful musician and started a dance hall that’s taken off.”

  “But I’m not just another business person in this town. I’m a Dalcour. Truth is, I do feel like I’ve got something to prove to the Joves and everybody else.”

  “You’ve got too much on your shoulders right now. Let’s relax and let go of troubles for a few hours.”

  Rae liked the way his large fingers laced through hers. She was relieved that they had avoided an argument about Toya. “I’d like that,” she said softly.

  Simon massaged her shoulders with strong hands, causing her to squirm with pleasure. “I love the scent of jasmine in your hair.”

  “That feels so good.” Rae bent forward to let him rub her back also. The tension drained from her body.

  “This would be better if you were lying down,” Simon murmured.

  Without another word passing between them, he led her into her bedroom. Rae undressed, leaving on only her dark-red lace bra and matching satin panties, while Simon stripped down to his briefs. He took control, directing her to lie across the bed on her stomach. Straddling her, his hard fingers kneaded her flesh. Starting at her neck, with a slow, tender touch, Simon moved down her body. She was breathing rapidly by the time he reached her calves.

  Rae turned on her back and pulled him on top of her. “Massage over,” she said. The need to have him inside her was like a hot iron stabbing through her hips.

  Their lovemaking was fast and frenzied. Rae raked his back with her fingernails, urging him not to be gentle this time. His body crashed against hers with each solid thrust of his hips. Rae needed him with a fierceness that was frightening, and she clung to his body, drinking up the rush of pleasure and security he gave. Both lay gasping for air afterwards, stunned by the force that had seized them.

  “It will be all right, darlin’. I’ll make it so,” Simon whispered in a raspy voice, his face buried in her hair.

  Rae maneuvered her body to fit against his, spoon fashion. “Thank you, baby,” she murmured.

  All trace of the storm that had threatened to overtake them was now gone. Yet a small part of Rae still worried that more was to come. No, I won’t let Toya get drive a wall between us. I’ll learn to keep my mouth shut, no matter what she does.

  *

  Cicadas and crickets sang out their insect chorus in seeming honor of the onset of hot summer nights in the bayou. Darkness, the inky blackness that appears only in the country, away from the city street lights, hung like a curtain along the highway. A late-model, blue truck puttered along. It approached the dance hall and slowed. The glow from the end of a lit cigarette flared as the driver took a pull. He blew out a long stream of smoke.

  “You sure there ain’t nobody there? It’s got lights on inside,” the driver rumbled.

  A thin, wiry man with a scruffy beard shot a baleful glance at him. “Since you screwed up last time, she’s been leavin’ on the lights.”

  “Me? It was your idea to scare her. We were just supposed to wait until she left, then trash the place.” The driver flicked the cigarette away and lit another.

  “You had to tromp around like Big Foot, lettin’ ‘em know we was along the side of the place,” Scruffy beard snapped back at him.

  “Hey you was–”

  “Just shut up. Let’s do this and get it over with.” Scruffy beard looked around. “Somebody might drive by.”

  The driver grinned. “Ain’t nobody comin’ out here this late on a Wednesday night. Deputy is way over at Gator Bend, on the other side of Grande River. Good idea I had for my brothers to fake a fight at Ida Mae’s bar. We got plenty time to have us a drink even.”

  “You on a job with me, so we stick to business. Got that?” Scruffy beard glared at him. The menace in his eyes was unmistakable.

  “Yeah, sure,” the driver answered quickly. “Whatever.”

  “You got all the tools?”

  “Right here, man. Relax. I wasn’t an electrician for nothin’. I’m gonna make it look good.”

  Scruffy beard gave a snort. “You were Mr. Ardoin’s assistant.”

  “I was his apprentice,” the driver corrected him. “He said I was the best, too.”

  “Okay, master electrician. Let’s go.”

  *

  “Good morning everybody,” Rae called out her kitchen window. The singing birds seemed to return her greeting.

  It had been a beautiful day so far. She helped Simon get off to an early start by serving him some coffee. He’d only just left for home, so he could shave and shower before going to his office. Every muscle in her body felt relaxed after the wonderful night they’d spent together. She decided to enjoy the start of a new day outside. The jangle of the telephone jarred the pea
ceful daydreams she was having, sitting on her back steps, sipping hot tea.

  “Who has the nerve to call my house this early?” Rae went inside. “Hello and good morning,” she answered, still in high spirits. The smile faded from her face. “Oh, no! My God, how bad is he hurt?”

  Chapter 15

  “Marcelle, it’s just awful.” Rae met her at the door to the waiting room of the small Grande River Hospital. “Mr. Calvin went out early this morning to finish up some work at the dance hall. He was overcome by smoke and…” She broke off when a doctor appeared.

  “Mrs. Johnson?” The tall, red-haired physician looked around the room.

  “Me, I’m his wife, Elda,” a plump woman answered. She wore a yellow jacket with ‘Jay’s Supermarket’ in blue letters above the chest pocket.

  “He’s got some third-degree burns on his legs and his lungs are damaged from the smoke. Come over here, so we can talk.”

  The doctor led the anxious woman away, to a smaller waiting room, separated from the bigger one by a wall whose upper half was made of glass.

  Marcelle sat down next to Rae. “Girl, what happened?”

  “A fire started at the dance hall early this morning while Mr. Calvin was working. He got there about six. He liked to get started early, before it got too hot.” Rae stared at Mrs. Johnson and the doctor.

  Marcelle held her hand. “How did a fire start?”

  “I don’t know. The fire chief says it’ll take a few days for them to find out.”

  “This is terrible. Poor Mr. Calvin. I’m gonna call Mama. Her and Miss Elda been friends for years.” Marcelle searched in her large purse her self phone and headed off to make the call.

  Rae sat in misery. The sight of the still-smoking wood kept playing in her head like a video tape. The smell of burning was still on her clothes. She thought it was the smell of a dream dying and a nightmare being born.

  Marcelle sat down with a sigh. “I’m gonna pick up the kids later, so Mama can come over to sit with Miss Elda a while. Lord, Mr. Calvin is the sweetest man. Remember how he used to give us pieces of his homemade pecan candy?”

  Rae felt the start of tears at the corners of her eyes. “This is my fault.”

  “Don’t talk silliness.” Marcelle clucked and patted her hand.

  “I pushed the workers too hard. I’ve been rushing to make the place profitable. Mr. Calvin wouldn’t have been working if I hadn’t said how much I wanted it finished.” Rae sniffed.

  “The fire was an accident. You can’t beat yourself up about that.”

  “Maybe it was an accident, maybe not.” Rae dried her eyes with a tissue that Marcelle handed her. She felt anger growing inside.

  “You mean… But who would want to do something so low down?” Marcelle’s eyes were wide.

  “There are still plenty of people around here who don’t like that I’m doing well.” Rae thought of Toya Jove for one. But she was not alone.

  “Well, if it wasn’t an accident, Harold Frey will find out,” Marcelle said with a sharp nod of her head. The whole community was proud the first full-time fire was a black man. ????

  “I hope so.” Rae stood up. “I’m going back out there. Might as well see how bad it is.”

  “I’m going with you.” Marcelle followed her out.

  *

  Marcelle’s Chevy Cavalier rolled up beside Rae’s Honda on the gravel lot next to the dance hall. Firemen were still picking through the rubble, looking for hotspots. The water used to douse the fire was all but dried up by the noon-day sun. Rae and Marcelle walked around to the back. The firemen would not let them enter the rest of the dance hall, even though the fire had not reached the lounge.

  “Ma’am, please. I know you want to check on your business, but you gotta let us make sure it’s safe.” A tall, blonde man wearing a tan T-shirt and cap with the Belle Rose Fire Department’s logo waved them back.

  “Here comes Harold.” Rae wiped her hands on her Levi jeans and walked toward him.

  Harold Frey, with his barrel chest, was built like a weightlifter. He dipped his head at the two women. “Hi Rae. Sorry about this.”

  “Buildings can be replaced. I just want Mr. Calvin to be okay.” Rae brushed her hair back. “Do you have any idea what might have happened?”

  “From the burn pattern, looks like it started in a wall near the breaker box. Now this isn’t official, but it might be from a short.” Harold wiped sweat from his dark brown face. “Tim has got to do more investigating.” He gestured at the blonde-haired man who’d spoken to them.

  Rae looked at him with a frown. “But the wiring was redone completely.”

  “Who did the work? We’ll want to talk to him. Routine,” Harold added, at the questioning look Rae wore. He left after taking the business card that Mr. Ardoin had given her.

  “What’s that about, I wonder?” Rae watched him walk over to Tim.

  The two men stood talking for a few moments, and then stepped into the charred portion of the room where Mr. Calvin had been working. Tim called out to another fireman wearing the uniform of the arson squad.

  “Routine, like he said. What else?” Marcelle glanced at her watch. “I gotta go get my kids. Thank goodness I don’t have work today. I’ll call you later.”

  “Okay.” Rae stared at the building. A lump of disquiet was heavy in the pit of her stomach. She decided to stay until Harold said she could go in for at least a quick look around.

  Andrew pulled up in his truck, cut the engine and got out. “Rae, ain’t this somethin’? I just come from over the hospital.” He wore a somber expression.

  Rae’s heart thumped. “Mr. Calvin?”

  “He’s holding his own. Doctor says he’ll recover, but it will take a while. He got burned bad after he passed out from the smoke.” Andrew rubbed his jaw.

  “Yeah, his legs…” Rae shuddered at the pain he must be in.

  “Miz Johnson says he’ll need some skin grafts, they’re pretty sure. He doesn’t have medical insurance, Rae.” Andrew said.

  “Our policy ought to cover it, don’t you think? I better have a talk with Tony.” Rae sat on the fender of Andrew’s truck. “I don’t want them to have to worry about money, along with everything else.”

  “Yeah.” Andrew tugged on the front rim of his cap and squinted at the dance hall. “What a mess.”

  “Seems like folks around here are right – nothing but bad luck follows me.” Rae stared at the ground. “I should have gone back to Houston.”

  “Then it must be ridin’ my rump, too. I helped you every step of the way, little sister.” Andrew nudged her with his elbow. “Come on now. We’ve been through rough spots before. We’ll make it.”

  “I won’t be able to pay Neville back so soon.” Rae wished her older brother were here. She could use his commonsense approach to reassure her.

  Andrew put an arm around her shoulder. “I called him at work. He’s coming later this afternoon. Only thing he cares about is that you’re okay.”

  Rae gave him an affectionate look. “I’ve got the best brothers in the world.”

  “Ah well.” Andrew grinned. “As for folks who still don’t like you, to hell with ‘em.”

  “Yeah,” Rae chimed in, feeling strong again.

  “Dalcours have been bouncing back since before the Civil War.” Andrew stepped back to look at her. “You never let what they said stop you before.”

  Rae sat up straight. “I’m going to get this place open again. I did it once, I’ll do it again.”

  “Let’s go find Tony. Sooner the policy gets processed, the sooner we’re back in business.” Andrew pointed for her to get in his truck.

  “We might even be able to open the lounge part if the building inspector says it’s safe. I’ll take my car, Andy. You stay here and call me if you hear more,” Rae said. She got her car and slammed the door shut.

  *

  Toya sat on the covered patio of her spacious home, gazing at the waterfall in the center of her garden and sip
ping a margarita. “Marius, tell me again how bad it looks.” A feline smile of pleasure was stamped on her face.

  “I’d say even in the parts that weren’t damaged by fire, the smell of smoke and the water damage will keep the place closed.”

  Marius wore white shorts, a white cotton shirt with green stripes and Perry Ellis sunglasses. He crossed one ankle over his knee.

  “Ah, what a great weekend,” Toya said with a sigh. She stood up and smoothed down her denim mini-dress.

  Her leather sandals slapped on the stone floor as she went to a table. A tray with a pitcher of wine punch and a tray of snacks were arranged neatly. Her Saturday afternoon patio party was in full swing when Darcy arrived an hour later. Toya’s schoolmates and old friends, all expensively attired in the latest casual wear, milled around chatting.

  Darcy marched through them without returning one greeting. “I need to talk to you,” he muttered to Toya. “You, too.” He pointed a finger at Marius. Without waiting for replies, he spun around and headed into the house.

  “Darcy, Shaunice is hurt. You didn’t even speak to her. You know how she feels about you.” Toya shut the door to the sun room behind them.

  Marius took off his sunglasses. “Man, what’s up with this?”

  Darcy faced them. “Which one of you is responsible?”

  “Not me.” Marius held up both palms. “Sure I picked up the crushed ice, but Toya planned the party.”

  “Rat,” Toya quipped. She flounced down into a rattan chair with flowered upholstery.

  “You know damn well I’m talking about the fire at Rae’s dance hall.” Darcy looked at Marius. “I told you not to get involved.”

  “That land will allow us to sell to another corporation for development,” Marius shot back.

  “Oh, really? We’d have to fight the police jury, environmentalists and probably most of the local businesses that depend on tourism.” Darcy threw his car keys down hard.