by Emery, Lynn
Nedra straightened. “We were discussing the dinner. Carlos stepped in at the last minute to help out.”
“Carlos Jacobs. Nice to meet you, Dwayne,” said Carlos, offering his hand.
“We’ve met?” Dwayne gave him a distant, chilly glance as he shook his hand briefly.
Carlos smoothly ignored Dwayne’s pointed looks at Nedra for an explanation, and replied, “My mother arranged for the mayor to be the luncheon speaker at the last Martinet Society public issues forum.”
Dwayne shifted his focus back to Carlos. “Your mother is...?”
“Judge Yvonne Jacobs, Division C of the Nineteenth Judicial Court. I attended the forum and you were introduced. Plus I’ve seen you on the news a couple of times. The mayor gets high marks for his efficient team.” Carlos nodded.
“Umm, thanks.” Dwayne seemed torn between warming to the ego stroke and bristling with male competition. His ego won as a smile turned his mouth up. “Well, we do get it done. Not just me, of course. We certainly appreciate Judge Jacobs’ support.”
“I’ll let her know,” Carlos replied. “You’re right. I should report to my battle station. I’ll see you later, Nedra.” He touched her elbow lightly with the tips of his tapered fingers and moved on.
“Sure.” Nedra enjoyed the view as Carlos walked away, unaware that she’d brushed past Dwayne to watch him stride down the hall.
“Damn, I leave you alone for a minute and you’re all up on the help,” Dwayne quipped with an edge to his tone.
“I wasn’t ‘up on him’, as you put it, and why did you come looking for me again?” she clipped back.
“Rod wanted someone to check on the progress back here, and I said I would.”
Dwayne guided Nedra back into her office and closed the door.
“Whoa! What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, putting up a palm just in time to keep the door from closing completely.
“Look, my situation is complicated, but you know I have feelings for you, girl.” Dwayne tried to take a step forward, but stopped when Nedra pointed a forefinger at him.
“Complicated as in married with two kids, so let’s clear this up – I’m not interested in being your secret fling.” Nedra picked up her tablet computer and crossed her arms, pressing it against her chest.
“I told you, we’re separated. I mean, Gwynne and I have already talked about it. She’ll be moving out after New Year’s. C’mon baby...”
“You’re married. End of discussion,” replied Nedra in a level, but firm voice.
“So that’s it? You’ve already moved on to him?” he asked, jerking a thumb in the direction that Carlos had taken.
“I didn’t have to ‘move on’ to anywhere. There was nothing between us, and I don’t have to discuss my personal life with you.” Nedra squinted at him. Dwayne definitely inspired a temperature spike, but it was anger instead of attraction.
“Fine, just don’t pretend you weren’t into to me for a minute before mama’s boy showed up.” He moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue. “Remember the fundraiser last month at the Shaw Center for the Arts?”
Nedra thought back to the first of October when she attended a swanky party to raise funds for the local community arts organization. After about an hour, she had a nice buzz from downing glasses of fine wine. Dwayne’s flattery had chased away her ‘forty and still single’ blues and at some point they ended up alone on the balcony. She let him kiss her once, but luckily another couple stumbled out there. Frantically pawing each other, the couple tried to claim the same dark corner. All four had stammered embarrassed apologies, avoided looking at each other directly, and gone back inside.
“I made a wrong decision after too much wine,” said Nedra. “That’s all it was, a momentary lapse. It won’t happen again. Now I need to get back to work.”
She glared as Dwayne smirked to show his skepticism. He stepped aside and opened the door wider, answering, “Whatever you want to tell yourself, Nedra.”
She started to walk out, but paused in front of him. “Oh, and by the way, Dwayne…”
He glanced down at her breasts and back up again. “Yes?”
“A real gentleman wouldn’t have brought up that incident,” she replied, walking off from him.
“I didn’t say... Nedra, wait a minute!” Dwayne called after her, but gave up when she didn’t slow down.
****
“Everything is smooth, boss lady,” said Alice Faye as Nedra re-entered the kitchen. She wiped her brow with a napkin and huffed.
“Sounds great. The carts are lined up, all the food arrived?” Nedra tapped the screen of her tablet. “Turkey, dressing, green peas, rolls?”
“Check on all that, plus the pecan pies and pans of bread pudding for dessert are all laid out.” Alice Faye was about to say more, but stopped as she glanced over Nedra’s shoulder. “Dwayne looks like he wants to talk; to you, not me, definitely not me.”
“No, he doesn’t,” she replied without looking up.
“He’s gone. I think he’ll get the message soon.” Alice Faye gave Nedra’s shoulder a pat.
“I think he already has,” Nedra shot back. “Jerk.”
She was about to call Dwayne a few other choice names when Carlos appeared from around a corner. The judge’s son moved heavy pots and pans as if he was used to serving others, yet Nedra knew he came from a privileged upbringing. Unlike Dwayne, Carlos didn’t radiate conceit and entitlement.
Alice Faye followed Nedra’s gaze. “He fits right in.”
“Yes, a nice fit for sure,” she mumbled, more to herself than in response to Alice Faye.
Chapter 2
Carlos finished working by six-thirty that evening and headed over to his parents’ home. Thanks to precision timing, the Holiday Hospitality dinner had begun serving a little before noon. By three o’clock, they had finished handing out the plates, except for a few late stragglers. ‘To-go’ plates took care of any leftovers and the clean-up went like clockwork. Overall, a very efficient operation.
Carlos had tried to keep close to Nedra Wallace as much as possible, without making it too obvious. The woman wasn’t just window dressing; she got her hands dirty and worked alongside the other volunteers. She had changed into slim, denim pants and a big, comfortable LSU T-shirt towards the end. Not only was she cute, but Nedra had leadership skills. Her fine curves were obvious, even beneath that oversized T-shirt covering her hips. Carlos smiled at the way Ms. Wallace managed to be no-nonsense, all business and sexy at the same time.
He arrived at his parents’ home after a twenty-minute drive from downtown. He turned off his CD player and parked in the circular driveway. His younger brother’s BMW 335i and his sister’s Buick Enclave showed they were still there. Carlos cut the engine to his steel-blue Acura MDX and sighed. He hoped there would be less drama than usual, but no fireworks at a Jacobs family dinner was always a long shot. He strode to the side entrance of the house and used his key. The security system chimed as a signal that the door had been opened.
“Hey baby, happy Thanksgiving. I’m just leaving,” said Margie, the part-time housekeeper, as he walked in. She air-kissed him on the cheek and brushed by.
“Whoa! Happy turkey day to you, too,” Carlos said, catching her by the arm. He pecked her on the right cheek. “You’re running out of here like the kitchen is on fire.”
“Nope, the fire is in the dining room. I came by and brought my red velvet cake in time for dessert. Now I’m outta here. Besides, my house is still full of relatives watching football.” Margie was about to go on when raised voices sounded in the background. “Goodbye and good luck.”
Carlos sighed for the second time and watched her go. “Please, take me with you. Adopt me. Please.”
Margie chuckled. “You’re always welcome, but we both know you better show your face in there.”
“Yeah, warm family fun awaits,” he muttered.
Carlos walked down the short hall, through the kitchen and into the forma
l dining room. His parents sat at either end of a long, oval table. Trey, his younger brother by two years, sat on one side with his son, Keith. Carlos’ younger sister, Brianne, sat on the other side of the table with her husband and their two children. In contrast to the smiles that Carlos had just left behind, no one at this dinner table looked happy.
“Good evening, everyone,” Carlos announced and was greeted in return. Then his family got back to their regularly scheduled program.
“Have a seat, son,” his mother said, waving at the empty chair to her left. She turned her attention back to Carlos’s father. “Stay for cake and visit with your grandchildren.”
“Business doesn’t stop for holidays, Yvonne.” Jefferson Williams Jacobs, ‘JW’ to family and friends, drained his wine glass. The slice of cake on his saucer was untouched.
“Granddaddy, can I have your cake?” asked Brianne’s daughter, Cheyenne, giving him her most fetching smile.
“Cheyenne, one piece of cake is enough,” Yvonne said sharply.
The girl looked down. “Yes, ma’am.”
“You’re sweet enough without more sugar,” JW replied. He picked up his granddaughter’s plump little hand and kissed it.
“Let’s go play that new game daddy bought me. C’mon,” suggested Keith. He grabbed his ten-year-old cousin’s hand and pulled her from her chair.
“Me, too,” said Lincoln, Jr., Brianne’s youngest. He seemed thrilled to seize any chance to escape the table. He was tall for a seven-year-old boy and already into sports.
“Not without giving me a hug first, young lady,” JW said to Cheyenne in a pretend gruff voice.
“Love you,” the girl whispered to him, as though it was a treasured secret shared between them. Then she raced after her eleven-year-old cousin and younger brother.
JW waited until the children had disappeared into the large family room down the hallway before turning back to his wife. “Stop making that child feel bad about herself. You and Brianne watch like hawks every time she takes a bite of food.”
“Daddy, I’m trying to get Shy to eat healthy. That baby fat, as you like to call it, might not go away otherwise.” Brianne patted her lips with one of her mother’s fine linen napkins.
Her husband, Lincoln, drained his wine glass dry and followed his father-in-law’s lead. “Leave the kid alone, Bree. You’ve put on a few pounds and nobody’s hounding you about it.”
“Oh no you didn’t.” Brianne’s light-brown eyes flashed and for a few seconds she looked like her mother.
“Lincoln, apologize to Bree. She gained those pounds giving you two beautiful children,” Yvonne snapped.
“Linc is talking to his wife about his daughter. He didn’t ask for, nor does he need to take a poll before doing so,” JW clipped. He pushed his chair back and stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to check on that shipment.”
“You will not leave this house,” Yvonne said firmly. “At the very least, our grandchildren deserve some of your precious time.
“I didn’t say I was leaving the house, Yvonne,” JW shot back. “My inventory staff worked half a day today and entered things in the computer. I’ll be in my office.”
“I wasn’t insulting you, babe. You’re fine as ever,” reassured Lincoln. He gave Brianne a quick kiss.
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Sweet talker! Are you ready for some football?”
“See, Carlos, I have the perfect wife – nice butt and loves football.” Lincoln winked at Brianne as they both stood and started down the hallway.
“I’ll bring the beer,” Trey offered.
“You’ve had enough to drink. You’re driving, remember?” Yvonne stated firmly and stared hard at him.
Trey sighed, but said nothing.
“I’ll check in on the kids and then watch a few minutes of the game before I do some work,” JW said. He gave his wife a quick, pointed look before turning his attention to Carlos. “Hey, son.”
“Happy Thanksgiving to all,” Carlos said in a dry tone. He shook his father’s hand and then walked the length of the table to kiss his mother. “I can’t stay long.”
“Yeah, I hear that waiting tables is rough,” Trey teased.
Carlos gave him a thin smile in return. “I had a great time as a matter of fact. I met some really nice, down-to-earth people.”
“They say Rod organizes a wonderful event for those people,” Yvonne said.
“Actually, Nedra Wallace does the hard work. She had that dinner organized and running like clockwork.” Carlos pointed to his father’s uneaten slice of cake and sat in the empty chair that had been left for him.
“Take it,” said JW, sitting down. He pointed at Trey. “And you can wipe that smirk off your face.”
“I believe I met her once,” Carlos’ mother replied, watching him chew a bit of the cake. “I’m not sure we know her people, JW.”
“Humph,” was her husband’s only reply. “So, Carlos, you thought about what we discussed?”
Carlos chewed slowly for a few seconds and then sipped from the water glass left at his place setting. “We didn’t ‘discuss’ it. You talked as if the decision had been made. My answer is the same. I’m not selling my business and working for you.”
“Detailing the cars of drug dealers and scruffy small-time pimps is a bad business move,” JW retorted. “At least consider relocating.”
Carlos cleared his throat and avoided his mother’s gaze for the moment. “Stop stereotyping people just because they live in a poor neighborhood.”
“Priceless Thanksgiving dinner conversation,” Trey quipped. “I’m going to play with the kids.”
“I sure hope you didn’t buy Keith one of those profanity filled, violent games,” Yvonne called after him.
“Of course I did, mom. Kids learn a lot from experiencing real life,” Trey tossed back over his shoulder.
“I’m going to my office,” announced JW, standing. He followed Trey out of the dining room.
Yvonne stared daggers at their retreating backs and then drank some of her wine. “Your father loves to keep to a schedule, even during family time.”
Carlos sighed. “Margie’s red velvet cake is a taste of heaven. As for dad, he’s regular in his habits and it’s made him successful, even through the recession.”
“Oh yes, your daddy is consistent. He sticks by his commitments: same wife for thirty-seven years and the same mistress for seven years.” Yvonne raised her glass in a mock toast and then drained the rest of the wine.
“Mother, I don’t think...”
“Sorry, dear. Scratch that last remark from your memory.” Yvonne laughed and refilled her glass. “I won’t ruin our family holiday gathering.”
“Hmm.” Carlos ate some more cake without looking at her.
Yvonne sipped her wine. “So, you were very impressed by this Nedra Wallace? She’s Rod’s assistant at the constable’s office. They must work very closely together.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Carlos snapped.
“I wasn’t implying any such thing. I only meant that she has a responsible position under him.” Yvonne studied her son in silence for several moments.
Carlos ignored the subtle double entendre. He put his fork down and stood. “I’ll help you clear the table and load the dishwasher.”
“No, dear,” she replied. “Margie cleared up almost everything and even packed up the leftovers. Brianne and Trey have their bags. I’ll fix one for you, too.”
Yvonne rose slowly to her full, commanding height of five foot eight. She liked to joke that dressed in three-inch heels and judge’s robes, she could scare the pants off most attorneys.
Carlos thought she looked regal, but she swayed slightly for a few seconds. Too much wine. “No, you don’t have to do that,” he said. “Join the others for the game.” Standing, he put an arm around her shoulders.
“I could use some alone time after all this family bonding,” Yvonne replied, patting his cheek and picking up her wine gla
ss.
“Okay,” Carlos said, feeling slightly guilty as he watched her walk off to the kitchen.
In all honesty, he had offered to let her join the family so that he could escape. He guessed that more drama was on the way. Watching his mother, he felt sad for her. Brianne and Lincoln were happy, for now. Every year Brianne became more like their mother. Trey seemed to live on sarcasm and dissatisfaction. As for their father...? Carlos shook his head and started for the den. Then he remembered the warm, genuine smile of a curvaceous woman with milk-chocolate skin. He walked into the formal living room for some privacy and took out his cell phone.
****
Nedra fussed with her hair one last time before stepping out of her Honda Accord. The cool fall air caused her to button her black, suede jacket all the way up. The Fish Bowl was a popular restaurant, specializing in seafood, and there she was meeting Carlos, the son of the prominent Jacobs couple. She hoped it wasn’t a mistake. They only met two days earlier.
Carlos’ call on Thanksgiving night had been a delightful surprise to Nedra and caused a sensation at her family dinner. Her older sister would not stop talking about it, and her mother had frowned and said she should have introduced him by now. Nedra grimaced at the memory of the ensuing commotion, caused by the three women trying to get in on her personal business, but she had stood firm. That only meant her oldest sister, Jarae, would play detective and try to sniff out the facts.
Nedra wanted to keep Carlos as her own little secret until she knew where things were going. The last thing she needed to hear was another chorus of “tick-tock” as they all reminded her that she wasn’t getting any younger. At forty, she was the only one without any children.
Nedra entered The Fish Bowl and left those bleak thoughts outside. I’m just here to have a nice dinner and maybe get to know him better. If he’s a creep, I’ve got my own transportation home. She smiled at the approaching waitress. “I’m meeting someone. I’m early, so I’ll take a table and wait.”
