Behind the Pine Curtain

by Gerri Hill

  “If she’s the most prominent woman in Pine Springs, why does she even care what people might think?”

  “It’s also common knowledge that you’ve become a successful writer without any help from them. And, that your first book and subsequent movie was based on your mother and this town.”

  Jacqueline smiled. “My mother, yes. Not necessarily the town. It could have been any small town in East Texas. I doubt they differ very much.”

  “Very well. However, your portrayal of your mother was…”

  “Award winning,” Jacqueline supplied. “And so she’s pissed?”

  “Embarrassed. So, she’s trying to keep the upper hand.”

  “And let me know that she’s still the boss,” Jacqueline guessed. “You know what, John? I don’t really care.”

  “No, I don’t presume that you do.” He stood, walking to his file cabinets. He opened one and pulled out a thick folder. “Do you wish to retain me as counsel?”

  Jacqueline shrugged. “Yeah. Sure.”

  He smiled and nodded. “Very well.” He again sat across from her, shuffling through the papers in the folder. “Have you had a chance to read the letter from your father?”

  Jacqueline shifted uncomfortably. “No. I… well, no, not yet.”

  “I was just wondering how much of all this he might have told you, if any. I have no idea what the letter is about, whether he explains Keys Industries or if there was just some personal items he wanted to share.”

  “I’ll read it tonight,” she promised.

  “I would advise that you at least read it before Wednesday, in case there’s something of importance in there that even I didn’t know.” He handed her a piece of paper. “There at the top,” he instructed.

  She glanced at the legal document, not knowing what she was looking for. Then she saw it. Keys Industries. Owners: Nicolas M. Keys, Jacqueline L. Keys.

  “What the hell?”

  “Your mother may contest the will and she may win, although I seriously doubt it. But this, this she cannot contest. Yo u are sole owner of Keys Industries. The affidavit states that, upon either of your deaths, complete ownership reverts to the surviving party.”

  Jacqueline tossed the paper on the desk. “I… I never agreed to any of this. I never signed this,” she said. “Not knowingly.”

  “I’m not at liberty to say how your signature was obtained.”

  “Oh? I thought you worked for me now.”

  “Sorry. The promise goes back a long ways.”

  “And what if I don’t want this?”

  “Well, you could say that you were not privy to this document and that is not your legal signature. In all likelihood, Keys Industries would then go to your mother.”

  “Great. Just great,” she murmured. “He certainly knew what he was doing.”

  “Yes. And at the time, I thought he was crazy to have done it this way. But, over the years, I’ve come to realize that his marriage was all but over. There was no way he was going to leave his life’s work to her.”

  “Well, John, this ought to be fun,” she said as she stood. She reached out to shake his hand. “I hope you’re ready for it.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about me. Your father and I have faced tougher opponents than this. Your mother will most likely retain one of the Gentry twins. They’ve only been practicing a few years. I doubt they have any idea what this is all about.”

  Jacqueline studied him. “Why do I get the feeling that you’ve only been pretending to be a small-town attorney?”

  “I learned a lot from your father, Jacqueline. He threw me up against some big shot lawyers from Houston one time. They damn near had me for lunch. That night, he told me everything I’d done wrong, as if he was the attorney, not me. We went over strategy all night. The next day, we blew their socks off.”

  “I take it your practice here is mostly for show?” she guessed.

  He nodded. “Your father compensated me well, yes. Mary has no idea, of course. She thinks we can afford to live at the Country Club because I do legal work for the bank and a handful of other small businesses in town.”

  “I see. So, keeping secrets from wives is a common thing around here?”

  He shrugged. “Women tend to talk.”

  She smiled. “And some things are best kept quiet?”

  “Exactly.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Kay smiled when she saw Jackie’s black Lexus parked in her driveway. She’d left early that morning, before Jacqueline was even up. She was behind on her bookkeeping and thought she’d work before she opened at eight. Bookkeeping was something she usually reserved for Sundays, but she had been happy to forego it this time. She’d enjoyed their day at Rose’s, and she knew that Jackie had, too.

  She found Jacqueline at the table, tapping away on her laptop.

  “You’re home,” Jacqueline said, her fingers never stopping.

  Kay grinned. “Glasses?”

  Jacqueline shoved them tightly against her nose. “I need them with the computer. Nerdy, huh?”

  “No. Cute.” She peered over Jackie’s shoulder. “New book?”

  “No. Edits. I’m just doing some touch-ups. Ingrid’s been badgering me for them, even though I still have a couple of weeks before my deadline. I thought I’d send them to her early and get her off my back.” She finally stopped and looked back at Kay. “How was your day?”

  “Great. Yours?”

  Jacqueline took a deep breath. “I went to see John Lawrence. And it’s just so overwhelming, I don’t even know where to start.”

  “I see. Keys Industries?”

  “Yeah. I’ll skip all the bullshit and just tell you that I’ve been part owner of Keys Industries all these years.”

  “What the hell?”

  “And now that my father is gone, sole owner, thanks to an affidavit I allegedly signed about ten years ago.”

  Kay sat down, staring. “What are you talking about?”

  “It’s a long story, Kay. And honestly, I’m tired of thinking about it.”

  Kay stood. “I understand.”

  But Jacqueline grabbed her arm as she moved to walk past. “Kay? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be short.”

  “It’s okay. It’s really not any of my business.”

  “Don’t say that. There are no secrets, Kay. Later, after you’ve fed me and I’ve had something alcoholic to drink, I’ll tell you all about it.”

  Kay relaxed. “But that would mean I’d have to cook.”

  “Yes. No pizza.”

  “I’ll see what I can whip up.”

  After Kay changed into a comfortable pair of sweats, she again found Jacqueline typing on her laptop. She walked by without disturbing her, intent on fixing something suitable for dinner. She didn’t know why she hadn’t thought to stop by the grocery store. Well, she knew why. She was in a hurry to get home. But now, as she stared into her near-empty freezer, she wished she’d taken time. She moved a box of frozen corn aside, finding a lone package of ground beef. She shrugged as she took it out. There were a hundred things you could do with ground beef, surely.

  She stood staring into her pantry for a good five minutes, her eyes moving over the cans of vegetables and beans, to the bag of rice and the one potato that… well, that needed to be thrown out weeks ago.

  “This is all Rose’s fault,” she mumbled. As children, Rose was the only one who showed any interest in cooking. So, Mama had taught her everything she knew, much to the delight of Kay who would have much rather been outside playing with Jackie. She gave up her search of the pantry. Instead, she perched on the counter, phone in hand.

  “Mama? I need help,” she said quietly, glancing quickly across the bar, making sure Jackie wasn’t listening.

  “Kay? What’s wrong?”

  “I have to cook dinner,” she said.

  “And?”

  Kay rolled her eyes. “And, this is me, not Rose.”

  “And Jackie is…”

  “Expecting d
inner.”

  “I see. Pizza?”

  “Can’t. Did that Saturday night.”

  “Okay. Well, do you have any chicken?”

  “No. Ground beef.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Yes. It’s frozen.”

  “Well, you can make a casserole. Do you have any pasta? If you have cheese, you could make a cheesy white sauce and…”

  “Mama! Please…”

  “I told you one day you would regret not learning to cook. Remember?”

  “Yes, I remember. Consider me properly chastised.”

  She looked up as Jackie stuck her head around the bar, eyebrows raised. Kay slid off the counter.

  “Smells good.”

  “Be quiet.” She turned her back to Jacqueline, talking quietly. “Mama, I’ve got to go. Thanks for all your help.” She hung up on her mother’s laughter.

  Jacqueline walked into the kitchen, leaning against the counter with her arms crossed. They stared at each other, then both looked at the lone package of frozen ground beef sitting on the breakfast table.

  “That it?”

  Kay nodded. “Afraid so.”

  Jacqueline walked closer. “You promised you’d feed me.”

  “I lied.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I see.” Jacqueline took another step closer, stopping only a few feet in front of Kay. The mouth that she knew better than her own hinted at a smile and Jacqueline stared, waiting. Then the lips parted, breaking into a full grin. Jacqueline met blue eyes, her own smile matching Kay’s. “Good thing Rose gave me the heads up then.”

  “What?”

  “She said you couldn’t throw a meal together to save your life.” Jacqueline reached around Kay to turn the oven on, grinning. “So, I picked something up.”

  “Picked something up?”

  “Well, your mother put together some stuff for us. I picked it up when I had lunch there. She said just to warm it in the oven.”

  “Mama knew? She let me make a fool of myself on the phone, and she knew all along?”

  “Why were you calling her?”

  Kay reached out and slugged Jacqueline in the arm. “I was calling her for help, that’s why.”

  “Why’d you hit me?” Jacqueline asked innocently, rubbing the same spot Kay had hit last week.

  “Ah, you’re right. I’m sorry.” Kay brushed Jackie’s hand away, rubbing her arm softly. “I should be thanking you for getting us something to eat.”

  “Yes, you should.” Jacqueline watched Kay’s hand, motioning with her head. “A little higher.”

  “Uh-huh.” Kay intended on stopping, but Jackie’s flesh was warm, soft. Her arms firm, muscular. Her hand stilled, and she looked up, right into the crystal blue eyes that, as a kid, she used to love staring into. She finally dropped her hand and moved away, embarrassed.

  Jacqueline saw the slight blush that crept up Kay’s face, wondering what the other woman was thinking. “Thank you. Maybe the bruising won’t be so bad now.”

  “Very funny.” Kay moved to the fridge, finding the two takeout plates her mother had fixed. “What would you like to drink?”

  “Actually, I bought some stuff.”

  “Yeah? What?”

  “Well, I didn’t know what you liked. I got some scotch, and rum, and a little beer. Oh, and a few bottles of wine.”

  Kay smiled. “That about covers it. Why don’t you surprise me?”

  “You’re too easy. You don’t drink much, do you?”

  “Actually, no. For one thing, it’s not really convenient having to drive to the county line to buy it. And, well, Billy Ray drank too much. It got scary.”

  “I understand. We don’t have to have anything. Te a would be okay with me,” Jacqueline offered.

  “After the day you had, you probably want something other than tea. It’s okay, Jackie. Fix us a drink.”

  Later, with plates piled high, they both sat cross-legged on the floor, using the coffee table instead of the dining room table, just like they used to do as kids.

  “Mama would have a fit if she saw us, you know.”

  “Yes, two grown women acting like kids.”

  “This is great. I see she packed all my favorites, including a pork chop.”

  “I didn’t care about anything but the meatloaf,” Jacqueline said as she shoved a fork into her mouth. “God, this is the best.”

  “I thought you liked her chicken and dumplings best?”

  “I do. But I ate the last of it at lunch.”

  Kay laughed. “Stay around here too long, and she’ll have you fattened up in no time.”

  “Yeah. I couldn’t eat like this every day, that’s for sure. Maybe tomorrow night, I’ll fix us a big salad, maybe some baked chicken.”

  Kay nodded. She could get spoiled having Jackie here. Not only did she have company, but also someone to cook for her. “You feel like telling me about your day?”

  “Not much to tell, other than I own Keys Industries, and my mother has no idea. Or how about the fact that Keys Industries controls the goddamned bank? That was the highlight of my day.”

  “The bank? What are you going to do?”

  “I have no idea. My choices are to challenge the legality of the affidavit, since I did not knowingly sign it, and then hand the business over to my mother or I can keep it.”

  “Not much of a choice, huh?”

  “What would you do?”

  “Me? God, Jackie, I can’t even begin to know. If my mother had done to me what yours did—”

  “That’s not a fair equation. Your mother would never have done that to you.”

  “Well, you’re right.”

  “Mr. Lawrence said that my parents’ marriage was a farce, had been for years. He said my mother has no idea the extent of Keys Industries or the value. He said my father didn’t want her to have it, which is why my name is there as owner.”

  “So, I guess you don’t really have a choice, do you?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  Kay looked up shyly. “Does this mean you’re going to stay?”

  “Stay? Here? In Pine Springs?” Jacqueline laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding?”

  Kay looked away. No, why would Jackie consider staying? This town meant nothing to her anymore.

  Jacqueline realized how that sounded, and she reached over and took Kay’s hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so harsh. It’s just I… I can’t see coming back here, not after all that’s happened. Not with my mother still here. Can you imagine the hell that would be?”

  “I understand. I was being selfish.”

  “Selfish?”

  Kay squeezed Jackie’s hand, then pulled away. “I love having you here. It’s nice to have you back in my life.”

  “That doesn’t have to change, Kay. We’ll keep in touch, no matter where I am. Right now, I have no idea what I’m going to do with this business.”

  “Can’t you just keep it, and let it go as is?”

  “Well, that’s the problem. As Greg said last night, my father still ran things, still made all the decisions. Now that he’s gone, who is going to take his place?”

  “Surely the managers that he hired are capable?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  “And you’re tired of thinking about it?”

  “Very. I’ve got to e-mail Ingrid and let her know I’ll be here longer than I expected. She’s going to kill me. She has this fear that I’m going to disappear into deep East Texas and miss my deadline.”

  “It must be exciting, your life.”

  “Exciting?” Jacqueline shook her head. “No, I’d not really call it that. At first, when they made the movie, it was exciting. It was all new and suddenly I was at parties with famous people, acting like I belonged there. Christopher kept me grounded, though. He made me keep writing. I think that I was content after that first one, you know. I was satisfied. It was hugely successful, the book and the movie, and I thought
that was all I had in me. But,” Jacqueline shrugged. “Four books later, I’m still at it.”

  “And another movie.”

  “Yeah. But I think I’m out of movies.”

  “What are you working on now?”

  “It’s something different, actually. Cops. Murder. That sort of thing.”

  “Tired of writing about the South?”

  “I think I got it all out of me. Therapy, you know.”

  “The first one, sure. The others, I didn’t get that feeling,” Kay said.

  “Oh, it was there. I think I was trying to write this town out of my system. And I have, I guess. There was a time when, no matter how much John Lawrence had begged, I never would have come here.”

  “But I’m awfully glad you did now.”

  “Yeah. Me, too. Despite all the complications my life is about to encounter, I’m glad. I think maybe I needed to do this, Kay. I needed to come back to prove that I could. To prove that I’m over all that.”

  “Are you really over it?”

  Jacqueline nodded. “Yes. I’m not afraid of my mother anymore. And I think I still was, even though miles and miles separated us. But not anymore.”

  “But you have regrets?” Kay asked gently.

  “I regret that I didn’t get to reconcile with my father, yes. But it’s too late to dwell on that now. He… he left a letter for me.”

  “He did? What did it say?”

  Jacqueline shrugged. “I haven’t actually read it yet.”

  “Why not?”

  “I was afraid of what it might say.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What if it’s an apology? I’m going to feel guilty as hell for not trying to contact him.”

  “Oh, Jackie. What if it is an apology? Would that be so bad? Don’t you think you deserve one?”

  “Well, yeah, I think I do. But from her, and I know I’m never going to get one.”

  “Why just her? Your father knew what she was doing and he let her. And then later, he obviously knew where you were, but he didn’t get in touch with you. I think you deserve one from both of them.” Kay paused. “You know what bothered me the most? That first week in June, your eighteenth birthday. I kept thinking how you must be all alone. It made me very, very sad.”

  “Funny you mention that birthday. I was very much alone that day, sleeping in a dirty bunk at the Salvation Army. Isn’t it all so weird, Kay? Who in their right mind sends their daughter away because she’s gay? In this day and age? I mean, it’s like it was the sixties and their daughter got pregnant by the town scum and they sent her away in shame. We’ve all heard of that happening. But, you’re the mayor of the goddamned town, for Christ’s sake! You don’t just ship your daughter off and disown her. You don’t just send her out into the world like she never existed.”