Avery had to agree that she wasn’t going to be much use to her mother once the baby was born. “I was thinking. If we could move in with them, I can take care of my baby and help take care of Dad. You can help too.”
“I have a job, Avery. I’m already living out of a suitcase. Now I can’t even have the privacy of being alone with my wife.”
“School is over in May. Dean Roth already promised you’re free to do whatever you want after the school year ends.”
“I wanted to be home with my wife and baby.”
She smiled tenderly at the sound of those words. They reminded her of how good a man this was. From the beginning, he always acted as if this baby was his and he intended to love it as if it was. “I want to be with you and the baby too. But we all have to compromise.”
“Don’t you think I’ve compromised enough?”
Avery’s smile vanished. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t mean . . .”
“I know what you meant,” she said. “Look, Anthony. I don’t want to fight with you. I know this has been hard on you, but my family is in the middle of a serious crisis and—”
“I . . . I understand why we’re here,” he interrupted. “I just don’t want to stay.”
“Well, I do,” she replied. “And I need to. My family needs me and I need my family.”
Anthony appeared hurt by her words. “I’m your family, Avery. I’m your husband.”
“And that’s why I need you to help me do this,” she pleaded. “You saw Mother last night. She’s completely exhausted. Even with a new baby, every little thing I can do is going to mean so much. And don’t you think a baby would bring joy to the house? That would be good for Dad. I think it would be good for all of us.”
Anthony stood up, seeming unconvinced. “Let’s just go back to the hotel. I’m tired.”
He reached out to help her up. Just the act alone brought home his point that she wasn’t much of a help. She could barely stand up on her own these days. Avery was beginning to think her staying might even add to her mother’s burden. But for some reason, ever since Carter walked away from her at the country club, Avery needed her mother to be near. She felt lost without her.
They made their way to the front of the restaurant and Anthony tossed the keys to the valet. When he looked at Avery, she could tell he was unhappy. He didn’t deserve this, but what else could she do?
“I’m worried.” Anthony’s tone embodied his frustration. “I don’t like being separated from you. I don’t like leaving you here thinking you have to help everyone. I don’t like leaving you here with . . . Jesus Christ!”
Avery turned to see what was upsetting Anthony and she couldn’t believe it. Carter had already stepped out of the driver’s seat and was tossing his keys to the valet. He was talking to him intently, pointing to the sleek black car. He hadn’t noticed them yet.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Anthony exclaimed. “So he’s stalking you now?”
“Don’t be silly.” Avery stepped aside as another valet came to the passenger’s door. “Carter will eat out every night unless someone cooks for him.”
“Where is our damn car?” Anthony asked. “Do you want to go inside?”
“Maybe we . . .” The first thing Avery saw was the golden stiletto heels of Carter’s companion as she stepped out of the car.
The woman was beautiful in a greenish gold silk-embellished dress that stopped midway down the thighs of long, mocha-brown legs. She had long, shiny, wavy hair and a soft, full face with very little makeup. Her features were perfectly sculpted. But it wasn’t the way she looked that kept Avery from being able to turn away from her. She couldn’t turn away because the woman was with Carter and she was just his type. He liked them beautiful, but not too flashy. He liked them sexy, but not too explicit. Just perfect.
“Avery?”
She turned back to Anthony, who was looking at her with a very concerned, almost frightened, look on his face.
“Breathe,” was all he said.
Avery exhaled not even realizing she was holding her breath until just then. She was consumed with shame as Anthony’s eyes softened in pain.
“Anthony, I . . .” She reached out and touched his arm. “I was just . . .”
“Jealous?” he asked.
“No, of course not,” she lied. “I just get anxious whenever he’s around.”
After feeling he had sufficiently warned the valet about caring for the Maybach, Carter turned toward the restaurant, but was halted by what he saw: Avery and Anthony standing close to each other right under the canopy. They were looking into each other’s eyes and she was touching him.
For a second, Carter’s hands clenched into fists before he regained his composure. With a smile, he walked toward his date, who had been waiting with an eager smile on her pretty face.
Carter straightened his tie with one hand and reached out for Julia with the other. “I want you to meet someone.”
He led her a few steps toward Avery and Anthony, irritated by their closeness. However, when he noticed what Avery was staring at, he felt a kick in his step. She couldn’t take her eyes off his hand, the one holding Julia’s hand.
“Hello, Avery.” Carter smiled as if she were just a casual friend. He had to control himself so his enjoyment of her jealously wouldn’t show. She looked so damn cute in the spaghetti-strapped flowered dress with her belly button sticking out.
Avery smiled at him, aware that Carter intended to ignore Anthony. She wondered what he was up to. That smile meant it was no good.
“Julia Hall,” Carter said, leaning into his beautiful date, “this is Avery Jackson. She’s Chief Jackson’s daughter.”
“I know who she is.” Julia’s voice held a hint of a Texas drawl and her expression said she wasn’t very pleased.
“Do I know you?” Avery asked.
“No.” Julia clung to Carter’s arm. “But you were engaged to Carter once, right?”
Avery swallowed, feeling too uncomfortable to do anything but smile. “Once.”
“That’s all water under the bridge.” Carter’s tone was purposefully dismissive and he could tell it irked Avery. “Avery is starting her own family now.”
“That’s good.” Julia’s tone made Avery think she was a Janet Chase in the making.
Avery ignored her he’s-my-man-now tone. “This is my husband, Anthony.”
“Anthony’s a teacher,” Carter offered. He saw the angry glare on Anthony’s face as he reached out to shake hands with Julia.
“A teacher?” Julia pressed her lips together to keep a smile from forming. “That’s nice.”
Avery wanted to slap that smirk off her face. “Anthony is actually a college professor at the University of Miami.”
“Gotta love those state schools, huh?” As Carter rubbed Julia’s arm, he could almost feel Avery’s temperature rising. “I’m surprised you got a seat at this place. They’re usually very exclusive.”
Before Avery could retort, she felt Anthony take her arm and begin leading her away.
“The car is here,” he said. “Let’s go.”
“Give my best to your father!” Carter yelled back as he and Julia headed for the restaurant.
When Anthony got in the car, he was looking straight ahead. “I’m not going to keep going through this.”
“Anthony, it was just a coincidence.” Avery watched as Carter and Julia disappeared behind the restaurant doors. “We won’t run in the same circles, so I don’t expect to encounter Carter often.”
“I don’t care if we run into Carter.” Anthony put the car in drive and looked at her. “I’m not going to keep watching you get jealous every time you see him with another woman.”
Anthony stepped on the gas and sped off so fast that Avery had to hold on to the door. She looked at him, seeing that familiar profile take on an unfamiliar form. Anthony was an affable man, which she liked about him. She had never seen
him this angry. She wanted to protest, but she had lied enough that night. She was jealous and had no right to be. Carter being with another woman could only work in her favor, but she couldn’t stand the image of him making love to that woman tonight.
Standing at the sliding glass doors of the great room, Janet turned away from the pool with a heavy sigh. There was nothing she could do, so she had to just wait and see. Wait and see and keep Steven as far from . . .
“I was looking for you.” Steven was pleased to see his wife already standing near the bar. She looked sexy in a violet stretch silk wrap blouse and white pants. After all this time, her curves still excited him. But first things first.
He held up the package in his hands. “Look what finally came.”
“You actually ordered something in the mail?” Janet asked, grateful that he went straight to the bar and didn’t bother to look out at the pool.
“This baby was in Norway. I didn’t have time to fly out there. This is the only way I could get it.” He tore the box open.
When Janet saw what was in the box, she rolled her eyes. “Ah yes, the expensive whiskey you went on and on about.”
“You’re being a smart-ass.” Steven cut the seal on the lid, unscrewed the cap, and brought his nose to the glass decanter. He closed his eyes. “This is a rare treasure. Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s Best of Blue.”
“If you say so,” Janet replied. “Nice jar, but it’s still liquor.”
“This is a luxury item, baby.” He grabbed a glass. “This liquor is made from a mixture of fifteen of the best whiskies in the world and a very rare malt, Royal Lochnagar.”
“There are more than fifteen different types of whiskeys?” Janet asked not because she cared, but to keep his attention on her and the bottle instead of the pool. “And what is a Lochnagar?”
“There are only four thousand of these in the whole world.” Steven slowly poured the whiskey into his glass. “Less than a thousand are in the United States.”
“Is that what they told you?” she asked sarcastically. “Just because something is rare doesn’t make it quality. And you paid what for the privilege?”
As he lifted the glass to his lips, Steven stopped. Sometimes he forgot that Janet no longer drank. She had gone to rehab for a prescription drug habit, but learned that she would have to stay away from any controlled substance, including liquor. “I’m sorry, babe. Does this bother you?”
“Because I can’t drink?” She laughed. “No. You know I was never a big drinker and certainly didn’t like whiskey. Besides, I’ve lost eight pounds since South Africa. So, how much?”
“You don’t want to know,” Steven said about the price. “And cost doesn’t matter. This is special.”
Just as he brought the glass back to his lips, Steven heard giggling behind him. He stepped around the bar to get a good view of the pool, and when he saw Leigh and Lyndon kissing in the pool, his blood began to boil.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Steven slammed his glass on the smoothed granite bar counter. Whiskey went flying everywhere.
“Steven, calm down,” Janet urged. “Look, you’re ruining your drink.”
Steven was already tugging at the glass door. “The nerve of that son of a bitch coming into my house after what he’s done.”
Steven’s first reaction to hearing about Leigh’s car accident was to find Lyndon Prior and teach him a lesson, but Janet calmed him down. And Leigh said she wasn’t going to see him ever again. Since she wasn’t hurt, Steven was willing to let it go. But now that Leigh was going back on her word, he was going to have his say.
“You can’t, Steven.” Janet reached for him, tugging at his arm. “You can’t do anything about it.”
“The hell I can’t.” He turned to her. “This is my house.”
“It’s her house too,” Janet said, “and I couldn’t bear it if she left.”
Steven slid the glass door open and yelled Leigh’s name. When both Leigh and Lyndon saw him, the smiles on their faces vanished. Steven waved for Leigh to come inside.
“Steven,” Janet pleaded. “You have to be careful now.”
“I can understand that you don’t want to get involved in this.” Steven had seen the way Leigh’s rejection had hurt Janet. She blamed her for everything that led to Richard Powell’s death. But after the incident last year, all was forgiven although maybe not forgotten. “I’ll take care of it. You can leave if you—”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
After wrapping a blanket around her waist, Leigh stepped inside and closed the sliding doors behind her. She expected yelling and even though Lyndon expected it, she didn’t want him to hear it. “Dad, I know what you’re going to say, but things are different.”
“That boy almost killed you!” Steven would have expected something like this out of Haley, but not Leigh. She was softhearted, but she was smart.
“It was an accident,” Leigh stated. “And he wasn’t on drugs. I was wrong.”
“Based on what?” Steven asked. “He told you? Because you’re the doctor, Leigh. He’s an idiot actor. They lie and they do drugs.”
“I believe him,” Leigh said stubbornly. “I care about him very much, Daddy. I wish you would try and—”
“I’m not going to watch you get taken in by this . . . boy.”
“Steven.” Janet squeezed his arm. “Leigh, we’re just concerned. We’re not trying to tell you what to do.”
“The hell I’m not,” Steven argued. “He’s not welcome in this house.”
“You can’t do that!” Leigh yelled.
“I can’t?” Steven asked. “Let me go look at the lease to this place. If your name is on it, then I’ll apologize.”
“You’re making jokes out of this?” Leigh asked. “The car accident was just that, an accident. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
“Still,” he said, “he can’t come—”
“Is this about his being white?” Leigh asked.
“No,” Janet assured her. “We wouldn’t want you with any actor or entertainer regardless of his race. That’s not good enough for you.”
“But you would be more understanding if he was black, right?”
“Race doesn’t mean anything to us,” Janet said. “But it does to other people.”
Leigh had heard this before. “Please spare me the ‘we’re different’ speech. It’s dead and tired.”
“That doesn’t mean it isn’t true.” Janet’s lips thinned with displeasure at Leigh’s upsettingly consistent attitude toward her heritage. “If you or your sister or brothers dated a white person publicly, it wouldn’t look good. We already fight a battle with the image that we use our wealth and position to run away from our own people.”
Leigh was all too aware of this. “I don’t pick my dates to prove my blackness. Not to the public or either of you.”
Steven was done with this conversation. “You can ask him to leave or I will.”
“I’ll leave with him,” Leigh said.
Steven frowned, looking dead into her eyes. “Only two months with the boy and he’s already got you acting like your sister.”
Leigh felt guilty making a threat, but what choice did she have if they refused to understand? Lyndon excited her and intrigued her. She felt alive for the first time in a long while.
“I’m not throwing a tantrum, but Lyndon is my boyfriend. I won’t get rid of him. You want to throw us out, then do it.”
“Leigh,” Steven called after her as she opened the door and headed back to Lyndon, who was now sitting on a lounge chair looking very pensive.
“What?” Janet asked as she surveyed Steven’s eyes veering away. “What are you thinking?”
Steven cursed a couple of times before returning to the bar and retrieving his drink. “That boy is trouble for her and you know it.”
“I don’t and neither do you,” Janet admonished. “I suspect he is but . . . maybe it was just a careless accident.”
Steven
took a sip, savoring the challenging taste of the whiskey. “It wasn’t. And I’m not going to wait around for it to get worse.”
As her driver pulled up to the modest Baldwin Hills home, Janet was already dialing Carter’s cell phone. Where was he and what was he up to? Having caught his voice mail so often, she was actually surprised when he picked up.
“Mom.” Carter sat up on the edge of his bed.
“Carter, I’ve been trying to call you since yesterday. What’s going on? You had me worried.”
As Julia’s hands came around his waist, he could feel her bare, ample breasts travel up his back. “I’ve been busy. Why do you keep calling me?”
“I wanted to tell you that the chief came home yesterday and I’m stopping by there today.”
“What for?” Carter smiled as Julia’s hand slid down to his penis.
“Just out of common courtesy,” Janet said. It was more like insurance for the future.
“They won’t want you there.” Carter reached behind, grabbed Julia’s hair, and pulled her around. She slid off the bed, got on her knees, and moved between his legs.
“That’s because of the way you’ve been acting,” Janet said. “Which is why I have to score as many points with this family as possible. Between what you and Haley have done—”
“Well, that’s all over,” Carter said, “so don’t bother.”
“You don’t sound like yourself. Have you been drinking?”
“I’m hanging up now.” Carter guided Julia’s head as her mouth came down on him. He pushed her farther every time.
“Wait!” Janet pleaded. “What about Avery?”
“What about her?”
“Is there something you want me to say to her?” Janet stepped out of the car, whispering to her driver, “I’ll just be a minute.”
“No,” Carter proclaimed. “That’s all over, Mom. There’s nothing to say.”
“Is it really?” she asked. Hadn’t she heard this before ?
“Yes, and for good this time.” Carter hadn’t noticed how angry his mother’s questioning made him until he heard Julia make a whimpering sound and push against his thighs. He loosened his grip.
No More Good Page 21
