by Emery, Lynn
“This was a pretty good day, cher. Them carvings of deer and nutria are sellin’ fast. I’m gone have to take a couple of days to work on some more. Maybe I’ll get T-Leon to work a few extra days helping you in the shop.“Antoine held up the list of the few remaining wood carvings left on the shelf.
“Sure, Poppy. That would be fine.” Savannah had hired the high school student through a program that helped troubled and low income teens find part-time work. Just a little attention from Antoine had worked wonders on T-Leon’s attitude. Once sulky and resistant, he now seemed eager to come to work. The phone rang.
“Hi, Paul. Sure, here she is.” Antoine handed her receiver. Continuing to work, he listened as they made plans to meet later.
“Y’all goin’ out again tonight?”
“Just to the Fish Net. Paul rented a couple of movies we’ve both been wanting to see.” She smiled to herself.
“Be careful, sugar. Remember you just met him.”
“I thought you liked Paul. You and Tante Marie practically pushed us together.”
“Paul is a fine young man, but you don’t know much about him.” Antoine fidgeted with a pencil.
“What do you mean? Have you heard something?” Savannah looked up sharply. She could feel her stomach muscles tighten.
“No, no. Nothing but, well he’s working for Trosclair on that plant you know,” Antoine spoke quickly.
“No he’s not, poppy. He’s an independent consultant who is being paid by a third party to assess the site and the possible environmental impact.” Savannah knew she sounded a bit too defensive. It was probably because she still had doubts about his relationship with Trosclair.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt again, baby. Like with that Devin fella.”
“I can take care of myself, thank you.” She softened her tone. She planted a playful kiss on his forehead before sitting down to continue her work. “You just concentrate on how you are going to spend all this money you’ve been making lately.”
“Poo, I don’t need much. Maybe I’ll get me some new fishin’ gear.”
Savannah’s mind was only half on the papers in front of her. Was it her imagination, or had her father seemed to hold something back? She went over their short conversation several times. No, he was just being a dutiful father. She pushed her misgivings away as she remembered the way Paul’s handsome face became beautiful when he smiled at her, the strong outline of his jaw, the way he tenderly touched her face while they kissed. She repeated the defense of Paul that she had given to her father to herself. Reassured, she was finally able to focus the task in front of her.
*****
“Whew! You wore me out.” Paul slumped onto the couch fanning himself with exaggerated motions.
“Get off it. A big strong man like you ought to be able to hang. Come on now, get up, get down. Oo-wee.” Savannah swayed rhythmically while pulling him to her.
“Woman, you wanna give me a heart attack? Rest, I need rest.”
“Pitiful.” Laughing, she turned off the seventies disco music. She sat next to him on the couch.
“Whose idea was this anyway?” He groaned.
“Yours, that’s who. Watching those old black exploitation movies went to your head. Only a few minutes ago you were yelling `Let’s get funky! Remember?” She slapped his thigh playfully.
“I had definitely lost my head.” He pulled her to him. “Ahh, I feel better already.” He gave her a passionate kiss.
“Ummm-what happened to can’t catch your breath and needing rest,” she murmured between kisses.
“You giving me mouth to mouth is just the medicine I need.”
Savannah’s giggle was soon smothered by his tender assault. As he took her mouth completely, she felt the hammering of his heart against her breasts. Or maybe it was hers; lost in him she could not tell the difference. But it didn’t matter. All that mattered was what they had right here, right now. She squirmed deliciously, helping his hands roam in places that ached for his touch. His tongue caressed hers, and then darted across her lips. With one last simultaneous shudder, they parted.
“Wow.” He shook his head trying to regain his equilibrium. Paul marveled at the power of one kiss from this sensuous woman.
“And how.” Savannah pulled her blouse straight. Wiping her face with a paper napkin, she sat back against the couch away from him.
“Take it slow, right?” His eyes were bright with passion. The question burned between them.
Savannah gazed at him searchingly. They talked for hours about all kinds of subjects. Paul’s commitment to giving of himself to the community, his fervor about working with young people impressed her. This intellectual admiration fanned the flames of desire, deepening each time they were together. A powerful desire that tugged against her inner voice cautioning her to be wary.
“Yes.” She sighed. “Sometimes I feel as if I have always known you. Other times, you seem so, I don’t know, remote.”
“Hey, no fair. I was anything but remote a minute ago.” He inched toward her leering.
“Be serious. We’ve been seeing each other for almost two months now and I don’t think we have ever really talked.”
“Sure we have. You know all about me. Where I’m from, where I went to school. You have my whole life history. How about something cold to drink.” He got up suddenly.
“No, thanks.” Savannah fell silent. She stared straight ahead, a small frown on her face.
“What about another movie? Let’s see, we got one more great action packed thriller that is sure to satisfy your crave for cliff hanging excitement.” He waved the cassette in the air. When there was no response, he sat next to her heavily. Putting his arm around her shoulder, he tried to pull her to him.
“Think I’ll go on home.” Savannah looked at him, not moving.
“Sure, if that’s what you want.” He drew away abruptly. Reaching for his car keys and jacket, he spoke over his shoulder. “It is kind of late, and I told Sam I’d finish up some last surveys from another job so we could start that report.”
The drive to Savannah’s house was a tense one. She sat as near to the window at possible, staring out into the darkness at the almost invisible scenery. Paul stole glances at her, trying to think of something to say.
“I’ll be going back to Lafayette for Thanksgiving. But I’ll be back that night.” Paul waited but got no answer. “Maybe we can see each other?” The Jeep slowed to a stop in front of her house.
“When you want to share, is that it? Only when you feel comfortable being close. Well, the holidays are a time for being with those you feel close to, Paul. Right now, I don’t think that includes us.”
“Baby, come on now. What do you want from me?” Paul reached out to her but she opened the door and got out.
“More than you’re willing to give obviously.” Slamming the door, she hurried across the yard into the house before he could respond.
*****
“Hey, man. Open up. Paul, you in there?”Groaning, he rolled over and went deeper under the covers. He tried to block out the pounding that seemed to be in his head. Muttering curse words, he finally got up. He eyes, red and scratchy, blinked painfully in the weak winter morning light. Stumbling towards the bedroom door, his little toe slammed against the leg of the chair.
“Damn! What do you want?” Paul yanked the door to the trailer open. “Oh, you.” Paul waved in his partner.
“Zow-wee, you look like hell. You either had a real good time or a real bad one, ha!” Sam laughed loud at his own joke, ignoring his friend’s dark look.
“What do you want at this hour?” Paul flopped down on the couch stretching out.
“Just passing through on my way to Metairie. I’ve been in Baton Rouge. Thought you might want to hear the latest on this permit thing.”
“Yeah?” Paul sat up suddenly wide awake.
“Word is Batton Chemical has got some heavy hitters on their side. Keeping the permit is a done deal.”
“Nothing in our report indicates they should do anything else. That site is as safe as any could be.”
“You know and I know how hard it is to correlate rates of illness, or even mortality rates, to the impact of industrial by-products. When they throw in lifestyles, lunar phases, whatever, it muddies the water so nothing definitive can be put in those reports.”
“So what’s the answer? I can’t say the site is unsuitable based on my data or comparisons to other similar sites with plants.”
“And more good news, your report helped them back up what they were going to do anyway.” Sam munched on a large apple. “The news will hit the papers tomorrow. Too late for it to get into today’s editions.”
“Damn, just what I need.”
“Since it can’t be my news that has you looking so dogged out, must be trouble in love land.”
“Three nights ago we had the `We’ve never really talked’ conversation. We haven’t spoken since then.” Paul started a pot of coffee.
“And?” Sam scratched his chin.
“And nothing.” Paul shrugged.
“You been in here since then drowning in misery? No wonder you look like so bad.”
“Of course not. I’ve been working. A lot.” Paul shot back. He pointed to several stacks of papers.
“Bad news, man. Maybe it’s for the best. Time to start packing up.”
“I guess.” Paul stared out of the kitchen window. He could not accept defeat so easily. Paul wanted Savannah in way and with a depth that he had never experienced before. And he was sure that she wanted him as much. The heat of her kiss had left a brand on his heart.
“Listen, did you ever consider that she’s trying to pump you for inside scoop on your report for Batton Chemicals?”
“Wait a minute, Savannah has never tried…” Paul blinked as if Sam had struck him.
“Really? Don’t tell me you haven’t discussed it at all.” Sam went on despite Paul’s attempts at protest. “You did, admit it.”
“Naturally we did. It’s all anybody in town has been talking about. But—“
“Shown a great deal of interest in your work too, I bet. Look, her dad is the unofficial leader of the opposition. Seems she got real cozy a little fast after dumping on you at first. Don’t forget, the lady’s a lawyer. They are masters at hiding their true strategy.”
“You are wrong, man. Very wrong.” Paul shook his head, reaching over to plug in the coffee maker.
“If you say so, but her need to get inside your life even more tells me something different.”
“They all want to do that, it’s a woman thing. Not some devious plot. You’re still paranoid after Sheila.” Paul went into the bedroom to get dressed.
“Hey, I had faith in her just like you have in Ms. St. Julien. A word to the wise, my brother.”
“I didn’t even hear that. Let’s go. I want to finish up so I can see Savannah. I want her to hear the news from me first.”
*****
“What if he’s just into the same old hit and run routine? What if he was getting close to me so he could find out about daddy’s next move to oppose Trosclair?” Savannah paced the length of the living room in front of Charice.
“So he’s been asking a lot of questions?” Charice watched go back and forth.
“Well, no,” Savannah admitted. “But he could be bidding his time. You know, buttering me up so he can.”
“Sit down, please. I’m getting queasy trying to follow you. You’re making no sense, girl. Everybody in this little town knows exactly what your daddy plans to do. Paul would have to be pretty stupid not to figure it out without pumping you for information. And stupid he ain’t.” Charice took another sip of diet cola.
“Maybe so, but something is going on with him. He talks, but when we get too much into his family he starts changing the subject.”
“Let’s see, his parents live in Crowley, he’s got two brothers and two sisters. Sounds like he’s been saying quite a lot to me.”
“But something is missing. You know, it’s more to it than that. I can feel it. I should have followed my first mind. He came on like a jerk the first time I met him.” Savannah sat down with a thud. “The fact that he hasn’t called shows he’s got something up with him. Good riddance.” Savannah punched the throw pillow.
“Yeah, you look relieved to me all right. And he’s finished his survey and report so he may be leaving soon. That ought to make you feel even better.” Charice eyed her friend closely.
“That’s another thing, that report. It was a cop out. He didn’t even address the issue of alternative sites.”
“They hired him to assess that site, he did. Stop all that noise you two.” Charice shouted into the next room at her daughters fighting over the television. “Let me get them home before they kill each other. I say give him a break. In fact, you ought to give him a call.”
“Bye, girls. Be good and try not to drive your momma too crazy.” Savannah helped Charice get the two girls into their jackets.
“Too late, honey. Bye now. Come on here. No, I don’t want to hear what she called you. Lord, give me strength.”
As Charice herded her still bickering children to her car, Paul pulled up. They exchanged brief greetings, the girls thrilled at the fuss he made over their matching jackets. Savannah stood in the door waiting. Charice gave her a thumbs up sign as Paul turned to walk away from them.
“Hi. Can I come in?” Paul didn’t advance past the top step.
“Sure.” She opened the door wide.
“How have you been? Wait a minute; I don’t want to make stupid small talk.” Paul had hardly made it into the living room when he turned to her. His face mirrored his torment as he took a deep breath. His voice raspy with emotion. “I’ve missed you, a lot.”
“After my big talk about rushing things, maybe I’m the one who’s been traveling too fast.” Savannah took a step closer to him. Seeing his eyes bright with pain only increased the clenching urge to rush into his arms. She gave in when he opened them to her.
“No, I was too touchy. It’s just not easy for me to open up.” Paul put his arms around her. “Old habits die hard.”
“I’ve been a little defensive, too. Tell you what; let’s just take it as it comes.” She murmured softly, weak with relief to have him with her. Savannah couldn’t even remember what her reservations had been, not with him this close. She helped him out of his coat. “Come into the kitchen for some cafe au lait, my specialty.”
“My partner Sam came by this morning to discuss some other jobs we have. He found out from some contacts that Batton Chemical will get to keep the permit.” When she turned from the stove, Paul watched her face intently.
“I should have known. Trosclair has lots of low friends in high places.”
“Well, there’s nothing that rules out that site for development.”
“But that’s just it. Why that site? Why not thirty miles south, why not the other side of the river? I’ll tell you why, Trosclair wouldn’t dare contaminate the estates of his rich pals, or his own for that matter. But poppy is right, look at the toxic waste sites along the river for sixty miles. Almost all are located in poor minority communities.”
“All that land is accessible to the river, which makes it desirable.” Paul took a deep breath. “That is a powerful argument in their favor. That and the jobs the plant will bring. Economic impact is a big consideration, especially in a parish with ten percent unemployment.”
“It’s past time for me to get back into being an attorney. First thing in the morning I am going to start doing some research.”
“Hold on, working at the shop and being a lawyer. When will I ever get to see you?”
“Oh don’t worry; I’ll be sure to pencil you into my schedule.”
“Thank you so much. Let’s go over to my house to finish those old movies.” He kissed her neck.
“Can’t, promised Tante Marie we would visit my cousins in Scott tonight.” She snuggled closer. �
�Of course, it’s not like they won’t be there another time.”
“Hey, now,” Tante Marie called from the living room.
“Evening, ma’am.” Paul jumped back, grabbing a napkin, he hastily wiped his lips.
“You cut your mouth, son? Heh, heh. Didn’t move fast ‘nough, cher. And yeah you gone visit your Tante Rita tonight. She done asked me three times when you gone come see her. Might as well it over with. You know how she gets. Now get ready. Bye, Paul. Nice seein’ ya.” She flounced out without waiting for an answer.
With a shrug, she blew him a kiss before seeing him off.
*****
“Knock, Knock.”
“Who’s there?” Paul played along.
“Didn’t get to,” Savannah sang out.
“Didn’t get to what?” Paul’s silhouette towered over her, his broad chest rose and fell rapidly beneath the tank undershirt.
“Didn’t get to finish making up.” Savannah climbed the steps slowly to him. Boldly, she placed her hands on his narrow waist. With one hand he closed the door behind her; with the other he drew her further into the room.“Paul, I—”
“No, every time we talk at a time like this we end up arguing. Not this time, baby, not this time.” He covered her mouth with his.
Savannah wrapped herself around him. All her doubts and suspicions seemed groundless in the face of his sweet attack on her senses. Feeling his tongue gently exploring, she gave up to him completely opening her lips wider. His fingers gently raked her hair, then traced down her back in ever widening circles until they rested on her hips.
“Wait, didn’t we just talk about moving too fast?” Gently she extricated herself from his embrace.
