by Emery, Lynn
“You need something?” Tyquiesha said loudly “Ma’am?”
Erikka blinked out of her reverie. She glanced around. Everyone in line it seemed had disappeared into thin air. The woman wore a knowing expression. Tyquiesha had obviously caught Erikka staring at Gabriel.
“I’m looking for Mr. Wilson’s office. I got turned around.” Embarrassed, Erikka tried to keep her voice low. The last thing she needed was another clumsy meeting with the man.
“Go down that hall and take a right, then a left at the water cooler.” Tyquiesha nodded as though eager to get her moving.
“Thanks,” Erikka replied quietly.
Gabriel turned just as she started to slip around the corner. “Hello again,” he called out.
Erikka paused, and then faced him. “Hi.”
“Erikka, right?” Gabriel walked toward her.
“Yes. How are you?” Erikka decided to relax and go with it. At least he hadn’t caught her gawking like a fool.
“Good. We just keep meeting each other around here, huh?” Gabriel’s full mouth curved up in not quite a smile. Still, his golden brown eyes were friendly.
“Yeah, well the phrase ‘small world’ fits Loreauville. Lafayette, too, as a matter of fact.” Erikka lifted a shoulder. His gaze disturbed her, and she glanced away.
Gabriel gave a soft laugh and walked closer. “I’m here to talk about doing some commercials.”
“Oh really?” Erikka pretended she hadn’t overheard him talking to Tyquiesha. “That should go over well. People love antiques around here.”
“Aunt Therese gets all the sales she needs strictly from word of mouth. I have my own furniture business. Here.” Gabriel took a card from the pocket of his shirt.
“Custom furniture for fine taste,” Erikka read the card. “Cool.”
“Figure it’s time to put a little more into marketing.” Gabriel lifted his paper cup. “Want me to pour you some?”
Erikka shook her head. “I, uh, better get busy. Thanks anyway.”
“You work here?” Gabriel came still closer.
“I’m doing some contract accounting work for Ryan Wilson. More like consulting actually.” Erikka studied the way his muscular chest moved as he breathed. Even his mild interest sent a quiver down her back.
“If you’re taking on more clients, let me know. I could use some help setting up my books. My simple method of using a legal pad and counting on my fingers won’t cut it.” Gabriel tossed the paper cup in a nearby trash can.
“There are some fairly easy software programs for small businesses, you know. In two hours you could be all set,” Erikka said.
“I’m sure I could. Of course, a computer would probably help.” Gabriel wore a shy smile. “Guess you can see I need help bad.”
Erikka smiled back at him. Something from him reached out to her. “Finding a computer at a reasonable price won’t be hard. I can give you a list of software programs when you’re ready. I mean, when you have the computer.”
“Great.”
“Just let me know.” Erikka backed up and bumped into Ryan’s secretary. “Sorry.”
“Oops, my mistake,” Jocelyn said as she grabbed Erikka’s arm. “I dusted your office and put supplies on the desk. The phone line isn’t activated, but I’ll get that taken care of tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” Erikka smiled at her, and then looked at Gabriel. A wiry man in a suit came out and called to him.
“Good to see you again, Mr. Cormier. Come right this way.”
Gabriel shook hands with the account representative and glanced at Erikka. “Give me your number.”
“I don’t have any cards.” Erikka looked at Tyquiesha.
The receptionist looked back at her with a blank expression.
“Use this.” Jocelyn hurried over and grabbed a sticky notepad from the reception desk. She didn’t notice the faint scowl Tyquiesha gave her.
Erikka wrote her aunt’s number down and handed him the small square of blue paper. “Here you go. We’ll get you straight in no time.”
“Look forward to it.” Gabriel pocketed the note.
With a final wave to Erikka, he turned and followed the rep through a glass doorway. The two men sat down in a small conference room to talk. She studied Gabriel’s profile. He definitely wasn’t her idea of a country carpenter. Remembering Darlene’s strange reaction to him, Erikka found him even more mysterious. Erikka would pry more details out of Darlene that night. Erikka wondered just what she’d gotten herself into with these two men. Ryan Wilson had the oily grin and sweaty hands of a groper. Gabriel seemed harmless enough, but the quiet ones could be just as bad.
“Ready?” Jocelyn said over her shoulder.
“We’ll see,” Erikka said. She turned and smiled at the baffled woman. ‘Time to sort through those tangled-up books.”
Chapter 5
Gabriel sat on the steps of his back porch gazing out at the expanse of gray-brown water that bordered the property that had been in his family for four generations. Sunlight glinted on ripples in the lake. Cypress trees and stumps came up out of the water. The distant chug of an outboard motor became louder as a bass boat approached. His father steered his pride and joy toward the wooden landing. Gabriel knew not to get up. Charles Rudolphe Cormier was proud. He’d scowl at any attempts to help him. Even at sixty-five and having suffered a heart attack, he insisted on doing things as he had all his life. Still, to ease his wife’s mind he agreed not to go out in his boat alone. Next to him sat his oldest grandson. Brian dropped the anchor while his grandfather tied a heavy nylon rope around one of the piles.
“Hey, Uncle Gabriel. Slim pickings.” Brian sprang onto the dock. He had the stamina and energy of the typical sixteen-year-old.
“I remember the time we would have needed three boats to haul in all the fish,” Charles said, with a frown.
“Maybe the fish have gotten smarter,” Gabriel replied. They’d gone out at six that morning. Even in early May, the midmorning heat drove them back to the shore.
“Never should have agreed to let in those damn tourists. Three boatloads came out in one hour. All that racket keeps the fish away.” His father handed Brian a large ice chest that should have held the day’s catch.
“At least they pay for it.” Brian winked at Gabriel. He steadied the boat.
His grandfather ignored Brian’s outstretched arm and got out on his own. “Idiots gaping over the side of the barges looking for alligators. All we need is for one of the fools to fall in.”
Gabriel walked out to them. He took fishing rods Brian handed him. “So far none of them have. Mr. Boudreaux is an expert handler of idiot tourists.”
Loyd Boudreaux ran the tour service into the nearby swamp. Lac du Cormier connected to Indian Bayou, which emptied into a vast swamp. Gabriel’s grandfather had given Loyd’s grandfather permission to include a part of the lake in his tours. Back then the tourists had been few and far between. Most of his customers had been avid fishermen from the North and Midwest.
“Yeah, well. One of these days,” Charles grumbled. He picked up two wire fish traps, and then winced as he straightened.
“You okay, Daddy?” Gabriel started toward him.
“Course I’m okay. Just stiff from sitting, that’s all.”
“I’ll carry that cooler for you.” Gabriel grabbed the handle of it.
Charles took off his life vest. “You’re as bad as your mama. One little heart attack and y’all act like I’m a feeble old man.”
“You’re exaggerating as usual.” Gabriel helped Brian load his father’s GMC Yukon.
“No, I’m not. My doctor says I’m doing great, all things considered.” Still, Charles walked to the covered deck and sat down in one of the chairs.
“He only got winded once or twice,” Brian reported. He looked over his shoulder to see where his grandfather had gone.
“Thanks for going out with him. He might not say it, but Daddy enjoys spending time with you boys.” Gabriel gave Brian a
n affectionate slap on the shoulder.
“My pleasure. Got an extra twenty to take my baby out tonight. Friday night and I’ve got money in my pocket.” Brian grinned and bounced off toward the house, whistling a rap tune.
“Stop tapping your grandfather for money, you little scam artist,” Gabriel said, but had to laugh. Brian looked more like Vincent every day. Gabriel thought of his older brother. Vince had swaggered just like that back in the day.
Charles stretched out his long legs and watched Gabriel approach. “So, you got a good report on me?”
Gabriel sat down on the cypress chair across from him and slapped his father’s thigh. “Brian says you were a good boy.”
“Very amusing. I’m proud of him. Pulled his grades up last year. Thank God his mother has sense.” Charles frowned as he stared out over the water.
“Yeah.” Gabriel looked toward the house where Brian had gone. Music blared from Gabriel’s sound system moments later. “Vince is trippin’.”
“You know what Vincent has done now? Went on a three-day drinking and gambling binge with some woman named Trish. Met her in Lake Charles. I wouldn’t blame Sonia if she shot him in the behind,” Charles barked.
“Come on, Dad. They’ve been divorced for two years. Sonia has moved on,” Gabriel said.
Even so, Gabriel felt a spike of anger toward Vincent. Lately, his older brother seemed bent on hurting everyone, especially himself. Still Gabriel had done his share. Of the three Cormier kids, his sister Toni had been the steady one.”
“Selfish, ungrateful—” Charles clenched his right hand into a fist.
“Don’t get worked up.” Gabriel patted his arm to calm him. He worried that Charles would make himself sick. ‘To be fair, Vincent has been through a lot. He lost his business.”
Charles jumped in. “His fault. Stubborn as ten mules. He wouldn’t listen to advice.”
“And the divorce was tough on him, too,” Gabriel pressed on.
“His fault again. I can’t blame Sonia for getting fed up with him.” His father dismissed any attempt to build sympathy for Vincent.
“You’re too hard on him, Daddy. First, Vincent put his blood into that business. You know everybody was hit hard back in the eighties when the oil industry went bust. And even Sonia says they both made mistakes.”
“Swimming in beer and having an affair didn’t help,” Charles insisted.
“Vincent had the affair only after he and Sonia were legally separated.” Gabriel shook his head when his father grunted in disbelief. “Look, no matter what you think, Vincent needs our support.”
“You’re just like your mother, always making excuses for him. I—Shh, Brian is coming.” Charles put a smile on his face. “Hey, son. Finally got tired of that ear noise you call music, thank God.”
“No. I fixed you a glass of lemonade. Grandmother said to make sure you don’t try to sneak a wine cooler.” Brian put the tray down with two glasses on it. “Cool CDs, Uncle Gabe.” He trotted back in the house.
“Ridiculous. Your mother gets a baby to babysit me,” Charles complained. “I can’t have the simple pleasure of drinking what I like once a week. At least Vincent doesn’t flaunt his crazy new lifestyle in front of Brian.”
“For all his craziness Vincent loves his kids. He’s just going through something right now. Vince is going to turn around. He’d probably do it faster if you reached out to him. And I don’t mean to lecture or say ‘I told you so,’ ” Gabriel added quickly.
“I’ve more than reached out to him. Vincent needs to straighten up. I’m through holding his hand.” Charles frowned.
“Speaking of stubborn. Vince gets it honest.” Gabriel crossed his legs at the ankle and drank a sip of lemonade.
“And why are you hiding out in that workshop? It’s time for you to stop being such a hermit. Your mother agrees; wonders never cease.” Charles stabbed a forefinger in Gabe’s direction.
“Great. Now you’re going to be tough on me instead,” Gabriel muttered.
“Your mother worries about you, son. Between you and me, she wants more grandchildren.” Charles nodded at Gabriel.
Gabriel laughed out loud at his serious expression. “She doesn’t make it a secret. She drops hints every chance she gets.”
“Your sister is buried in the business. Not that I’m complaining. Thank God Toni took an interest, what with you building chairs and Vincent working for someone else.” Charles shook his head slowly and drank more lemonade.
‘Toni is great at what she does, and she’s happy.” Gabriel wondered why that wasn’t enough for parents when it came to their children.
At twenty-seven Toni was busy managing the family assets. She’d not only studied land management, but also had degrees in marketing and business. Gabriel was even more grateful to her. She’d taken the pressure off him to run the family business when their father became ill.
“Your mother says she needs a life. I say she’s got time. I’m just happy at least one of my children took control. The Cormier land should be owned and handled by a Cormier.”
“The one thing we all agree on. Even Vince thinks Toni is doing what she was meant to.”
“Yeah. My father would have turned six shades of red at me letting a woman take over. Hell, she’s got the brains and the common sense. My girl grabbed the bull by the balls,” Charles said with pride.
“That’s one way to put it,” Gabriel said with a grin. He could imagine his mother’s reaction to that description.
“Back to you.” Charles turned toward Gabriel and put his glass down.
“Oh, Lord.” Gabriel slumped in his chair.
“Your mother knows a young woman she’d like you to meet.” Charles held up a palm to cut off Gabriel’s protest. “Normally, I’d try to talk her out of it. But Natalie Morales is a wonderful young woman. We’ve known her family forever.”
“Forget it,” Gabriel put in.
“Her father is a couple of years younger than me, but we knew each other in college.”
“Good for you. I’m not going to be fixed up,” Gabriel said.
“She works at the Lafayette Regional Airport, is a pilot, and races horses. You two have a lot in common. Not that I’m in favor of this matchmaking,” Charles added with force. “I’m just saying she’s a great girl.”
“And I’m sure she’s got her share of admirers. But don’t put me on her dance card.” Gabriel drained the last ounce of lemonade from his glass and put it down.
“Oh? You seeing someone?” Charles’s busy brows lifted in curiosity.
“Dad,” Gabriel warned, and narrowed his eyes at Charles.
“I’m not being nosy, son, not at all. But I see your point about this fix-up deal your mother is trying to pull. If I can tell her about your girlfriend, that will satisfy her.” Charles’s eyes twinkled with anticipation.
“She’s not my girlfriend. We’re not exactly dating even.”
Gabriel thought of Erikka. Even with her thick reddish brown hair pulled back and the all-business power suit she looked good. Her full curves stirred him up until his body felt the heat. He liked the hint of mischief beneath her smile, the shy way she kept her face averted if he looked at her too long. She was obviously a city fish out of water, but seemed to have gained her footing since the day they’d first met at the flea market. Erikka had a certain vulnerability. Seeing her at the television station had been an un-expected pleasure, one that he wanted to repeat. And that scared him. He’d been content to deal with loneliness. The alternative was risking more than he had left inside to give.
“Then what the hell are you doing with the girl exactly?” Charles blurted out in frustration.
Gabriel watched a turtle slip from a floating log near the bank. “I’m hoping she’ll be my accountant.”
“Huh?” Charles stared at him with his mouth open.
“Strictly biz I’m afraid.” Gabriel shrugged when his father shook his head slowly.
“Son, I know you’ve had a few
bumps. Hell, you’ve got more reason to climb inside a beer mug than your brother. But this hiding from the world thing has gone way too far.” Charles raised a hand in preparation for a lecture.
“I’m going to be just fine, Dad. Really. You and Mama should stop worrying about me. And stop trying to fix me up with some poor woman,” Gabriel added.
“Not me,” Charles protested. “But hanging out in your workshop all day every day is not a social life.”
“Thanks for your concern, but I like my social life just the way it is.” Gabriel stretched. “Quiet and uncomplicated.”
“A lady accountant, eh? Hmm.” Charles sipped more lemonade.
“I’ve increased sales fifteen percent in the last year from word of mouth alone. I’m not trying to be a starving artist, trust me,” Gabriel said. “I’ve got to get organized in more ways than one.”
“Does she live around here?” Charles looked out over the water.
“Loreauville. Fact is I need to hire an employee. That means payroll taxes and more paperwork.”
“Then she must have family around here. Only know one accountant around there, Thomas Netterville. What’s her name?”
“Rochon. I went to that local access station WYDC about some ads. Surprisingly, their audience demographics fit my customer base, upper-income buyers. Lots of exiles from the city and well-off retirees,” Gabriel said.
“Rochon, Rochon.” Charles repeated and rubbed his chin. “I know a guy named Ed Rochon from St. Martinville. Blue-collar from what I know of his people. He worked at that tractor plant. She must have done good becoming a CPA.”
“Apparently. The station is going to produce a commercial for me. Nothing fancy. Just pictures of the furniture and a voice-over sales pitch. What do you think?” Gabriel tapped his father on the arm.
“Sounds good.” Charles stood. “Better get going. Your mother gets worried if I’m gone too long.”
Brian walked up behind him. “I called her. We’re having her famous spaghetti and meat sauce.” He rubbed his stomach and licked his Ups.”
