by Emery, Lynn
“I don’t know. It’s not so bad.” Erikka propped her feet on a leather ottoman.
“Loreauville is so bad,” Hope asserted. “No Saenger Theater, no House of Blues, no Tip’s. Good Lord, woman, you’re in hell.”
“I hardly miss that stuff. Well, maybe that’s a stretch,” Erikka said with a laugh, when they both squinted at her. “Damn right it is,” Hope said.
“But I really don’t sit around wishing I was in New Orleans. I keep pretty busy.”
Erikka thought of her work at the Senior Center and the television station. She’d adjusted pretty well to a new rhythm. Still, New Orleans seeped right back under her skin the minute she saw Lake Ponchartrain.
“Busy in Loreauville?” Karin blinked at her. A city girl through and through, she obviously had trouble imagining it.
“Wait a minute, I smell a man in the mix.” Hope tilted her nose up and sniffed.
“Well—” Erikka combed her fingers through her hair.
“Give it up. Name, occupation, and salary range, what kind of car he drives—all the important stuff.” Hope put down the empty dessert plate.
“I’m seeing someone, but nothing serious,” Erikka added hastily, when both women started to speak at once.
“Girlfriend found a fine man way out there. You’re the queen.” Hope did a bow from the waist with her arms stretched out.
Erikka wondered if she’d confessed too easily. Now they’d want to dig out all the details, and Erikka wasn’t sure she was ready to provide any. What she’d shared with Gabriel so far seemed more special though she was still sorting out why. Maybe because of the way he seemed genuinely interested in talking to her. Or it could be the little thoughtful touches from a man she’d missed for so long. Vaughn certainly hadn’t taken the trouble. Not that Erikka had set the bar very high. She’d laughed with her friends at the men in romance novels, joking about the rich fantasy lives of the authors. They all were resigned to being taken for granted on some level. Why had they accepted it as the price for not being alone? More to the point why had she? Erikka sighed. She was beginning to think like her therapist.
“Well?” Hope broke into her thoughts.
“I’m glad you found someone nice. He must live close to your aunt,” Karin said, using her gentle approach in contrast to blunt Hope.
“Gabriel lives in his house near the bayou.” Erikka smiled, remembering their boat ride.
“His own house. Good so far. Tell us everything.” Hope bounced up and down on the cushion.
“Grow up,” Erikka said crisply. “I’m not telling because there is nothing to tell.”
“Even I’m not buying that one, Erikka,” Karin said with a giggle.
“I can’t wait to rub Vaughn’s nose in this.” She rubbed her hands together in anticipation.
“Now stop it,” Erikka said, her voice lacking conviction.
“Yeah,” Karin put in. “He’s been strutting around with Julie and—Oops.” She clapped one hand over her mouth.
Erikka felt a spike of rage. “So, he was screwing that bitch he works with behind my back. Dog.”
“Are you really surprised?” Hope got up and poured a glass of wine.
“No, but it’s the principle, know what I mean?” Erikka replied.
“You didn’t lose much. And so we come back to Gabriel.” Karin arched her perfectly waxed brows.
“Uh-huh. Let’s forget the zero and talk about a hero. Spill it.” Hope sat down again and wiggled her hips to get comfortable.
“He’s really nice, polite, and good with his hands.” Erikka accepted a cup of coffee from Karin.
“Really? I want to hear more about his hands and how you know he is so good with them.” Hope leered.
“He makes custom furniture and he sculpts wood. That’s what I meant,” Erikka tossed back.
“Sounds wonderful, Erikka. He’s strong and artistic, sensitive to beauty in the world.” Karin put the most romantic spin on things, as usual.
Erikka smiled at her. For once she had to agree. “As a matter of fact that’s a good description. Gabriel lives kind of a simple life. No parties, club crawling, or hanging with the crowd.”
Hope yawned dramatically to make a point. “I get the picture. Slow.”
Karin threw a small accent pillow at her. “I think we can agree that we could all do with a change in our choices of men.”
“Don’t force me to mention a few of your former boyfriends, sweetie,” Erikka added.
“Ouch! I have no defense.” Hope gave a shudder. Then she gave Erikka an affectionate grin. “I’m happy for ya, babe. You deserve some good times.”
“I pledge to find a man with money who isn’t lying when he says he’ll leave his wife.” Hope held up her wineglass.
“Hope!” Karin pursed her lips in displeasure.
“Baby steps, girlfriend. Baby steps.” Hope gave her eyebrows a sassy wiggle.
“She’s right, Hope. Take this seriously. We all deserve better,” Erikka said.
“Okay, okay.” Hope swirled the wine around in her glass as she stared into it. “I pledge to find a man who is free to love me the way I should be loved,” she said softly.
“Hear, hear.” Karin went to her and gave Hope a hug. Then they both looked at Erikka.
Erikka cleared her throat. “I pledge to fill myself before I expect anyone else to complete me.”
“Deep.” Hope nodded. They sat in silence for a time, each with their own thoughts. “Let’s have some fun now. Enough of this important stuff. I say we go down to Rock N Bowl. It’s reggae night.”
“Yah, mon.” Karin took Erikka’s cup, loaded the tray, and started for the kitchen.
“Hey, wait a minute. We always end up acting crazy when we start groovin’ to reggae,” Erikka warned. The three women looked at each other for a second before all three grinned.
“Let’s do this thang!” Hope yelled. She jumped up and swung her hips in a sexy circle.
They spent the rest of their Saturday night like the old days, except with much less liquor. Erikka only felt a mild tug to order a drink. Habit, she mused. Still having a dry good time did not feel alien for a change. Even Hope limited herself to only one margarita. They danced and shouted encouragement to the five-piece band putting out the driving reggae rhythms. After one last song, the musicians took a break. Hope lingered on the dance floor laughing with a tall man with dreadlocks to his waist. Karin pursed her lips and let out a hiss.
“Oh-oh.” She nodded, and Erikka turned to look in that direction.
Vaughn came in with the same woman he’d been with at Deanie’s. The pretty duo struck a pose for effect. Erikka had to admit he was stunning in his Sean John white silk shirt. Dark green slacks hugged his hips and muscular thighs. She hung on to Vaughn for dear life. No wonder. A bevy of beautiful solo females circled him like hungry cats after the catch of the day. Vaughn laughed at the stir he had caused. His date was not amused.
“Watch this.” Erikka tossed down the last of her diet soda.
Karin put a hand on her arm. “Girl, don’t do it.”
Erikka patted Karin’s hand and winked at her. She checked the fit of her tight pants and smoothed down the matching blood red knit blouse. “He always did like me in this color.”
Hope came back to their table. “All right, let’s have a real throw down.” She flashed a gleeful grin at Karin who slumped down as though not wanting to be seen.
“It’s cool,” Erikka said over her shoulder as she left.
She fluffed her hair out as she approached Vaughn and his date. A handsome young man tried to get Erikka’s attention, but she just kept walking. Vaughn noticed her and licked his bottom lip. His eyes gleamed. His date seemed on the verge of spitting like an angry feline. Erikka walked up to Vaughn, looking into his eyes as though he were alone.
“Hi, Vaughn. I never thanked you for those beautiful flowers you sent. That was so thoughtful,” Erikka spoke in the sultriest voice she could muster.
&nb
sp; “Flowers? When?” His date yanked on his arm. When Vaughn shrugged without taking his eyes off Erikka, the woman strode off in a huff.
“Didn’t mean to upset your lady friend,” Erikka said with a brief glance at the woman. “Kind of clingy, isn’t she?”
“I’m sure she’ll get over it. Dayna is too touchy.” Vaughn didn’t bother to look in Dayna’s direction. “You’re looking good. Real good. I hear you’re making a comeback, baby girl. Sweet.”
“I’m doing okay.” Erikka affected false modesty. She brushed a lock of hair over one shoulder. “Julie is history already I see. You’re still at the top of your game.”
“Well, you know.” Vaughn flashed a smile that could launch female erotic fantasies. “We should get together sometime.”
“Oh? But you’ve been so busy.” Erikka lifted her chin.
He looked around as though making sure Dayna was out of earshot. ‘Truth is you’ve been on my mind. And I did try to call you that one time.”
“Yeah, that one time. You know what, Vaughn? I’m doing fine after going through some bad stuff. And since I did it without you, I think I’m gonna keep it that way.” Erikka flipped a hand to dismiss his offer to resume their affair.
“Look, sweetness you know how my business has taken off. Okay, I was missing in action for awhile but now I’m back.” Vaughn gave her a smoky head to toe glance.
“Remember that thing I do that you like so much,” he whispered.
Erikka did remember. In the past Erikka would have melted into a puddle at the thought of his tongue on her body. Looking at him now she felt not an ounce of temptation. “There was a time I didn’t think much of myself. I would have been dumb enough to make a date with you while you were out with another woman. Goodbye, Vaughn. I guess you’ll grow up one day. I have. I don’t date horny teenagers anymore.”
“Humph. You’ll call,” Vaughn shot back with a scowl.
“Hold your breath.” Erikka gave him a sassy grin as she walked back to her table. Karin and Hope leaned forward in anticipation. They started talking together.
“His date had smoke coming out of her ears,” Karin said.
“Honey, what did you say to Vaughn? He looks like somebody just keyed his Jaguar!” Hope burst out.
“Vaughn who?” Erikka beamed at her gaping friends. “Y’all want to order some hot wings?”
Chapter 13
Erikka was determined to see Terri before she drove back to Loreauville. She said goodbye to a sleepy Hope early that morning. Heading down Interstate 10, she took the Williams Boulevard exit. Twenty minutes later she buzzed Terri from the security gate. When she got no answer, Erikka buzzed a second, then a third, time.
“What.” Terri’s voice had a metallic twang through the speaker. “If this isn’t an emergency, somebody is going to be sorry.
“Hi, sunshine. It’s Erikka. I’ve got Gambino’s coffee cake just for you.” Erikka rattled the bag.
“That your way of apologizing?” Terri grumbled.
“You letting me in and making us both some coffee is your way of apologizing,” Erikka replied. A click was her answer. “Okay, I’m out.”
She shifted into reverse, but a car had pulled up behind her. The driver leaned on his horn. Erikka waved at him to be patient just as the electric gate retracted to let her in.
Minutes later she was at Terri’s front door. When it opened, Terri blinked at her through cigarette smoke.
“You have serious issues.” Terri shuffled back inside. She wore a pink lounge jumpsuit and fuzzy green socks.
“Sure. I was in the hospital with you.” Erikka shut the door with her foot and held up the bag of pastries.
“Get that away from me. I can’t eat before noon.” Terri went into the kitchen and banged around noisily, making coffee. “I hope you’re not going to ask me for that decaf crap.”
“The gracious hostess you’re not. What about herbal tea?” Erikka followed her. She peered into cabinets without asking.
“If you find it, you can have it. Haven’t touched that tasteless stuff since I broke up with my last boyfriend.” Terri put three heaping scoops of coffee into the filter. She assembled the coffeemaker and turned it on. When water burbled into the glass pot, she sighed. “Help is on the way.”
The kitchen was as much a mess as the rest of the condo. Terri seemed to think countertops were as good as cabinets for storage. Piles of dishes, some clean and most dirty, covered every surface. Frosted cornflakes littered the small breakfast table facing a bay window. Cups with the dried remains of coffee were stacked in the sink. Erikka picked her way through the chaos until she found a packet of orange spice herbal tea. She put a glass kettle of water on the stove to boil. After washing out a cup, she joined Terri in the living room.
“My girls are sorry about last night,” Erikka said.
Terri sat cross-legged in the middle of the large moss green sofa. “Yeah, well.”
“Hey, we’re going to hang out in another couple of weeks or so. Wanna come?” Erikka reached into the bag and broke off a piece of cinnamon pastry.
“I don’t think so.” Terri shook her head. She stubbed out the cigarette.
“I’m not just saying it. Karin and Hope really do want you to come. Hope says you’ve got a wild sense of humor.” Erikka looked at the phone just as it rang. When Terri picked it up she affected a casual expression.
“Hello? Hi, Karin. Yeah, she told me. That’s nice, but—” Terri glanced at Erikka, who shrugged. “Sure. I’ll see you then. Bye.”
“Was that my friend Karin?” Erikka tried to look surprised and failed.
“Like I don’t know you put her up to calling.” Terri brushed loose strands of hair from her eyes.
“She wanted to. I—” Erikka stopped when the phone rang again.
“Wonder who this could be?” Terri said with a lift of one eyebrow. She hit the button of her cordless again. “Why Hope, what a surprise. Yes, Karin told me. Okay, see ya.”
“They’re really good people. Karin is a sweetheart. And trust me; Hope wouldn’t call if she really didn’t want to be bothered.” Erikka ate a small piece of cinnamon cake.
“Okay, I’m convinced.” Terri’s tense frown eased into a more relaxed expression. “So maybe I was a little wired last night.”
“Uh, yeah,” Erikka replied.
“I know what you’re thinking. You have the same expression that damn social worker had in the hospital.” Terri stabbed a forefinger at her, then stood and went to the kitchen.
Erikka followed her. “Lord, no. Let me fix my face right now. I’m not trying to judge you, girl. I just want you to be okay.” The kettle whistled as the water came to a boil.
“You’re really gonna drink that stuff?” Terri frowned as she looked at the tea bag.
Erikka inhaled the aroma of dark rich coffee. “I’m trying to cut back on all kinds of stimulants, but—”
“Hell, don’t get fanatical about it.” Terri dumped the tea bag into the garbage can and poured both cups full of coffee.
“I’m so easily tempted.” Erikka loaded up on sugar and real cream from Terri’s refrigerator.
“You know our parents had it good. They drank, partied, and screwed without thinking about dying. These days you choose the wrong man, and you could wind up taking twenty pills to stay alive. Man, the seventies. Now those were the days.” Terri drank deeply from her cup.
“I have plenty of friends with parents in and out of rehab. Besides, all their ‘good times’ maybe got us in this fix. Ever think about that?” Erikka went back to the living room for more pastry to go with her coffee.
“The sixties?” Terri followed her and sat down carefully, watching her cup to keep from spilling.
“Free love and lots of drugs. Broken homes and kids that grew up feeling abandoned,” Erikka said as she sat down.
“The fifties?” Terri tried again.
“Sex on the backseat, hypocrisy and ‘whites only’ toilets. I don’t think so.” E
rikka shook her head.
“You sure know how to mess up a person’s attempt to escape reality,” Terri wisecracked.
“Therapy does that to ya,” Erikka tossed back.
“My grandparents are always going on about how nice things were before everybody got so sensitive.” Terri gave a short laugh. “Which means they liked having cheap labor because the system blocked opportunities for minorities.”
Erikka laughed with her. Terri had grown up in the Garden District where “Americans” lived, as opposed to the old Creole families descended from French and Spanish ancestors. Neither group had a monopoly on snobbery.
“I hear you. But I’ll bet they’re not all that bad.” Erikka licked icing from her fingers.
“Not a mean bone in their patrician bodies. Just how they grew up. Same for my parents, I suppose. Not bad, just clueless.” Terri looked down into her cup. “I haven’t made life easy for them.”
“They love you, Terri,” Erikka said.
“Maybe. They just don’t like me very much. Neither do I most of the time,” Terri whispered. A tear slid down one cheek. She wiped at it hard with the back of her hand.
They sat without talking. Terri swallowing hard, sniffling, and rubbing her eyes while Erikka fidgeted. Erikka searched for some way to reassure her and found nothing. Erikka watched the wheels turning in Terri’s head. She knew the drill. First you cry and feel sorry for yourself. Then you say, “Fuck ’em,” and go on another self-destruct mission. If Erikka didn’t do something, Terri would have her convinced life was a pointless hell, so why not party?
“Stay another night and hang out. Tip’s has a band rocking the house,” Terri said on cue. She dried one last tear and threw the tissue on the floor.
Definitely time to hit the road. “Gotta work tomorrow. I just came by to extend the olive branch and invitation.” Erikka stood.
“That part-time stuff can wait. You set your own hours. Let’s blow these blues with a good time.” Terri seemed ready to kick-start into high gear again.
Erikka resisted temptation. She stood and jingled her car keys. “Nope. I’m Ms. Dependable these days. Listen, you’re welcome to visit me for peace and quiet. Helps to get away sometimes. And trust me; all I can offer you in Loreauville is peace and quiet.”
