Good Woman Blues

by Emery, Lynn

  Erikka watched Darlene continue to act as though her heart wasn’t breaking. She went out to the parking lot. Gabriel leaned against his truck.

  “Follow me to Darlene’s, and we’ll ride together.” Erikka was not feeling the need to be alone. Sitting next to him even on a short drive would be a balm to her jangled nerves.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Anywhere we can have something tall and cold,” Erikka said, and went to her car.

  The short drive to Darlene’s house took only fifteen minutes. Erikka parked her car, and then climbed into the cab of his Dodge truck. They went to a small seafood caf6. A waitress showed them to a booth with red vinyl seats and a view through a wide floor-to-ceiling window. With two lemonades ordered, they exchanged a glance and sighed at the same time.

  “Some night,” Gabriel said.

  “Was that the first time you’ve spoken to a member of Ricky’s family since—it happened?” Erikka said quietly.

  “Since I got back, yeah.” Gabriel wore a thoughtful expression for several minutes.

  Erikka decided to let him turn over the encounter in silence. He seemed too composed, but Erikka did not push him to talk. The waitress came back with two tall glasses of icy lemonade with straws. When she offered to add a dash of strawberry syrup, both agreed. Erikka drank first, with the kind of quick gulp she’d used when downing a cocktail. Not the same, but at least she wasn’t thirsty. She added more sugar.

  “Hmm, now that’s good.” Erikka drank until half of the lemonade was gone.

  Gabriel shook his head. He took a small sip through his straw. “Rough day at the office, huh?”

  “You could say that. Some relationships are like land mines. One wrong step and boom.” Erikka swirled around the ice in her glass.

  “Interesting analogy. Care to explain?” Gabriel sat back in a listening pose, arms crossed.

  “I can trust you.”

  “Glad you think so. Considering how close we’ve become. Or maybe you’re still working on it?” Gabriel sat forward.

  “Let’s get into that issue a little later,” Erikka said, and blushed at the steady gaze from his striking eyes. “Anyway, my aunt is hooked on someone who is unavailable. Looks like he plans to stay that way even though she thinks otherwise. I think he likes playing and still being able to go home to his wife at the end of the day.”

  “A lot of married men do.” Gabriel drank more lemonade and waited.

  “The dogs. Okay, okay. I see the look. Women know what they’re getting into,” Erikka said.

  “For the most part,” Gabriel replied with a nod.

  “This gets worse. I saw him with another woman, not his wife either.” Erikka let out air as though she were a balloon. “Thank God I can finally tell somebody.”

  “What about telling your—”

  “My mother? Do I look crazy? Don’t say it,” she added quickly, when an impish gleam lit his eyes.

  “I wasn’t going to make such an obvious joke.” Gabriel’s full mouth twitched up in a hint of a grin.

  “Sure you weren’t. Anyway, Roz and my stepfather are having problems. She’s got her own troubles. My cousin Monique can’t keep a secret from her mother. Aunt JoAnn is a one-woman daily news network.” Erikka gave a grunt, thinking about her family.

  “So, you’re going to tell Darlene that this guy is cheating on her, and his wife.” Gabriel made the statement as though sure of Erikka’s decision.

  “I may not have to,” Erikka said, relief coursing through her veins. “He pretty much dumped her already. He hasn’t called in weeks. At the meeting, he sort of hinted that it was over, in a roundabout way of course.”

  “But they could get back together,” he said with a lift of one shoulder.

  “Thanks for kicking down my sand castle,” Erikka retorted. She winced because he was right. Darlene would probably take Kelvin back in a heartbeat.

  “Sorry you’re all tied up about your family. You can’t fix things, though.” Gabriel put a hand over hers.

  “I know.”

  “They’re grown-ups. In fact, they’ve got more experience than we do,” Gabriel added.

  “Not that years add wisdom. You’re right. I just need to be supportive.” Erikka tapped her right foot beneath the table.

  “Right.” Gabriel watched her for a few moments.

  Erikka glanced at him, and then concentrated on the lemonade left in her glass. She started thinking about herself and past affairs. Suddenly Erikka doubted her decisions of the past few weeks. What was she doing there? What did she really know about Gabriel? Lord knows she’d been wrong before. Spectacularly wrong. Not just about the men but about her reasons for being with them. Gabriel put both hands on her forearms, which rested on the blue Formica tabletop. Erikka looked into his eyes. Gabriel’s touch was all warm reassurance.

  “Let’s go to my house. I’ve been wanting to be close to you all day. I’m not talking about sex either,” he said quietly.

  Erikka breathed hard. She wanted him, too. And she was thinking about the sex. The sensation of him entering her was a magical experience. Gabriel always gave a wonderful sigh as their bodies settled together. As though he’d come home inside her. Erikka felt it, too. Her fear of being alone had vanished with him. Unlike before, the fear hadn’t come back once their bodies separated. He’d just reminded her of that. She pressed her right palm to his cheek.

  “Yes.” Erikka smiled.

  ***

  Two days later Erikka entered her old office building in New Orleans. The sumptuous lobby hadn’t changed. She smiled at the security person as she approached the desk to sign in.

  “What’s up, Roni?” Erikka shook hands with her.

  “Same old same old. Gotta get back on the right path. I miss my gym buddy. You comin’ back?” Roni grinned back at her. “You’re to blame for my butt spreadin’ so wide in the past few months.”

  “Nothing is keeping you from the treadmill,” Erikka tossed back.

  “You give me motivation. We could gossip, talk politics. Girl, wait till you hear what my crazy mama did this time. Think you got mama drama?” Roni pointed at her. “You’ll never top this.”

  Erikka laughed. Roni was a year younger than she. Though on the surface they seemed to come from different worlds, they’d connected in true New Orleans fashion. Roni had managed to pull herself out of a dangerous public housing project. She was public school to Erikka’s private school, but they had become pals.

  “I should be through in an hour or so. You still break for lunch at eleven-thirty?” Erikka could find out about Roni’s mother and get the scoop on goings-on at her firm. Roni had a nose for news.

  “My new relief guy is always on time. Told you they’d fire Carl sooner or later. Girl, we got to talk.” Roni slapped the desktop for emphasis.

  “Don’t you move without me. I’ll be back to get all the dirt,” Erikka promised.

  The elevator ride to the fourth floor brought back the rush of being in charge. Plush carpet in a fern green and red pattern complemented the dark wood. Erikka pushed through glass double doors with gold lettering, doors she’d been convinced would bear her name one day. Nadine Lewis, dressed in a navy skirt and lime green silk blouse, stood at the wide reception desk.

  “What do you mean the freaking package didn’t arrive? I’m going to sue that damn courier service,” Nadine hissed at the cringing receptionist.

  “Ye-es, ma’am. I could call them again.” The trembling young redhead reached for the phone.

  “You do that, Misty. Call right now,” Nadine said in a silky low tone Erikka knew so well. That particular voice meant heads would roll if Nadine didn’t get the answer she wanted.

  Those weeks in the boonies must have done Erikka good. She did not feel like putting off their meeting. This despite the fact that Nadine had used that same tone with her the last time they’d met. Today was different though. Nadine had called her three days ago saying she needed help with a big client. Erik
ka might have made mistakes, but she had helped her bosses look good more than once.

  Better still, Erikka had an ace up her sleeve. The other young associates didn’t have her experience or contacts. Dating Vaughn had paid off for something at least. He’d introduced her to a lot of helpful people. Erikka guessed Nadine must really be in a bind. She’d find out soon enough.

  “Erikka, give me ten minutes. I have one last phone call to make, but it won’t take long.” Nadine brushed her cheek against Erikka’s and strode off.

  “Hi, Erikka. You look fabulous, as usual.” Jarvis winked and gave a thumbs-up signal.

  “Thanks, big guy.” Erikka grinned. She turned to Laurie.

  “Hello, Erikka. You do look good. Living out in the country agrees with you.” Laurie wore a restrained smile.

  “It was a nice break.” Erikka felt her scalp prickle. Laurie’s gray-green eyes had a predatory glint that she recognized all too well.

  “We could all use that kind of break.”

  “I hope you get one just like it real soon then,” Erikka said with a smile.

  Laurie bared her teeth even more. “A long weekend is enough to refresh me. Visiting?”

  “At Nadine’s invitation.” Erikka watched that sink in. She could almost hear Laurie’s mind working.

  “Well, isn’t that nice. Better get back to work. I’m on the Glendale account now. Keeps me busy, but then you should know.” Laurie seemed to look for reaction.

  Erikka did not flinch. The Glendale account had been her prize after two years of paying dues. The large office supply company had expanded to five regional stores. She’d helped them land an account with three state agencies. Laurie was living off Erikka’s glory and wanted to rub it in.

  “Have a good day,” Erikka replied dryly. Laurie gave her a flip of the hand before she strolled down the hall. Jarvis and Misty exhaled in unison.

  “I better go, too, before Nadine cracks the whip. We need you in the big NO. So stop playing around and get your fine behind back here.”

  “Thanks.” Erikka grinned at him.

  The phone on Misty’s desk buzzed. She picked it up. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll tell her. Ms. Lewis says go on back.”

  Erikka adjusted the Coach purse on her shoulder, glanced down at herself, and headed for Nadine’s office. Jarvis and Misty gave her encouraging smiles. Suddenly Erikka felt a blast of anxiety like ice water pouring through her. Nadine would eat her own young if they screwed up. Erikka battled her twin enemies, fear and doubt as she walked into Nadine’s office. Before she could knock, Nadine called out through the closed door.

  “Just come on in.”

  Erikka winced. Nadine calculated everything in numbers. The woman knew how many seconds it took Misty to walk from the reception area to Nadine’s office. She had her commute figured for all kinds of traffic conditions. Why in the world had she stuck with this lunatic outfit anyway?

  Erikka pushed through the carved French antique door. A sumptuous oriental carpet in jewel tones covered the floor. Vintage office furniture filled Nadine’s suite. The scent of freshly brewed coffee, Nadine’s own gourmet blend, wafted from a small serving area. A pot of hot water and a variety of teas sat on the opposite end of it. Various sweeteners and flavored creams surrounded glazed cups.

  “Come, pour a cup and sit.” Nadine waved one hand toward the long credenza. She flipped through a few pages of a thick report, and then closed it.

  Erikka fixed a cup of coffee and steadied her nerves. She walked to one of two dark blue chairs facing Nadine’s wide desk. Buttery soft leather cushioned Erikka as she sank down. Ah, home, sweet, home. Nadine’s thin lips stretched into a feline smile.

  “You look marvelous, dear.” Nadine sat in the executive chair like a monarch, head up and chin out.

  “Thanks. I suppose everything happens for a reason,” Erikka said politely. She put her purse on the floor near her feet.

  “As dreadful as that whole experience was, you needed the rest. I can see that now.” Nadine nodded as though she’d uttered great wisdom.

  “Next time I’ll just take the usual vacation,” Erikka replied. “Less traumatic, you know.”

  Nadine pressed her lips together for a few seconds, and then barked out a laugh. “You’re right. Oh, hell, let’s get real.” She stood, came around the desk, and sat in the chair next to Erikka.

  “Uh, okay.” Erikka wasn’t sure what to make of this, but she would go along.

  “Look, we’ve all had our versions of a major personal pileup on the highway of life. Ten years ago my husband ran off with our secretary and half the business I’d helped build. The little bottle blond bitch,” she said with venom.

  “You’ve done very well,” Erikka said, to ease her toward the point of this visit. She didn’t want Nadine to lapse into a tirade about her ex and his trophy wife. They could be here for hours.

  “Damn right. But not before I took a nasty detour to a very dark place. No shame in needing help. The Hellinger Clinic saved my life.” Nadine gave a sharp nod.

  Erikka knew that the expensive hospital in Texas resembled an exclusive spa more than a psycho ward. Still, she nodded as though they were blood sisters. “I know what you mean. I needed a wake-up call.”

  “Exactly. How are you?” Nadine’s pointed blue gaze settled on her.

  “Not too worse for wear. Like the old saying goes, a little bent but not broken.” Erikka gave her a gutsy smile.

  “Good for you! I told Bill and Darryl you would make a comeback,” she said, referring to her partners.

  “I’m not the same. Better, I hope.” Erikka got excited, knowing the partners had discussed her.

  “I’m sure you are.” Nadine went back to her desk and sat down, a signal their sharing sisterhood was over. She was all business now. “After much discussion all three partners have agreed. Your old job is yours if you want it.” “Why now?” Erikka said bluntly. “A few weeks ago you were more than happy to write me off.”

  Nadine’s smile tightened as she struggled to keep her kindly big sister facade in place. “I moved a bit too fast. And a couple of clients asked for you.”

  “But you have Laurie. She’s handling the Glendale account for one.” Erikka wasn’t going to let her off that easy.

  “Ah, not to everyone’s satisfaction,” Nadine clipped. “Plus we’ve got three tax audits to handle, an important new client, and not enough help around here.”

  “So, Mr. Brinkhaus and Calder suggested we meet?” Erikka suppressed a smile when Nadine winced. Jackpot. The other partners probably told Nadine she’d been too quick to fire a seasoned staff person.

  “We all agreed,” Nadine insisted. “We’re offering your old job back with a raise.”

  Erikka blinked hard. Until Nadine actually said it, Erikka hadn’t really believed it could happen. She felt stunned with joy. She would once again dwell in the rarefied atmosphere of Lewis, Calder and Brinkhaus. They wanted her. She would rise from the ashes and laugh in the faces of those who had been delighted at her downfall.

  Nadine sat forward with her hands folded on the desk. She wore a solemn expression. “I know what you’re thinking. Why should you want to come here? We weren’t as understanding as we could have been.”

  “I put you all in a bad position. My work may have suffered somewhat.” Erikka’s thoughts whizzed by memories of missed meetings and deadlines. Instead she thought about her old office. She’d had a view down St. Peter Street. Lunches in the Quarter. Crunching numbers for the elite.

  “Which never caused us major problems. You always came through despite your personal pain,” Nadine said, in a voice full of empathy.

  Erikka felt disoriented. This kinder, gentler Nadine totally threw her off. Then she went with it. “I don’t know what to say. Of course I’m gratified that the partners would give me another chance.”

  “This isn’t a charity offer, Erikka. You did good things for this firm.” Nadine rose. “I’m sure you need a few days to consider.”


  “I’m not reluctant to come back. It’s just I have to find an apartment, get my things out of storage—” Erikka broke off. Right. She’d also need to replace furniture that had been repossessed. Not to mention juggle community service hours somehow. Her head spun at all the details of moving.

  “My friend has a restored apartment in the warehouse district. I’m sure she’d lease it to you at a reasonable price. Of course it still needs work.” Nadine lifted a shoulder.

  “Those fabulous new lofts not far from the art district? My Lord.” Erikka gave up her cool fa9ade. She’d walked into a super lotto jackpot comeback.

  “Here’s her number. Can you start in two weeks?”

  “I’ll call you.” Erikka took the slip of paper from Nadine’s tapered fingers. She floated out of the fancy comer office on a cloud. Somehow she found herself back in the downstairs lobby.

  “You back?” Roni asked when Erikka walked toward the front door.

  “Yeah,” she replied, in a muffled dazed voice. Erikka still held the piece of paper in her hand as she headed out.

  “Hey, girl, what about our lunch date?” Roni yelled at her.

  “No time today. I’ve got a lot to do.” Erikka stopped and let the glorious reality seep into her. She put on her designer sunglasses, and then smiled at the world. “I am indeed back.”

  Chapter 15

  Gabriel hummed along with the music as he worked. Sunlight slanted through the windows in his shop. Wood dust danced on the beams of sunshine as he put the finishing touches on a bench. Satisfied with each detail, he prepared to fit the legs into the replica of a nineteenth-century country church pew. He’d added a light varnish, and then rubbed it to make the wood look distressed. Fitted pegs instead of nails would make the piece even more authentic. He loved each phase of creating, including the historical research. Gabriel started to hum another tune and laughed. Shaking his head, he set the finished bench on all four legs. Examining it from all sides, Gabriel nodded. As he took off his safety goggles, a clapping sound made him spin around.

  “Another masterpiece,” his father said with a grin as he applauded.