by Emery, Lynn
“Bravo, Erikka. I have to admit reservations on this one, but Gabriel is nice. I can tell,” Roz announced, with a nod. She moved quickly to check on the chicken turning in a large rotisserie oven.
“Agreed. You get the Jaci seal of approval on this one, girl,” Jaci chimed in with a smile. “He’s style and substance.”
“Well, that is a load off my mind,” Erikka shot back with a laugh. “You know I wouldn’t keep dating any guy if you two weren’t happy.”
“Such a smart mouth,” Roz said over her shoulder, without pausing in her tasks. “You know what we mean.”
“The success of any relationship improves if the families are on board,” Jaci put in. “Research shows—”
“Thanks, Jaci. No lectures tonight, please,” Erikka broke in.
“Couples whose families get along last longer on average,” Jaci continued with a smirk. “That’s it. I won’t cite statistics.”
“Hallelujah.” Erikka lifted both arms and gazed up. She laughed again when Jaci playfully bumped into her.
“Studies my aunt Fannie,” Roz said with a snort. “Good old-fashioned common sense says a marriage does better without family tension. Don’t get me started on Craig’s mother.”
“No, we don’t want you started in on my sweet grand-mama,” Jaci said with emphasis. “Not to mention how it sets Daddy’s teeth on edge.”
“Roz, don’t start anything,” Erikka added. Both of them gazed at their mother with frowns.
Roz turned around with a smile. “I would never do anything to spoil dinner for our guest. Now, you two get Gabriel settled in the dining room. Craig and I will bring in the food. Send your daddy in to help me.”
“Fine with me.” Jaci scurried out. Kitchen duty had always been her least favorite chore.
Erikka lingered. “Roz, I think it’s fabulous that you and Daddy are together.”
“Thank you, sweetie. I knew Craig would realize what a mistake he’d made. He thought no one would want me. Well, I showed him.” Roz wore a satisfied grin.
“Making or breaking a marriage takes two,” Erikka mumbled as she turned to leave.
“I didn’t hear you, baby.” Roz hummed a tune as she took the chicken out of the rotisserie.
“Nothing. I’m happy for you both,” Erikka said louder.
“The food smells wonderful. Amazing that your mother is cooking. I was prepared to take us all out to eat.” Craig rested an arm around Erikka’s shoulders.
“Surprised you in more ways than one in the last few months,” Roz tossed back.
Craig’s genial expression stiffened. “Yes, you did. And not all of them were pleasant surprises either.”
“Shock therapy can be effective,” Roz replied. She glanced at him with one eyebrow lifted. “You take the chicken out, and I’ll bring the other serving bowls.”
“I’ll get the rolls. They look delicious, too.” Erikka chattered on to head off an argument. Her stepfather sighed and walked out with the large platter.
The rest of dinner went just fine. Erikka picked at her food as she kept an eye on her parents. Thankfully, Jaci seemed unaware of the tension. She launched into a spirited description of her thesis subject. For once Erikka didn’t complain. Even a tedious discussion of Jaci’s research was a welcome distraction. Roz continued to shine as she told funny stories. Craig managed to join in the laughter. By dessert time Erikka would have sworn that the hostile kitchen exchange between her parents had never happened. When Craig suggested they go to the den, all seemed well. Craig really loosened up when Gabriel complimented his collection of vintage blues recordings. Roz recruited Jaci to help her load the dishwasher. When they hadn’t returned after fifteen minutes, Erikka went looking for them.
“All I’m saying is you shouldn’t have an attitude with Daddy, Mother. You both made mistakes.” Jaci swiped at the countertop with a damp cloth.
“I’m a grown-ass woman, Jaci. Don’t even try to lecture me on men and how to handle my business,” Roz snipped at her.
“You almost threw away twenty-two years for a fling. Daddy was heartbroken,” Jaci lectured.
“Sure he was. Craig was so upset he probably paused five seconds before he called his woman. Stay out of what you don’t know about, Jaci,” Roz shot back.
“Roz, please. Just one more hour,” Erikka pleaded. “Let me at least get Gabriel out of here. Then you can create all the drama you want.”
“Me? Talk to your sister and Craig. Honestly, I’m so sick of everyone placing all of the blame on me. Craig doesn’t walk with the angels, my dears.” Roz wrapped the remaining chicken neatly in plastic wrap and placed the platter in the refrigerator.
“Thirty more minutes. That’s all I’m asking. I’ll beg on my knees if that will help.” Erikka waved both arms.
“Subject closed.” Roz wiped her hands on a paper towel. “I didn’t bring it up anyway.”
“You have been shooting digs at Daddy since—” Jaci stopped when Erikka scowled at her. “Let’s take the coffee in, Erikka.”
Erikka and Gabriel ended up staying for another two hours. Roz, Craig, and Jaci pulled off a masterful performance as an idyllic family. Erikka glanced back at her parents waving goodbye as they drove away.
“Whew. We got through without a scene,” Erikka said, and sagged against the leather seat of her car.
Gabriel turned down Williams Boulevard toward New Orleans. “You mean as opposed to my nightmare family dinner.”
“Be glad you weren’t in the kitchen,” she replied.
“Oh?” Gabriel gave her a curious look.
“The honeymoon is definitely over for those two. Don’t be surprised if the cease-fire between Roz and Craig breaks down soon. Roz is gloating that she made Craig realize he was wrong. Craig thinks otherwise. The peace won’t hold much longer.” Erikka rubbed her temples to massage away a headache.
Gabriel stopped at a red light and turned to her. “Pretty bad back there, huh?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“They did a good job of covering it up. Hey, maybe that’s just their way of working through the kinks.” Erikka thought of how familiar the bitter tone between them sounded and shook her head. “No, honey. Not much has changed, I’m afraid.”
‘Tell you what. Let’s go for a stroll on the Riverwalk. That should end this night on a better note.” Gabriel brushed her cheek with his hand, and then drove on when the light turned green.
“Okay.” Erikka smiled at him. “In fact, I have an idea myself. If you don’t mind driving home in the morning, that is.”
Gabriel reached over and touched her face again. “I don’t mind at all.”
They did take a stroll through the French Quarter, then along the Mississippi River. Crowds of people had the same idea. Gabriel made her laugh until Erikka stopped thinking about Roz and Craig. Afterward, they found a room in a hotel on St. Charles Avenue. The night ended on a much better note indeed, in Gabriel’s arms.
***
Darlene twisted her hands together. Her relationship with Brandon had finally started to improve. She couldn’t predict how he’d react to this news. The deputy sheriff had assured Darlene that one clerk had identified LaTrice as having presented a check for office supplies. Darlene had never liked LaTrice, but the reality that her grandchild’s mother was a thief had been a blow. LaTrice had been arrested at the center only a few minutes before. Darlene called Brandon immediately and asked him to leave work early. She wanted to break the news to him first. The knock on her office door made her jump.
“Come in,” Darlene called out, and tried to steady the trembling in her voice.
“Hi.”
She looked at Kelvin for several moments as though trying to recognize him. “Hello,” she said finally.
“Can I come in?” Kelvin stood halfway in the door with one foot out in the hallway.
“Yeah, sure. You’re a board member after all,” Darlene replied flatly once she’d recovered.
Kelvin glanced over his s
houlder, and then came in. He shut the door gingerly as though not wanting to make noise that might attract attention. He rubbed his top lip twice before he spoke.
“How are you holding up?” Kelvin started off. He waved a hand at nothing in particular.
“As good as can be expected given what I’m going through.” Darlene looked at him until he coughed as though clearing his throat. Get your lie straight.
“Look, uh, I just wanna say I told them you wouldn’t steal money. But you know my situation. I couldn’t be accused of showing favoritism. I was catching hell at home as it was, cause we were meeting I mean.”
“Yeah.” Darlene showed no emotion.
He seemed to take her lack of overt hostility as a good sign. Kelvin sat down in the chair facing her desk and crossed his long legs. “Carolyn is—well you know.”
“Hmm.” Darlene pursed her Ups and folded her hands on the desktop.
“Okay, I punked out on you. A real man would have stood up. Guess I was thinking about my kids. It’s hard, baby, when your children turn against you.” Kelvin let out a slow breath. “My youngest was asking me questions. He’s seventeen going on thirty-five, like most of these teenagers today. Well, you know how Brandon has been acting.”
Darlene let out a gust of air. “I sure do. And it will get worse just when our relationship was getting better. His live-in girlfriend stole the checks. I suspected something when I found out she kept volunteering to work late all the time. Carmel was delighted to have the help, so I didn’t say anything. The deputy said they have a lead on a pawnshop in Lafayette where she might have sold some stuff. They arrested her a few moments ago. Thank God most of our people were gone.”
“Damn, this is great news, baby!” Kelvin grinned widely.
“I’m hoping she’ll cooperate in exchange for a reduced sentence. The faster we get this over, the better it will be for everyone.” Darlene looked at him.
“It’s way too late for that. Look, these folks are out for blood. Your blood, honey. Mine, too. Much longer, and they would have been saying we stole that money.” Kelvin stood up. “We’re both in the clear.”
“Brandon is crazy for this girl. She’s the mother of his child. I know people will find out, but if I can do anything to limit her exposure to public anger, I will. The deputies agreed to book her at their station near New Iberia. Not too many people from town should find out that way.” Darlene rubbed her eyes.
“You baby Brandon way too much. That’s why he’s like he is today. You’ve been cleaning up his messes for years. Now you gonna cover up for his woman, too? We need to make her an example. People are going to talk if we don’t,” Kelvin argued.
“No, Kelvin. The rest of the board will understand.”
“I’ve got a lot at stake here, too. Folks are pretty mad about the center having to cut back. And let’s not forget that I have a responsibility to the board and the community.”
“You. Everything comes back to what you want, how you’ll be affected. You’re one selfish man. You know that?” Darlene stared at him hard.
Kelvin blinked back at her for several seconds, and then sighed. He sank into the chair again, rubbing his forehead. “I don’t deserve it, but please forgive me. This whole situation forced me to have a tough talk with Carolyn. Things were said neither of us can take back.”
“You told her about us, our plans?” Darlene sat up in shock.
“She’s on notice that things will need to change.” Kelvin nodded slowly as though he had made a definite move.
Darlene’s spark of hope fizzled. She shouldn’t have expected more. He wouldn’t turn his life upside down. Never mind that her world was like a big bomb with a short fuse.
“You want it all. I guess you’ll have it if I keep being a fool,” Darlene said with bitterness.
“Come on, baby. We talked about how hard this would be on me. I mean, for both of us,” Kelvin added quickly, when Darlene let out a scornful laugh.
“I don’t think this has been hard for you, Kelvin. You got to keep your family and me. I didn’t get much of anything except a few hours of your time every few days. Your son will graduate soon. Why not tell Carolyn you want a divorce now?” Darlene watched him squirm.
“Baby, you know Carolyn and I have been leading separate lives for years. You don’t have to be jealous of my marriage.” Kelvin wiped sweat from his brow with one hand.
“In other words, you want me to keep sneaking around with you. Is that it?” Darlene pressed. She wanted him to tell her she was wrong.
“Don’t make it sound so—” Kelvin frowned.
“Sordid? Low-down? Sleazy? Well, that’s how it feels. I made up this romantic image of us as star-crossed lovers, with your wife as the villain keeping us apart. But Carolyn isn’t standing between us, Kelvin. You are. You have no interest in leaving your comfortable life. Get out of my office.” Darlene pointed to the door as though he needed directions.
“Look, you’ve been stressed to the limit. I’m not going to take anything you say to heart, baby. Just relax, and I’ll call you in a day or so.” Kelvin stood. “Once you get through this predicament, you’ll feel like yourself again.”
“I’m back to myself for the first time in over a year. I won’t change my mind about us. It’s over. Now please leave.”
“Sugar, you don’t know what you’re saying.”
“Yes I do. Don’t waste time calling in a day, week, month, or year. I won’t change my mind.” Darlene stopped when she heard a knock on her door. Brandon hurried in with a frown.
“Mama, you okay? I came over soon as I could. I looked for LaTrice, but Miz Carmel just told me to see you. Nothing happened to her, did it?”
“Hey, Brandon.” Kelvin stuck out a hand Brandon seemed to notice him for the first time. He ignored Kelvin’s offer of a handshake. “Hi.”
“I’m leaving, so you two can talk. Goodbye.” Kelvin cleared his throat and glanced at Darlene. “I’ll be in touch.”
Darlene didn’t answer him. “Hi, baby. You better sit down.”
Brandon looked at the office door until it closed behind Kelvin. Only then did he sit down. “What’s up, Mama?”
“You know the Sheriff’s Office has been investigating the missing money.” Darlene started off. She pushed Kelvin from her thoughts and concentrated on her son.
“Sure I do.” Brandon sat very still.
“I hate to tell you this, sweetheart. There’s no way to make it sound good. LaTrice was the one who stole the money. An eyewitness identified her. The office supply clerks just thought Carmel had sent her over with the check in an envelope,” Darlene said in a rush. “I didn’t tell them to suspect her. I really didn’t.”
“Yeah,” Brandon said his tone flat. He stared down at the floor.
“I’m telling the truth. I gave the deputies a copy of employee files with photos as part of the investigation. It’s standard procedure. They showed the pictures around. Mine, too,” Darlene went on.
“Damn.” Brandon pulled a hand down over his face. “I knew something was funny.”
“Honey, I didn’t—”
“It’s okay, Mama. I’m not blaming you. LaTrice told me she left Walmart because her supervisor was mean.” Brandon shook his head. “I found out later they let her resign to avoid being fired.”
“She’s been arrested before?” Darlene walked over and sat next to him.
“No. They couldn’t prove she had anything to do with missing merchandise in her department. I tried to pretend to believe her. But once you live with somebody, see all sides of ’em twenty-four seven …” Brandon looked at Darlene with a sad expression.
“I’m so sorry, son. I’m going to work with the district attorney and ask them to give her probation. But she has to cooperate.”
Darlene placed a hand over his large one. She thought of how Brandon used to grip her hand when he was just a little boy. She wanted to make everything all right. Back then his biggest problem was a broken toy. Brandon
sat straight, and she saw the man he’d become. He did not look to Darlene for answers.
“I appreciate it, Mama. LaTrice is gonna cooperate. She needs to own up to what she’s done. I’ll find out how much her bail is. I hope to get her home so the kids won’t miss her and know something is wrong.” Brandon stood up.
“They took her to the New Iberia sheriff’s station. You okay, baby?” Darlene hugged the muscular body so un-like the soft baby she’d brought home from the hospital almost twenty years ago.
Brandon hugged her back to reassure her. “I’m gonna make it, Mama. I’ll call you tonight.”
“Be sure you do. And come by anytime you want to talk.” Darlene let go of him. He nodded and left with his head held high.
Darlene’s secretary stuck her head in the door a few moments later. “Just checking on you. Brandon looks like he’s got the world on his young shoulders. Sure hope he makes it through this okay.”
Darlene thought about her older son in a new way. Brandon made no excuses. He would do what he could to stand by LaTrice, of that she was sure. Brandon had grown up more than even Darlene had realized.
“I have no doubt Brandon is going to do just fine whatever happens,” Darlene said.
***
Erikka turned around in a circle, enjoying the look of her loft apartment. Making the move had been easy. The second floor of an old warehouse, the creaks and squeaks at night had bothered her at first. Her new landlady had assured her the wood was just settling and the noises weren’t mice. Not that Erikka cared. Having her own living space again was worth sharing it with a few pets, she mused. Unlike her previous homes, she’d decorated in keeping with the antique feel of the neighborhood. No modern glass and funky urban sofa this time. She’d scoured shops along Magazine Street for vintage furniture. A thump in the bedroom reminded her she wasn’t alone. Gabriel came out slapping dust from his hands. He’d helped her move the heavy furniture the way she wanted after the deliverymen left.
