Good Woman Blues

by Emery, Lynn

  “Got your new bed all set up. You made a great choice.” Gabriel had hardly broken a sweat despite his hard work.

  “Thanks, baby. I love everything.” Erikka ran her fingers over the plush fabric of her new sofa. With Gabriel’s guidance she’d found affordable pieces for every room.

  “You made the selections, I just suggested. You’re a pretty good bargain hunter.”

  “Having a man with friends in the antique business didn’t hurt.” Erikka gave him a light kiss on the cheek.

  Gabriel’s brown eyes lit up with pleasure. “Glad I could finally do something for you. When I refinish your table and chairs they’ll look great.” He walked around the weathered oak dining room set. He studied the wood, ran his fingers along the surface.

  “You fixed two leaky faucets, painted the extra bedroom walls and hung my ceiling fan. Is there anything you can’t do?” Erikka hugged him from behind. She liked the musky man scent of sweaty skin and denim.

  He turned around in the circle of her embrace to face her. “A lot. I wish I could fix this whole work mess for you.” His strong fingers brushed a wisp of hair from her eyes.

  Erikka sighed and rested her forehead on his chest. They’d gone all day without mentioning her job. “It felt so good to get away from it for a while.”

  “What’s going to happen next?” Gabriel asked in a quiet voice.

  “I gave Terri copies of everything I did related to Layton. She says expect the worst based on what has come out about Transome and that company so far. But I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “You didn’t need to tell me that,” Gabriel said.

  “I know.” Erikka needed to say it out loud though. She kept thinking of that woman and her child.

  “Okay, let’s not even get into it. This is a good day. You finished your community service,” Gabriel said with a smile.

  “Yippee!” Erikka threw up both arms.

  “Just got a slammin’ apartment,” he continued.

  “Thank you, Lord.” Erikka laughed. “Much as I love Hope, living with her had lost its charm.”

  “And your career is looking up; in spite of you-know- what.” Gabriel swayed with her as though they were dancing to their favorite song.

  Erikka moved with him. “You left out the most important thing. I’m sharing the good times with you.”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” he said and kissed the tip of her nose. “Dinner at Copeland’s?”

  “That’s an inspired suggestion. I get the shower first, my apartment you know.” Erikka let go of him and stepped back.

  “Ah, man. You’re gonna use up all the hot water.” Gabriel put on a fake frown of distress. “Of course I have a solution.”

  Erikka crossed her arms as she stared at him. She smiled at the mischief in his beautiful brown eyes. Gold flashed, giving a hint of his French and Indian ancestry. “Oh really?”

  “We can shower together. Conserves energy, water and takes less time.” Gabriel’s full mouth lifted at one comer.

  “How environmentally conscious of you,” she replied. Erikka strolled toward the bedroom and snagged his hand along the way.

  Gabriel followed happily. “Hey, just doing my part.”

  Two hours later they sat in a booth at Copeland’s on St. Charles Avenue. Early evening sunshine slanted across the dining area. They sat side by side gazing out at the scene. A streetcar clattered by. Erikka sighed. She wanted her perfect world, the one she’d dreamed about as a kid. A year ago Erikka had convinced herself she had it, the same way she felt right now. Then she crashed. Erikka felt like the giant “other shoe” was about to fall, on her head. Again.

  “You okay?” Gabriel put a hand on her thigh.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Don’t stay if it’s not worth it, Erikka.” Gabriel started to say more but the waitress appeared.

  Erikka welcomed the interruption. Once the young woman placed the plates on the table and left, she jumped right in. “Don’t make assumptions about what’s important to me. Maybe being an accountant isn’t sexy like performing brain surgery, but—”

  “Back up. Where did that come from?” Gabriel’s dark eyebrows seemed to form opposing question marks.

  The waitress came back to the rescue with extra napkins. Erikka took a deep breath, assured her they were fine then gazed everywhere but at Gabriel. He began eating his grilled catfish. Minutes ticked by.

  “I plead temporary insanity,” Erikka said finally. She studied his expression with a lump of anxiety in her throat.

  Gabriel sipped water, wiped his mouth and cut another piece of fish. Erikka watched him take time to consider what she had said and what she hadn’t said. He glanced up at her with a slight smile. They both relaxed.

  “Plea accepted,” he said.

  Erikka leaned across the table and shook a fist at him. “Funny man.” She sat back with a sigh.

  “You’re right. I shouldn’t question your passion for what you do. I didn’t mean to belittle your choice,” Gabriel said.

  “How did I get so lucky to find you?” she said quietly. Fighting back tears made her eyes itch. Erikka found a tissue in her purse just in case.

  “We both screwed up our lives and ended up in Loreauville,” he said, his smile wider.

  She laughed out loud and two men at a table next to them stared. “Now look what you made me do. Those guys really do think I’m nuts.”

  “No, they’re simply admiring this beautiful lady with a magical laugh,” Gabriel said, his face close to hers.

  Coming from anyone else, his words would have sounded phony as hell. Erikka flushed with pleasure. He had a way about him that pulled the wrinkles right out of her life. She propped her chin on one hand.

  “Thanks. You’re love and tenderness wrapped up in a nice candy coating. Something I’m not used to in a man. Or can’t you tell?” Erikka said.

  “Glad to set a new standard.” Gabriel kissed her lips.

  “Hmmm, lemon butter with a dash of Gabriel. I have to remember that recipe for fish,” Erikka teased.

  Gabriel laughed and went back to his food. “Sure you’re okay? I can stay over another night.”

  “No, you’ve got a business to run. I’m fine.” Erikka tackled her shrimp salad. “Besides, if I can’t handle this test then I’m in big trouble.”

  “Don’t try to handle it alone every day. I’m never too busy for you. Call me, anytime. Promise.” Gabriel paused as he gazed at her intently.

  “Yeah, yeah. Geez, it’s not all that serious. Most of the heat is on Layton and that sleazy Transome. Nadine says we’re pretty much in the clear.” Erikka put as much optimism in her voice as she possibly could. Gabriel continued to look at her. “I’m telling you it’s going to be okay.”

  “Okay,” he repeated, his serious expression easing into a smile again.

  Erikka performed a neat trick. She kept up a steady stream of breezy talk. By the time Gabriel left for home that night, she did indeed feel better. When her phone rang and the caller ID came on, Erikka sighed. She grabbed the pad kept for notes and answered it. Her boss could not start the business week on Monday like most sensible New Orleanians.

  “Yes, Nadine.”

  ***

  Erikka hugged the pillow to her chest and stared out of the window. She heard voices through her closed bedroom door, a distance buzzing. Not that it mattered. Nothing mattered. She’d spun down into a dark well and hit bottom again. Two days had passed since Nadine had called her. Damage control, Nadine had said. Get their stories straight before the media hounds attacked. Snatches of her conversation with Nadine would pop into her head. She hadn’t slept much since. Disjointed phrases from the news reports had jolted her awake like nightmares. Suicide. Murder. Single mother kills self and handicapped child.

  There was a soft knock on her door; it opened, and Terri came in with a tray. “Karin made you a cup of chamomile tea.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” Erikka forced the courtesy out after a few seconds.<
br />
  “You really ought to call Gabriel.” Terri set the tray down on one end table.

  Erikka couldn’t imagine how to talk about the blood on her hands, not even to him. He would understand. She felt sure he would. But Erikka’s mouth went so dry; her tongue ached just thinking about saying the words.

  “Not yet,” she whispered, sinking deeper into the pillows.

  “Okay.” Terri tried to hand her the cup. When Erikka didn’t take it, she put it back on the tray. “I hate this, but we have to talk.”

  ‘Talk,” Erikka echoed, not in agreement or as an invitation for Terri to continue. Her response came from numb resignation.

  “Right. Alison Ray’s ex-husband has miraculously appeared. He’s hired an attorney to file a wrongful death lawsuit against your employer. He abandoned his wife and disabled child. Alison Ray had to drag his ass into court six times before he paid child support. Now he’s trying to profit from their deaths. What a piece of work.”

  Erikka shook her head. She was in no position to pass judgment. “I do feel responsible.”

  “No, you’re not. Alison Ray made the choice. Killing herself and her child was her decision.”

  “She didn’t think she had another way out. We both know the feeling of being pushed into a comer.” Erikka looked at her.

  Terri blew air through her pursed thin lips. “Yeah, and we’ve both been through enough therapy to know about personal responsibility.”

  “I was so ecstatic to be back in the game. Nadine offered me a plum, and I took it. I knew what I was doing. Hell, I’d done it before. I broke my arm patting myself on the back.” Erikka closed her eyes.

  “Look, don’t do this to yourself,” Terri said, trying to interrupt.

  “I followed accepted accounting procedures. I didn’t lie, but those Layton execs used reports I prepared to cheat their employees.” Erikka spoke with anger, yet her voice came out in a dull, dry rasp. She didn’t have the energy left to work up much emotion.

  “Maybe, but that’s what you were hired to do. You didn’t break any laws. The employees should have kept a closer eye on their retirement fund, educated themselves.” Terri leaned toward her for emphasis.

  “That’s our courtroom defense, but you and I know the deal. Those people trusted their employer. They trusted my firm and me.”

  Erikka looked around her bedroom. She loved it so. Soft colors of dusty blue and moss green soothed her. The entire apartment had a welcome feel the moment she walked in at the end of a day. Her world had been tom up and reconstructed. She’d happily followed along a path of greed. The fruits of success had ripened and rotted in her hands. Again.

  Terri paced, her hands on her slim hips pushing back the silk jacket of her suit. She looked the part of a smart female attorney. “I’m going to backtrack, find out what your boss knew and when she knew it.”

  Erikka blinked at her and watched Terri make a circle around the room, gaze out the window, then come back. “Not that it matters.”

  “Yes, it does matter. Look, I’m not going to help you beat up on yourself. Take your antidepressants, call your therapist and get over it.” Terri crossed her arms. “This is life. Bad shit happens.”

  “The tough love act, huh?” Erikka gave her a tired smile.

  “Is it working?” Terri replied.

  “A little. I need a drink.” Erikka rubbed her faced with one hand.

  “I’ll reheat the chamomile.” Terri barked a laugh when Erikka let out a curse word.

  Karin came in. “Knock, knock.”

  “It’s safe,” Erikka said.

  “Here.” Karin handed her the phone, glanced a message at Terri, and both left.

  Erikka heard Gabriel’s hello and began crying. He did all the talking. His gentle voice, like a bass guitar playing a love song, made a circle around her heart.

  Chapter 22

  Erikka sat on Darlene’s front porch. Trucks and cars zipped by. No one waved that day, far different from her first week in Loreauville. They were outcasts. She sat sideways, with her legs up on the cypress swing Gabriel had made for Darlene. In the quiet small town Erikka had no choice but to think. Grim, gritty, guilty thoughts. Nothing her bosses had said made her feel better about a dead mother and child. Alison Ray had a history of alcoholism. According to Terri, she’d attempted suicide twice before.

  “The woman was obviously unstable, Erikka. On the edge for years. Even her no-good ex-husband said so. She wouldn’t even accept help with the child, thought no one but she could take care of her. See? This isn’t on you,” Terri had told her, while holding up the investigator’s report.

  Erikka had sat on one of three plush leather chairs in Terri’s comer office. The law firm where she worked was decorated with calm colors. Bouchand, Currier and DeRocher, LLC, must be pulling in some serious coin, Erikka remembered thinking at the time. She half listened to her friend’s attempts to absolve her of any possible blame. Soft blue and moss green made the office look like a cool oasis. No doubt nervous clients with dirty hands needed to feel better. The atmosphere hadn’t done a thing for Erikka.

  The whoosh of a large truck going by and the blast of its horn brought her back. Erikka waved back at a smiling trucker. He must be from out of town, she mused. Didn’t matter. At that point she’d take any sign of friendliness she could get. A sharp acid feeling burned in her throat and chest. Her doctor assured her that the chest pains were related to indigestion and anxiety. No kidding. Half the state thought she had a child’s blood on her hands. Damn right she had chest pains.

  Inside the house, Darlene hummed along with a smooth jazz tune on the sound system. Sunlight had been replaced by the grayish blue of dusk. Insects that longed to feast on Erikka bumped against the porch screen. The swing slowed to almost a standstill. Erikka used one hand to push against the wall. She settled against the cushion at her back, soothed by the rocking motion. The compact disc flipped to a tune with a faster tempo. Darlene followed, her contralto voice belting out words to the song. Why was Darlene singing? Her aunt pushed through the storm door, a glass in each hand.

  “Brought you some strawberry lemonade. Got the recipe off that cooking channel,” Darlene said, handing Erikka one of the glasses.

  “Thanks.” Erikka took a sip. She let out a long sigh as her compliment.

  Darlene grinned. “Oh yeah, I love this stuff. Used real sugar.”

  Erikka gasped. “You messed up my no-sugar, low-carb groove.

  “Mine, too. Hell with it. Life is too short,” Darlene said with a shrug, and sat in a cane rocking chair. She rocked, Erikka swayed, and they let the night noises fill in any conversation gaps for a time.

  “Too bad about LaTrice. Brandon holding up under the strain?” Erikka asked.

  “Well as can be expected. Hate to say it, but I don’t think LaTrice is going to change her ways.” Darlene crossed her legs. “But I’m keeping my mouth shut. Brandon will find that out for himself.”

  “True. He wouldn’t appreciate you saying, ‘I told you so,’ anyway,” Erikka replied.

  “I’ll have to bite my tongue a lot. But he made his bed, and right is right,” Darlene said, quoting Maman Lillie.

  “Yeah.”

  Erikka frowned. She still had unfinished business. Darlene needed to know about Kelvin and one other woman not his wife. For a long time Erikka sat mentally trying on different openings. Darlene stretched lazily then stood.

  “I’m going inside to watch television. I know,” she said, when Erikka started to speak, “normally TV is not my thing. But for the first time in weeks I can relax after work. I plan to just lie there in a stupor like the rest of America.”

  “No, that’s not what I was going to say. I need to talk to you about something.” Erikka grabbed at the last first line she’d considered.

  Darlene let out a hiss. She put her empty glass on a small table between the two rockers. “Here I’m thinking the world is all about me. Look, your mama told me what happened. You’re a good person
, Erikka. Don’t let anybody convince you otherwise.”

  “Uh, thanks, Darlene. But that’s not what I need to tell you.” Erikka swung her legs down until leather soles of her sandals touched the floor.

  “Oh. Okay. What’s going on then?” Darlene sat down again.

  Erikka was truly grateful for the deepening shadows. Dusk made giving this bad news a little easier. “I was kinda hoping this wouldn’t be necessary, but you really need to know.” She stopped.

  “Yeah?” Darlene pushed a button on the small solar lamp on the table.

  “Damn,” Erikka whispered low. So much for the comfort of darkness. “I saw Kelvin with a woman. They were having lunch in Lafayette.”

  Darlene blinked rapidly, and not because her eyes were adjusting to the light. “When?”

  “Not long before the money went missing.” Erikka watched her closely, ready to dodge any flying objects.

  Instead, Darlene smiled, waved a hand, and stood. “Oh.”

  “I hate to spoil your calm mood. I guess he called finally.” Erikka started to be puzzled by her lack of reaction.

  “Yeah, begging me to take him back. The bastard,” Darlene said with force. Then she seemed to collect herself. “I dropped his sorry butt just in time.”

  “You broke up with Kelvin?” Erikka gazed at her in surprise.

  “I was starting to think maybe I was wrong, but not now. He never cared about me.” Darlene wiped a large tear from her cheek and went inside without looking back.

  Erikka heard the television a few moments later. She gazed out into the night and watched headlights glow brightly, and then fade, as cars went by. Erikka wanted to offer Darlene words of comfort, but had none to give. The Rochon women had some tough days ahead.

  ***

  “So, Darlene almost took Kelvin back. I can just hear him trying to explain. ‘Baby, it was just business.’” Hope shook her head in pity. “That one is about as weak as ‘That was my cousin’, or the ever-popular ‘Hey, it wasn’t me!”