Forever, Alabama

by Susan Sands

  The sound of a door opening and closing grabbed everyone’s attention. Norman entered the room, smiling. “Hello, all. Sorry I’m late to the party.”

  “Nonsense. You’re just in time. I’ve gotten some fantastic news. My daughter, Rachel, is coming home tomorrow.”

  “Well, now, that’s a reason to celebrate. It’ll be nice to finally meet her. I hope you’ve told her about me—us,” Norman said to Mom.

  “I’ve told her some. I’m guessing Sabine has filled her sister in more than I have.” Mom looked over at Sabine, expectantly.

  “I might have mentioned the two of you were getting pretty tight. Rachel is open-minded. Don’t worry, Norman, she’s not going to read you the riot act. She’s as thrilled for Mom’s happiness as I am. We’re just glad she’s moving on with her life. It’s been a tough few years for all of us with Dad’s behavior, and then his public media circus and trial.”

  “In an effort to not speak of your father, I’m going to suggest we load our plates with this food I’ve spent the day preparing,” Mom said.

  “No need to suggest it twice,” Ben said. He stood with his bowl in hand. “Show me the way.”

  The dinner talk remained light and they stayed away from any heavy subjects. Ben told some funny family stories from his childhood. As the only boy with four sisters, and the youngest to boot, he sounded like a holy terror. Not like Sabine’s brother, James, of course, but a precocious child, to be certain.

  Mom shared a few somewhat embarrassing memories about Sabine’s childhood, and pointed out what opposite personalities she and Rachel were. “You’d swear they were from different planets if they didn’t look so much alike.”

  Of course, Ben pressed her on what those contrasts were. “I was a nerd, according to my mom,” Sabine supplied.

  “Not possible,” Ben said, grinning.

  “Not a nerd, honey. You were quiet and liked to read. And you loved your cats.”

  “You just stated verbatim the definition of a nerd. Of course, as a therapist, I must state that there’s nothing wrong with a slightly introverted young woman with social mistrust issues and a love for rescuing animals.”

  “Of course there wasn’t anything wrong with you. I mean, look at you.” Mom gestured toward Sabine with her hand.

  “Nothing wrong at all.” Ben continued to grin.

  “What?” She threw her napkin at him.

  “I love hearing your history,” Ben said. He even had a dopey look on his face.

  “Stop it, Mom. Don’t say another word. Ben’s eating this up.” Sabine held up a hand. “Enough.”

  “Aw, honey, don’t be embarrassed. You were adorable.”

  Sabine picked up her plate and brought it over to the sink. “I think we should change the subject, if y’all don’t mind,” Sabine suggested.

  “We do have some pretty serious things to discuss,” Ben said.

  “I’d love to hear your plans, if you don’t mind my sitting in,” Mom said.

  “No, of course not. I don’t have any secrets from you. In fact, you know Richard, and you might think of something that I haven’t. Dealing with him is going to be challenging,” Sabine said.

  Mom nodded. “Ben’s going on this trip isn’t going to help his mood, for sure.”

  Ben piped up. “I’m not planning on getting in the mix unless I have to. I’m going to stay behind the scenes and make sure all goes as it should. As long as the attorneys are straight and fair in their dealings with Sabine, I’ll lie low. But I’ll make sure I’ve got eyes on her the entire time and that we stay in contact.”

  “And what if Richard tries to pull a fast one?” Norman asked.

  “Then I’ll make sure he understands that we’ll not tolerate his intimidation or bullying Sabine.”

  “I’m afraid he’s going to bring the circus to town here and try to ruin my life in Ministry if I don’t fall in line with his demands. He understands how important it is to me to maintain my personal and professional reputation.”

  “And I wouldn’t put it past him to use it to his advantage to manipulate Sabine, either,” Mom said. “But you know that his campaign and his reelection mean everything to him, so keep in mind that might be his Achilles’ heel. Without his political career, he has nothing of value, in his mind.”

  “The question is, how badly does he want his way? And what lines are he willing to cross to get it?” Norman chimed in. “I hate to see y’all push this fella beyond what his good nature might allow. Once a person goes too far, they stop worrying about the consequences, and the means no longer have to justify the ends. So, don’t push him too far.”

  “What about your dad?” Ben asked.

  “What about him?” Sabine’s response sounded defensive, even to her own ears.

  “I mean, what is the relationship between your husband and your father?” Ben asked.

  “My father has helped Richard keep his dirty laundry from the public to spare me shame. At least that’s what Dad said. I’m not sure what their actual relationship is. I know Richard has a healthy respect for my father. He’s never wanted to cross him politically, but that was before Dad was put in prison.”

  “So, it’s complicated. Richard might not want to rock that boat with your dad,” Ben surmised.

  “I can’t see Richard doing anything to thumb his nose at Dad intentionally, so long as it was in line with his own purposes. But with Dad in prison, Richard might be more likely to go his own way, even if it hurts me, because he’d be less worried about political reprisal for sure.”

  “When is the date of your dad’s parole hearing?” Ben had pulled out his electronic calendar, obviously intending to enter the dates.

  “Next Thursday, April twenty-sixth,” Sabine said.

  “Okay. That gives us tomorrow, which is Thursday, and Friday to prepare for Saturday’s governor’s ball, and make headway with the divorce talks.”

  “Are you planning to be at the ball?” Sabine asked Ben.

  He smiled. “Not in a way that I’ll be noticed by anyone.”

  “Are you planning some James Bond covert stuff?” Sabine was curious what he planned now.

  “Let’s just say I’m going to cover your back so you don’t have to face the evening on your own.”

  “I have an idea.” Norman raised his hand as if in science class.

  They all turned in his direction. “What if you set up a line of communication during the ball, or maybe the whole time?”

  “You mean, like an earpiece? Listening devices?” Sabine asked.

  “Great idea. That way, if I lose sight of you or can’t be in the same area, then we’ll still be able to communicate.”

  “Won’t someone be able to tell?” Sabine asked.

  Norman smiled. “I know someone who has all the tools. The best tools in the spy business.”

  Again, they all looked his way, waiting. “Howard,” he said, in a way that said they should have already guessed the obvious.

  Ben slapped his hand on the table. “Of course. Why didn’t I think of it?”

  Sabine had seen and heard small bits of info when she’d been around the Laroux family that Howard had been involved his entire adult life with some super-covert government operations. In other words, he’d been a high-level operative—a spy. “Ben, I’ll let you discuss this with Howard. I know we can trust him.”

  “Of course we can. And my mother too. I hope you don’t mind, but she and I already had a—conversation. She was pretty adamant I give you a chance to explain yourself.”

  Sabine’s heart fell. “I hope she doesn’t think any less of me.” It was a little embarrassing, having this conversation in front of her mother and Norman.

  “Are you kidding? She thinks you hung the moon, which is why she set me straight very quickly.”

  “You weren’t going to give me a chance to explain. She had to talk you into it.” That hurt a little bit, Sabine had to admit.

  Ben’s mouth was grim. “Mom only reminded me how com
passionate you’d proven yourself with our family’s very delicate issues. And she left it to me to conclude that I should at least give you the opportunity to tell your side of the story.”

  “It’s alright, really. If I were on the other side of this, I’m not sure how I would have reacted,” she admitted.

  “I wish I hadn’t needed the reminder. But I couldn’t have stayed away; you should know that.”

  Mom stood from the table to break the awkward silence that followed Ben’s heavy words. “Why don’t you two go in the other room and finish hammering out your travel plans while Norman and I clean up this mess? Y’all let us know if there’s anything else we can do to help. I want to get things looking nice for Rachel’s arrival tomorrow,” Mom said.

  Sabine gave her mother a quick hug. “Thanks for cooking tonight, and don’t worry, Rachel doesn’t want anything special. She only wants to be with her family.”

  “Will she go to the prison with us next week?” Mom asked.

  Sabine shrugged. “That’s completely up to her. Rachel’s response to Dad’s actions is not the same as mine. The two of them had a different relationship.”

  “She was his baby girl until he brought James into the family.” Mom sighed and nodded. “I don’t think she’ll ever forgive him for that.”

  “Maybe not, but when we spoke earlier today, I let her know what was at stake if she chose not to participate in the parole hearing.”

  “She’s a good girl, and she loves her family. I hate to use guilt to persuade her, but for all of us to be truly free of your dad’s thumb, it’s necessary.”

  “We’ll never be truly free of him; you know that, don’t you? Once he’s out of prison, he’ll figure out a way to insinuate himself into our lives to create a new normal,” Sabine said.

  “Let’s just hope he’s able to handle my new normal,” Mom said, and glanced over at Norman lovingly.

  “Mom, it might take Dad a little time to get used to your being with someone else. I know you’re legally divorced, but the two of you were together since high school. You’re his family too, even if y’all aren’t married anymore. Just be prepared for an adjustment period on his part. It’s going to hurt him that you’ve moved on and found someone else. So, be prepared to show him a little compassion,” Sabine said.

  “Like the compassion he showed me when he was screwing half the women in New Orleans?” The bitterness in her mother’s voice told Sabine that Dad still had the power to hurt Mom, which meant she still cared about him, even if she wanted her freedom and a future with someone new.

  “He won’t equate that, you know. His behavior over the years has put him in the current situation where he finds himself now. He’s lost everything and has had plenty of time to reflect. But Dad only has us now, and you’re part of us. So, while you don’t want to be married to him, don’t abandon him completely while he’s transitioning from prison to a life without his wife, family, or career. None of us are proud of his actions or of what he’s done to our family. We’re all very angry and distrustful of him. It’s like we don’t know him at all.”

  “I’ll say. But I don’t want to be near him. In fact, I honestly don’t want to have any contact at all with him. And Sabine, I shouldn’t have to. I’ve gotten my divorce settlement from his attorneys, so why should I continue to be held captive by his needs?” Mom asked.

  She had a great point.

  “Because it’s what we do for family. And we’ll all be far better off if we, including you, are not hostile to Dad while he adjusts to life after prison. No, he doesn’t deserve it from you, especially. He put us all through hell, but hopefully, if he’s in a good place soon, then we can all get on with our lives.”

  “I don’t like it, but I’ll be as civil as possible. Only because I’m in a happy place, myself.”

  “Don’t worry that I’ll have a problem with it, honey. I’ve waited a long time to find you, so I’m willing to wait until you settle your business so we can be together,” Norman said.

  “You see now why I want so badly to be free of the nasty past with your father? Because this guy’s here now, and I don’t want to make him wait another minute.”

  “Well, hopefully once the parole hearing is over and they release Dad, things will settle quietly and quickly.”

  “We can hope. Now, we can do these dishes and let the two of you get to it. C’mon, Norman.” She threw him a dish rag.

  Sabine turned toward Ben. “Do you want to go into the family room and finish planning our trip?”

  He motioned for her to precede him. “Lead the way.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Two more days. Richard was nearly counting the hours until Sabine was home. She’d been gone far too long. He’d allowed her to stay away because it was what she wanted, and because it had given her time to get over the miscarriage and his little misstep in their marriage. Now, she was coming home to divorce him, or so she believed. There would be no divorce. This was her home. Now that her father would be getting out of prison, nothing would keep her from taking her rightful place at his side. He felt confident she would realize it once she returned.

  She’d sent back a message refusing to stay where he’d planned for her to. That was curious. The Sabine he’d known hadn’t naysayed his suggestions, as a rule. Why would she change the plan? Perhaps she was trying to show him that he could no longer tell her what to do. He gave a small chuckle. Good for her. He liked the small show of spine. Sabine had always been somewhat opinionated, but she’d been a dutiful and obedient wife. Until she’d found out about those blasted girls.

  The hookers had simply begun as a distraction, a mere folly, while Sabine moped about losing the pregnancy. She’d been so whiney about it that Richard had been forced to find something to entertain himself. Sabine had kept him straight; she’d been his conscience whenever he’d begin to drift from the straight and narrow, and she likely hadn’t even known it.

  It was why he needed her back. She’d been gone too long, and he feared the future of his career without her beside him. His staffers had done their best to advise, cajole, and threaten to quit if he didn’t get his shit together and put things back on track. He learned that he liked sex. With barely legal girls. A few might not have been completely legal, but he hadn’t known it at the time. That was his story and he was sticking to it. It had nothing to do with Sabine. He loved Sabine. With her near, he didn’t do the things that would get him into trouble. So far, Richard had managed to keep his activities out of the press and under the radar.

  The vices were closing in. He’d begun to drink more and, not being an idiot, he realized none of this would go on unnoticed or unreported forever. He needed Sabine. And he refused to take no for an answer.

  Sabine was lovely and so classy and elegant. She was his walking credential for reelection. He’d discovered she’d been treating half of that podunk Alabama townsfolk for their mental disturbances and family issues. Hell, most of them likely had issues alright. Uncle-daddy issues. Bunch of inbred hicks.

  It angered Richard that Sabine spent her days listening to people blather on about their problems. He had problems, and she was his cure. And he meant to see that she never stepped foot back in that ridiculous pissant town once she got back to civilization.

  Now that she’d made her plans to come home, he could move forward with his. He’d picked out a lovely red gown that would do wonders for her curvaceous figure and complement her dark good looks. He hoped she hadn’t gained any weight. Her mother had been living there with her, and likely cooking every night, so he hoped her size was still the same.

  Sabine’s dad, Jean-Claude had been in touch recently. He’d not-too-subtly warned Richard to treat his little girl like a princess while she was in town. Little did the convict realize that Richard was no longer his boy, and he wouldn’t take orders from his father-in-law now, or in the future. Jean-Claude hadn’t ever been in favor of their divorcing in the past, but somehow Sabine had changed his mind recent
ly. Richard no longer worried about Jean-Claude’s wishes now that the former district attorney had been taken down so publicly and permanently. He’d lost his license to practice law and all his power.

  That made Richard a free man, politically, because Jean-Claude no longer held the puppet strings that orchestrated the control Richard had respected as part of the hierarchy of the structure of politics within the state. Sure, Jean-Claude still had cronies who would slap him on the back and pay lip service to his friendship, but he wasn’t a mover or shaker any longer, just a sad, dried-up old loser, who’d ended up in prison. Of course, in Louisiana, those old guys could end up governor, if history was to be repeated.

  Maybe Richard could walk both sides of the line and no one would be the wiser. At least for a while, until it was impossible to hide his true intentions. It was feasible that Sabine would be willing to fall in line with his suggestions and plans without a fuss. After all, they’d been crazy about each other once. They’d planned a life together. If he could remind her of that, it just might work. If not, he’d need to find another way to persuade her.

  He hadn’t come this far to let her bring him down because she wanted to change her mind. Plus, he’d missed her. Having a wife was a comfy, cozy thing in his case.

  Ben had left Sabine’s house with a hard-on and a smile. The best and worst of things. She’d not invited him to spend the night, but he’d not expected her to. He’d slyly suggested she accompany him home, but she’d thought better of it since her mother was flitting around the house tidying up and getting ready for her sister Rachel’s visit the next day.

  He’d wanted to be with Sabine so badly, especially after the goodnight kiss she’d laid on him outside in the moonlight just before he’d climbed inside his truck. More like a full-body frontal press that left Ben nearly panting for more. It was a new sensation for him. Longing might be a more apt description, knowing she was so close, and accessible, should he push a bit harder. But the thrill was in the waiting, and how precious being with her was to him. Because it would only be better the next time.