A Time To Love

by Lynn Emery

  “Did they leave something behind?” Neva started toward him but when stopped he waved her back.

  Sykes shook his head. “Trash,” was his short reply. “I’m gonna be out here a while yet. I’ll be in to talk to you before I leave.” His demeanor made it clear he wanted her out of his way.

  Neva nodded and went inside. “Jerk,” she muttered.

  “What brilliant insights did Deputy Dawg offer?” Lainie said.

  “None. I figure he’ll file a report and that will be the end of it.” Neva shrugged. “Not much can be done anyway.”

  “Right. Unless somebody saw them, the only evidence left is broken glass and dirty poetry.” Lainie grew somber. “I hope they don’t come back.”

  “Like you said, the alarm probably scared those kids spitless,” Neva said. “Now what about the new freezer we ordered?”

  Deputy Sykes spent another fifteen minutes outside before leaving. He was going to file the report and check if anyone had been charged for a similar crime recently. Beyond that, he told them to call if anything else happened. Neva and Lainie went back to work. Neva made it a point to continue business as usual. The man from a local glass shop came out and replaced the broken windows in no time. An hour later, Ike Jr. pulled up in his truck to begin painting the walls. The sooner the writing was gone, the better. Now if only the gloomy aura the whole episode had brought could be dealt with as easily.

  ***

  Chandler wore an annoyed expression as he paced around holding the phone. The sports channel played on the television in the background.

  “Yeah. Look I’ve got company right now. Vernon.”

  “Don’t mind me,” Vernon said with devilish twinkle in his dark brown eyes. “I can leave.”

  “Cut it out,” Chandler said in a harsh whisper. “I was talking to Vernon. Tell Tariq bye for me.” He punched the button turning off the cordless phone.

  “Man, you’ve got trouble on your hands.” Vernon let out a long whistle. “Big trouble.”

  “Not really,” Chandler said. “Alise doesn’t want me, she just doesn’t want Neva to have me. I’ll just keep telling her it’s over. End of story.”

  “How many times did you say she’s called? At least four,” Vernon answered his own question. “Big trouble.”

  “Alise can call four more times if she wants, it won’t matter,” Chandler snapped. He rubbed his forehead with the heel of his hand. “Why now?” he muttered. “Just when I find the perfect woman... Damn!”

  “Alise can be rough on a dude, eh?” Vernon got up and poured his buddy a root beer. He handed him the glass mug.

  Chandler took a drink before speaking. “When she wants her way, she can be a real pain all over.”

  “Yeah, I could tell. Just had to meet the sister one time to recognize the signs.”

  “Neva was so sweet and understanding. Man, I was just waiting for her to blow when Alise started her act. But my baby was cool.”

  Chandler’s expression softened. A picture of Neva laughing in the sunshine with Tariq flashed like a color slide in his mind. She was a glorious vision with eyes that sparkled when she was happy. Chandler wanted to be the source of that sparkle. Even more, he wanted to make sure no one took it away.

  “Has she started using Tariq to get to you?” Vernon propped his foot on the coffee table.

  Chandler remembered Tariq begging him to come home for Easter. The last two times they’d talked, his son had mentioned how much he wished they could always be together.

  “Alise has her faults but I don’t think she’d make him a pawn.”

  Yet Tariq was perceptive and observant. No doubt he knew Alise was making a bid for some sort of reconciliation. Something Tariq wanted very much.

  Vernon held up a palm. “Man, you better expect the worse. Hell hath no fury,” he said with a grim expression.

  “Not this go round, my brother. Manipulation and threats won’t work.” Chandler frowned. “And she’ll be the one with big trouble if she uses our son out of petty jealousy.”

  “The green monster that popped up when you mentioned Neva was humongous.” Vernon made a wide circle with his arms.

  “Well she’ll have to get used to it,” Chandler said.

  “And if she doesn’t?”

  “Too bad.”

  Chandler did not like the feeling that a battle with his ex-wife was looming. Though he sounded tough, his stomach knotted at the thought of Tariq being forced to take sides. Not only that, the gnawing guilt of having left Detroit flared up again. Had he made the right decision? Was he being selfish as Alise had so often said?

  “Well at least you’re lucky in one way. You found a real woman. Man, you get a glow talking about the lady.” Vernon winked at him. “That’ll get you through.”

  Chandler tried to feel as positive as his friend sounded. “Yeah, right.”

  ***

  “You gotta tell her all of if, Jo.” Patsy crossed her plump arms. She looked at her life-long friend with an expression that combined compassion with reproof. “I know it’s hard, but you gotta do it.”

  Mama Jo rocked in the chair and looked straight ahead. Her hands gripped the carved wooden armrests. They sat in Mama Jo’s living room. The gray skies matched the mood the two women shared.

  “You don’t know, Patsy. Don’t nobody know what it is to lose a child like that.” Mama Jo’s voice was quiet.

  “I lost my boy to drugs and prison. The child I knew is gone forever. He’ll never be the same.” Patsy pressed her lips together and was silent for a time.

  “But he’s still alive. And you wasn’t the one pushed him to it.” Mama Jo stopped the movement of her rocking chair.

  “Rose was on a wild path of her own making, Jo.”

  “I was stubborn and blind. From the time she was a baby, I was tryin’ to make her be who I wanted her to be.” Mama Jo took a deep breath. “She was such a pretty baby, too. Big dimples in her cheeks.”

  “You loved that girl. You did the best you could. They get a certain age, they responsible for makin’ whatever life they end up havin’.” Patsy looked down at the floor. “A mother can’t do no more than the best she can.” The two old friends sat pondering the mystery of mothers and children.

  Mama Jo looked at Patsy. “How I’m gonna tell my grandbaby I’m a liar? That I drove her mama to an early grave?”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Patsy said with a look of true anguish.

  “Ain’t no use to dress it up. When Rose needed me, I turned my back on her. Remember that day? Don’t act like you don’t.” Mama Jo would not let Patsy try to comfort her with kind words. “All those bitter words gonna poison this family for years to come.”

  “What Shirley and Desiree doin’ is their own wickedness, not from somethin’ that happened almost thirty years ago.”

  “They usin’ my sin to get what they want.” Mama Jo stood slowly. She walked to the living room window without using her cane or walker. “I was proud of the store, all the land, a fine house. Now everything I put before my child is slippin’ away from me.”

  “You tell her. Keepin’ it a secret is worse,” Patsy got up and went to her.

  “No. I can’t stand the thought of losin’ Neva, too.” Mama Jo’s eyes filled with tears. Yet she stood with her shoulders straight. She wiped her eyes.

  “I’ll protect her.”

  “What if she finds out some other way? That’ll be much worse. Besides she’s gonna know somethin’ is up when you take the store from her.”

  “She ain’t gonna find out,” Mama Jo said in fierce voice.

  “But–”

  Mama Jo cut her off. “I’ll tell her managin’ the land is more important. That ain’t a lie. Mr. Lucas from the state forestry office said there’s big money in timber.”

  “Maybe she’ll believe it.” Patsy wore a doubtful frown.

  “She will. We talked about it not long after she first got home.” Mama Jo went back to sit down again. “Maybe I’m bein
’ selfish and a coward. But I can’t let them old demons come out again, Patsy. This is the best way.”

  Patsy came back to sit on the sofa near the chair.

  “I sure hope you’re right, Jo. Lord knows I do.”

  Chapter 14

  “You idiot!” Kate looked as though she would strike Ted at any minute.

  Ted glared at her. “I’m not a little kid, Kate. So take a flying leap.”

  “Did you really think an adolescent stunt would help us?” Kate stepped close to him until her nose was inches from his.

  “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” Ted affected a mild expression.

  “Oh please. I recognize your handy work when I see it.” Kate waved the small weekly newspaper in the air. “Local Store Hit by Vandals,” she recited the headline without having to look at it.

  He did not bother to look. “I don’t read those things. Too depressing. You shouldn’t either if it’s going to upset you so much.”

  “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were being clever,” Kate retorted. “I won’t have you jeopardizing my efforts!”

  “Oh right. Brilliant Katherine Bellows Cinclare rides into town to save the family fortune. A one woman Calvary.” Ted gave a grunt. “Naturally all must step aside as she works her magic.”

  “You runt! The only thing you’ve ever done is cost us money. And if anyone finds out, I’ll gladly let you spend time in jail.”

  “No one will find out,” Ted threw back with a casual flip of his hand. “Sheriff Tyson and Chief Deputy Sykes know the score.”

  “They’re you’re allies?” Kate crossed her arms.

  “Sheriff Tyson doesn’t have much use for the uppity Sterling tribe. As for Jessie, we go way back.”

  “I’ll bet you hired some moronic trailer park trash to do the job.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Ted wore a smirk as he poured Chivas Regal into a heavy crystal glass. “You really ought to cool out as they say.”

  Kate stared at him for several moments. Suddenly her mood shifted like quicksilver. “You’re right.”

  “Huh?” Ted blinked in confusion.

  “I must apologize for exploding at you, brother dear.” Kate actually looked contrite.

  Ted wore a look of suspicion. “What’s going on?”

  “No one would ever connect you to such a petty crime.” Kate lifted an elegant shoulder covered by her silk bomber jacket of gold, silver and dark blue.

  “Right.” Ted no longer seemed as sure of himself.

  “Of course there is that one little problem... No, I’m sure Sheriff Tyson will weather the storm.” Kate sat down on the sofa and crossed her legs. She picked up a copy of a large coffee table book containing color photos of Louisiana antebellum homes.

  Ted tried to maintain his relaxed pose. A slight tic under his left eye betrayed him. “What– What are you talking about?”

  “My goodness, Cousin Dickie has really outdone himself with this one. The man is a genius with a camera.” Kate turned a page as though absorbed. “He’s perfectly captured our humble home, don’t you think?” She held up a color photo of the family mansion.

  “Yes. About Tyson–”

  “And Jessie Sykes,” Kate broke in. “Too bad he didn’t do a better job covering his tracks.”

  “I haven’t heard anything about a cover up.” Ted took fingered his glass, a deep furrow in his brow.

  Kate let out a gasp of delight. “I’ll bet Birdie Claycut is tinkled pink with this view of Belle Oaks. She spent a fortune keeping it historically accurate.”

  “Tell me about this rumor involving Tyson and Jessie.” Ted crossed the room to stand in front of her.

  “Seems there’s a scandal brewing. A female prisoner alleges sexual hijinks between prisoners, and even some deputies.” Kate glanced at him then back down at a photo of Audubon House. “It was in the same newspaper you didn’t read.”

  “You’re just trying to rattle me.” Ted took a deep swallow of liquor. “There’s nothing to it.”

  “Perhaps.” Kate’s voice lifted at the end indicating her skepticism ran deep.

  “He’s weathered these little storms before.” Ted tried to laugh but the sound came out more like a dry cough.

  Kate put the book down and stared at him. “Mother and her crew will help save his backside from getting scorched once again. But he’s going to be put on notice. This is his last chance.”

  “Like you know so much about it.” Ted noticed his empty glass. He poured a generous amount for his third drink in less than an hour.

  “Who do you think they came to for advice?,” Kate said. “We can’t afford his back woods brand of law enforcement much longer.”

  “But he’s been loyal for years.” Ted stood straight.

  “He’s becoming more of a liability than an asset. A lot of the young, new residents taking part in local politics can’t stomach him.”

  “To hell with them,” Ted grumbled. “The old families control this town.”

  “With an accent on ‘old’, brother dear. In case you haven’t noticed, most of them are dying off,” Kate said with a cold bluntness that made him blink. “We can’t expect to run things in the old way much longer.”

  Ted was silent for several moments before a corner of his thin mouth lifted. “Even more reason to take decisive action.”

  Kate slammed the book down onto the coffee table. “Don’t try to think up a smart plan. You’re no good at it.” She stood and walked to stand close to him, their noses only inches apart. “Do as you’re told or I’ll make you sorry.”

  “Piss off!” Ted snarled back at her. “I’m not going to let you bully me anymore.” He stepped back with a look of defiance.

  “It would take about two minutes to convince mother I should be president of the company.” Kate snapped her fingers. “Even less.”

  “My, my,” Clinton spoke from the door. “Seems you’ve both forgotten one thing, me.” He strolled into the room with one hand in the pocket of his slacks.

  “She’s trying to take over from us!” Ted wore the look of an outraged child looking for allies. “Tell her the board wouldn’t stand for it.”

  Clinton gave a short laugh. “They put up with you because of Mother. You’d be history if they had any excuse. Kate here would be an excellent opportunity.”

  “But then you’d be out, too,” Ted snapped.

  “I don’t think so.” Clinton gazed at Kate. “You see I’ve built a solid reputation for double digit profits. So, dear sister, you’d have a fight on your hands from me.”

  “Really?” Kate raised both eyebrows at him.

  “Really.” Clinton smiled at her. “So now that we’ve put things in the proper perspective, we can all talk.” He sat down looking quite cool.

  Kate sat down on the other end of the couch from him. “All right. Your brother has resorted to vandalism as a business strategy. How do you propose to deal with that?”

  “Strangely, Ted has done the right thing for once,” Clinton said.

  “Those Sterlings need to learn a lesson.” Ted’s frown melted into a smirk once again. “Not that I had any part in it.”

  “I always thought you were merely spoiled and an under achiever by choice. Not actively stupid like Ted.” Kate flushed a deep pink with anger. “I see I was wrong.”

  “Yes, you were but not for the reason you think.” Clinton still wore a mild expression. “And Ted, Kate is right. Don’t do it again.”

  Ted puffed up to defend himself. “But you just said–”

  “You did something right purely by accident. The only way you could have,” Clinton cut him off.

  Kate threw back her head and laughed. “Clinton, you put me to shame.”

  “Thank you. Now as for the Sterlings, Neva will get a scare. She is supposedly superstitious or something.” Clinton looked at his siblings. “Desiree will know precisely who vandalized the store and why. She’ll think twice about trying to double cross
us.”

  “Like you know so damn much!” Ted pouted.

  “He’s obviously done his homework. You impress me more and more.” Kate wore a look of approval. “What about Tyson?”

  “He’ll endure several weeks of embarrassment. Serves him right.” Clinton had no sympathy for the sheriff. “But he’ll make the proper noises about cleaning things up, throw the public a few sacrificial lambs and survive.”

  “Good.” Kate stood. “I feel much better.”

  “You two have everything figured out.” Ted glanced from Kate to Clinton.

  Clinton stood next to his older sister and looked down at him. “The company will gain a powerful advantage once we’re through. And you’ll see your net worth take a big jump as a result. We’re looking out for you, brother.” Clinton and Kate walked out of the living together talking low.

  “Like hell you are.” Ted watched them leave with a look of stone. “When I get that property, the board will make me CEO. No one is going to stop me. Not the Sterlings or either of you. Not even Mother.”

  ***

  Neva came into the living room with the wooden serving tray. She set it down on a the round antique table that had sat in her great-grandmother’s parlor for sixty years.

  “This should ease away all troubles from a long hard day at work. Nothing like a soothing cup of herbal tea. If it can make Mama Jo mellow out, you know it works.” She smiled and handed him one of two cups.

  “Sounds good.” Chandler did not seem to notice the joke.

  When they sat down on the sofa, Neva wondered once again what was wrong. All through dinner Chandler had seemed miles away. In Detroit to be exact. Neva could not stop that depressing thought from popping into her head. Those chocolate brown eyes, the ones that made her pulse race when they shone bright with passion, were dimmed by some worry. And you know the source of that worry, girlfriend. She tried to keep up her end as they exchanged perfunctory small talk for several more minutes. Neva thought of the way she’d avoided confronting the real problems between she and Nathan. Now is the time to test her resolve to be more sensible. Whatever was bothering him, it was best to meet it head on.