He closed the door and turned to face her. “So let me get this new vocabulary straight. ‘Dammit’ means hello, and ‘hit’ is the new word for touch.”
She tilted her head. Was he teasing her or being sarcastic?
Royce picked up a tee-shirt from the back of a chair and slipped it on. The white cotton pulled across his chest and arms punctuating his bulging biceps. “Generally when I open the door and someone greets me with ‘dammit, dammit, dammit,’ it’s Mother. Now and then, it’s Cliff, but usually it’s Mother. She’s here to lambast me about some faux pas I’ve committed that’ll ruin her life by getting her kicked off some society committee like The Committee Against Polyester Pantsuits.”
Elita grinned, but choked back adding any opinion about Dorothea’s societal aspirations. This visit would not be sidetracked by her nemesis.
“Are you here to point out all I’ve done wrong too?” he asked.
“No.”
“Are you here to tell me I’ve ruined your life?”
“I didn’t think you’d be here.”
“It’s Saturday,” he said. “This is my home. Where did you think I’d be?”
“At the office or at Sutton Manor with Cliff and Dorothea.”
Royce opened the refrigerator. “Want something to drink?”
“I’ll take a beer.”
He reached in and pulled out two bottles of beer. ”Mother caught a plane to New York this morning. She and a couple of her college sorority friends are leaving next week on a Mediterranean cruise.” Royce opened the beers and handed her one. “Cliff is moving in here today. I’ve been getting his room ready.”
Elita almost choked on her beer. “You’re letting Cliff move in with you?”
“You know how many stairs there are at Sutton Manor. With Mother gone and Nettie retiring—”
“Nettie’s retiring?” Elita set her beer down on the counter. “I can’t imagine Sutton Manor without Nettie.”
“After forty-two years of putting up with the Suttons, she’s earned a good retirement.”
“I hope your mother is giving her a decent pension.”
Royce laughed. “Mother cried, called her a traitor, and left for New York a week early. My attorneys prepared a generous pension plan for Nettie.” He scratched the back of his head. “She wants to open a catering service, so Cliff and I hired Pete Guidry to build her a professional kitchen with every type of appliance she’ll need.”
“That’s so sweet of y’all.”
“Hell, Nettie raised me and Cliff.”
“I thought Pete was going to work for Uncle Matt.”
“He will later, but Matt is still drawing up plans to get the necessary building permits. When Aunt Virginia heard about Pete’s wife having bone cancer and no health insurance, she put him on the Sutton Oil payroll and signed them up for healthcare immediately.” Royce finished his beer and set the bottle in the sink. “The insurance company refused to cover Mrs. Guidry because her cancer was a preexisting condition until Aunt Virginia called their CEO and told him Sutton Oil would move its business to his competitor.”
“I like how Virginia stands up for people.”
“My aunt is a force of nature. She’s not afraid of anyone.”
“Except my grandmother. Virginia told me she gets nervous around Mamaw.”
“Pearl Dupree is another force of nature. Let’s just hope the two don’t collide. Poor Matt would be caught in the middle.”
Elita agreed. “I told the sheriff about that marijuana patch I found on Tadpole Island.”
“What did he say?”
“He told me about Pete’s situation and how Velma couldn’t get her pain meds now.”
“So Glover knew Pete was growing marijuana to help his wife. Makes me proud I voted for the man.”
“What matters now is how bad I hurt Uncle Matt’s feelings by doubting him.”
“I told you that you were way off base.”
“You were privy to everyone’s secrets, while Cliff and I were left dangling in the dark.” Elita downed the last of her beer. “I’ve messed up so damn bad. No wonder everyone wants me to go back to Chicago.”
“We all made a mess of things.” Royce came over and stood in front of her. “I didn’t mean the things I said at the clinic. I was worried about Cliff and Susan and took it out on you.”
“I should’ve known you wouldn’t run off when people were in danger.”
“You thought I was having flashbacks to Vietnam, didn’t you?”
She covered her face with her hand in a futile effort to hide her tears and nodded.
Royce tried to pull her hands down. She resisted. “You were right. When things began exploding and catching fire, I got a sense of déjà vu. My mind jumped back to Nam for a moment.”
She lowered her hands. “It did?”
“Yes.” He wiped away a tear sliding down her cheek. “I should have—” A loud knock at the front door interrupted him. “That’s got to be Cliff.” He opened the door.
“Hi, brother dear. Got my room ready?” Using only one crutch, Cliff limped inside. He saw Elita. “Have I interrupted anything?”
“Of course you have,” Royce said. “But what’s new about that?”
“I’m sorry. We can leave and come back later.”
“We?” Elita asked.
“Nettie drove me over. She could use some help with my suitcases, Royce.”
Elita started for the door, but Cliff snagged her arm. “Royce can get them.” He waited until his brother cleared the front steps. “I want to thank you for putting in a good word for me with your cousin. Danielle has agreed to go on a date.”
“You’ll only get one chance with her. Don’t blow it!”
“I won’t.” He looked down at his broken foot. “Since she’ll be doing the driving, I told her to decide where we’d go.”
Elita crossed her arms. “If she decides to take you to meet her family, be on your best behavior.”
His smile faded. “You don’t think she’d do that?”
“She might. So be ready in case. No off color jokes, no talking about your fancy car or saying anything about being rich. You’re a Sutton. They know you have money, but these people are not impressed by money.”
“What will impress them?”
“Just be polite, respectful, and don’t try to be the center of attention.”
“I don’t do that, do I?”
“Sometimes.”
He stuck his tongue out at her.
She laughed and pulled out a dining room chair. “Sit down before you fall down.”
Cliff handed her his crutch, hopped on his good leg to the chair. He sat down slowly, extending his broken leg.
“Did Dani finally sign your cast?” she asked.
“Dani?”
“That’s her nickname. It’s what family and close friends call her.”
“Dani . . . Dani.” Cliff smiled. “I like that. Sounds friendlier, more intimate than Danielle.”
Elita laid her hand on his shoulder. “And that’s why you will call her Danielle until she invites you to call her Dani. Got it?”
“Yeah. This is good information and another reason why you shouldn’t leave.” Cliff took her hand. “Everyone needs you.”
“Everyone?”
“Royce needs you, of course. I need your help so I won’t screw up with Danielle. I really like her. She’s pretty and smart and stubborn as a mule. Even after she agreed to go out with me, she still wouldn’t sign my cast.” He looked up at Elita. “But then, she is related to you.”
“Yes, and that’s a good reason for me to leave. If I stayed I might have to take sides one day. I think a lot of you, Cliff, but she’s my cousin.”
“But I’m your cousin too, now.”
She laughed. “How do you figure that?”
“Didn’t anyone tell you about Susan?”
The screen door squeaked open. Royce stepped back and Nettie entered carrying a large cardboard box. Scents
of cinnamon and something fried filled the room. Royce followed with two large suitcases and a medium duffle bag.
Nettie sat her box on the kitchen counter and began unloading its delights, while Royce disappeared down the hall with Cliff’s luggage.
Elita sniffed the air. “Something sure smells good, Nettie.”
“Of course it does. I made it.” Nettie showed Cliff a pan filled with homemade cinnamon rolls. “For tomorrow’s breakfast.” She set the rolls and a roaster pan of assorted fried meats on the counter and opened the refrigerator. She pushed two six-packs of beer to one side and filled the fridge with food. “Here’s some meat, a potato salad, sausage and okra gumbo, and a casserole for you boys.” She placed a basket filled with cornbread muffins and hush puppies in the middle of the kitchen table. “This should be enough food for a couple of days.”
Cliff reviewed the mouth-watering bounty. “Nettie, did you forget something?”
She wagged her finger at him. “Clifford Wayne Sutton, have you ever known me to forget anything?”
“Not really.”
Nettie reached inside the box, pulled out a peach cobbler and set it on the table.
A smile spread across Cliff’s face as he inhaled the aroma of the warm cobbler. “Peach cobbler is my favorite.”
The peach delicacy reminded Elita of Jax and his love for peach fried pies.
Nettie picked up the empty box. “If you want ice cream on that, you’ll have to send Royce to the store. I need to get home and cook supper for my Alvin.”
“Sure smells good in here.” Royce walked over to stand across the table from his brother. “I put your suitcases in the front bedroom. Later, I’ll help you put your things away.”
Cliff locked his fingers, slid his hands behind his head. “I’ve got a feeling I’m going to like it here.”
Nettie gave him a light tap on his head. “Don’t think about trying to take advantage of your brother.” She looked at Royce. “If he gives you a whiff of trouble, you call me.”
“I certainly will.” Royce turned his attention to Cliff. “What were you saying about Susan when we came in?”
Cliff straightened. “Nothing. I was talking about my going on a date with Elita’s cousin, Danielle.”
Royce crossed his arms. “And Susan’s name just came up?”
Cliff pointed at Elita. “She has a right to know too.”
“I know about Susan.” All eyes turned toward Elita. “Virginia told me the whole story a few days ago. I know—”
“Shhhhh.” Cliff cut his eyes toward Nettie.
“Don’t you shush Miss Elita.” She gave Cliff’s forearm a little tap with the back of her hand. “I know everything that’s gone on in Sutton Manor for the past forty-two years. I knew Miss Virginia was with child before she realized it herself.” She set the box down. “I took care of her from the minute your grandmother brought her home from the hospital until she married.”
“Did you know who Susan’s daddy was?” Elita asked.
“I knew Virginia loved Matt Dupree, and that he’d gone to war in Korea, never realizing he’d left her with a baby.” Nettie picked up Elita’s hand and patted it several times. “I know it don’t seem fair to you and your family, but in time Miss Susan will come to love your Uncle Matt. He is a mighty fine man, or else Miss Virginia wouldn’t love him so much. But Susan’s daddy will always be Darwin Reed.”
“They’ve always been extremely close,” Cliff added.
“That child is the light of Mr. Darwin’s life.” Nettie sighed. “It takes a mighty good man to raise someone else’s child and to love her as if she was his own flesh and blood.”
A cauldron of mixed emotions, good and bad, churned in Elita’s heart and mind. She had to escape before they bubbled over. “I have to go. Virginia, Susan, and Uncle Matt are coming for supper and I promised Mamaw I’d be back before they arrived. Thanks for everything.” She hugged Nettie and headed for the back door.
“Wait, Elita,” Cliff called. “Aren’t you going to tell us goodbye?”
She turned around. “You behave yourself, Cliff Sutton, and I think you and Dani will get along fine.” Elita looked at Royce hoping he’d say something. She didn’t know what she wanted him to say. Ask her not to go to Chicago. Beg her to come back to Caddo Lake after she finished college. Maybe, she just needed to hear him tell her goodbye.
Royce stood in silence. Staring, almost frowning at her.
Elita yanked the patio door open and sprinted toward the dock.
CHAPTER 29
Royce lingered on the dock until the last water droplets kicked up by the motor on Elita’s boat fell back into the murky waters of Caddo Lake. He trudged back toward the house, his heart as heavy as his footsteps, his mind and emotions at war.
He’d shouted for her to come back, but she’d just kept moving farther away. When reason and logic speculated Elita didn’t return because she couldn’t hear him over the roar of the motor, doubt and despair answered—because you gave her no reason to come back.
If Cliff and Nettie hadn’t arrived early, Royce would have told Elita of his tentative plans about medical school. He should have run after her immediately instead of standing there like a block of ice, frozen by the nightmarish realization he was losing her again and for good this time. Regrets and recriminations raced across his mind as he entered the house.
“Where’s Elita?” Cliff asked as Royce slid open the patio door.
Nettie came around the table. “What did she say?”
“She’d already taken off. I yelled for her to come back, but she couldn’t hear me over the sound of the engine.” Royce slammed his open hand on the table. The bread basket and pan of cobbler wobbled. “I should have done something. Said something. I should’ve—”
“Should’ve, would’ve, could’ve never got anybody anything,” Nettie said. “What I want to know is what are you gonna do about it now?”
“She’s headed for Devin’s Cove.” Cliff twisted in the chair to face his brother. “If you leave now, you can be there when she docks.”
“Can’t do that,” Royce said. “Aunt Virginia told Susan about Matt being her biological father. Our cousin didn’t take it well at first, but after a long talk with Uncle Darwin, Susan decided she wanted to meet her grandmother. That’s what tonight’s dinner is about.”
“Are Elita and Miss Pearl aware that Susan knows the truth now?”Cliff asked.
“I don’t think so.” Royce pulled out a chair and sat. “I can’t interrupt them.”
Cliff rubbed his chin like it was Aladdin’s lamp and he wanted to conjure up the perfect solution. “What did Elita say when you told her you were going back to medical school next year?”
“I didn’t tell her.”
“Why the hell not?” Cliff leaned forward. “You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”
“No, but it’s not that easy.” Royce pulled his chair closer to his brother. “First, I have to train you to take over my job. Then, I need to fill out applications, send transcripts and get letters of recommendation.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “There’s no guarantee I’ll get accepted to any medical school.”
“Bullshit!” Cliff turned to look at Nettie, who stood with arms crossed and eyebrows lifted. Obviously the rule about no cussing in front of her extended to Royce’s home as well. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to curse, but we all know Royce will get accepted somewhere. The University of Texas would take him back in a heartbeat.”
“They may not be that forgiving since I dropped out in the middle of a semester.”
“You went to fight for your country after your fiancée ran off with one of their professors.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to know I have a little brother around to remind me of all my failures.”
“That’s not what I meant. Besides, you’re better off—”
“Clifford Wayne, you’ve said enough.” Nettie pushed the basket of breads toward him. “Eat a hushpuppy, while I pour some tea
. Reckon we all could use somethin’ cold to wet our whistles.”
Cliff raised his hand. “I’ll take a beer, please.”
“You’ll drink ice tea.” She smiled at Royce. “Would you prefer a beer?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Cliff chomped down on a crusty hushpuppy. “Why can Royce have beer, but I can’t?”
“Because you’re on pain medications,” Royce said. “They don’t mix well with alcohol.”
“Hear that Nettie? Big brother is already sounding like a doctor.”
“I taught you not to talk with your mouth full.” Nettie set a bowl and a fork in front of Cliff, sunk a tablespoon deep into the cobbler, and filled the bowl. “My cobbler is better for you than any old beer. Eat, and hush up a minute. Give your brother a chance to think.”
Cliff nodded and reached for the peach delight.
Royce looked down at his hands. His hands had signed million dollar deals, fired a rifle in battle, and applied tourniquets to stem the flow of blood. Yes, his hands had saved some lives, but not all, not Bowler’s.
Running the family business came easy to him. Armed with Darwin’s meticulous calculations, Royce confidently entered the realm of the cut-throat oil industry and always came away with the prize, the lucrative contract. If he didn’t get a contract, the company might lose money, but no one would die. Going back into medicine meant facing victories and failures every day. He wouldn’t be able to save all his patients, no matter how hard he tried. Could he emotionally handle losing people who put their lives in his hands and not internalize their deaths as his failures, as he had done with Bowler’s?
Royce walked over to the picture window and stared out at the woods beyond. “There are too many unknowns. I don’t want to make a promise to Elita until I’m sure I can keep it.”
Nettie poured two glasses of sweet tea, set them on the table, and went to stand next to Royce. “Here’s your beer, honey.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He took a sip, set the bottle on the window sill.
“You’re welcome.” She retrieved a coaster from the kitchen table. “I know your mind is muddled up tryin’ to decide what to do. But Royce, honey, you need to remember the Good Lord has a plan for us all.” She handed him the coaster. “I believe His plan for you was to be a doctor, else why did He give you the gift of wanting to help people?”
Shadows of Home: A Woman with Questions. A Man with Secrets. A Bayou without Mercy Page 29