by Donna Hill
“No. I’m good. Just the check.”
She nodded. “Be right back.” Once he had his check there would be no reason for him to stay. She could only stall for so long. What if she didn’t see him again? Why was it even important if she did? She punched in the information for his bill. There was a solidness about Justin, a confidence and warmth that couldn’t be manufactured. She stole a look in his direction. She wanted to get to know him, and she knew deep in her soul that he was feeling the same vibe.
“Here’s your check.” She placed the bill in front of him.
He took a look at the bill. If he paid with his credit card, she’d know who he was. He wasn’t ready to cross that line yet. He wanted to get to know her on his terms without the distraction of the Lawson name. Bailey seemed down to earth, a regular woman with a good head on her shoulders, but they all did in the beginning. He needed to give this some time. He plucked his wallet from his inside jacket pocket and took out a fifty and a twenty.
“I’ll bring your change.”
“Keep it.”
Her brows flicked. “Thanks.”
“Sure,” he said quietly.
Justin pushed back and stood. “How many nights are you here?” he asked.
She blinked. “Oh, um, most nights, except Sunday and one Saturday a month.”
“In that case, I’ll see you again. If that’s okay.”
“Sure. I’d like that.”
He gave her the full benefit of his smile that caused the lights to dance in her eyes. “See you soon, Bailey.”
“Take care.” He walked around the tables to the front and out the door. And for whatever crazy reason, he already missed her smile.
Chapter 3
Bailey chopped a bushel of collard greens while Addison seasoned a tub of crawfish. Addison had a bachelor party that she was catering for on the weekend, and there was still fish to fry and sticky rice to make.
“So, he was cute, huh?” Addison asked.
“More than cute.”
“Did you give him your number?”
“Of course not.” She paused. “He didn’t ask, but he did say he wanted to see me again.”
“That’s a start. What does he do?”
“Lawyer.”
“Jackpot!”
Bailey laughed. “You would say that.”
“Well, it’s true, but what’s more important is that you actually took an interest in somebody.” She glanced at Bailey from the corner of her eye. “It’s been a long time since Adam. All you do is work and take care of your selfish family. When is it going to be your time?”
“Addy, don’t start.”
Addison stopped with her seasoning and propped her hand on her hip. “You know it’s true, B. Your sisters drain the life out of you. You have bills up the you know what and no daylight in sight. You need someone—for you. Maybe this guy is it.”
“I’m not looking for some man to take care of me, Addy. I won’t be my mother.” Her features tightened.
Addison flinched. Men. Money. Mom. The three Ms that remained a bone of contention for Bailey, and no amount of prodding or coaxing had changed any of it. She pushed out a breath of apology. “Sorry. I don’t mean to... I just know how hard things can be for you. How hard they are.” She reached out and touched Bailey’s arm. “I’m your girl, Bailey. I only want you to be happy. That’s all.”
Bailey lowered her gaze. “I know,” she murmured. She slowly shook her head. “Did I tell you that Tory called?”
“How much did she want this time?”
“Twelve hundred.”
“What! Bailey...”
Bailey held up her hand. “Don’t say it, okay? I know.”
“Tory has got to stand on her own two feet, and she never will if you keep bailing her out.”
Bailey spun toward Addison. “She’s my sister. I can’t just...” She covered her face with her hands.
Addison came to her side and put her arm around her shoulder. “Sweetie, when it’s not Tory it’s Apryl with her man-crazy self. You can’t continue to carry them on your shoulders. They’re living their lives. When are you going to live yours? What about going back to law school? How are you going to manage that if you keep...” She blew out a breath of utter frustration.
“I made a promise to myself when my mother died. I promised that I would look after my sisters.”
“And that’s what you’ve been doing. You put your entire life on hold, dropped out of school, worked like a field hand to take care of them and pick up their broken pieces over and over. It’s your time, damn it!” She slapped down the towel on the counter.
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” She focused on the sink full of greens, wishing that it would turn into dollars and make all her troubles go away. But money wasn’t the answer. Her mother was proof of that. But what Addison said was true. She knew that, as well. She did want someone in her life, someone to take care of her for a change, make her feel wanted, needed and loved. If she was waiting on that from her family, she knew she’d be waiting a very long time.
“What’s next?” Bailey asked, shaking the water off the greens and putting them in a giant pot of seasoned steaming water.
Addison looked at her friend and saw the resolute expression in the tight line of her mouth and knew that the subject of Bailey and her family drama was closed.
“The fish needs to be dredged in the seasoning.”
“Got it.”
They worked in silence for a while; the only sound was the boiling water and busy hands.
“I hope he comes back again,” Bailey said in a near whisper. She slid a glance in Addison’s direction.
Addison grinned. “She lives!”
* * *
Every night for the next two weeks Bailey went to work with the hopes of seeing Justin again. Each night ended in disappointment.
He wasn’t coming back. He talked a good game and that was it. What would a high-priced lawyer want with a bartender/would-be law student? This was why she didn’t get involved, didn’t hope for anything more than light conversation to pass the time. If you didn’t expect anything, you couldn’t be fooled or disappointed. But he’d seemed genuinely interested in her. It was probably her own need that she thought she saw reflected in him. Nothing more. He was no different from Adam. She pressed her hand to her stomach. No different.
* * *
“Hey, Bailey, it’s Addy.”
Bailey smiled. “Like you really have to tell me who you are. How long have we known each other—third grade?” She curved her body into the contours of her armchair and draped her leg across the arm.
“Must I remind you not to remind me how long we’ve known each other? It’s much too long, and we couldn’t possibly be as old as that third grade friendship would make us.”
Bailey snickered. “Whatever, girl.” She rested the novel that she’d been reading on her lap, and actually turned it facedown as if Addison could see that she was reading the steamy scene of a romance novel. “Whats up?”
“I’m in a jam.”
Bailey shifted her position. Her senses went on alert. Addison was the most together person she knew. If Addy was in a jam, what hope did she have? “A jam. What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine. Relax. I’m in a jam because I have a mega big party to cater this weekend, and I’m short staffed. One of my bartenders has the flu, and a hostess is preggers. So I’m crossing my eyes, my fingers and toes that you’re free this weekend to help out. Pretty please.”
“Addy, you don’t have to ask twice. As strapped as I am for cash—I’ll be there. What day, time and where?”
“Saturday night. I need you at least by seven. Can you swing that with Vince?”
“I’ll make it work.
I’ll do the early shift. Where is this shindig?”
“At the Lawson mansion. They are throwing an 85th birthday party for the family patriarch. The guest list is loaded with Louisiana’s who’s who, athletes, television and movie stars, the works. So I know tips are going to be off the charts.”
“The Lawsons...the father is Senator Lawson, right?”
“Yes.”
“You done made it to the big time, girl. Count me in.”
Addison breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks. I’ll text you the address. Maybe if we get lucky we’ll land us a rich ballplayer or something.”
“Whatever,” she chuckled. “See you Saturday. And don’t forget to text me the info.”
“Will do. Thanks again.”
“Not a problem.” Bailey disconnected the call, feeling a bit brighter in spirit. She could use every extra penny, so this job could not have come along at a better time. She picked up her novel and dived in with gusto. At least she could live vicariously through the love lives of the characters.
Surprisingly, Vincent had given her a bit of a hard time when she told him she would be switching shifts. They’d actually had a real back and forth until he finally conceded. It was so unlike him, at least with her. She knew he was overworked, but she carried her end and more. It had to be something else. Their little verbal sparring was days earlier and even though he’d said everything was fine, he remained distant with her, barely looking at her when he did speak, and then his conversation was minimal at best.
Well, whatever mood he was in, he would get over it, she thought as she hustled out of the Mercury Lounge to run home and change. The Lawson mansion was at the edge of the parish where the plantations once dominated the landscape. It would take her at least a half hour to get there from her house barring any Saturday night traffic.
* * *
When she finally pulled onto the street where the mansion was located, her eyes widened in awe. The sprawling lawn that had to be several acres in size was dotted with white tents that protected circular tables covered in white linen and topped with purple orchids. Red-vested valets were busy parking the cars that had already begun to arrive. Twinkling lights were strung through the overhanging trees that gave the entire space a fairy-tale feel. Soft music came from some unseen source and wafted across the warm night air.
Wow was all she could manage as a valet came to park her car after asking if she had an invitation. She could not imagine herself being invited to a place like this. Working here, maybe, but invited... It was so out of touch with her reality.
She turned over her keys, gathered her belongings and walked up the slight incline to the main entrance. If she thought only the outside was fabulous, she was sadly mistaken. The interior of the Lawson mansion was clearly out of some designer’s dream. It had the influence of the antebellum age with all of the modern twists. Stunning chandeliers spewed diamond-like light across the gleaming wood floors. The winding staircase looked as if it could lead to heaven and beyond. Long tables lined the walls on three sides, covered from end to end with silver-covered platters. There was a small raised landing set up for a band that was tuning up their instruments. Two bars were on either side of the room with an additional bar on the patio. The wide-open layout added to the feeling of spaciousness that allowed for a magnificent view of the entire ground floor. The back wall was all glass and opened onto an amazing deck and more acreage, a pool and additional outside seating.
The house was buzzing with staff, and the heady aroma of food momentarily made her dizzy when she realized that she hadn’t eaten since lunchtime.
“There you are! I was getting worried.” Addison grabbed Bailey by the arm. “They’re keeping the guests outside for the time being. Girl, I might be in over my head.”
Bailey glanced at Addison and actually saw panic in her eyes. “Why, what’s wrong?”
She lowered her voice. “I’ve never done anything this big or this important before. Suppose something goes wrong?”
Bailey squeezed Addison’s hand and looked her straight in the eye. “They’re just people who want to have a good time. You are a kick-ass caterer with an amazing staff and...you got me.” She grinned, and the tight line between Addison’s eyes softened.
Addison released a breath. “That’s what I needed to hear.”
“Good. Now, where do you want me?”
* * *
Within the hour, the front doors were opened for the guests, and the party was in full swing.
Bailey mixed a martini and handed it to the quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, followed by a gin and tonic for the morning show host for the NBC affiliate. Addison was right about the guest list. In the short time since the doors opened, Bailey had spotted several familiar faces from reality television, not to mention two Oscar winners. Addison was also right about the amount of work. They could barely keep up at the bar. She shifted her duties from one side of the room to the other and also supervised the bar outside. That didn’t include keeping up with refilling the flutes of champagne that the waiters carried on trays. Rich folks sure could drink.
She had yet to spot the guest of honor, but she did get a glimpse at a few of the Lawson clan that was pointed out to her by one of the other bartenders. They were certainly a good-looking family. What did it take to be this wealthy, to be on a first-name basis with people that she only read about? This was so not her world.
The steady hum of voices and trilling laughter mixed with the four-piece combo that had taken the stage. Couples bejeweled and bedecked made their way to the dance floor while others continued to mingle and network, eat and drink.
She looked up to take yet another order and stopped cold. It was Justin. He was heart-stopping in his tailored black tie ensemble. She couldn’t breathe. He was walking right in her direction with a stunning woman glued to his arm. What was he doing here? Her heart hammered, and she accidentally splashed vodka on the counter instead of in the glass. She quickly got a damp cloth to clean up the spill just as Justin and his date approached.
“Bailey?”
She shoved the rag under the bar. Her gaze jumped from his surprised expression to the cover model face of his date that looked more annoyed than anything else.
“What can I get you?”
“I had no idea...”
“I’ll have a cosmopolitan,” his date said, cutting him off.
Justin shot her a sharp look. Her brows arched as if to ask what?
Bailey got busy making the drink. Her hands shook.
“How have you been?”
“Fine,” she murmured. She finished the drink and placed it in front of his date.
“You’re chummy with the help now? That’s so like you, Justin.” She lifted her drink to her polished, plump lips.
“Jasmine!” he snapped.
Bailey was mortified.
He was about to say something to Bailey when a richly accented Louisiana drawl voice came over the microphone.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?”
By degrees the room quieted.
“I want to welcome each of you to my home to celebrate the 85th birthday of my father, Clive Lawson.”
There was a rousing round of applause.
Branford Lawson gazed out at the throng, clearly comfortable addressing a crowd. “Before we continue with the festivities, I want the members of the family to come on up.”
Jasmine tugged on Justin’s arm. Justin threw a look at Bailey from over his shoulder and mouthed, “I’m sorry,” before walking away.
“First I want to introduce the family of Clive Lawson,” Branford announced. “My sister, Jacqueline, my uncles Paul and Jake Lawson, their offspring Craig, Miles, Alyse, Sydni, Devon and Conner and my brother David’s son, Maurice.”
One by one they each stepped up onto the p
latform, one more gorgeous than the next.
“And my brood—my eldest Rafe, my daughters Lee Ann, Desiree and Dominique and last but surely not least, my youngest son, Justin.”
Bailey’s mouth dropped open. Justin was a Lawson. Her temples began to pound.
“My father and my mother, Sylvia, God rest her soul, made all of this possible. He set the foundation for the Lawson family, and I hope that we have made and will continue to make him proud by carrying on the great tradition of the Lawson family. Happy birthday, Dad.” Branford raised his glass as did all of the guests as Clive Lawson slowly made his way to the front of his family.
Clive Lawson, even at eighty-five, was a powerfully built man. He still had a head full of snow-white hair, and the hard lines etched in his deep brown face told of his years of intense work and struggle, but the sparkle in his eyes told the real story. Pride.
Branford handed the microphone to Jacqueline, who passed it to her father.
Clive took in the eager faces. “Thank ya’ll for coming. I ’preciate it.” He nodded his head while he formed the words. “A man’s family is his legacy, and I couldn’t be more proud of mine.” He glanced behind him and smiled at his assembled family. “I know I can’t be here forever, but when I do leave, I know that I’ve done all I could. All I’ve ever asked is that my children and their children be true to themselves and make things better for the next. Thank ya’ll again. Now, let’s party!”
The room erupted in cheers and applause as the family stepped away from the stage, and the guests swarmed around Clive to wish him congratulations.
Addison appeared next to Bailey. “Big family, huh?”
Bailey was still in stunned silence.
Addison nudged her with her elbow. “Hey, you okay?”
“It’s him.”
“Him who?”
“Justin. The Justin that I told you about.”
Addison’s eyes widened. “Say what? Your Justin is the Justin Lawson?”
Bailey numbly nodded her head. “Yeah, the Justin Lawson.”
Chapter 4