Women of Washington Avenue

by Linda Apple

  If only I could.

  ****

  For supper Momma went all out. She invited Molly Kate and Stan before we left their house. Then, as soon as she got home, she called Jema and Lexi and asked them over. Of course Felix and Levi were invited, too. You’d never know she was cooking for eighty wedding guests in less than two weeks.

  At the table Scott chose the chair next to Momma and asked her how she cooked each dish. I could see the menu forming in his mind for his next themed dinner party. Too bad there were no green tomatoes to be had. Even so, he loved the fried okra. Momma told him it was Southern popcorn.

  I kept glancing at Lexi and Nathan. Both were behaving which helped me relax a little. Jema sat next to Lexi, thank goodness. Her calm stilled Lexi’s storm. Molly and Stan had their heads together making plans no doubt. Ty, Levi, and Felix discussed the greenhouse goings-on among other things men talk about.

  Finally, Momma stood. “Let’s have coffee and dessert in the parlor. You men go on, the girls and I will bring it to you in a minute.”

  In short order Lexi, Molly, and I had the table cleared and the dishes rinsed and loaded in the dishwasher while Momma and Jema made coffee and cut and plated generous slices of four-layer pecan-coconut cake.

  “Hey Momma?” I nodded toward the parlor. “Make Scott’s extra thick, okay?”

  “Ohhh, yeah. The plan.” Momma grinned and moved her knife over a quarter inch.

  Scott didn’t flinch when I gave him his piece. He dove right in. One would have thought it was his wedding night. He rolled his eyes upwards and groaned with pleasure.

  “Miss Cladie, I must have this recipe.” He lifted his fork and grinned at her. “I have a fabulous idea. Why don’t we write a book together? How about Southern Soirees for the title? You can handle the menus and recipes, and I’ll handle the decorating. How about it, darling?”

  She slapped the tops of her knees and leaned forward. “Let’s.”

  What Momma didn’t understand was that Scott wasn’t kidding. I’d seen that look before. She had no idea what she was in for. Still, it was a good idea.

  The conversation centered around Scott’s proposal until Lexi spoke up.

  “So, Nathan Wolfe. Exactly why are you here?”

  He looked up from his plate, surprise registering on his face. He glanced around the room and cleared his throat. “Well, I suppose you’ve all heard about the kidnapped billionaire from Canada, Matthew Abrams?”

  We all looked at him expectantly, and clueless I might add, except for Levi. His gaze stayed glued to the floor.

  “Of course you haven’t.” Nathan’s face reddened when he realized he had thought out loud. “I mean, it really isn’t big news here in the States, yet.”

  Lexi chimed in. “I think I did hear something about that on the news awhile back.”

  Nathan nodded. “It’s quite a mystery. Like putting together a puzzle. Nothing makes sense. For instance, Mr. Abrams is a large man who had several bodyguards. He wasn’t what one would call an easy target. And yet he vanished into thin air. The bodyguards said they didn’t see anything suspicious, and there was no sign of violence or forced entry at any of his homes.”

  “Maybe it was one of the body guards?” Lexi looked around the room. “Maybe they were bribed.”

  “That has been discussed. But the idea was dismissed.” Nathan ran an appraising eye over Lexi. “I applaud your intuition.”

  Lexi actually blushed.

  Levi alternately checked his watch and rubbed the back of his neck. Jema played checkers with her cake. Something was wrong.

  Nathan continued. “For weeks I’ve been putting together different scenarios about how the kidnapper got to him. Mr. Abrams is a renowned philanthropist, so perhaps the kidnapper earned his trust first. Maybe disguised himself or herself as someone in need? Another thing. The kidnapper left a strange note. I’ve read it so many times looking for clues I have it memorized. It said Mr. Abrams would be well taken care of, in fact, the kidnapper planned on returning him to his family in better shape than when he had taken him. He said the kidnapping was for his own good. He ended it with the statement that the family would just have to trust him.”

  Jema jerked her head up stared at Levi. He cleared his throat. “Miss Cladie, supper was delicious as always. But I have a busy day tomorrow. If you would all excuse me. I think I’ll turn in.”

  He stood, nodded, and strode to the mudroom. Seconds later, the door slammed. Jema jumped up. “Thank you, Miss Cladie, I have to go, too.” She waved at Nathan and Scott. “Nice to meet you boys.” She hurried away, the door slamming soon after.

  Scott grinned. “Well, I think I’m going to like it here in the South. It’s been a while since I’ve been called a boy.”

  Nathan just stared in the direction where Levi and Jema exited. He was onto something, and I had a sick feeling he was right.

  Chapter 18

  JEMA

  Gone

  I jogged to catch up with Levi. “Wait. Please.” He stopped but didn’t turn around. I crossed in front of him. “We need to talk.”

  Never looking up, he simply said, “I know.”

  Taking his hand, I urged him to follow me. “We can’t talk here. Let’s go to my place.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Please. We need to talk.” Fear stung my heart. He couldn’t be the kidnapper. He just couldn’t. He was too kind, too gentle, too… Nathan’s words surfaced to haunt me, perhaps the kidnapper earned his trust first. Maybe disguised himself or herself as someone in need?

  Everything in me cried no. Oh God, please, no.

  He stared at me as if he could see my pain and finally said, “All right, then.”

  When we got to my house, he sank on the couch, and I poured two glasses of wine. He took his and focused on it like a fortune teller stares into a crystal ball.

  I fortified myself with a large swig and then said, “The other day at Lifesource when that limo drove up and you left. Remember?”

  He nodded and took a drink.

  “The man asked me if I’d seen a Mr. Matthew Abrams.”

  Again, he just nodded.

  “Levi? Do you know this man?”

  He drank the rest of his wine. Set the glass down and drilled me with his deep brown eyes. “Do you love me?”

  Well, I didn’t see that coming. I stared at him.

  “I must know. Could you possibly love me? Even though I’m a homeless, penniless, man with no future to speak of except working for Miss Cladie?

  My heart gave me back my voice. “Yes, Levi. I can. I do.”

  “Then I’m going to trust you with a strict confidence. And let me preface it first by saying, things are not always as they seem.” He looked away and rubbed his chin. Then turned back to me. His face was like stone. “Yes. I kidnapped Matthew Abrams.”

  No. I couldn’t breathe. A hum buzzed in my ears.

  He pulled me close and whispered, “Please, trust me. Mr. Abrams is fine. My business with him is finished, and he will soon be free. I’m going away tonight. Please don’t tell anyone you know about my leaving or anything about the kidnapping. They will only make your life miserable.”

  “Levi? Why did you take him?”

  “He asked me to.”

  “He what?”

  Levi leaned over and kissed me before standing. “I can’t say anymore. Only that I love you, Jema.” After one last look, he walked out and disappeared in the dark.

  I stood in a trance at the door when the phone rang. The display said Olivia. I closed the door and answered.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Mom.”

  The sweet voice of my youngest soothed my frazzled emotions. “Hi, baby, how are you? Everything okay?”

  “Yes, great actually. Only...”

  So much for soothed frazzled emotions. My stomach tightened.

  “Only what?”

  “Well, Amanda and I have been invited to Italy
for the holidays by one of our sorority sisters. All expenses paid.”

  “Italy?” Lord knows I wanted to be happy for my daughters. But Italy? I swallowed hard and tried to sound convincing. “How exciting. Of course, Christmas won’t be the same without you, but you would be crazy to pass this up.”

  Her voice softened. “But I’m worried about you, Mom. Spending Christmas alone.”

  My eyes grew hot and moist. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I have Cladie Mae.”

  Our conversation turned to school, grades, her music, and the young man she had met. He played country and western, like her, and they were writing songs together. They even had some gigs lined up at local bars.

  After we hung up, I opened a bottle of wine, poured a glass full, and proceeded to cry for hours.

  The next morning I woke to someone beating on my door. I sat up and ran my hands over my face. My eyes burned from crying through the night, and my head pounded. Between self-pity and worrying about Levi, I’d gotten very little sleep. Thoughts like, what if he were caught freeing Mr. Abrams? What if Mr. Abrams didn’t tell the truth? What if Levi wasn’t telling the truth? What if Levi went to prison?

  Whoever was on the other side of my door kept banging. “All right, all right. I’m coming.” I threw on my fuzzy pink robe and slipped on my matching pink slippers. I looked like the energizer bunny, only I wasn’t very energetic. Shuffling to the door, I swung it open to find Cladie on my porch all wild-eyed.

  “He’s gone.”

  I about said, “I know.” But I remembered Levi’s warning. So instead I played dumb. “Who?”

  “Levi.”

  “How do you know?”

  “He packed his clothes and left.”

  My heart sank, and I wanted to cry. If he got caught and sent to jail I’d never see him again. Cladie speared me with a look. “You know, don’t you?”

  “Know what? I don’t know what you are talking about.”

  She pushed in, took me by the elbow and led me to the kitchen table. “Now you sit there, and I’ll fix us some coffee.” After banging every cabinet I had looking for what she needed, she brewed up Kona Blend and brought over two mugs. As she eased down in the chair, Cladie leaned forward and lowered her voice in a conspiratorial tone. “That boy didn’t kidnap anyone.”

  But he did. I didn’t think I had any more tears left, but once again they streamed down my face. She hurried to my side and gathered me up in her arms and rocked me back and forth with her cheek against my head. “There is a logical explanation for all of this mess. I don’t know what it is. But that boy just doesn’t strike me as a kidnapper. And if he did, well, there is a perfectly good reason.”

  When I’d regained composure, I said, “Cladie, I don’t know what to think about anything right now.”

  “Well, I for one am giving him the benefit of the doubt.” She cocked her head to one side and pursed her lips. “I think Nathan Wolfe had something to do with this. Everyone was fine until he started talking about that kidnapper’s note. And if that Yankee comes in my kitchen asking questions, I’ll give him what for.”

  “Same here. I don’t want him getting all up in my business either.” I laid my face in my hands thanking God that Cladie was convinced of Levi’s innocence. When Nathan began all that nonsense, I could tell everyone swallowed his implication of Levi’s guilt like a fish swallows a hook. I peered up at her and smiled. “Thank you, Cladie.”

  “Don’t you worry, honey. Everything will work out. Just you wait and see.” She slapped the table “Well. This ain’t getting the baby diapered. I’d better go help Felix in the greenhouse.” She rose and said, “I think he’s going to miss Levi.”

  “Yeah. I know.” I stood and hugged her. “Hey, thanks. I needed someone to talk to.”

  She patted my arm. “We’ll stick together on this one, honey.”

  As she made her way across the street, I counted my blessings and thanked God for Cladie, my biggest blessing of all.

  Chapter 19

  LEXI

  Suspicions

  I stared into my makeup mirror and thought about last night. Wow. Levi and Jema sure broke up the party. The way Miss Cladie got to her feet and started clearing dishes, I could tell she was on to something, too. When she escaped to the kitchen, Scott followed her leaving me, Avalee, and Nathan alone in the room.

  Awkward.

  It could have been worse though. While Avalee and I chatted, Nathan sat across from us so preoccupied I don’t think he even knew we were there which gave me plenty of time to give him a thorough going over. I had Googled him earlier and found out he was in his early sixties. I would have never guessed. No doubt about it, he was one fine-looking man. He still had a full head of hair with a fringe of gray at the temples. His eyebrows were a little bushier than I liked, an easy fix. I decided to suggest a trim when I got to know him better. The expression in his eyes fascinated me the most. No matter who spoke, he pierced them with his icy blue stare as if reading between the lines of what they were saying, as if trying to read their thoughts. I guess that’s what makes him a world famous reporter.

  Ack, I hated it when I reminded myself of that little tidbit of information. Heat rose up my neck and burned my face every time I thought about it.

  He had a nice jaw line even though age had softened it. And he was in great physical shape, something I noticed right away. Clearly, he was above average intelligence, which irritated me. I hate people who are always right. However, everything considered, he wasn’t bad. Not bad at all.

  I glanced at the clock. Shoot. If I didn’t get a move on, I’d be late—again. Nathan said he wanted to drop by the office this morning. This called for me looking better than normal. No. I had to look fabulous.

  By the time I finished choosing what to wear, there wasn’t a single thing in my closet that remained on a hanger. I decided on my black Chico pants because they made me look slimmer, a candy apple red cowl-neck sweater for pop, a wide black belt that made my waist look thinner, and black high-heeled boots that made me look taller. I took extra pains with my hair and makeup too. After one last swipe of red lipstick, I was out the door.

  On the way to work it occurred to me it really didn’t matter if I was late. When I told Vince that Nathan planned on dropping by, he’d be putty in my hands. Therefore, I decided to make a quick stop at Molly Kate’s shop for a latte.

  When I walked in the office, Vince stared over the round rims of his glasses like a snake preparing to strike. It was hard to be intimidated when his bald head reflected the fluorescent light above him.

  “Late again, Lowe.”

  Oh, I was so hoping he’d say that. I leaned against his door and studied my nails. “Well, I guess I could have told Nathan Wolfe I didn’t have time for coffee and no, he couldn’t possibly drop by later this morning.”

  “Nathan Wolfe? Coming here?”

  “I believe that’s what I said.” Batting my eyes. “But I could call and cancel. In fact, I will as soon as I get to my office.” I waggled my fingers and started down the hall.

  Vince jumped up and followed me so close he nearly wore my boots. “Do that and you are fired.”

  He turned on his heel and ran down the hall barking orders to everyone within ear shot, “Clean this place up, look smart, look busy, get all those crappy tchotchkes off your desks, look professional, for crying out loud.”

  Well, that ought to keep you busy for a while. I settled at my desk and sipped my Cinnamon Dolce while the computer powered up. When I clicked on email, I sucked coffee into my lungs which sent me into a fit of coughing. Nine hundred responses to my last column? No way. I scrolled through them, scanning the first lines. Most were from men. Men! Men actually read my column? Several were from mistresses, too. I hated to admit it—again—but Nathan was right.

  Ty stuck his head in the door. “Hey. What’s up with Vince?”

  “Nathan Wolfe is coming by.”

  “Oh. Great. I don’t like the guy.”

&
nbsp; “And why is that?”

  “The way he zeroed in on Levi, like a heat-seeking missile. No wonder the guy skipped town.”

  “Skipped town? Levi left?”

  Ty clomped over and dropped in the seat by my desk. “Yup. Packed up and gone.”

  “But Nathan hardly said a word to him.”

  “He could have carved marble with that stare of his. And he zeroed it fully on Levi. For some reason, Levi was in his crosshairs. I think he tried to intimidate him.”

  “Oh, you’re imagining things.”

  Before Ty could answer, the phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Lexi. Nate here.” I mouthed, Nathan, to Ty. He stood, waved, and left.

  “Hi Nate.”

  “Mind if I drop by on my way to Jackson?”

  “If you don’t, I fear for my job.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You’ll understand when you get here. Go north on Main and take a left on Martin Luther King Boulevard. The paper is on the corner of MLK and State Street.”

  “Okay. Be there as soon as I finish this enormous breakfast Miss Cladie has placed before me.”

  “Enjoy.”

  I hung up the phone and went to warn Vince. In all my years of knowing him, I’ve never seen him so frantic.

  “Vince. Calm down.” Sweat coursed down his face and large damp rings had formed under his arms. “Do you have another shirt in your office?”

  “No, but I have a few at the dry cleaners ready for picking up.”

  “Thank goodness. Have someone run and get them. In the meantime freshen up. Splash your face and put on some deodorant for crying out loud. Got any?”

  “Yeah, I keep a ditty bag in my desk.”

  “Good. As soon as your shirts get here, put one on. Nathan will be here after breakfast. You should have a good thirty minutes.”

  “Oh Jeez.” He cast anxious glances around and zeroed in on Greg, the mailroom guy. “Greg, run down to the dry cleaners and get my shirts. There’s fifty dollars in it for you if you can get back in ten minutes.” Nothing more needed to be said. All we saw were the soles of Greg’s shoes.