by Ali Vali
“If it was a competition then I’d say Mom won hands down,” Ralph said. “She’s a lot better than that biatch Kara.”
“Spoken like a true dog.”
“Hey, Mom said it was all right to be a dog if you aren’t married, you aren’t obnoxious about it, and you don’t make any promises you aren’t going to keep. I’m going to make the most of that while I can.”
“First you have to get girls to realize you’re alive and breathing. Then you can go on and start your dog career, Casanova.”
“I’m sure you’re doing so much better,” he said as he bumped hips with her.
“Maybe I am.”
They sat on either side of Libby, Ralph engrossed in his game and Bailey moving her foot in time to the music playing in her ear. Libby smiled at their conversation and resumed reading the files on her lap. Pasco had finished his report with one piece still missing. After searching for weeks, he still couldn’t find any information about a six-month span in Kara’s history.
Libby was now finalizing a roster of the names of people working in the surgical ward the day that Evangeline had died. They were beginning depositions in the coming week, and Tully wanted to make sure to talk to everyone who had been even a mile away from Kara’s suite.
“Hey, Libby, can I talk to you about something?” Ralph asked when she put her stuff down and reached for a soda.
“Sure, whatcha got?”
“Bailey and me, we’ve been talking.”
“Should I be afraid?” Libby asked with a smile.
“Things are like way different now, so we decided that if we’re going to make changes, they should be radical. Mom’ll probably be cool with what we want, but we thought if you were on our side, it’d be that much easier to talk her into it.”
“Talk her into what exactly?” Libby asked, her eyes on Bailey, who had removed her earpieces and gave her a smile that could only be described as sweet and innocent.
“We want you to help us convince Mom to sell the house.”
“Would you like me to convince her to shave her head while I’m at it?” Libby asked incredulously. “Why would you two want to move?” she asked Bailey this time.
“If you and Mom are together, I’m sure you have to know how you got here. What you may not know is where she’s sleeping at night.”
“Explanation, please.”
“She treats the master bedroom like it’s radioactive, so don’t expect her to go all goony on you in there. If you want a legit shot at making this work you’ll agree with our plan.”
“Guys, you have to know how much I care about your mom, but do you think a move this big is any of my business?”
“If you want to stay with her, then you’d better learn to jump in and speak up. Mom won’t put up with you letting her make all the big decisions,” Ralph said. “We’re a team. Don’t you want to be a part of that?”
A moment later Libby heard Tully’s car screech into the driveway and the door close just a little too hard.
“Are you in?” Bailey asked.
“Sure. It sounds like she had a great breakfast meeting, so this would be a good time to spring this on her. I’m sure she’ll be easy to talk into packing up and moving.” Libby reached over and knocked the front of Bailey’s baseball cap down before doing the same thing to Ralph’s. “I promise I’ll talk to her about it if you two really want me to, but let me find out what happened this morning.”
As Tully walked through the gate, the outcome of her meeting was obvious.
“This might be a guess on my part, but I’m thinking it didn’t go well. How about you stay put and I’ll go calm her down.”
“Oh, man, if there was a food fight I would have loved to be there to see Mom’s face when those pants got messed up. She hates spilling stuff on her clothes,” Bailey said when Libby stood and tugged her bathing suit down in the back.
“Okay, guys, you may hear a little screaming, but don’t send in reinforcements unless I ask for them,” Libby said.
As she headed upstairs she heard Tully muttering and stepped into the guest room to see her taking off her shoes and tossing them onto a towel in apparent disgust. Her sock and left loafer were soaked with what appeared to be syrup. Without a word Libby went into the bathroom to get another towel for the rest of Tully’s clothes.
“Should I even ask, or would you rather stew?” she asked as she threw the towel next to Tully and stood in front of her.
Tully laughed when Libby picked a piece of tomato from the front of her shirt. “You’re just a riot, darlin’.”
“It appears like you’ve been in a riot, sweetheart.” She pulled the polo shirt out of Tully’s pants and kept going, removing it and throwing it onto the towel. “I know she was mad at you, but this is ridiculous.”
Tully had to laugh at the methodical way Libby was working on getting her undressed. “No, she gave in to everything I asked. The new additions to my wardrobe came when the crazy bitch she’s sleeping with joined in the fun.”
“Kara showed up? Why?”
“Not because I invited her, I can assure you.”
Tully explained what had happened, and they were both laughing as she described Jessica’s demeanor when the same police officer that had written up the report at the house the day she’d caught them in bed showed up at the café. When Tully passed on the chance to press charges again, Jessica had paid for the damages in an effort to get them out of there before anything else happened.
“Can you handle the pants by yourself or do you need help?” Libby asked.
“Ooh, my day’s improving by the second with offers like that. Let me get my suit on and I’ll join you outside.” Tully started for the master bedroom where she still kept her clothes.
Libby followed her and leaned on the dresser while she was in the closet. “Honey, why haven’t you moved back in here?”
“Because I haven’t been able to convince our parish priest to come over and perform an exorcism on the bed.”
From the way she said it, Libby didn’t think she was kidding.
“I know it makes me appear weak, but I can’t just forget.”
“Do you trust me enough to tell me what exactly happened that day you came home?”
After a few minutes Tully had changed clothes, and she came out with a T-shirt over her bathing suit. With her eyes on the bed she told the story for the first time, leaving out no detail. Though the mess had been cleaned long ago and the rumpled sheets thrown away, from the way Tully described the betrayal in vivid detail, Libby could tell it was etched into her mind.
“It makes me sound like a pansy, I know, but I’d rather do my next opening statement in a thong than sleep in here.”
“Now that you’ve put that image in my head, I really need a swim, sexy.” Libby moved closer and put her hands behind Tully’s neck. “I have a solution for your problem, if you care to hear it.”
“It isn’t you and I making love in here to dispel the bad memories, is it?”
Libby dropped her head to Tully’s chest, knowing from the familiar heat that she was blushing. “Behave or else. The kids are right outside.”
“If that’s what you had in mind, I’d rather go back to the guest room to try it out. It’s stupid to hate a room, but I hate this one.”
“The kids mentioned this little problem, and after listening to your story I have to agree with them. We think you should sell the house.”
“I just paid for half of it again. Couldn’t you and your partners in crime have mentioned that before I had the check drawn up?” Tully kissed the top of her head and pinched her butt. “And where do you and the geniuses outside think we should move to?”
“I think we should go about it the same way I found my great new place.”
“Look at rat-infested dives, then all decide to move into the pool house?”
“Something like that, smart-ass.” Libby could understand what Ralph had said about speaking up and giving an opinion. Tully seemed to
want and expect that from a partner. If the Badeaux family was indeed a team, Libby really wanted to join it.
Chapter Eighteen
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Libby asked for the fourth time.
The kids had returned to their toys and music, only now they were enjoying them from the backseat of the Explorer, oblivious to the conversation going on in the front.
“I’m positive this is a good idea. It has to happen sometime, and today’s as good a day as any,” Tully said. “Trust me, honey, they’re going to love you.”
After Tully had changed they had talked to the kids together about what they wanted, then spent the rest of the afternoon by the pool, grilling burgers before the sun set. They were cleaning up when the phone rang, and Alma had invited them to Sunday lunch. Before she said yes, Tully talked it over with Libby, trying to convince her to join them.
When Tully called her mother back and told her to set another place at the table, she sat back and answered the litany of questions that arose from having someone new in her life. Alma seemed satisfied when Tully finally explained that Libby was as different from Jessica as a trout was from a catfish.
“If it helps keep your mind off it, let’s talk about something more important,” Tully said.
“Meeting your mother ranks up there, if you ask me.” Libby smoothed down her simple sundress with her right hand and clutched Tully’s hand with her left.
“Not as important as what I’m thinking about.”
Libby swiveled in her seat so she could study Tully’s profile, enjoying her relaxed smile. “What are you thinking about?”
“Our first date. It should be something memorable, don’t you think?”
“That’s true.” Libby lifted Tully’s hand and kissed her knuckles, laughing when she heard retching noises coming from the backseat. Bailey had obviously spotted what she’d done. “We’ve been to dinner and lunch a bunch of times, but that was before you really noticed me.” She kissed Tully’s hand again.
“You must be delusional if you think I never noticed you. You’re like a triple chocolate sundae someone places in front of you. The willpower not to take a bite might last longer than you think, but hell if you don’t notice it sitting there.”
“Nice way of putting it. I don’t ever think I’ve been compared to ice cream before.”
“I was talking more about the temptation, but back to what we were discussing. For what I have in mind for our first date, I’m glad we’re headed to my parents’ place today.” Tully turned into her folks’ long drive and stopped in front of the house. “Libby, would you like to go out with me next Saturday night?” Tully put the truck in park and leaned closer to her.
“I’d love to.” Libby gladly accepted the sweet kiss that Tully placed on her lips, then just as quickly groaned.
“Ooh, Gran saw that one,” Bailey said a bit too gleefully.
“Just remember something, Bailey Bean,” Tully said.
“What, that I’m going to enjoy the teasing that’s about to begin?”
Tully turned fully in her seat and smiled. “Not by a long shot, kid. You should remember that, at sixteen, your first date shouldn’t be too long in coming. Unless I’m wrong, Libby and I’ll be there to greet this lucky person, and today will be in the forefront of our minds. Right, darlin’?”
Libby kissed the side of Tully’s head before looking back at Bailey. “Count on it.”
“Ralph, we should’ve thought this over before we told them how we didn’t mind them going out.”
He laughed as he opened the door and jogged up the stairs to greet Alma.
Until then Alma had been content to stand and watch what was happening in the vehicle. Libby certainly seemed more affectionate than Jessica. The size of Tully’s smile when Libby kissed her temple released the knot of worry Alma carried around for her. From the time she was born, Tully had been extremely giving of herself. When she’d brought Jessica home, the first thing that jumped out about her was how standoffish she was. Life was too short not to enjoy the simple things like holding someone’s hand.
When Tully walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for Bailey and Libby, Libby immediately reached for Tully’s hand.
As Alma hugged Ralph she smiled, relishing her feeling of joy. She had always wanted Tully to have as much happiness as she could cram into her life, and her daughter hadn’t seemed very fulfilled while she was with Jessica.
Then Alma opened her arms to Libby and hugged her. “I’ve been waiting for you for a very long time,” she whispered in her ear. She held her just long enough, then moved to greet Bailey and Tully.
“Mama, you jumped a little ahead of me here, but this is Libby Dexter. Libby, my mother Alma.”
“Sometimes if a woman has to wait on you, Tully Badeaux, the world could come to an end. Am I right, Libby?” Alma laughed at the cute blush that colored Libby’s face. “Tully, why don’t you show Libby around the place, and Ralph and Bailey can stay and help me. Your father’s across the street fixing something, so make sure to stop and tell him to get up here and clean up.”
“You want me to do that, Gran?” Ralph asked.
“Sure, take Bailey with you and make sure to watch out for cars on that road.”
“If you need help with lunch, Mrs. Badeaux, I’d be happy to pitch in,” Libby offered.
“I’ll get you all to myself soon enough, honey, so enjoy some time with Tully. Take a walk and I’ll be happy.”
Tully took Libby’s hand and headed to the row of oak trees in the backyard, where she pointed out the large bayou across the main road into town and the lake out back. The large violet water lilies scattered across the surface gave good cover to the fish Gaston had stocked the shallow lake with for his grandchildren to enjoy. A swing that he had made when his children were little hung from the tree closest to the water.
“See, you were worried over nothing. My mother loves you already, I can tell.”
“She’s really sweet.”
After they’d settled on the swing, Libby gazed out at the water, thinking that although she was happy Alma liked her, she really wanted someone else to love her.
Not too much time had passed since they had admitted their feelings, but Libby already knew how strongly she felt about Tully. She wondered how Tully would react when she revealed the depth of her feelings.
Tully stretched her arm along the back of the swing, then moved closer to Libby. She remembered sitting here alone with Bailey about a month after she was born. Jessica had stayed in the city, not liking the country, much less her family. Tully had first talked to Alma about her sexual orientation here and had held her children in this swing to talk to them about their futures for the first time.
“I’m glad you came with me today,” Tully said.
“At the risk of sounding totally sappy, I’m glad for every moment I spend with you.” Libby pulled Tully’s hand over her shoulder and kissed the palm. “It’s beautiful out here. I can see why you like coming.”
“That it is, but that’s not why I wanted to bring you.”
The swing swayed gently as Tully pushed them with her feet, Libby having folded her legs under her so she could lean farther into Tully.
“Why did you, then?”
“I’ve done some of the most important things in my life right here.” Tully moved Libby so she was almost resting across her chest. “I’ve learned that life consists of certain moments. I tell the kids all the time that how you handle those moments produces everlasting consequences.”
“Do you think overall you’ve handled those moments well?”
“Obviously they couldn’t all be good, but most of them turned out for the best. I have the love of my parents and family, I have my children, and because of you, I have the opportunity for a second chance. It’s maybe too early to say this, but I love you.”
“Could you say that again?” Libby pressed her lips to Tully’s neck and seemed to stop breathing.
&
nbsp; “I love you, Libby. You might have been alone for a long time now, but you never will be again, if you don’t want to. If you’re not ready, I’m not going to push.”
“Oh no, you can’t take it back now.” She raised her head and quickly kissed Tully. “I may be your second chance, but you’re mine too. I’ve been waiting a long time to hear you say that. I love you too.”
“I’ll have to add to my list of firsts out here,” Tully said before she kissed her again.
“What do you mean?”
“My first kiss.”
“I would’ve thought—”
Tully kissed her for a long sweet time. “Nope. I always thought the first person I kissed out here should be special. And you are.”
“Thank you for sharing that with me, but I don’t understand why Jessica wasn’t that person.”
“That’s easy to answer. Though we were together for a long time, she detested spending time out here with me.” She waved to encompass the area. “Not out here, but coming out to visit my family. Granted, she and my folks are worlds apart, but she never really tried to build a relationship with them.”
“I’ve only spent a few minutes with your mom, but I don’t think you’re going to have the same problem with me. Any woman who raised you has to be special enough for me to want to get to know her,” Libby said before she moved back to Tully’s lips.
They sat and swung together until Alma came out to find them for lunch.
Chapter Nineteen
“Talk to me, Pasco,” Tully said as she propped her feet on the coffee table in her office and leaned back with the file he’d put together so far. Three months of digging and he still hadn’t finished.
“You have everything we’ve got so far,” he said. “There are still some holes, which we’re working on. You know me well enough to know we won’t give up until we get you the timeline you’re after.”
Her office door opened and she laughed as Libby walked in carrying a mug. In fact, she chuckled every time Libby came in with coffee, because it reminded her of the day she’d showed Libby the break room. Tully really hadn’t been kidding about the espresso machine.