by Sala, Sharon
“I know about the remodeling. The boys told me what you were doing and yes, my feet are healing.”
He softened his voice and added a touch of dismay to the question. “Don’t you want to come home?”
“Yes, but I don’t know if I can trust you.”
He laughed. “Darlin’ Delle, you’ve never trusted me, and it didn’t stop us from making some damn fine kids and a life together.”
She smiled in spite of herself. He was right. She had never felt safe—not really—and that had always been the draw.
“You know what I mean,” she said.
He shifted gears quickly. “Yes, of course I know what you mean. Just come home. You’ll see what I did just for you. Will you? Will you come home?”
He waited, and when he heard her sigh, he knew he was getting to her.
“I want to,” Delle said. “I think I have to. I don’t really belong anywhere else.”
He chuckled. “That’s my girl. When do you want me to come get you?”
“Brendan will bring us home.”
It wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but he wasn’t going to argue when everything was beginning to fall back in place.
“Okay, so when are you coming? I ask because I want to restock the groceries.”
“Tomorrow. I’ll ask him to bring us home tomorrow.”
“That’s fabulous! I can’t wait to get my woman home and back in my bed.”
“I’ll be home. We’ll talk about the bed. My feet are still very tender.”
“Yeah sure, I understand. I love you, Delle, and I’m sorry.” He waited, listening for another sigh, and when it came, he knew he had her.
“I love you, too,” she said and ended the call.
Anson hung up the phone and then rolled over and laughed out loud.
Unaware of how she was being played, Delle looked down at the baby-pink skin on her feet and thought about what she was doing. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was right. It was time to let Brendan get back to his own life and quit worrying about theirs.
****
Brendan was at the kitchen table on his laptop, still scanning job sites when he heard his mama’s phone ring. Claudette was changing loads of laundry, and the gumbo she’d started earlier was an aromatic promise of things to come. A few moments later, Linny came wandering up the hall and into the kitchen, dragging Rabbit by one arm. Brendan saw the expression on her face and closed his laptop.
“What’s wrong, sugar?”
She went limp against his shoulder as she tucked Rabbit under her chin.
“Mama told me to answer her phone. It was Daddy. He’s going to tell her to come home, and he’s going to lie about being good to her.”
He thought about how she’s phrased that, as if she knew the future before it happened. “I thought you were ready to go home.”
When she looked up, Brendan saw past the child to the old soul beneath. “Mama’s ready, and I go with Mama,” she said.
“Are you scared?”
She shrugged again. “I don’t want them to fight.”
He thought of all the nights when he and his brothers were little, and how they had huddled under their covers listening to battles that often went on until daybreak. They’d lived through it and she would, too. Still, it hurt him to think of the years of turmoil ahead of her.
“How about we get a cold pop and some cookies?”
Linny smiled. “Can I have two cookies?”
He laughed. “Queen Belinda, ever the negotiator. Yeah sure, why not? You get the cookies and I’ll get the pop.”
She headed for the cookie jar, her mood seemingly forgotten, but Brendan hadn’t forgotten. He could hear his mother’s voice, although he couldn’t hear the actual conversation. It didn’t take a genius to assume Anson was turning on the charm. The bastard was still the puppet master, making sure everybody danced to his tunes.
“What’s going on in here?” Claudette said, when she saw them eating so close to lunchtime.
“Mama’s talking to Daddy. I think we’re going home,” Linny said.
Claudette frowned. “Maybe I will have one of those cookies, too.”
They were all working on their second cookie when Delle walked into the kitchen with her head up and her shoulders square to the world. There was a swagger in her step and a smile on her face. Brendan didn’t like it, but he understood. She loved Anson Poe—despite every bad thing he’d ever done—despite the ongoing war between them—even when she knew it was wrong.
Claudette saw the look and recognized it for what it was. Just like the day LaDelle had defied her whole family to marry Anson, it appeared she was willing to risk her life all over again.
“Hey! I hope you saved me a cookie,” Delle said.
Linny gave her one, then giggled when Delle pretended to bite her fingers and the cookie at the same time.
Brendan remembered her doing the same thing to him and his brothers when they were little. Despite the blind spot she had for Anson, she was an amazing mother.
Claudette stood up. “Want a Pepsi, sister?”
Delle smiled. “Don’t mind if I do.”
Claudette got another cold bottle from the refrigerator, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to her.
“When do you want to go home?” Brendan asked.
Delle looked a little taken aback that they’d already figured out her news, and then smiled shyly.
“I told Anson you’d bring us home tomorrow. I hope that’s all right. If it’s not, I can call him back and tell him to come get us.”
Brendan frowned. “No. I’m the one who took you away. I’ll be the one to bring you back.”
Her smile slipped. “I’m sorry, Bren.”
“Don’t be sorry, Mama. I’m glad you’re feet are getting better, and that you’ll have a nice place to go home to.”
“I think I’ll be happiest about the air conditioning. I swear to my time, there’s nothing worse than cooking in a hot kitchen.”
Every nerve in Claudette’s body was firing. Hot kitchens were a misery, but despite the added air conditioning, her sister was still returning to the heat of hell, and that made her sad on a level she couldn’t explain.
As for Brendan, he just kept nodding and listening to his mother’s voice, while the knot in his belly grew tighter with every word.
****
Sam woke up to an alarm clock going off, only to realize he’d slept from yesterday’s nap all the way through to morning. He’d gone from a pot high to a hangover low and groaned loudly as he got out of bed. His head was throbbing as he staggered into the kitchen to turn on the coffeemaker, then back to the bathroom to shower.
By the time he was finished, the coffee was done. He ate breakfast standing in the kitchen, wearing nothing but a frown and a towel around his waist, wondering what this day would bring.
When he went back to the bedroom to get dressed, he thought of Chance and what was on the horizon and wondered if he’d changed his mind. But when he tried to call, the fact that he didn’t answer made him nervous. He left him a message, but even as he was hanging up, wondered what the hell to tell Daddy when Chance didn’t show. He dressed with his gut in a knot, and when he stopped at the mirror for a last-minute check, all he could see on his face was the fear.
****
Chance woke up with a hangover of massive proportions. His drug of choice was the occasional beer, and he had never messed with anything else. Yesterday’s events had been an unasked-for high.
He couldn’t tell if this so-sick-he-had-to-get-better-to-die feeling was a physical reaction from the drug-laced smoke, or an emotional illness from the facts of his life. All he knew was that he felt dirty and he wanted it to go away.
For the first time, he thought he understood—really understood—what had driven Brendan away at such an early age. Despite the recent renovations to Wisteria Hill, it was rotting from the inside out, and taking everyone down with it.
Making the break as he had felt lik
e taking the coward’s way out, but he wasn’t ready to die. He wasn’t certain what came next, but it would be something of his own choosing.
When his phone rang and he saw Sam’s name on caller ID, guilt hit him all over again. He sat staring at the name, refusing to answer because he was afraid he would cry. Only two years separated them in age, but Sam was the father he’d never had. Still, Sam made his choice and Chance was making his. Eventually, every child left home, it had just taken him longer than most to make that happen.
****
The day dawned cloudy with a chance of rain. The weather mirrored Brendan’s mood. His mother and Linny had packed last night, and he could hear them chattering in their room down the hall as he made breakfast.
Claudette had said her good-byes to Delle last night. Both of them ended up crying because they knew this wouldn’t happen again. When Delle made her choice to go home, it meant giving up contact with her sister again.
They made promises to keep in touch, but Claudette knew it wouldn’t happen. Like before, Delle had chosen the devil over her own blood.
Brendan, on the other hand, had been just as adamant that his new Auntie would be a permanent part of his life. In a way, he would be the bridge between them.
Linny was going home with far more than what she’d brought. She had the doll and doll clothes Claudette had given her, Brendan’s Xbox and games, and Rabbit with the secret phone hidden inside.
When Brendan called them to breakfast, they entered the kitchen chattering like two schoolgirls heading back after summer vacation.
Linny was talking about going back to see Sir Snapper and her kingdom in the bayou, and Delle was enamored of renovations to her home she had yet to see.
Brendan couldn’t bring himself to swallow more than a few bites of the pancakes he’d made, but he kept his attitude positive. It wasn’t like they were leaving the state. He would stay in touch as he’d always done, only this time more often. He couldn’t help but wonder what would happen when Chance was a no-show, but that was out of his control. Maybe Delle and Linny’s arrival would put Anson in a good mood and it would go unnoticed, at least for a while.
****
It was just after 10:00 a.m. when Brendan left the city. Storm clouds continued to build but the air was still. Even the weather was on hold, waiting to see what the homecoming would be like.
The closer they got to Wisteria Hill, the quieter Delle became. She was all but holding her breath as she waited for the first sight of the old mansion, and when he finally took the turn down the driveway, she scooted to the edge of the seat and then smiled.
“Oh, Brendan! Look! Just look how pretty! It looks amazing and the yard looks like a park! I can’t wait to see the inside.”
Linny was bouncing up and down in the back seat, excited because her mama was excited.
Brendan was stunned. This was way more than he’d expected and it made him nervous. By the time he pulled up and parked, his belly was in knots. When Anson came striding out the back door with a smile on his face, he felt like throwing up.
They all got out at the same time, but Anson had eyes for only Delle. He threw his arms around his wife and gave her a welcome-home kiss that was completely inappropriate anywhere but behind closed doors. Delle was so taken with the welcome she obviously forgot there were onlookers.
Brendan had Delle’s suitcase in one hand and Linny’s hand in the other. He looked away as they headed for the house, but he could tell his little sister was upset. Her steps were dragging as she held Rabbit tightly beneath her chin.
“You okay, honey?” Brendan whispered.
Her chin quivered. “Daddy didn’t even say hello.”
“Yeah, I know, but so what? Let’s go see your new room.”
Before she could answer, Anson and Delle were suddenly right behind them, and then Anson ran ahead. When they got to the porch, he was standing between Brendan and the door with his hands on his hips.
“No you don’t, boy. This is as far as you go.”
Brendan’s head came up, and then a look passed between them. So, this was the payback for knocking Anson on his ass, taking his wife, and putting a gun in his face.
Linny started to shake. On the verge of tears, she hid her face against Brendan’s leg, and then Delle walked up beside Brendan, put a hand on her daughter’s head, and stared her husband down.
“The day will never come when you bar a child of mine from this door.”
Anson felt the porch move beneath him, like the world had shifted a little bit off center, and once again, felt his power slipping away. He tried to play it down, but inside he was raging.
“It’s your call, Delle honey, but I would have thought you’d at least be more understanding of my feelings. He put a gun in my face.”
“After you hurt his mother,” she countered.
At that moment, Anson hated the people before him with a rage he could barely contain. He’d misjudged Brendan’s power-hold, but it wouldn’t happen again. He made himself smile.
“You’re right. You’re totally right, honey girl. My bad. So ya’ll come on in and take a look at how pretty I made it for you.”
But the moment had broken Delle’s euphoria. She glanced at Linny. The fear was back on her baby’s face, and she already doubted her decision. What the hell had she done? The word wait was on the tip of her tongue when Anson pulled her inside, and then it was too late.
The tour through the house left Brendan stunned and Delle in awe. She was so fascinated by the elegance and new furnishings that her earlier anxiety faded.
As for Linny, she did what she always did and disappeared.
Sam came up from the packing shed in the middle of the tour to welcome his mother home. When Brendan caught his eye, Sam managed a smile.
“Where’s Chance?” Delle asked.
“Oh, we had a bad day yesterday,” Anson said. “I think he’s just taking a little time off.”
Delle frowned. “What kind of a bad day?”
“I thought Anson would have mentioned that last night when he called you,” Brendan said.
Anson frowned. “How the hell did you find out?”
“I told him, Daddy,” Sam said quickly.
Anson cut an angry look at his eldest, but didn’t say more.
Brendan was happy to drop the bomb. “You’re out of the drug business, Mama, although temporarily, I’m sure.”
Delle spun. “What happened?”
Anson’s eyes narrowed and his lips thinned, turning his picture-perfect face into an unflattering caricature.
“Someone stole the crops and burned us out.”
Delle wanted to cheer. This was the break they needed to get back on track, but she had to take this slowly.
She put a hand on Anson’s arm. “Maybe it was God’s way of telling us that time is done,” she said softly.
Brendan shook his head. “God doesn’t make deals with criminals, Mama. Call if you need me.” He kissed her cheek and walked away.
When the screen door slammed, Sam flinched. He had never felt so alone in his life.
Delle wanted to cry. She had no one to blame but herself and looked around for her daughter.
“Where’s Linny? I don’t think she ever came up to see her new room.”
“I saw her running into the woods as I came up. You know how she is. She probably went to play,” Sam said.
Everything was going wrong. Near tears, all Delle could think about was the storm.
“But it’s going to rain.”
Sam was more concerned about the storm building inside the house, but was thankful for an excuse to leave.
“I’ll go find her, Mama.”
Delle’s anxiety eased as Sam hurried away.
The moment they were alone, Anson walked up behind her, put one hand on her breast and the other between her legs.
“I’ve been missing you, Delle. Come to bed.”
She turned to face him, saw the same expression in his eyes sh
e’d seen the day he burned her feet, and in that moment, what was left of her spirit died. She dropped her head and walked ahead of him up the stairs.
Chapter Eighteen
Sam found Linny sitting on a big rock by the water. Her head was on her knees, her shoulders shaking. His heart sank. She was crying and he felt helpless to make it better. A twig snapped beneath his shoe as he started toward her, and when her head came up and he saw the look of terror on her face, it only made him feel worse.
“It’s just me, sugar. Why are you crying?”
She stood up slowly, rising tall on the knobby rock, her head up despite the tears.
“My kingdom is at war and my army is gone.”
Sam stopped. He knew the game and realized her need to escape into an alternate world.
“I’m still here, My Queen. What would you have me do?”
Thunder rumbled overhead, a sign that the storm was about to break.
Linny looked up into the dark swirl of gathering clouds, then back at Sam. “The Evil Overlord is back in control. Dark times have come upon the land and I need a plan.”
“How can I help?” he asked again.
She pointed her finger at him as if it was a scepter.
“Make a list of every bad thing the Evil Overlord has done. Make another list of all the bad people he knows. Write down everything you know about both of them.”
Sam was stunned. Not only was the wisdom was sound, but it was something he would never have thought to do.
“What are you going to do with this information, My Queen?”
She was silent for a moment, and then she pointed into the storm. “There will come a day when you will use it to destroy him.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Sam said, wishing it could be true.
Lightning cracked somewhere nearby.
Linny leaped from the rock into Sam’s arms. The queen was gone, leaving behind a frightened child. Sam held her firmly.
“Mama sent me to find you. It’s going to storm.”
“Take me home, Sammy.”
He took her by the hand as they headed for home, trying not to think about how fragile she felt, and how easily she could break.