by Emery, Lynn
“Might as well end the suspense,” she said. Erikka pulled up the company letterhead template to type her resignation. A knock on the door stopped her temporarily.
“Erikka, your father is here,” a secretary said.
“He is?” Erikka spun her chair around and started to get up. Tony Odom was the last person on earth she had expected. When Craig entered with a wink and a grin, Erikka grinned back.
“Hello, sweet stuff. How’s my girl holding up?” Craig held open his long arms.
Erikka walked into his embrace. She hugged his muscular body, and then stepped back. “As well as can be expected, considering I’m two steps from being out on the sidewalk.”
“Doesn’t look like you’re on the way out to me. Nice digs.” Craig gave her an affectionate pat on the back. He walked over to the window and looked down at traffic. “Real good view.”
“Uh-huh. I’m enjoying it while I can.” Erikka joined him. They watched the traffic on St. Peter for a few moments in silence.
“You’ll be fine. Take my word for it. I’ve got confidence in you,” Craig said, his basso voice strong.
“Thanks, Craig,” Erikka said, with gratitude.
“What’s this ‘Craig’ stuff? I’m your daddy.” Craig gently pinched her cheek. He’d tell her that all the time when she was a little girl.
Erikka’s eyes filled with tears. She looped an arm around his waist. “I didn’t know—I mean, with you and Mama—”
“That’s got nothing to do with my relationship with you or Jaci,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion.
She gazed at him, feeling her love for him fill in the blanks. Erikka had let her childhood fears take over. “I was meaning to call you.”
“Yeah, well I got tired of waiting. Don’t you start neglecting the old man. Okay?” Craig stared at her. His hazel eyes seemed troubled and questioning. “Jaci already jumped all over my case. She’ll get over it, I guess.”
“You know she will.” Erikka gave him a firm kiss on the cheek. “And you just try to shake me, mister. I’ll bother you so much you’ll scream for mercy.”
“Not hardly.” Craig let out his breath and wiped a comer of one eye. He swallowed hard and put on a brave smile. “Glad you’re willing to talk to me without breathing fire.”
“You don’t need my piddling little advice. Besides, it’s not like I’ve got a blue ribbon record,” Erikka teased.
“You’ll be okay, honey. Trust me,” Craig said, with a serious expression.
“Then you must know something I don’t,” Erikka replied with a cheerless smile. “Anyway, enough about me.”
“No, really. Don’t make any hasty moves.” Craig walked over to her desk as he spoke. He made a couple of keystrokes and deleted the text from her computer screen.
“Don’t tell me you’re psychic or something.” Erikka debated whether or not she was annoyed or relieved.
“No, just been in business about twenty years. I know a lot of people in this city. You’re not washed up, sweetheart. You’re young, with lots of time to make a comeback.” Craig smiled at her.
“Thanks, I think.” Erikka started to press him for more details when her phone buzzed. The distinctive sound meant the call came from inside the office. “Hold that thought. Hello? Right. Sure, fifteen minutes.”
Craig watched her put the receiver down. “I’ve got to leave. I’m through interrupting your day.”
“Thanks for coming by, Daddy. I feel better about a lot of things.” Erikka walked to him and put both hands on his broad shoulders.
“Hey, looking after my girls is my most important job.” Craig pecked her forehead as though she were ten years old.
“About Mama, she’s angry and, well, you know how she is. Roz is—”
“Planning to pick me dry. I know. I don’t want a down-and-dirty fight, but if she pushes it. ..” Craig lifted a shoulder.
“Do you have to get a divorce at all?” Erikka wanted to hope one part of her life wouldn’t crash around her. His sour expression answered the question before he spoke.
“Baby, this has been a long time coming. We should have faced facts a few years ago. Maybe if I hadn’t been so full of myself or your mother so stubborn.” Craig shook his head slowly, letting out a long sigh. “I’ve thought about a dozen maybes in the last few weeks.”
Her phone buzzed again. Erikka hissed at it as though that would help. “Hold on,” she said, and grabbed it.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. Your mama and I will survive. You take care of business.” Craig blew a goodbye kiss and was gone.
“Damn! I mean, hello? Coming.” Erikka only had thirty seconds to shake off one drama and prepare for the next one.
***
“It’s just as well Erikka decided not to move here, darling.” Gabriel’s mother gave him a sympathetic smile.
Gabriel sipped more of her delicious coffee. He carefully put down the delicate bone china cup. His mother had never been one to “save the good dishes.” His father sat at the other end of the breakfast table. Pale yellow sheer curtains were drawn back. The scenery beyond was the wide, manicured green lawn of their backyard. Dressed in crisp khaki pants and a white shirt, Charles nodded in agreement.
“Your mother is right. This Rochon girl—”
“Erikka,” Gabriel corrected. His father’s expression didn’t change. He hadn’t noticed the tension in Gabriel’s tone.
“That’s who I’m talking about. She’s used to an urban setting. She’ll be happier back in New Orleans.” Charles patted his pockets.
Rachel paused in the act of loading the dishwasher. She went to the small oak desk in a comer, found his eyeglasses where he’d left them, and handed them to Charles. Then she went back to tidying up. His father muttered a thank-you while he put them. Gabriel watched their neatly choreographed domestic life. At one time he’d thought it too old-school and confining. Now he wanted his own oasis in a sometimes cold world. He wanted to create such a place for Erikka as well. His parents had their own set of rules. Their picture of Ms. Right didn’t match his.
“These days the word urban is used as a synonym for ghetto. I’m sure you didn’t mean it in that sense,” Gabriel replied dryly.
“What?” Charles blinked at him from behind his bifocals. “Of course not. But while we’re on the subject, this recent scandal she’s gotten herself into is a sign.”
“Not good at all,” Rachel put in. She patted her already perfect hairstyle and sat down.
“Last thing you need. Not when folks are just beginning to accept you again. A woman kills her child and herself, horrible.” Charles gave a grim shake of his head.
“Yes indeed. Poor woman.” Rachel clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“You must have read that the CEO disappeared with the pension fund. The company misrepresented its financial picture, too.” Gabriel tried not to sound defensive. He wasn’t in the mood for conflict. His parents seemed un-willing to cooperate.
“With the help of their accountants,” his father put in. “Listen, I know how it feels to be young. You see a good-looking woman and common sense takes a vacation.”
“Exactly. Remember Lisette Darensbourg?” Rachel went on, before Charles could answer. “Your father wouldn’t give me the time of day when we were in high school. Lisette wore tight skirts. You could say she was pretty. Only if too much makeup and cheap perfume were your taste.”
“Forty years later, I’m still hearing about Lisette.” Charles rolled his eyes to the ceiling.
“Fortunately, fate and our parents stepped in. The point is, I think this unfortunate turn of events is a warning.” Rachel nodded.
“A warning that I should move on, let Erikka go,” Gabriel said. “Just to make it clear what we’re talking about.”
His parents exchanged glances before his father spoke. “Of course it’s up to you. But with her background …” Charles lifted a hand, fingers splayed as though completing the thought wasn’t necessary.
“What about my background? You think maybe her family has told her to dump me? I’m damaged goods, too.” Gabriel stood. He’d heard and said enough.
“Because you made one mistake isn’t a reason to settle for—” His mother bit off the sentence when Gabriel looked at her.
“I made more than one mistake. Your memory goes back forty years, so you must remember what I was like,” Gabriel said sharply.
“Don’t take that tone with me, Gabriel,” his mother snapped back. She stopped when the door chimes played a tune. Rachel worked to erase anger from her expression. By the time she went to the door, Rachel wore her welcome face.
Vincent followed his mother into the kitchen moments later. He waved to his father and gave Gabriel a silent signal with his eyes. “What’s up, everybody?”
“We’re fine,” his mother said, her voice crisp as iceberg lettuce.
“Sit down and have some coffee,” Charles said gruffly.
“O-kay. I can see everything is just dandy in here.” Vincent gazed at all three in turn.
“Sure. Mom and Dad were just giving me advice on choosing a wife,” Gabriel said, with a taut smile.
“Wife?” his mother choked out. She put a hand to her throat.
“You didn’t ask this woman to marry you?” Charles grimaced as though he suffered a cramp.
“I’m thirty-three years old. Don’t lecture me on who I should choose. I’ve made all the usual mistakes at least twice. That includes a set of well-stacked twins who are probably Lisette’s daughters.” Gabriel tried not to enjoy their shocked frowns.
‘Too much information, baby brother,” Vincent cautioned, in a whisper.
“Well don’t boast about your recklessness. Such behavior is certainly nothing to be proud of.” Rachel glared at him.
“If she says yes the next time I ask, you’ll be at my wedding wearing a smile. Everybody clear?” Gabriel barked, like a sergeant issuing an order.
Silence stretched out. His mother huffed in silence, her chin up as she gazed back at him. Defiance flashed in her golden brown eyes. Vincent shifted from one foot to the other. He seemed unsure which way to look. He finally settled for a distant point outside the window. Charles sucked in a deep breath and let it out.
“I’m not your fair-haired son. I never was. I like making furniture and creating sculptures. I love Erikka. Period. Not up for future discussion.” Gabriel looked at all three in turn.
“Uh, small doses of reality, Gabe. Small.” Vince held up a hand, thumb and forefinger together.
“I’m through.” Gabriel sat down and resumed drinking coffee. His parents seemed frozen in place. More silence, as everyone seemed wrapped in their own thoughts.
“Changing the subject to happier news. I just got promoted to VP of Development. I’m seeing someone new as well. Danica Ricard.” Vincent looked at his parents.
“Wonderful,” his mother said finally, in an unemotional voice.
Vincent wore a deflated expression. “Well, don’t throw a party or anything.”
“Congratulations, Vince. Lunch is on me. Name any place you want to go.” Gabriel grinned at him. He stared at his father hard.
Charles blinked rapidly, and then took his cue. “That’s great, Vincent. Long time coming. I mean, you worked hard to get it,” he answered quickly, before his comment could be misinterpreted.
“Thanks, Dad. You know Danica’s family. The Ricards are in real estate and meatpacking.” Vincent beamed.
“Sure. Hell, I’ll pay for lunch all around. Matter of fact, let’s call your sister and have her meet us in Lafayette. Come on, honey.” Charles gave his wife a pat on the shoulder.
Rachel marched off. “I’m going to change.”
Charles started after her. “Give her a few minutes, and she’ll be okay.”
Vince turned to Gabriel when they were alone. “Listen, about that fight we had the other night.
“It’s okay.”
“I shouldn’t have said that crap about you,” Vince started again.
“Yeah, you should have. I was the favored kid. I took the easy way out because they let me,” Gabriel replied, thinking of how he avoided people.
“Don’t pay attention to anything I said. You know I was drunk.” Vincent stopped short of admitting he had a problem with alcohol.
Gabriel hoped that would come later. He seemed close, though. “I have been hiding out. Even when I came home, I moved way out to nowhere, did business with folks who don’t know my past. I did a lot of damage even before I killed Ricky.” He’d never said those words to his family before.
“Damn, baby brother.” Vincent pulled a hand over his face. He looked around as though searching for a drink.
“You didn’t kill that boy.” Rachel stood in the doorway, wearing a denim jumper and sandals. Her face had drained of color. Her cafe au lait skin seemed transparent.
“Dear, calm down.” Charles put a hand on her shoulder.
“That boy had problems that had nothing to do with us. He was wild, from a gutter family that had no values. Gabriel did him a favor being his friend.” Rachel shook off her husband’s touch. Her voice rose to a shrill hysterical note.
“Mother—” Gabriel walked to her.
“Gang fight, everybody knows it. Gabriel wasn’t even close to him.” Vincent muttered the party line his family had memorized.
“He had fights, been suspended from school over and over,” Charles put in. His gaze pleaded with Gabriel to agree.
He couldn’t. Not and move forward. When Gabriel shook his head slowly, his mother took a step back. His father put both arms around her as though expecting Rachel to faint. Vince held up a palm as though warning him off.
“You’ve all been sharing the blame for what happened. I did it. I hit him hard because I wanted to hurt him. I was selfish, arrogant, and cruel. Not because you were bad parents. I made my own choices.”
“Oh God.” Rachel covered her face with both hands.
Gabriel embraced her as well, and Charles let go. “I didn’t set out that night to kill Ricky. That much is true. But I did. I live with it every day. I made life hard for my family. Something else I’m just facing up to, Vincent. You were right about that, too.”
His mother sobbed with quiet intensity, hands over her face. Gabriel’s father wore a helpless grimace. He gazed at his wife, started to speak several times, then gave up. Rachel swallowed hard, her thin throat working to get the lump of grief down. Finally, she walked away from them.
“I’m going to lie down,” she said over her shoulder.”
“Yes, dear. I’ll bring you a cool glass of sweet tea.” Without saying anything, he left as well.
Vincent looked at Gabriel. “You and me, baby brother. Let’s go have a drink. Of iced tea,” he added, with a rueful grin when Gabriel frowned at him.
“Sorry, Vince. I don’t feel like celebrating.” Gabriel tried to rub the tension from his neck.
“We won’t talk about anything heavier than baseball scores and fishing. Scout’s honor.” Vince drew a cross on his chest.
Gabriel’s first thought was to retreat to his workshop. He felt the heavy weight of guilt pushing him away from human contact. Gabriel glanced at his brother. Vince wore a weary smile. Like a carpenter’s pencil, anger and bitterness had drawn fine lines around his eyes. Gabriel touched his own face, wondering what he’d see if he really looked. His hand came down because he knew. Might as well stop running.
“I could go for a big hot sausage po-boy,” Gabriel said, knowing Vince loved them.
Vince rubbed his stomach. “Man, you must be trying to punish me. I’ll have heartburn for days.”
“We both know Miss Edna’s po-boys are worth the pain.” Gabriel smiled at him. He put an arm around his brother’s shoulder and walked with him to the door.
Chapter 24
Erikka entered Nadine’s office. Early morning sunlight slanted through one of two narrow windows. Dusty green drapes were tied back with thick decorative ro
pe. Nadine was on the phone, but she waved Erikka in. Polished cherry wood furniture gleamed. Fancy framed prints of historic French Quarter scenes hung on the walls. Erikka remembered being impressed the first time she’d walked in. Only a few weeks ago she’d felt that same way when Nadine hired her again. A few weeks ago she would have happily stepped over Nadine’s prone body to claim this status symbol. Not only was this a corner office, but it had two windows. Nadine said goodbye and hung up the phone.
“Well, the last few days have been rough. To say the least. For you especially.” Nadine rocked back in her executive chair.
“I just keep wondering what I did to push that poor woman over the edge.” Erikka didn’t sit down. She noticed Nadine didn’t invite her to either.
“Don’t get depressed and do something you’ll regret. Lord knows you’ve been down that road before.” Nadine’s tone made it clear they both knew where that path had taken Erikka.
“I’m just fine. Thanks for your concern.” Erikka felt a sting despite knowing Nadine’s game.
Nadine’s silk-wrapped artificial fingernails clicked against the side of her chair. She stared at Erikka for a few beats. A taut smile stretched her thin mouth to the limit.
“Don’t mention it. Like I told Bill and Darryl, Erikka is a pro. She left the right paper trail. Right?” Nadine rocked harder.
“I’m not sure I understand.” Erikka decided she would sit down after all. With studied calm, she crossed her legs, and then adjusted the hem of her skirt.