IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN (11 page)

“So when did all of this come about?

“When I made arrangements to fly Smitty and Wesson out here,” Ray advised, referring to his two pure breed Rottweilers. “Before Marcel left last week, I told him to have my car shipped down here, too.” He pointed to the salad, again. “Sure you aren’t hungry?”

Alex shook his head sideways. “So you’re off chemo for the next two weeks, right?”

“Yep. I’m on my fourteen day break.” Ray let out a long whistle. “And trust me, I need it. After that, I hit round three.”

“So what’s on your agenda?”

Ray grinned. He’d learned that simply because he had cancer didn’t mean he had to place is life on hold. “This week, I’m going with a real estate agent to check out some property I’m thinking of building a house on. And next week, Red wants to host a dinner party. She’s inviting a few of her friends. Pop will be here by then and the band is coming, too. C’mon and join us.”

Deep in thought, Alex rubbed at his chin. “Ray, dinner parties, selling your old house, building a new house, transporting your car across country doesn’t sound like something someone does who’s only planning to stay short-term.”

Ray
tsked
. “
Mon frère
, remember what I told you before?”

“What?”

“Stay in your own lane.”

~ ~ ~

See, this proved his point. Ray had always held the belief that you couldn’t dress some folks up and take them anywhere! Although his family and the members of Les Croisés knew Laney well, it was the first time they’d interacted in a social setting with her family and friends. Ray wanted the dinner party to go off without a hitch for two reasons. First, it was important he made a good first impression with Laney’s friends. He was a firm believer you’re known by the company you keep. Second, and most importantly, tonight was his way of repaying Laney for the patience she’d shown during his illness.  

Ray nervously scurried around all day to be sure everything was perfect.  He’d personally overseen the catering staff he’d hired to ensure every aspect of the dinner party was flawless, from the setting of the china to the selection of the menu for the evening. What he hadn’t counted on was what occurred the moment his father and the other members of Les Croisés arrived at Olivia. He was mortified the second introductions were made. His band members salivated at the mouth worst than dogs that’d ran a ten mile marathon in triple digit heat. And if that wasn’t bad enough, his father, Alcee Baptiste had hemmed Laney’s aunt, Dorothy Lyman in a corner so tight, it was a wonder they both hadn’t suffocated.

“If Les Croisés ever decides to grant an exclusive interview, I’d appreciate the opportunity,” Jewel said, her tone sultry as she extended her business card to Mack.

“Let me talk it over with Maestro. I’m ninety-nine point nine, nine percent certain he wouldn’t have a problem with that.” Mack used two fingers to slide Jewel’s card into his pocket, then whipped out one of his own. 

A worried look crept into Ray’s eyes and he jammed his glasses on top of his head. Every single last one of them had lost their minds, he thought. These were his road dogs and were supposed to represent him right. He made a half turn and almost toppled over in the middle of the floor. Double A strutted around the room with not one, but two of Laney’s choirs members on his arms, trying to find out the name of another choir member who seemed somewhat shy. And if he hadn’t been so embarrassed, he would’ve laughed out loud when Spooky, the conservative one, Mr. Cool, flashed a hundred watt smile at Laney’s assistant, LaTasha.

Ray hadn’t noticed Laney until she walked up behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Darling, everyone is having a great time. Thank you for arranging a wonderful evening.”

Just because Laney was happy didn’t mean he was. What he had seen and heard the past thirty minutes put a knot in his stomach. The theory of first impressions being a lasting impression just went out the window. Ray couldn’t take it anymore. Gently folding Laney’s hand inside of him, he guided them toward  the dining room, muttering a string of oaths under his breath.

~ ~ ~

Two hours later everyone exchanged parting greetings. While Laney escorted her friends as well as Alcee and Dorothy to the front door, Ray took advantage of the opportunity to speak with JoJo, Spooky, Double A, and Mack, alone. He kept his focus on the glass in front of him.  “I’ve got some good news. I hope everyone sees it that way.”  

Double A lifted a glass of lemonade to his lips and chuckled. “You always give it to us straight, Maestro. What’s up?”

“We’re going to push ahead with the academy, but we’ll have to do it from here,” Ray advised.

For a long time, no one uttered a word. It was as if a silent understanding of the situation passed between the men. Ray allowed his gaze to scan the men he’d traveled the globe with. His crew had gotten into the habit of watching him, picking up on the cues of his body language. They’d worked too hard, had come too far toward their dream not to see it to the finish line. “Talk to me, people.”

“Now that’s what I’m talking about.” Spooky slid down in his chair and laced his hands behind his head.

Double A pushed back from the table, stood and extended his hand to Ray. “You know we’re down with that, Maestro.”

Ray held on to the shake and pulled Double A into a brotherly embrace and then released him. “
Merci
.”

Ray glanced over at Mack. “Are you cool with this?”

Mack cocked his head sideways as if considering the idea. Finally, he smiled. “Count me in.”

A few moments later, Laney strolled in. She placed her hand over her mouth and slowly backed away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your discussion.”

With a smile, Ray waved her toward him. “C’mon and join us. You didn’t interrupt anything.” He pulled a chair away from the table and let his fingers linger on the back of her neck and felt her shiver. Please it was his touch that caused her reaction, he waited until she’d settled, then sat in the chair next to her.  

Double A waited for Laney to settle in her seat, then straddled his chair backwards. “Laney, I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a while. How common is testicular cancer?” 

“Testicular cancer,” Laney explained, “is a relatively rare form of cancer compared to other cancers, but is frequently seen in men between the ages of twenty and forty-nine.”

Ray chuckled as he glanced at each of his band members. “Red has assured me I won’t check out soon.”

Laney let her lazy smile surface. “You’ll die eventually, but not from
this
cancer. When detected early, it has almost a one hundred percent cure rate.” Then she went on to explain the process of how cancer cells grow. With her brow arched, she cast a curious gaze around the room. “All of you are doing regular checks, right?”

The room fell to a graveyard silence until Ray said, “From now on, they will be.”

Spooky nodded, rubbing his at his chin. “Listen, Laney, could uh
…
you know
…
too much sex be a factor?”

Chuckling, Ray dropped his head and shook it from side to side. It was just like his boy to get down to the nuts and bolts of any situation.

Laney offered a soft smile. “Oh, my, if that were the case, oncologists would have a huge case load.” 

Ray relaxed in his chair and listened to the rest of the conversation. He wasn’t sure if it was the confidence in her voice or her calm demeanor, but what whatever it was, he was as certain as Laney was that he was on the road to victory against the battle with testicular cancer. He lifted a cup to his lips and watched her as she explained how chemotherapy attacked cancer cells, dispensing a smile here and a teasing word there, drawing laughter from all of them. He discovered that was her talent, finding amusement in the most difficult situations. During the last few weeks, she’d done the same thing to him.

In that moment, realization dawned. Despite his illness, this was the most content period of his entire life.

~ ~ ~

“I trust there’s an explanation for this prolonged delay.”

With the phone jammed to her ear, Evangeline sat behind her desk and cringed at the voice on other end of the line. “I’m well aware of the situation—”

“Being aware of the situation isn’t good enough.”

“I don’t need you to remind me of that,” Evangeline responded sharply. She disconnected the call, stood, and paced behind her desk, frantic.  With a former business associate threatening to expose her past, she was running out of time and options. She pressed the button on her intercom. “We have a problem.”

Antón Perry raced into the office and noticed Evangeline’s panic-stricken look. “What’s wrong?”

“We need to find Ray LaSalle. Now!”

“Settle down, Evie. I think I got a lead on LaSalle’s whereabouts.”

A wry smile curled Evangeline’s lips up as her assistant pass on the information he’d received to her. “Get the paparazzi down to Memphis.”

“Okay, I see where you’re going with this.” Antón perched his hip on the corner of the desk. “Evie, if any of this ever circles back around to us, we’re toast. We’re already a half-step away from jail time from when you—”

“Shut up, you fool,” Evangeline uttered with distain. “Don’t you think I’m aware of what’s at stake here? In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt to start a little investigation of our own on Les Croisés. Who knows what we might find out?”

“This move may come back to haunt you.”

Evangeline lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. She tilted her head back, watching the white smoke billows drift upward in circles until they disappeared. “This move is what will keep us in the driver’s seat at Universal Entertainment and out of jail. Now get to work on this.”

“So,
if
you find some incriminating information on Les Croisés, then what? Blackmail?”  

Evangeline offered a wry smile. “Oh, darling, that’s such a harsh word. I prefer to think of it as a fair exchange of information. We’ll keep their secrets if they give us what we want. Plain and simple.”

~ ~ ~

“Can you confirm if Ray LaSalle was or is a patient here?” A female reporter made the query while instructing her cameraman to focus in closer.

The day before Raphael’s third round of chemo, Laney sauntered through the doors of Methodist Hospital for a lunch date with LaTasha. The last thing she expected to see was a barrage of reporters firing questions at the hospital’s communications director.   

She spotted LaTasha in the crowd, but before she took as much as a step, her administrative assistant rushed over. 

“Boss lady, we’ve got a crisis on our hands,” LaTasha said, her voice straining.

Laney frowned slightly. “In what way?”

“JoJo called this morning looking for Spooky and told him he got word from one of his sources that tomorrow morning an article will hit the front page of The Star.”

“Spooky was with you last night?” Laney asked.

LaTasha sheepishly lowered her lashes. “Yes and it was wonderful.” She waved her hand. “But we’re not the point, boss lady. Raphael is.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry. What will the article say?”

“That jazz great Ray LaSalle was seen at this hospital and insinuated that the reason he’s here is to possibly seek treatment for an undisclosed illness.”

Laney and LaTasha shared a knowing look. Finally, Laney asked, “Do you know if Spooky has told Raphael?”

“Not yet. JoJo told everyone to sit tight until he got a little more information.  In the meantime, Mack, Double A, and Spooky talked it over and felt you should know what’s going on.” LaTasha held on to Laney’s arm with a death grip. “Someone had to have seen Raphael here the day he helped you pack your office. But who?”

Ashton Bryant
. The mere thought caused a sickening feeling to hit Laney in the hollow of her stomach. Now her problem was figuring out how to handle the present crisis without causing more damage than already existed. Then she shared the name of the suspect she thought was responsible with LaTasha.

“Boss lady, what if Ashton somehow gets his hands on Raphael’s medical—”

“He won’t.” Laney promised.

“How can you be so sure?”

Laney stared into the distance for several moments. “Do you know whether Ashton is in?”

LaTasha nodded.  “I saw him heading to his office about an hour ago. Why?”

“Please let me know if you find out anything else.”

“You got it, boss lady.”

~ ~ ~

Moments later, Laney strolled down the hallway toward Ashton Bryant’s office. She wasn’t quite sure what excuse she could offer for her visit since she was still on sabbatical, but she’d think of something. If nothing more, if she could see Ashton, perhaps pick-up on his body language, she could confirm with certainty he was somehow involved with today’s visit by the paparazzi.

“The media showed up here looking for LaSalle
…
The balls in your court now
…
”

Laney froze dead in her tracks when she approached the partially open door to Ashton’s office and overhead his phone conversation. Her entire body went numb and all kinds of scenarios flashed through her head. The person whom he was speaking to wasn’t as important as the man he was speaking about. She caught a movement from her peripheral vision and slowly backed away until she was in the hallway and safely out of view.