Sweet Mystery (28 page)

“I know my own pro-perty. I-I won’t discuss
it.”

“Marius should be made the boss.” Cecile
spoke in a low voice.

“You think I am now so feeble that you ca-an
hold some power over m-ee?” Henry glowered at her with all the old
power. “Think again, woman.”

“This is the least you can do for me, Henry.
I’ve sacrificed for you as no other woman would have.”

“For your own selfish ends,” Henry shot
back.

“Selfish? If it’s selfish to love with all my
heart, to want to be with you, then I am selfish.” Cecile grabbed
his left wrist.

“Al-w-ways some payment is due for your
d-devotion.” Henry plucked her fingers from his skin, as though
repelled by her touch.

“Don’t say it like that,” Cecile whined. “I
only want you to care for me the way...” She took a deep
breath.

“You are still jus-st as foolish,” Henry
said. He studied her for several minutes. “Well, I’d planned to
speak to-o Darcy about his actions. We’ll see wha-at he ha-as to
say for himself.”

“And Marius?” Cecile’s eyes gleamed.

“I haven’t decided.” Henry tried to flex his
left hand. “Both of the-m are probably making pla-ns to take my
place. Bu-t I’m not go-ne yet.”

Cecile watched him. “What of the... delay on
the road?”

Henry sagged again; the strength seemed to
seep from him bit by bit. “So many years have passed.”

Cecile looked grim. “Nothing will happen.
Don’t worry.” She stared out the window, as though she could see
across the miles to the field. “J’ai pas apris grand chose (I did
all I could do).”

Henry let out a long breath. “Merci beaucoup,
Cecile. You never wavered when I needed you most. When Estelle...”
He grimaced, still feeling the pain of the woman’s betrayal.

“My love for you made everything simple. I
wanted you more than anything in the world.” Cecile spoke with a
dark fervor. “Anything…”

“I’ll go si-t on the porch for whi-ile.”
Henry moved away from her. “Alone,” he added when she started to
follow him. “I can ma-make it o-on my own.” He seemed eager to
leave her.

“That’s good. The therapist said you should
try to do more.” Cecile watched his shuffling progress. “But go
slowly. I’ll check on you in a minute.”

“No-o need.” Henry kept going, without
looking back.

“Oh yes, I’ll be right here, cher,” Cecile
called after him. “I’ll be here until the end,” she murmured.

Chapter 14

“You’re pretty good at keeping the books,”
Rae said.

Marcelle flipped through the stack of
spreadsheets that Rae kept, so they could do the accounts at the
end of each week and month. They were in Rae’s office at Rockin’
Good Times.

“That small business accounting course at the
university sure helped,” Rae said.

“Yeah, I wish Mr. Bertrand had learned as
well as you. Bless his heart, he can sure fix air-conditioners, but
when it comes to his books, poo-ya!”

Rae tucked a stray tendril of hair back
inside the cloth band that tied her thick locks. “Now if I can just
get a new computer. I saw an ad for accounting software designed
for restaurants and lounges. That would make both our jobs
easier.”

“Doin’ the books, takin’ classes, bookin’
entertainment and even playin’ every once in a while… You tryin’ to
set some kinda record?” Marcelle shook her head.

“I’m just doing what needs doing, Marcelle.
I’m a businesswoman now.”

“Rae, you’re runnin’ yourself ragged. Let
Andrew take over some.” Marcelle glanced at her. “Or are you tryin’
to keep busy for a reason?”

“You bet I’m keeping busy for a reason, I’ve
got a dance hall to operate,” Rae shot back.

Marcelle raised a dark eyebrow and watched
her for several seconds. “Simon been real occupied lately, I
hear.”

“Simon is a caring, responsive man.” Rae
tugged at her hair.

“True.”

“Of course he’s going to try and help the
family all he can. Henry Jove helped him start his business.” Rae
slapped the stapler down hard on a stack of forms.

“Yeah, put up money not long before him and
Toya got engaged, they say.” Marcelle pretended to study the
spreadsheet in front of her. “Toya got the old man to get up offa
more money than he’d planned. Her and Simon were quite a pair.”

“Oh, they were?” A loud smack punctuated her
words as Rae hit the stapler again on several papers.

“Yeah. Honeymoon in Jamaica, vacations every
year to some great place. Something else, I tell you.”

Rae attacked several more sheets with the
stapler. “Dammit! This cheap thing!” She cursed at the twisted
staples she had to pry from the mangled corner of an invoice.

“If you stop beatin’ up on it you might do
better,” Marcelle replied mildly.

“Nice try, Marcelle.” Rae pointed a finger of
accusation at her. “But I’m not going to let you play me.”

“What? What did I do but mention–” Marcelle
wore a wide-eyed, innocent look.

“Don’t give me that ‘who me?’ act. You’re
trying to get me going by mentioning how Simon is spending a lot of
time with the Joves. Which means Toya probably has her pointy
talons digging into his flesh at every opportunity,” Rae said
through clenched teeth.

“She’s a mess now,” Marcelle agreed.

“But I’m not worried. If he wanted that
well-groomed alley cat in his life, he could have had her any
time.” Rae squared her shoulders and tried to sound more secure
than she felt.

Marcelle abandoned any pretext of interest in
the figures before her. “Don’t sit stewin’. Call the man. Have him
come to your house every day.”

“I don’t feel sorry for myself,” Rae
protested with heat. “I can live without a man, thank you very
much.”

“Yeah, but who in the world wants to?”
Marcelle retorted. “Don’t talk stupid.”

“Simon knows where I am. I’m not going to
chase him down. We see each other regularly.”

“But Toya is seein’ him, too. Why can’t Darcy
or his children help is what I wanna know.” Marcelle folded her
arms.

“Darcy devote more than token attention to
anyone but himself? Don’t make me laugh. And Henry’s other children
live out of state.” Rae tapped the stapler with a forefinger.
“Simon and Henry got along good. I just never knew how good until
now.”

“Which means Toya is going to ooze back in if
she can.” Marcelle leaned across the table adjacent to Rae’s desk.
“I’m tellin’ you, cut her off at the pass.”

“Will you stop?” Rae waved a hand at her.

What she did not tell Marcelle was that she’d
been thinking some of the very same things over the past few weeks.
Yet Rae did not have any intention of turning into one of those
clinging lovers who hurl jealous accusations. She had left more
than one man who tried to smother her; she was not about to imitate
them. Though she had to admit that now she understood how they
felt.

Rae had never felt this kind of love before.
When she was apart from Simon, wanting to be with him was like a
gnawing hunger that only he could satisfy. No wonder numerous blues
love ballads described it as a sickness. Sure, Rae wanted to shout
that Toya was a witch who used people, but she clamped a lid on the
impulse that surged each time he said her name. Simon would think
she was an immature harridan, no better than the woman she
assailed, and he’d be right.

“Just sayin’ you oughta take out some love
insurance.” Marcelle went back to her work.

“Marcelle I…”

A knock at the door cut off Rae’s
response.

“Come in.”

Simon entered the building. “Hey,
hard-working people, sure I’m not interrupting?”

Rae sprang from her chair and wrapped herself
around him. “Definitely not.”

Simon fitted his body to hers in welcome.
“Hi, baby.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips and then stared
into her eyes. “Been missing you bad,” he whispered.

“Me too.” Rae closed her eyes.

She felt shaky with relief at seeing him just
at the moment when she felt most uncertain. His arms around her
were an effective defense against all doubts. Rae purred at the
sensation of his hard body.

“Ahem, I’m kinda young to be witnessin’ this
hot stuff,” Marcelle quipped. “Maybe I better leave.”

Rae blushed when she realized how close she’d
come to embarrassing herself in front of her friend. She stepped
back before her hands moved on their own to some delicate place on
his fine body.

“Stay right there.” Simon grinned at her. He
turned back to Rae. “We’ll have plenty of time later. Tonight, pick
you up at six,” he murmured close to Rae’s ear, before kissing her
cheek.

Rae felt the heat flare again in her chest.
“I’ll be ready.”

“You better be,” Simon said with a wink. He
stepped back from her. “I don’t want to stop progress at the
hottest place to party outside of New Orleans.” Simon spoke in a
normal tone.

“Mais yeah, cher. It’s a bayou kinda thang.”
Marcelle snapped her fingers and bounced to the beat of music
coming from the FM radio station playing over the sound system.

“Things are going great, Simon. Better than I
ever dreamed.” Rae’s spirits soared.

The dance hall had become a popular watering
hole for young professionals in nearby Lafayette, Baton Rouge and
Lake Charles. Rae also catered to those wanting family
entertainment by having outdoor celebrations with activities for
the kids. She had thrown herself into participating in campaigns to
curb teen use of alcohol and to encourage responsible adult
drinking. The result was a growing core of loyal customers, who
spread the word about her Friday night Swamp Groove Jams. On
Saturdays, she usually had some popular band that kept the dancing
and listening crowd shouting for more.

“This place looks better and better. I like
how you got that old buffet set up. Where did you find it?” Simon
said.

“Tante Ina got it for me at her friend’s
house. It was falling to pieces, but it’s a classic. So, since Mr.
Calvin is doing some finishing touches around here, he said he’d
fix it up.” Rae smiled. “He did a beautiful job.”

“Sure did. Hey, when is he going to be
through?” Marcelle put in. “Can’t have much work left to do.”

“There isn’t. But he said it wouldn’t keep
the place from opening.” Rae sat on the edge of the desk. “He’s
working on the other half of the restaurant.”

“I thought that was gonna be a bigger
office.” Marcelle looked around the room that was no bigger than a
small bedroom. “We need extra space.”

“We need space that can bring in money,” Rae
retorted. “I want to start paying Neville back. He went out on a
limb for me.”

Simon smiled at her, and brushed a wisp of
dark hair from her forehead. “I’m sure he’s willing to be patient
for his baby sister.”

“But I’m not. Neville, bless him, overcame
some real reservations. I’m going to see that he and Trisha get
every penny.”

“I’m sure you will, cher.” Marcelle beamed at
her.

“So am I.” Simon stared at her with a warm
glow in his eyes. “Well, I gotta get going. I’ll see you later,
sweet thing.”

“Bye babe.” Rae pressed his large hand to her
cheek.

“Bye Marcelle,” Simon said with a wave on his
way out.

“Bye, now.” Marcelle sat with a smirk,
staring at Rae for several minutes.

“What?” Rae went back to sit behind her desk.
“Why are you gawking at me with that silly look on your face?”

Marcelle snickered. “You in charge, girl. Go
ahead and show us how it’s done.” “All right, you.” Rae tried to
suppress a cat-like smile of satisfaction that broke through
anyway.

“My man got a serious-to-the-bone Love
Jones.” Marcelle snapped her fingers twice. “Now deal with that,
Miss Toya.”

Rae could not resist, “Suck swamp mud,
hussy.” She giggled with the glee of a teenager.

The two friends laughed hysterically until
the tears flowed. Tales of youthful adventure flew back and forth
for hours as they enjoyed the day and their companionship. After
lunch, they sat out on the porch of the dance hall, each with a
glass of iced tea.

“How did I ever get along without you, and
all this?” Rae gazed out over the vibrant mix of bright colors.
Lush growth, encouraged by heat and moisture, crowded along the
highway and at the edge of the cut lawn surrounding the dance
hall.

“You had a great musical career going, for
one thing.”

“Deep down I knew something was missing.” Rae
rested her head back against the wooden rocking chair. “Still, I
never would have thought it was here.”

Marcelle gently rocked back and forth.
“Strange cause I never thought of living anywhere else.”

“Well, you never had the trouble I had. Not
that I didn’t help it along myself.” Rae wore a half-smile.

“My family ain’t exactly on the Creole social
register. Lord, but you and Mr. Lucien did keep things hopping
‘round here.” Marcelle chuckled. “Did I mention how glad I am
you’re home?” She patted Rae’s arm.

“Yeah, but once more won’t hurt.” Rae
sighed.

“Looks like Raenette Dalcour is on her way to
being a leading town citizen,” Marcelle said with a mischievous
twinkle in her eyes.

Rae gave an exaggerated shiver. “Please,
let’s not take it too far. You make me sound like I’m going to join
Miss Cecile’s society club.”

“You know what I mean. The old days of hard
times and people lookin’ down on us are over.” Marcelle hummed a
Creole lullaby.

“It would be almost perfect except for dead
folk turning up where you least expect them to.” Rae wore a slight
frown.

A cloud floated across the sun, dimming the
bright sunshine. She wondered if such a brutal act of violence
close by was a sign of trouble to come.

“I’ll bet it’s a deer or cow, something like
that. Even if those bones are human, I’ll bet it is some drug
smuggler – nobody from around here.” Marcelle did not stir from her
relaxed pose.