Tell Me Something Good (37 page)

“Uh-huh, I’ll have to come out for my trial
anyway,” Lyrissa retorted.

“Don’t frown like that. You’ll leave lines on
your face. Now, take a nice warm shower and put these on.” Aunt
Claire neatly draped a pair of blue jeans and a blue t- shirt with
tiny white flowers over the stuffed chair next to her bed.

“Yeah, yeah.” Lyrissa didn’t move.

“Okay, the St. Denis gang set you up, but the
good news is—”

“Wonderful, more good news,” Lyrissa
muttered.

“Listen, our case must be damn strong. Why
else would someone go to all this trouble?” Ebony leaned forward as
she spoke.

“Sure.”

Lyrissa had lost interest in the painting.
She’d thought of little else except that Noel hadn’t called. His
silence meant he either believed she was guilty, or he knew his
family had indeed set her up. Noel St. Denis, cut from the same
cloth as his family. Mama Grace had warned her. Was she right?

“This whiny crybaby isn’t the Lyrissa I
know.” Ebony slapped the bed hard. “Hey, I’m talking to you.”

“I’d go fix you both a cup of coffee. Make
her come out of this room, Ebony.” Aunt Claire patted Ebony’s
shoulder, then left.

“We’d be there in fifteen minutes.” Ebony
stood. “You heard her. Move!” She pointed to Lyrissa’s
bathroom.

“Geez, who appointed you queen of the world?”
she muttered irritably. She went in and turned on the shower.

“So you haven’t heard from him, I guess. That
explains that pitiful ‘I-got-the-low-down-blues’ look on your
face.”

“I can’t hear you,” Lyrissa lied. She took
off her gown and stepped into the shower.

Warm pelts from the shower massage beat
against her neck, shoulders, and back. Lyrissa covered herself in
bath foam, then stood under the shower and rinsed off. She stepped
out and dried off with a fluffy pink bath towel. She found clean
panties and a bra on the bathroom counter.

“Thanks,” she called out as she put them on.
Ebony had made up her bed by the time she padded back into her
room.

“You’re welcome. Listen, word on the street
is, Noel’s got his hands full. I hear there’s a real family fight
going on. That could be why he hasn’t called.”

“Must be Carlton. His cousin thinks he should
be CEO. Still no excuse.” Lyrissa pulled the shirt over her head.
She went to the mirror and brushed her hair.

“According to reliable sources, things are
pretty nasty. By the way, that witch Julie Duval is having a field
day.” Ebony raised an eyebrow at her.

Lyrissa whirled around. “What do you
mean?”

“She’s suddenly become the company
spokeswoman. She all but said you’re guilty in one news interview.”
“Humph! I’m sure she’s climbing all over Noel.” Lyrissa tossed her
hairbrush across the room.

“Whoa!” Ebony’s eyes stretched wide.

“What else did that skeezer say?” Lyrissa
crossed her arms.

“It’s more what she doesn't say. She implies
a lot with-out coming out and saying what she means.” Ebony pursed
her lips for a moment. “Kinda like a lawyer.”

“I’ll bet.” Lyrissa’s eyes narrowed to slits.
“So that’s how it is, huh? Well, I’m not going down easy, you
witch!”

Ebony grinned. “All right, girl. Let’s rock
’em until they can’t see straight.”

“We’ll talk about it over breakfast. I’m
suddenly very hungry.” She marched out ahead of her.

“You might want to put on your pants and some
shoes.” Ebony laughed. “Just a suggestion. I’ll see you in the
kitchen.”

They exchanged a glance, then burst into
laughter. Lyrissa got dressed and went to the kitchen. Mama Grace
sat at the table alone. She didn’t look up when Lyrissa walked
in.

“Where is everybody?” Lyrissa went to the
coffee pot and poured herself a cup.

“Ebony is on the phone. Claire’s in the
laundry room,” Mama Grace replied.

“Oh.” She considered leaving. She stood at
the kitchen counter.

“Sit down. We have to talk.”

Lyrissa heaved a sigh and obeyed. “Go on and
say it. I wouldn’t be in this fix if I’d listened to you. Noel
hasn’t called. The whole thing is a setup. I—”

“I can speak for myself” Mama Grace broke
in.

“Yes, ma’am, you sure can.”

“I did tell you that those people are
ruthless. And yes, you let your heart rule when your brains should
have taken over.”

“I know.” Lyrissa drank a gulp of the smooth
dark liquid to bolster herself.

“But... I pushed you into getting involved. I
called that reporter. All those stories forced them to do something
desperate. You were right. I should have let you handle things your
way.” Mama Grace sniffed. “I’m the reason they’re after you.”

Mama Grace pressed her lips together. Deep
lines criss-crossed her face. Her shoulders slumped, making her
look shrunken. Lyrissa put down her coffee mug and placed an arm
around her shoulders.

“It’s not your fault,” she said gently.

“Yes, it is. I should have known they’d try
to destroy you the way they destroyed your
great-great-grandfather.” A tear slid down her cheek.

“You’ve been beating yourself up for way too
long. None of what happened now or fifty years ago is your fault.”
Lyrissa pressed her cheek against Mama Grace’s face.

“We lost our house, the business, everything.
All because I wouldn’t listen to anyone. I had to have my way.”
Mama Grace covered her face with her hands.

Lyrissa tugged her grandmother’s hand down.
“Let it go. You were young and in love. The St. Denis family did
what they do best, steamroll over people.”

Aunt Claire joined them. “She’s right, Grace.
You’ve been carrying around guilt and bitterness for too long. Let
it go.”

Mama Grace smiled sadly. “I’m too old and
stubborn to change. Bitterness is the only thing that kept me going
for the past twenty years. That, and caring for you.” She touched
Lyrissa’s face.

“Papa, Mama and the rest would want us to be
happy no matter what. We put too much value on one object. That
painting isn’t worth all this suffering,” Aunt Claire said
fiercely.

“I’m so scared for you, baby.” Mama Grace
wiped her eyes. “The important thing now is to clear your name.”
“And keep her out of the slammer!” Aunt Claire slapped a fist into
her palm.

“You should stop reading those hard-boiled
detective novels, too,” Lyrissa said with a laugh.

Ebony came in at that moment. “I put some
well-oiled legal wheels in motion.”

“Good.” Mama Grace nodded with approval. She
rose slowly. “I know you girls will do the right thing.”

Mama Grace moved stiffly, as though each step
was an effort. Aunt Claire held her arm as they left together.
Lyrissa watched them leave with a worried frown.

“I’ve never seen Mama Grace look so worn out,
Ebony. She tried to be strong, but this ordeal has taken a toll on
her. If they find out about my father’s drug problem and that he
overdosed..Lyrissa shook her head. She couldn’t bear to think of
what such a public airing would do to the proud old woman.

“Yeah.” Ebony dropped into a chair.

“I’m going to see Noel.”

Ebony’s long braids bounced as she shook her
head hard. “No way. Bad idea. Don’t do it.”

“Mama Grace can’t take much more.” Lyrissa
looked at her friend.

“You’re going to settle? Mrs. St. Denis won’t
accept anything less than complete surrender,” Ebony warned.

“Which is why I should talk to Noel first. He
still has some influence with her.”

“I don’t know. Things are shaky with him
these days. He could even be tossed out of the family business.”
Ebony cleared her throat. “Uh, remember I told you about my
reliable source?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I didn’t tell you the whole story.
Seems the family is pissed about you and Noel. They blame him for
the bad publicity. Investors are backing off. All because he got
involved with the wrong sort of woman.” Ebony sucked in a deep
breath.

“I’m not surprised.” Lyrissa clenched her
teeth.

“Noel might be willing to do anything to save
his position with the company and his family.” Ebony put a hand on
her arm. “I hate to say it, but he’s got a lot to lose. Social
position, a major company...” Ebony’s voice faded.

Lyrissa’s throat tightened. Ebony had put
Lyrissa’s thoughts into words. He hasn’t called. Noel could have
decided to cut his losses.

“Okay, so maybe you’re right. I’m still
going. The bottom line is, Sunday Stroll on the Faubourg Tremé’
belongs to us. Old Jules was a bum. But Gustave St. Denis exploited
his weaknesses to snatch that painting.”

“At least let me coach you on what to say.
Don’t agree to anything definite. Talk in ‘maybes’ and ‘ifs’ only.
Let me deal with his attorneys to hammer out the details.”

Lyrissa nodded as Ebony talked. She only half
listened to her friend’s instructions. An image of Noel, naked and
brown lying next to her, filled her head.

Lyrissa strode into the offices of Tremé£
Corporation with her head up. Three of Noel’s employees did a
double take when they recognized her. A woman whispered, “Shouldn’t
we call someone?” Lyrissa kept walking. Eddie’s mouth dropped open
when she looked up and saw her. “Hi, Eddie. I’m here to see your
boss.”

“Oh, boy.” Eddie’s mouth worked.

“I know he’s here,” Lyrissa repeated with a
nod to his door.

“I, he ...” Eddie blinked rapidly, a look of
confusion on her face.

Julie raced down the opposite hallway.
“Security will be here shortly to throw her out!” Her eyes gleamed
with anticipation. “I can’t wait.”

Lyrissa ignored her. “He’ll see me. Just let
him know I’m here,” she said to Eddie.

Julie walked up to her. “Noel will watch them
toss you out on your ass and enjoy it. I’d advise you to leave
voluntarily.”

“I’d advise you to get out of my face,”
Lyrissa said in a deadly calm tone.

Eddie stepped between them. “Everybody just
cool down,” she said loudly

Noel opened the door to his office. “What the
hell is going on out here?” He stopped short when he saw Lyrissa.
“Come in,” he said to her.

Julie glared at him. “You can’t be serious!
The board will find out about this, Noel.”

“In that case make sure you don’t leave
anything out,” Noel snapped. He glanced at Lyrissa. “If you came
here to stir things up, you’ve succeeded. Was that your only
goal?”

Lyrissa strode into his office without
answering. Noel closed the door and leaned against it. They stared
at each other in silence.

“How are you?” he said finally.

“Take a guess.”

Noel nodded and crossed to her. “So far,
they’re only going to charge you with receiving stolen goods.”

“Ironic, isn’t it, since the painting really
belongs to us?” He studied her expression. “We can settle the
question of who owns the painting through our lawyers.”

“If that’s the way it has to be,” she
replied.

“I think it’s the best way. Present your
documentation and we’ll go from there. My grandmother won’t be
satisfied otherwise.”

“Right. You can’t make your grandmother
unhappy. Let her call the shots. Or is this really your decision?”
Lyrissa gazed at him steadily.

“Mine. Besides, neither of our families will
settle. A judge’s decision should finally put an end to the whole
affair.” Noel’s gaze traveled down her body and back to her
eyes.

Lyrissa tingled as though he’d put his hands
on her. “Yes, it will.”

Noel rubbed a hand over his face. She noticed
how drained he looked. He rolled his shoulders to relieve
tension.

“Not soon enough,” he said in a weary
voice.

“I hear you’ve had a rough time in the last
few days. At least you weren’t hauled off to jail.” She folded her
arms to restrain the urge to hold him.

“Sit down, have some coffee.” Noel sighed
when she didn’t move. “Please?”

Lyrissa sat in a chair that faced his desk.
Noel poured two cups of coffee from the carafe on his desk. He
handed one to her. She stared into the steaming liquid.

“I’ve had too much of this stuff lately. I
should be drinking fruit juice,” Lyrissa said with a grimace.

Noel punched the speaker button on his phone.
“Eddie, would you mind bringing us two bottles of apple juice from
the machine?”

“No problem,” Eddie said promptly.

He took the cups and set them on the
credenza. “Good idea. We’re both on edge as it is.”

“I—” Lyrissa broke off when Eddie
knocked.

She came in with two half-pint bottles and
two glasses on a tray. “Here you go. Uh, boss, Julie is demanding
to see you right now.”

“You know what to tell her,” he said
evenly.

“Oh, yeah.” Eddie grinned and left.

“I’m not sure why I came to tell you the
truth. I could have let Ebony call your attorney.” Lyrissa bit her
lower lip. “We sure can’t solve anything.”

“I’m sorry you were treated like a criminal,”
Noel said.

“You couldn’t have been too worried.” Lyrissa
stared down at the floor.

“I called, but your grandmother suggested I
give you time. I waited to hear from you. Then I thought maybe...”
Noel raked his Angers through his hair. “Maybe you decided to bail
out on me.”

“Me, bail out on you?”

Noel sat across from her. “You wouldn’t have
been stupid enough to hide the painting at your house. Any chance
your grandmother—”

“Hell, no!” Lyrissa shouted.

“Okay, okay. I’m just saying. Emotions are
running kind of high. I know how intense she is about that
painting.” Lyrissa huffed for several moments. Then she shrugged.
“To tell you the truth, the thought did cross my mind. Briefly ,”
she added with force.

“I didn’t say anything.” Noel held up his
hands palms out.

“Yeah, well. I dismissed the idea because my
grand-mother wouldn’t be that stupid either. Besides, she wanted to
humiliate your family publicly as much as she wanted the painting.
She’s been spoiling for this fight for years.”