The Sassy Belles (18 page)

“Yes, that girl will get that Emmy she’s after, that’s for
sure,” Bonita said.

“I even saw a TV commercial yesterday,” Vivi joined in.

“What in the world does she think she can really do?” I
wondered. “You just know she’s hoping she can be the one to find Lewis. Can you
imagine? Her popularity will go through the roof.”

“I know it, and it seems that’s already happening. I saw it in
the paper this mornin’,” Bonita said. “The ratings are going sky-high over there
since they launched the Dallas Dubois segment on the six o’clock news the other
day. The article said they are breaking ratings records every day now.”

“But, the problem with this little campaign is that it attracts
all the crazies,” Vivi said. “You know those idiots who just wanna be on TV. To
me it’s an interference with the real search. Just a flashy distraction.”

Vivi got up and poured herself another glass of tea, bringing
the pitcher back to the table with her. Bonita turned to us.

“Well, that is the very definition of Dallas herself, is it
not?” I said. “A flashy distraction.” We nodded to each other, smiling as if I
had hit the nail on the head.

“Y’all won’t believe this but I saw her story last night and
she was actually reporting live from a house near the edge of town—hon, that
woman she was interviewing swore up and down she had seen the face of Lewis in
her toast that mornin’! In her toast! I said to myself, good Lord, he ain’t even
Jesus and people are seeing his face carved in their food. I mean I know people
claim to see the Lord in their sandwich sometimes, but
Lewis?
What is the world comin’ to?”

Vivi and I burst out laughing and Bonita was laughing, too, and
shaking her head. I wanted to tell Vivi about the sightings of Lewis at that
Birmingham bank, but I knew she would just lose it and I didn’t want to give her
any false hope. Still, I thought she should know, so I led the conversation in
that direction to see if Bonita would tell us the latest. I knew Sonny said at
lunch that she was checking on those leads.

“Bonita, have y’all gotten any significant calls or info from
any of this?”

“As a matter of fact, we did get something we thought was worth
checking out,” Bonita said.

“Oh, my, what did you hear?” Vivi asked, sitting up straight
and looking big-eyed at Bonita.

“We have had a pretty significant number of calls stating the
same sighting so we thought it was worth looking into.”

“Oh, I hope it’s not a body to go look at.”

“No, Miss Vivi, it’s not. At least ten people have called
saying that they think they saw Lewis at a Birmingham bank after you reported
him missing.”

“After?”

“Yes, after. All have described him in the same clothes, at
least all in a similar color of clothing, so we have asked the bank to provide
records and videotape and we will have a look for ourselves.”

“That’s fantastic! At least he was walking around and breathing
if he was at a bank. That’s all I need to know. Oh, I feel so much better.” Vivi
was wringing her hands and a hopeful glimmer was in her pretty green eyes, not
wet with tears this time, just shimmering with joy.

“I will let you know when we get the file from the bank.”

“This just might be the lead we’ve been waiting for,” Vivi
said.

“Listen here, Vivi,” Bonita said, turning to us at the table.
“I have a strong gut feeling we are about to break this case wide-open. I
believe Lewis may be out there somewhere and somebody that smokes and wears pink
lipstick knows something. I intend to find her and shake her till she talks.
Trust me. I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Vivi and I looked at each other and held in our giggles. We
knew we were looking at the newest member of the Sassy Belles.

* * *

The next day proved to be another busy one. Harry called
around four to say he’d be late with another campaign event. I still had a big
workload in front of me and would also be working late, so we agreed to meet at
home at eight and order in something quick and easy. But it was only six when my
stomach started rumbling, so I made my way into the back room to grab a snack
and catch the news. I could not believe they had moved Dallas’s Search for Lewis
segment up to the very beginning of the six o’clock newscast. The main anchor
tossed the story to Dallas who was reporting live from Walmart.

“Lewis Heart seems to be everywhere and nowhere these days.
Billy Wayne Carmichael says he spotted him today in the drugstore section of
Walmart on Skyland Boulevard, standing in the ointment aisle. Mr. Carmichael,
please tell us what you saw.”

“Oh, I know it was him for sure. He was standin’ near the
Preparation H, fidgeting from side to side. I could tell he had himself a
problem. I had gone in with my wife today ’cause she had a problem, too, and so
we was headed right down the same aisle when he looked up at us. He knew he was
spotted ’cause he took off without his salve.”

“Thank you, Mr. Carmichael. I do appreciate your…candor.”
Dallas turned back to the camera for her sign-off. “This is one of many such
sightings of missing play-by-play announcer Lewis Heart. We will continue in our
dedicated campaign to find the missing voice of our Alabama Crimson Tide.
Reporting live from Walmart, I’m Dallas Dubois, WTAL.”

I nearly threw up. She was so transparent. There was now a
billboard on every corner; Dallas and her enormous cleavage, with her perfect
megawatt smile and her microphone. I was sick of seeing her. In fact, it put me
off accomplishing anything else that evening. I finished what I was working on,
then closed up and headed home. It was nearly six-thirty by then and I decided
to call Kitty as soon as I arrived at my driveway. This would have to be the day
Kitty talked to Meridee, or I promised I would do it myself.

I grabbed my cell phone from my leather Hermès as I pulled into
my driveway and hit speed dial for Kitty. Ringing… Answering machine…

“Hey, Mother, it’s Blake. Look, today is the day. You have to
talk to Meridee. It’s been way too long and she could be a vital piece of the
puzzle here. I need this done today, do you understand? If you don’t talk to her
by tonight, I will.”

I hung up and sat in my car in front of the house when I
realized Harry’s car was there. I wasn’t expecting him home for at least another
hour or more, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d stopped by to get some
things he’d forgotten for the campaign event tonight. Seeing his car made me
nervous. I had gotten up my courage earlier and planned to try to talk to Harry
about the separation over dinner. It would be the perfect time. We had been so
busy since Lewis went missing, and the Myrna case had started to escalate, and
Harry’s campaign was growing. I just hadn’t had time to have the talk with him.
I thought that since I finished earlier than expected, I’d try to get home and
actually fix supper for a change. It would relax me and help me prepare for what
I was about to tell him. But now, seeing him home early, another thought struck
me—maybe he was really trying this time. Maybe
he’d
gotten home early to put together a special dinner for us. We
had kinda missed our anniversary. Despite the fact
that Sonny and I had been getting closer, and that Harry and I had been slipping
apart, there was a big part of me that still loved him and thought we deserved a
fighting chance. After all, ten years of marriage should not be given up on
lightly.

I hurried up the steps of our porch, thinking of candlelight
and my crystal vases full of flowers, my heart filling with hope. As I put my
purse on the front hall table, I could smell the coffee on and something sweet
in the air drifting around from the kitchen. I was smiling ear to ear as I made
my way across the hall and through the dining room. I couldn’t believe he’d
finally decided to do something special. Guilt about Sonny flashed in my head
for a second, but I pushed it away, deciding that I needed to focus on Harry.
Whether things were truly over or really just beginning for us was about to be
seen, and I needed a clear head and a clear heart to make that decision. I knew
this would be the moment to make it or break it. Maybe we deserved this second
chance.

I swung open the kitchen door, expecting to find him, but there
was no one there. I called out for him, but he didn’t answer. I decided to go
back outside, thinking somehow I had missed him and he was leaving to meet Dan.
But when I got out front he wasn’t outside. His car was in the driveway so I
knew he must be around somewhere. I stepped down the porch steps and walked to
the side gate that led to the backyard. I spotted another car in front of the
house next door. Maybe Dan dropped by with him and they were sitting out back, I
thought. I opened the side gate and headed down the side of the house. It was a
tight walk along the path between the house and the hedges. Little squares of
cement strewn unevenly like a rocky trail in front of me led to a gorgeous
entertainment area complete with outdoor bar and fireplace. I was still in my
office suit, a navy blue Michael Kors number, and my tallest black patent
leather stilettos, which were sinking into the ground with each step. The bushes
along the path were blooming and my hair was getting caught in the hydrangeas
and crepe myrtles, pulling it out all over my face. It was a little overgrown
and I made a note to myself to have the landscaping service come by. I finally
got close enough to hear voices coming from the patio, but Dan was not the voice
I heard. I’d recognize that limelight-suckin’ reporter’s delivery anywhere. What
in hell was
Dallas
doing at
my
house? She must have gotten straight off the air and come right
over. I decided I needed a better look, but I didn’t want them to know I was
there. I glanced around at my options, then slowly climbed up the rose trellis a
couple of steps to peek over the hedges. I could hear Dallas now as clear as a
bell, but I could only see the top of her big, blond head.

“Thanks so much for seeing me, Harry, especially on such short
notice.”

“No problem, Dallas. I know Blake gives you a hard time, but I
really believe you have good intentions about helping us find Lewis.”

Ugh!
I felt my blood start to boil
and my eyes bugged out, but as much as I wanted to storm back there, I knew it
was best to stay hidden so I could hear their little chat. I lifted myself up
another couple of inches, and now I could see them both clearly, though I was
still disguised by the overgrown rose bush.

“Oh, I’m not worried about Blake, it’s you I’m concerned about,
Harry.” She moved closer to him. “You know, if you agree to help me with this
list of Lewis sightings, I can certainly pay you back.” Dallas licked her lips
seductively. Harry was pouring her a glass of bourbon and handed it to her while
she pushed her scheme. He had a drink in hand, too, and they both took a sip and
continued their little meeting. They were face-to-face when she said, “Oh, it is
so warm out here!” She slowly unbuttoned the top two buttons of her hot-pink
sleeveless blouse. Harry had moved face-to-face with her, removing his tie and
unbuttoning his shirt.

“What did you have in mind?” he asked her, taking a swig of
alcohol.

“Well,” she said, taking the last gulp and setting the glass on
the table, “I just thought you would like a little extra coverage of your, uhm,
studs, I mean stumps,” she giggled, gently biting her lower lip. She reached
down and grabbed him inside his waistband of the front of his pants and pulled
him into her. “I know how expensive TV advertising is, so I’ll make sure I am
right there with the cameras at every fundraiser.”

“I like the sound of that,” he said.

“I thought you would. You help me win this Emmy by leading me
in the right direction on my Find Lewis campaign, and I’ll be there for your
campaign and…whatever else you need.”

I could not believe my ears. Or my eyes!

“Sounds like a plan to me.” He began pulling her blouse off her
shoulders as she unbuttoned his pants. The trousers fell down around his ankles.
She arched her head back as he kissed her neck and slid her bra strap over her
shoulder and down her arm, freeing one breast and lowering his head toward it.
Just then, my heel snapped off and the trellis broke with a loud crack. Down I
slid with a thump into the crepe myrtles. Dallas screamed and grabbed her breast
with one hand and her bra strap with the other, and Harry fell over when he
tried to move because his pants were down around his ankles.

“Sorry for dropping in like this, but I was sorta looking for
my husband,” I shouted, anger just pouring out of me.

“Oh, my God! Blake! How long were you there?”

Oh, don’t you ask all the right questions?
What a politico you’re gonna make,
I thought
.

“What the hell does it matter how long I was there, you ass?
What I see right this second is enough,” I shot back. A rage came over me like
nothing I’ve ever felt. The adrenaline was unreal. “How dare you!” I screamed,
limping over on my broken shoe. “At my own house—and look at you, you sorry
bastard, flat on your face! With your pants down! Both of you disgust me!”

“Blake, wait.” Harry kept stumbling, trying to stand up while
Dallas was running around looking for her jacket. “Please, Blake, I can
explain…” Harry continued. He was just embarrassing himself.

“Explain?” I shouted. “Oh, my God, Harry, seriously, what’s to
explain? You have your pants down and Dallas’s bare breast was practically in
your mouth. I just can’t wait to hear you
explain
that,” I hollered. “
Please,
do tell. Were you
trying to lick off some spilled alcohol or help her breast back into the bra it
accidentally
popped out of? Please, I can’t
wait
to hear your
explanation.
” I crossed my arms and stared at him as he managed to
stand and zip his pants. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. I looked at
Dallas as she began to sneak back through the house. “And
you,
don’t even think I’m done with you yet,” I screamed as she
stepped inside to escape.