Deadly Satisfaction (5 page)

“You okay?” Angela asked.

“Yeah, you know me. I'll be fine.”

“All right, girl. Go home and enjoy your meal. I threw in a complimentary dessert for you since you had to wait so long.”

The beautiful woman smiled, but it wasn't the same happy expression she'd had on her face when she'd first walked in. “Thanks, I really appreciate that, Angela. Dessert always brightens a girl's day.”

She paid for her food and thanked Angela again. She was about to walk out the door when Phillip decided he had to say something to her. “Have a happy Thanksgiving.”

She stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around. Her eyes seemed to glow as she zeroed in on him. She leaned against the door and nodded her head. “Thanks . . . you too.”

The moment the door closed behind her, Phillip knew something special had just happened. And when the same question he'd had moments ago popped back into his head, he knew the feeling was real.

G
ENEVA

G
eneva's hands were shaking so badly she could barely hold her cup of tea. Normally, the soothing blend of chamomile and natural honey calmed her, but this was her second cup and she was still on edge. She jumped when her cell phone rang, but she was relieved to see it was Donetta.

“Thanks for calling me back,” Geneva said. She moved from her couch in the family room and perched herself atop one of the high-back bar stools at her large kitchen island.

“I can still come over there if you want me to. We can split my dinner, 'cause you know Sebastian's portions are huge.”

“That's okay. Like I said, Samuel and his parents will be back in a little while and he's bringing me something to eat.” Geneva said as she walked over to the sink and poured her tea down the drain. “What did you order?”

“Do you have to ask?”

“Chicken marsala.”

Donetta laughed. “Hell, yeah, and I'm gonna devour it, too.”

“I know you are. They have the best food in town. We'll probably take Samuel's parents there before they leave.”

“You're blessed to have such great in-laws.”

“Yes, I am. They're wonderful people, and they raised a good man. I don't know what I'd do without him. When I got home this afternoon I was relieved that he and Gabrielle weren't here, because I needed some time alone, you know? But now I can't wait till they get home.”

Donetta sighed into the phone. “Girl, cherish that feeling.”

“I will, and enough about me. I haven't asked you how you're doing tonight. You okay?”

“I'm good, just worried about you.”

Geneva smiled. Other than Samuel, Donetta was the one person she could count on, rain or shine. Donetta was always supportive and ready to lend a hand in any way she could. She was a friend, counselor, babysitter, business partner, comedian, and style expert all rolled into one. And even though she'd gone through a lot over the last two years, she'd found a way to remain positive and encouraging in her own way. “Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.” Geneva returned to the couch and wrapped her chenille throw around her body.

“You know I can't help but be concerned. Especially after how wild and crazy Vivana looked on TV. The thought of her getting out is like a nightmare.”

“Tell me about it. She's a very disturbed person, that's for sure.” Geneva heard Donetta's car door open and close. “Are you home already?”

“No, I'm walking into the grocery store.”

“I thought you just picked up dinner.”

“I did. But I don't have anything in my cabinets or my fridge, so after this meal I'm up shit creek. I'm gonna pick up enough food to tide me over through the beginning of next week when I'll be home.”

She could hear the noise of Donetta's shopping cart, and she imagined her friend perusing the aisles, probably decked out in a casually stylish outfit. “I hope you have a list with you. If I don't have a list I pick up everything except the things I really need.”

“I don't have list the first. But I need practically everything, so . . . hey, what ingredients do I need to make that chicken and mushroom dish you brought to work a few weeks ago?”

Geneva began to rattle off the ingredients for the delicious chicken casserole that was always a hit with everyone who tasted it. Samuel had raved about it, and when she'd brought leftovers to work the next day, Donetta had eaten nearly all of it. Geneva stretched her legs, realizing how good it felt to do something as mundane as talk about groceries and recipes instead of thinking about Vivana, murder, and danger. She was finally calm.

“Oh shit!” Donetta whispered into the phone. “You've gotta be freakin' kidding me.”

“What's wrong?”

“He's here. Damn it! I hope this guy isn't following me.”

Geneva's back stiffened, and she immediately became concerned. Donetta was forever having some kind of drama with men. But ever since she'd stopped dating last year in order to concentrate on her final stages of transition, she'd been worry-free. Geneva hoped it wasn't one of her crazy exes from the past. “Who's following you?”

Donetta lowered her voice, and Geneva could barely hear her. “There was this guy at Sebastian's, and . . .”

The line went silent. “Donetta? Donetta?” Geneva listened carefully, trying to make out the voice in the background. Her ears perked up at the sound of a man's deep baritone. Even through the phone, Geneva could tell the voice belonged to what had to be a handsome specimen attached to it.

Donetta cleared her throat. “Geneva, I'll call you back later, okay?”

“But you said someone's following you. Are you sure you're all right?”

“Um, yes. I'll explain later.”

Geneva heard a particular lilt in Donetta's voice that let her know that her instincts had been correct—whomever Donetta was talking to was undoubtedly handsome. Geneva had been friends with Donetta long enough to know that even though she was cynical when it came to men, she loved them almost as much as she did her high-end clothes and shoes. Geneva shook her head. “Okay, Donetta, but call me when you get home so I'll know you made it there safely.”

The moment she hung up the phone, Geneva heard the garage door open, and the sound was like music to her ears. She practically jumped off the couch and made her way back to the kitchen as the door to the mudroom opened.

Samuel walked in with a big smile on his face and his parents in tow. And an added surprise was that his older brother, Joe, whom they hadn't seen since Gabrielle had been born, was there for the holidays, as well.

“Mom and Dad knew Joe was coming,” Samuel said, “but they kept it a secret so we'd be surprised.”

It was the first time all evening that Geneva truly felt like it was the holiday season. They shared warm hugs, happy smiles, and laughter, and the joyous moment temporarily took Geneva's mind off of Vivana and the horrible memory of her ex-husband that she couldn't seem to shake.

While Samuel showed his parents and Joe to their rooms, Geneva fed Gabrielle her bottle and then put her down for the night. The sight of her precious baby girl sleeping peacefully in her crib gave Geneva a sense of joy she couldn't explain. But unfortunately, the feeling was short-lived, because when she walked back downstairs she found Samuel and her in-laws gathered around the television watching a repeat of Vivana's breaking news interview that had aired earlier that evening.

Geneva walked in quietly and sat beside Samuel on the couch. She leaned into his waiting arms just as Vivana's attorney assured the reporter and viewers that justice would be served, and that her client would be exonerated of the murder she'd been wrongly convicted of. When the reporter asked if there had been misconduct on the part of the police department that investigated the crime, Vivana's attorney declined to comment, and became vague on details. Once the interview was over, Joe immediately spoke up.

“I knew from the minute I laid eyes on Vivana that she was nothing but trouble. She didn't have a genuine bone in her body. But hey, I tried to warn you.” He stared at Samuel with an
I told you so
look on his face.

“I can't believe you just went there,” Samuel said incredulously.

Joe hunched his shoulders. “Why not? It's true, isn't it? I'm just sorry you didn't listen to me, is all I'm saying.”

Samuel shot his brother a hard look. “You've been in my house for less than an hour and you're already starting.”

“Starting what?” Joe asked, as if he had no idea what Samuel was talking about.

“Right now I don't need to hear
I told you so
. And of all people, I definitely don't need to hear it from you.” Samuel looked at his brother as if he wanted to strangle him, and his reaction worried Geneva.

Geneva and her in-laws each took deep breaths and braced themselves for what they knew was about to come. Samuel and Joe had never seen eye to eye about anything, and they'd bickered back and forth ever since they'd been little boys. Everyone who knew the two brothers understood that their sibling rivalry was fueled by Joe's insecurities and his less-than-impressive attempts to compete with Samuel.

Joe was the oldest, but he'd always felt second to his younger brother's achievements. Samuel was more handsome, unquestionably smarter, more industrious, more popular, and the more successful of the two. He had a beautiful wife, a precious daughter, a huge house, and a thriving career. Conversely, Joe had always fumbled his way through life feeling unfulfilled because of poor decisions and a quirky, oftentimes abrasive personality that rubbed people the wrong way. He'd been married three times, and each divorce left him more broke and bitter than the last.

Marrying Vivana was one of the few mistakes Samuel had made, but Joe felt his brother's one faux pas had equaled all of his three marriages combined, and he loved throwing it up in Samuel's face. But their relationship had seemed to get better for a brief time two years ago when Joe had come for a visit. He'd been in Birmingham for a convention through his job with a manufacturing company, and had driven to Amber to see Samuel. Ironically, it had been the same week Johnny had been killed. Samuel had been stressed because of the heavy scrutiny that he and Geneva had been under, and Joe had been sympathetic.

Joe had put their childhood issues aside and came through for Samuel during a time when Samuel had needed him. They'd even kept up a steady flow of conversation for several months. Geneva had been happy to see that Samuel and his brother had gotten closer. But almost without warning, Joe stopped calling and the relationship between the two brothers had gone back to the way it had always been.

Geneva wished Samuel and his brother could overcome their contempt for each other and get along. She liked Joe because he'd always been nice to her, but she didn't like the way he treated Samuel, and she knew that kind of behavior couldn't continue, especially not now that Joe was in their house, on Samuel's turf, even if it was only for a few days.

“I don't want to hear anything from you right now,” Samuel said to Joe. “We all know that I made a mistake. You don't have to state the obvious, or rub it in.”

“All I was trying to say is that if you had listened to me and called off the wedding when I told you to, you wouldn't be going through this stress right now.”

“Let's not point fingers,” Samuel's mother chimed in.

Samuel nodded. “Mom's right. When you start pointing fingers, you'd better be ready to stand up to the same scrutiny you dish out. And if anyone shouldn't want any fingers pointing in their direction, it should be you.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Joe balked.

“Exactly what you think it does.” Samuel sighed and rubbed his chin. “Let's drop it because this isn't helping anyone, especially not Geneva.”

When Samuel said her name, all eyes landed on Geneva, and she was sure they could see the melancholy resting in them. She didn't want her mood to dampen what was supposed to be a time of celebration and thanks, but she also couldn't hide the fact that she was scared, and for good reason. Vivana had testified in front of a standing-room-only courtroom that she'd wanted to murder Geneva. Now there was a possibility that the crazy woman might be released, and Geneva feared Vivana might try to finish what she'd started.

“I didn't mean to upset you, Geneva,” Joe said with sincerity. “I apologize if my comments made you feel uncomfortable.”

Geneva nodded. “Honestly, I was on edge before you all got here. When I saw the interview earlier this evening, I had flashbacks of how Vivana used to come into the salon where I once worked, sit in my chair, and pretend to be a woman named Cheryl. She did that just so she could get close to me with the intention of killing me. It takes a very troubled person to go to those lengths.”

Sarah shuddered. “I'm so sorry you had to go through that, dear. Just the thought of it . . .”

Everyone nodded solemnly, thinking about how stressful that time had been for the entire family. At one point, both Geneva and Samuel had been under heavy scrutiny and had risen to the top of the list of possible suspects in Geneva's ex-husband's murder. Johnny Mayfield was a man of duplicitous character and unscrupulous morals. Both Geneva and Samuel had had good reason to want him dead. But neither of them had let their emotions lead them to commit murder.

Geneva let out a deep breath. “I had hoped that after Vivana was convicted, I'd never have to see her again. Now there's a possibility that she may be released, and Lord only knows what she might do.”

Herbert shook his head. “Surely she wouldn't do anything that would land her back in jail?” He looked directly at Samuel. “Would she?”

Geneva looked into Samuel's eyes, and she could see that he was thinking the same thing that was running through her mind.

“I don't know, Dad,” Samuel replied in a solemn voice. “All I can say is that I wouldn't put anything past her, and if she does get out . . . I'll do whatever it takes to protect my family.”

Joe spoke up. “Maybe we're getting worked up over nothing. If they really had solid evidence, wouldn't that lawyer of hers have at least hinted at what it could be? If the so-called evidence they have is legit, why all the secrecy?”

“I think she did,” Geneva said, reminding them that Vivana's lawyer had suggested that some of the evidence may have been tampered with or even manufactured, and those kinds of things would point directly back to the authorities. “Maybe that's why she became so vague when the reporter asked her that question. Besides, I don't think a credible news station is going to air a story like that unless there are some legs to keep it running.”