Good Woman Blues (20 page)

Erikka cooked dinner for them, a kind of
ladies’ night. She’d invited her former hospital roomie, but now
realized maybe it hadn’t been such a great idea. The first hour or
so Terri had kept them howling in laughter with her courtroom
stories. Now her high-energy behavior was wearing on them all.
Karin and Hope glanced at Erikka, then each other. Hope wore a
vexed expression that Erikka knew only too well. Karin was
struggling to be tolerant, but Erikka could tell even she was
starting to wonder about Terri. As Terri continued to talk about
her latest victory in the courtroom, Erikka shot them both a “Don’t
say it” look. As usual Hope did not comply.

“Girls, I’m back in the saddle again.” Terri
paced the length of the dusty green carpet of Hope’s living
room.

Karin stopped her from going into the
kitchen. “No, no. You just put six teaspoons in your iced tea.”

“This going without liquor is a bitch.
Sorry,” Terri said merrily, when Karin winced. “But, honey,
sometimes the situation calls for a little healthy cussing.”

“Now that I can agree with. I’ll be damned if
my throat isn’t dry for a real drink,” Hope said. She looked hard
at Erikka.

Terri chattered on with Karin as her primary
audience. “Time was I’d have a tall cold beer to celebrate. I wiped
the courtroom floor with his patrician butt.”

Erikka yanked Hope aside when Terri followed
Karin into the kitchen to help clear the dishes. “Don’t make things
worse,” she snapped.

“You better handle your new buddy. She’s
messed up.” Hope pulled free and scowled at Erikka.

“Adding alcohol will kick her up ten
notches.”

Erikka shot a harried looked across the room.
Hope’s spacious flat had an open floor plan. She watched Karin move
around with Terri right beside her for every step, talking
nonstop.

‘Terri needs to take her pills for sure,”
Erikka said. “Pills hell. She needs a gallon bag of lithium
attached to an IV needle in her arm.” Hope opened a long, carved
wooden box. “Where’s a cigarette when you freaking need one?”

“So I said to the judge ‘With all due respect
to my colleague, his argument is specious and not supported by case
law.’ Respect my eye. The guy’s got turds for brains.” Terri
snorted out a rough laugh as she trailed Karin back into the living
room.

“Wow, that was something,” Karin said. She
put a tray down with dessert saucers of cheesecake. “I’ll get the
coffee.”

Terri flopped down on the sofa. “I’m telling
you his face turned three shades of red.”

“Phone, probably my man calling to check on
me. I’ll take it in the bedroom.” Hope hurried off.

“I didn’t hear the phone,” Erikka yelled at
Hope’s retreating back. Hope kept going.

“That Karin is a great cook.” Terri inhaled
the cheesecake. She eyed another slice.

“Terri, are you taking the medication the
doctor prescribed?” Erikka pushed the tray farther from Terri. She
had to stop this speeding train of excess.

“Geez, you sound like my sister. My family
likes seeing me all doped up.” Terri jumped from the sofa and
crossed to the entertainment center. She turned on the radio,
pushing the volume up. She gyrated around the room.

Erikka turned down the volume again and faced
her with both hands on her hips. “You’re out of control. Not much
better than the first day you arrived at the hospital.”

“You been talking to my baby sister? Loosen
up that body and dance with me.” Terri snapped her fingers to the
beat.

‘Terri, listen to me. Do what you want, but
I’m not going back to the snake pit. So, party on by your damn
self,” Erikka said.

The song ended slowly, fading away. Terri
blinked at Erikka for several seconds as a deejay’s smooth voice
came on. “Okay, so I took a short drug holiday. That stuff makes me
lose my edge.”

“How long since you stopped?” Erikka pressed.
She waited as Terri chewed her bottom lip.

“Almost two weeks. But you should have seen
me in court. Honey, I—” She stopped when Erikka continued to stare
at her.

“You like going full speed this way?”

“I feel strong, like I don’t have to be
scared.” Terri clenched her hands into fists.

“Yeah,” Erikka said with a sigh. She knew
that feeling of being scared all the time too well. “I’d have a few
drinks and go out to conquer the world.”

Terri shook her head hard. “I haven’t been
drinking at all. I can control myself.”

“How often have you controlled yourself in
the past few years?” Erikka said quietly.

Terri opened her mouth, and then closed it.
She crossed her arms as she walked to the sofa and sat down. “I
hate taking medicines. I hate having that mental-illness label on a
file somewhere with my name typed next to it.”

“Nobody has to know your private medical
information.” Erikka sat across from her in a wide, matching easy
chair. She kicked off her shoes and drew her legs up. “Don’t mess
up at this new law firm.”

Terri chewed the last bit of bronze lipstick
from her lip. She blinked her eyes shiny with tears. “Everything is
such a damn struggle. For me at least.”

“Girl, please. Your mama has more connections
than the phone company. She got you this plum position. That’s a
lot.” Erikka pointed a finger at her.

“You don’t know what it’s like. Mother is
tough. Nothing I do is ever good enough, not like my golden
sisters.” Terri grimaced.

“I have one of those wonder sisters myself,”
Erikka said, with a nod of sympathy. “She’s a good kid though.
Mostly it’s about me.”

Terri sat deep in thought for several
minutes. Erikka leaned back against the cushions, listening to the
music. The last thing she had a right to do was lecture Terri. No
way did Erikka think she had any answers. Each day Erikka worked
hard at not fooling herself. Sidestepping reality had become second
nature. She gazed at Terri with empathy. Erikka left the chair and
sat next to Terri.

“Get back on the medication. Doing it on your
own has never worked, and you know it.” Erikka put an arm around
Terri’s shoulder.

“Yeah, yeah,” Terri said waving a hand at
her. She stood. “So, I scared off your girlfriends.”

“Nah, they’re just—”

“It’s okay, Erikka. I’m used to it.” Terri
grabbed her purse from the floor near the stereo system. “I’m going
home.” She wore the expression of a kid not picked to play on
anyone’s team.

“You just gonna let us eat all this
cheesecake alone? C’mon, hang out a little longer. I’ll be back in
a minute,” Erikka said. She decided to drag Karin and Hope back to
the living room.

When Erikka pushed through the swinging door
to the kitchen, Karin started. She wore a guilty smile on her
cinnamon brown face. “Uh, I had trouble finding the cream and sugar
bowls that match the coffee cups.”

“You’ve got two seconds to get back in there
and make Terri not feel insulted,” Erikka ordered. She pivoted
without waiting for an answer, and then headed for Hope’s bedroom.
She hissed when she heard the television.

Hope leaned back on the bed on both elbows
talking into a phone headset. “Yeah, Damon, I’m just hiding out
from—Hey,” she yelped when Erikka yanked her up.

“Get your a-double-s off the phone now."
Erikka glowered at Hope until she muttered a hasty explanation into
the phone.

“Okay, so how long does this torture last?”
Hope grumbled as she took off the headset and tossed the telephone
on the bed.

“I’ve been where Terri is right now. I was
lucky to have you guys. Terri doesn’t have any friends.”

“Wonder why?” Hope retorted.

“Show a little compassion.” Erikka glared a
threat at her.

“Sheesh, be nice, or get your behind whipped.
Some choice. You owe us big-time for this,” Hope muttered.

Karin was in full apology mode by the time
they made it back to the living room. “Sorry I took so long. I’m
slow at everything. I just love that blouse, brings out the color
of your eyes.”

Hope put on her best smile. “Girl, that man
can’t get enough of me. Finally had to cut him off.”

A moment of silence passed as Terri glanced
at the three women in turn. Like lightning Terri’s mood changed to
irritation. “Don’t put yourselves out for me. I’ve got a fabulous
party on the hook, ladies. I just dropped by to be polite.”

“Oh, no she didn’t.” Hope put a hand on one
hip.

“Listen, Terri—”

“See ya, if I get some spare time.” Terri
tossed her hair and flounced out the door, letting it slam behind
her.

“She’s hurt,” Karin said with a worried
frown.

“No, but she was gonna be in about one hot
minute. Matter of fact I ought to catch her in the parking lot.”
Hope started for the door. Karin yanked her back.

“Karin is right. Terri is reacting that way
to protect herself,” Erikka said.

“Fine. But you can’t just shove her on people
and expect her to get instant best friends, Erikka,” Hope said,
waving her arms.

“Hope has a good point, girl,” Karin agreed.
“Not that I’m saying we didn’t behave badly,” she added hastily,
with a glance at Hope.

“Okay, okay. I’ll do better next time.” Hope
sat down in one of the overstuffed chairs.

“I’ll let her cool off for an hour or so,
then call her cell phone,” Erikka said. Then she frowned. “I just
hope she doesn’t do something stupid.”

“How stupid can she get in one hour?” Hope
said. They looked at each other for a few seconds.

“Uh-oh,” Karin said.

“I’ll call now,” Erikka said. She found her
cell phone and dialed Terri’s number. When the voice mail came on,
she left a message.

“Don’t worry. She’ll be fine. By the way,
you’re a good person for taking time out for her.” Karin gave
Erikka a pat of approval on the back. They both sat down.

“Yeah, well, we kinda bonded in the Nut Hut,”
Erikka said with a grin and shrugged. “We’ve kept in touch mostly
by phone since I’m so far away now.”

“Speaking of far away, when are you coming
back to civilization?” Hope licked a dollop of raspberry swirl
cheesecake from her fork.

“I don’t know. It’s not so bad.” Erikka
propped her feet on a leather ottoman.

“Loreauville is so bad,” Hope asserted. “No
Saenger Theater, no House of Blues, no Tip’s. Good Lord, woman,
you’re in hell.”

“I hardly miss that stuff. Well, maybe that’s
a stretch,” Erikka said with a laugh, when they both squinted at
her. “Damn right it is,” Hope said.

“But I really don’t sit around wishing I was
in New Orleans. I keep pretty busy.”

Erikka thought of her work at the Senior
Center and the television station. She’d adjusted pretty well to a
new rhythm. Still, New Orleans seeped right back under her skin the
minute she saw Lake Ponchartrain.

“Busy in Loreauville?” Karin blinked at her.
A city girl through and through, she obviously had trouble
imagining it.

“Wait a minute, I smell a man in the mix.”
Hope tilted her nose up and sniffed.

“Well—” Erikka combed her fingers through her
hair.

“Give it up. Name, occupation, and salary
range, what kind of car he drives—all the important stuff.” Hope
put down the empty dessert plate.

“I’m seeing someone, but nothing serious,”
Erikka added hastily, when both women started to speak at once.

“Girlfriend found a fine man way out there.
You’re the queen.” Hope did a bow from the waist with her arms
stretched out.

Erikka wondered if she’d confessed too
easily. Now they’d want to dig out all the details, and Erikka
wasn’t sure she was ready to provide any. What she’d shared with
Gabriel so far seemed more special though she was still sorting out
why. Maybe because of the way he seemed genuinely interested in
talking to her. Or it could be the little thoughtful touches from a
man she’d missed for so long. Vaughn certainly hadn’t taken the
trouble. Not that Erikka had set the bar very high. She’d laughed
with her friends at the men in romance novels, joking about the
rich fantasy lives of the authors. They all were resigned to being
taken for granted on some level. Why had they accepted it as the
price for not being alone? More to the point why had she? Erikka
sighed. She was beginning to think like her therapist.

“Well?” Hope broke into her thoughts.

“I’m glad you found someone nice. He must
live close to your aunt,” Karin said, using her gentle approach in
contrast to blunt Hope.

“Gabriel lives in his house near the bayou.”
Erikka smiled, remembering their boat ride.

“His own house. Good so far. Tell us
everything.” Hope bounced up and down on the cushion.

“Grow up,” Erikka said crisply. “I’m not
telling because there is nothing to tell.”

“Even I’m not buying that one, Erikka,” Karin
said with a giggle.

“I can’t wait to rub Vaughn’s nose in this.”
She rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

“Now stop it,” Erikka said, her voice lacking
conviction.

“Yeah,” Karin put in. “He’s been strutting
around with Julie and—Oops.” She clapped one hand over her
mouth.

Erikka felt a spike of rage. “So, he was
screwing that bitch he works with behind my back. Dog.”

“Are you really surprised?” Hope got up and
poured a glass of wine.

“No, but it’s the principle, know what I
mean?” Erikka replied.

“You didn’t lose much. And so we come back to
Gabriel.” Karin arched her perfectly waxed brows.

“Uh-huh. Let’s forget the zero and talk about
a hero. Spill it.” Hope sat down again and wiggled her hips to get
comfortable.

“He’s really nice, polite, and good with his
hands.” Erikka accepted a cup of coffee from Karin.

“Really? I want to hear more about his hands
and how you know he is so good with them.” Hope leered.

“He makes custom furniture and he sculpts
wood. That’s what I meant,” Erikka tossed back.