Good Woman Blues (21 page)

“Sounds wonderful, Erikka. He’s strong and
artistic, sensitive to beauty in the world.” Karin put the most
romantic spin on things, as usual.

Erikka smiled at her. For once she had to
agree. “As a matter of fact that’s a good description. Gabriel
lives kind of a simple life. No parties, club crawling, or hanging
with the crowd.”

Hope yawned dramatically to make a point. “I
get the picture. Slow.”

Karin threw a small accent pillow at her. “I
think we can agree that we could all do with a change in our
choices of men.”

“Don’t force me to mention a few of your
former boyfriends, sweetie,” Erikka added.

“Ouch! I have no defense.” Hope gave a
shudder. Then she gave Erikka an affectionate grin. “I’m happy for
ya, babe. You deserve some good times.”

“I pledge to find a man with money who isn’t
lying when he says he’ll leave his wife.” Hope held up her
wineglass.

“Hope!” Karin pursed her lips in
displeasure.

“Baby steps, girlfriend. Baby steps.” Hope
gave her eyebrows a sassy wiggle.

“She’s right, Hope. Take this seriously. We
all deserve better,” Erikka said.

“Okay, okay.” Hope swirled the wine around in
her glass as she stared into it. “I pledge to find a man who is
free to love me the way I should be loved,” she said softly.

“Hear, hear.” Karin went to her and gave Hope
a hug. Then they both looked at Erikka.

Erikka cleared her throat. “I pledge to fill
myself before I expect anyone else to complete me.”

“Deep.” Hope nodded. They sat in silence for
a time, each with their own thoughts. “Let’s have some fun now.
Enough of this important stuff. I say we go down to Rock N Bowl.
It’s reggae night.”

“Yah, mon.” Karin took Erikka’s cup, loaded
the tray, and started for the kitchen.

“Hey, wait a minute. We always end up acting
crazy when we start groovin’ to reggae,” Erikka warned. The three
women looked at each other for a second before all three
grinned.

“Let’s do this thang!” Hope yelled. She
jumped up and swung her hips in a sexy circle.

They spent the rest of their Saturday night
like the old days, except with much less liquor. Erikka only felt a
mild tug to order a drink. Habit, she mused. Still having a dry
good time did not feel alien for a change. Even Hope limited
herself to only one margarita. They danced and shouted
encouragement to the five-piece band putting out the driving reggae
rhythms. After one last song, the musicians took a break. Hope
lingered on the dance floor laughing with a tall man with
dreadlocks to his waist. Karin pursed her lips and let out a
hiss.

“Oh-oh.” She nodded, and Erikka turned to
look in that direction.

Vaughn came in with the same woman he’d been
with at Deanie’s. The pretty duo struck a pose for effect. Erikka
had to admit he was stunning in his Sean John white silk shirt.
Dark green slacks hugged his hips and muscular thighs. She hung on
to Vaughn for dear life. No wonder. A bevy of beautiful solo
females circled him like hungry cats after the catch of the day.
Vaughn laughed at the stir he had caused. His date was not
amused.

“Watch this.” Erikka tossed down the last of
her diet soda.

Karin put a hand on her arm. “Girl, don’t do
it.”

Erikka patted Karin’s hand and winked at her.
She checked the fit of her tight pants and smoothed down the
matching blood red knit blouse. “He always did like me in this
color.”

Hope came back to their table. “All right,
let’s have a real throw down.” She flashed a gleeful grin at Karin
who slumped down as though not wanting to be seen.

“It’s cool,” Erikka said over her shoulder as
she left.

She fluffed her hair out as she approached
Vaughn and his date. A handsome young man tried to get Erikka’s
attention, but she just kept walking. Vaughn noticed her and licked
his bottom lip. His eyes gleamed. His date seemed on the verge of
spitting like an angry feline. Erikka walked up to Vaughn, looking
into his eyes as though he were alone.

“Hi, Vaughn. I never thanked you for those
beautiful flowers you sent. That was so thoughtful,” Erikka spoke
in the sultriest voice she could muster.

“Flowers? When?” His date yanked on his arm.
When Vaughn shrugged without taking his eyes off Erikka, the woman
strode off in a huff.

“Didn’t mean to upset your lady friend,”
Erikka said with a brief glance at the woman. “Kind of clingy,
isn’t she?”

“I’m sure she’ll get over it. Dayna is too
touchy.” Vaughn didn’t bother to look in Dayna’s direction. “You’re
looking good. Real good. I hear you’re making a comeback, baby
girl. Sweet.”

“I’m doing okay.” Erikka affected false
modesty. She brushed a lock of hair over one shoulder. “Julie is
history already I see. You’re still at the top of your game.”

“Well, you know.” Vaughn flashed a smile that
could launch female erotic fantasies. “We should get together
sometime.”

“Oh? But you’ve been so busy.” Erikka lifted
her chin.

He looked around as though making sure Dayna
was out of earshot. ‘Truth is you’ve been on my mind. And I did try
to call you that one time.”

“Yeah, that one time. You know what, Vaughn?
I’m doing fine after going through some bad stuff. And since I did
it without you, I think I’m gonna keep it that way.” Erikka flipped
a hand to dismiss his offer to resume their affair.

“Look, sweetness you know how my business has
taken off. Okay, I was missing in action for awhile but now I’m
back.” Vaughn gave her a smoky head to toe glance.

“Remember that thing I do that you like so
much,” he whispered.

Erikka did remember. In the past Erikka would
have melted into a puddle at the thought of his tongue on her body.
Looking at him now she felt not an ounce of temptation. “There was
a time I didn’t think much of myself. I would have been dumb enough
to make a date with you while you were out with another woman.
Good-bye, Vaughn. I guess you’ll grow up one day. I have. I don’t
date horny teenagers anymore.”

“Humph. You’ll call,” Vaughn shot back with a
scowl.

“Hold your breath.” Erikka gave him a sassy
grin as she walked back to her table. Karin and Hope leaned forward
in anticipation. They started talking together.

“His date had smoke coming out of her ears,”
Karin said.

“Honey, what did you say to Vaughn? He looks
like somebody just keyed his Jaguar!” Hope burst out.

“Vaughn who?” Erikka beamed at her gaping
friends. “Y’all want to order some hot wings?”

Chapter 13

Erikka was determined to see Terri before she
drove back to Loreauville. She said goodbye to a sleepy Hope early
that morning. Heading down Interstate 10, she took the Williams
Boulevard exit. Twenty minutes later she buzzed Terri from the
security gate. When she got no answer, Erikka buzzed a second, then
a third, time.

“What.” Terri’s voice had a metallic twang
through the speaker. “If this isn’t an emergency, somebody is going
to be sorry.

“Hi, sunshine. It’s Erikka. I’ve got
Gambino’s coffee cake just for you.” Erikka rattled the bag.

“That your way of apologizing?” Terri
grumbled.

“You letting me in and making us both some
coffee is your way of apologizing,” Erikka replied. A click was her
answer. “Okay, I’m out.”

She shifted into reverse, but a car had
pulled up behind her. The driver leaned on his horn. Erikka waved
at him to be patient just as the electric gate retracted to let her
in.

Minutes later she was at Terri’s front door.
When it opened, Terri blinked at her through cigarette smoke.

“You have serious issues.” Terri shuffled
back inside. She wore a pink lounge jumpsuit and fuzzy green
socks.

“Sure. I was in the hospital with you.”
Erikka shut the door with her foot and held up the bag of
pastries.

“Get that away from me. I can’t eat before
noon.” Terri went into the kitchen and banged around noisily,
making coffee. “I hope you’re not going to ask me for that decaf
crap.”

“The gracious hostess you’re not. What about
herbal tea?” Erikka followed her. She peered into cabinets without
asking.

“If you find it, you can have it. Haven’t
touched that tasteless stuff since I broke up with my last
boyfriend.” Terri put three heaping scoops of coffee into the
filter. She assembled the coffeemaker and turned it on. When water
burbled into the glass pot, she sighed. “Help is on the way.”

The kitchen was as much a mess as the rest of
the condo. Terri seemed to think countertops were as good as
cabinets for storage. Piles of dishes, some clean and most dirty,
covered every surface. Frosted cornflakes littered the small
breakfast table facing a bay window. Cups with the dried remains of
coffee were stacked in the sink. Erikka picked her way through the
chaos until she found a packet of orange spice herbal tea. She put
a glass kettle of water on the stove to boil. After washing out a
cup, she joined Terri in the living room.

“My girls are sorry about last night,” Erikka
said.

Terri sat cross-legged in the middle of the
large moss green sofa. “Yeah, well.”

“Hey, we’re going to hang out in another
couple of weeks or so. Wanna come?” Erikka reached into the bag and
broke off a piece of cinnamon pastry.

“I don’t think so.” Terri shook her head. She
stubbed out the cigarette.

“I’m not just saying it. Karin and Hope
really do want you to come. Hope says you’ve got a wild sense of
humor.” Erikka looked at the phone just as it rang. When Terri
picked it up she affected a casual expression.

“Hello? Hi, Karin. Yeah, she told me. That’s
nice, but—” Terri glanced at Erikka, who shrugged. “Sure. I’ll see
you then. Bye.”

“Was that my friend Karin?” Erikka tried to
look surprised and failed.

“Like I don’t know you put her up to
calling.” Terri brushed loose strands of hair from her eyes.

“She wanted to. I—” Erikka stopped when the
phone rang again.

“Wonder who this could be?” Terri said with a
lift of one eyebrow. She hit the button of her cordless again. “Why
Hope, what a surprise. Yes, Karin told me. Okay, see ya.”

“They’re really good people. Karin is a
sweetheart. And trust me; Hope wouldn’t call if she really didn’t
want to be bothered.” Erikka ate a small piece of cinnamon
cake.

“Okay, I’m convinced.” Terri’s tense frown
eased into a more relaxed expression. “So maybe I was a little
wired last night.”

“Uh, yeah,” Erikka replied.

“I know what you’re thinking. You have the
same expression that damn social worker had in the hospital.” Terri
stabbed a forefinger at her, then stood and went to the
kitchen.

Erikka followed her. “Lord, no. Let me fix my
face right now. I’m not trying to judge you, girl. I just want you
to be okay.” The kettle whistled as the water came to a boil.

“You’re really gonna drink that stuff?” Terri
frowned as she looked at the tea bag.

Erikka inhaled the aroma of dark rich coffee.
“I’m trying to cut back on all kinds of stimulants, but—”

“Hell, don’t get fanatical about it.” Terri
dumped the tea bag into the garbage can and poured both cups full
of coffee.

“I’m so easily tempted.” Erikka loaded up on
sugar and real cream from Terri’s refrigerator.

“You know our parents had it good. They
drank, par- tied, and screwed without thinking about dying. These
days you choose the wrong man, and you could wind up taking twenty
pills to stay alive. Man, the seventies. Now those were the days.”
Terri drank deeply from her cup.

“I have plenty of friends with parents in and
out of rehab. Besides, all their ‘good times’ maybe got us in this
fix. Ever think about that?” Erikka went back to the living room
for more pastry to go with her coffee.

“The sixties?” Terri followed her and sat
down carefully, watching her cup to keep from spilling.

“Free love and lots of drugs. Broken homes
and kids that grew up feeling abandoned,” Erikka said as she sat
down.

“The fifties?” Terri tried again.

“Sex on the backseat, hypocrisy and ‘whites
only’ toilets. I don’t think so.” Erikka shook her head.

“You sure know how to mess up a person’s
attempt to escape reality,” Terri wisecracked.

“Therapy does that to ya,” Erikka tossed
back.

“My grandparents are always going on about
how nice things were before everybody got so sensitive.” Terri gave
a short laugh. “Which means they liked having cheap labor because
the system blocked opportunities for minorities.”

Erikka laughed with her. Terri had grown up
in the Garden District where “Americans” lived, as opposed to the
old Creole families descended from French and Spanish ancestors.
Neither group had a monopoly on snobbery.

“I hear you. But I’ll bet they’re not all
that bad.” Erikka licked icing from her fingers.

“Not a mean bone in their patrician bodies.
Just how they grew up. Same for my parents, I suppose. Not bad,
just clueless.” Terri looked down into her cup. “I haven’t made
life easy for them.”

“They love you, Terri,” Erikka said.

“Maybe. They just don’t like me very much.
Neither do I most of the time,” Terri whispered. A tear slid down
one cheek. She wiped at it hard with the back of her hand.

They sat without talking. Terri swallowing
hard, sniffling, and rubbing her eyes while Erikka fidgeted. Erikka
searched for some way to reassure her and found nothing. Erikka
watched the wheels turning in Terri’s head. She knew the drill.
First you cry and feel sorry for yourself. Then you say, “Fuck
’em,” and go on another self- destruct mission. If Erikka didn’t do
something, Terri would have her convinced life was a pointless
hell, so why not party?

“Stay another night and hang out. Tip’s has a
band rocking the house,” Terri said on cue. She dried one last tear
and threw the tissue on the floor.