Good Woman Blues (25 page)

“Let’s go to my house. I’ve been wanting to
be close to you all day. I’m not talking about sex either,” he said
quietly.

Erikka breathed hard. She wanted him, too.
And she was thinking about the sex. The sensation of him entering
her was a magical experience. Gabriel always gave a wonderful sigh
as their bodies settled together. As though he’d come home inside
her. Erikka felt it, too. Her fear of being alone had vanished with
him. Unlike before, the fear hadn’t come back once their bodies
separated. He’d just reminded her of that. She pressed her right
palm to his cheek.

“Yes.” Erikka smiled.

***

Two days later Erikka entered her old office
building in New Orleans. The sumptuous lobby hadn’t changed. She
smiled at the security person as she approached the desk to sign
in.

“What’s up, Roni?” Erikka shook hands with
her.

“Same old same old. Gotta get back on the
right path. I miss my gym buddy. You comin’ back?” Roni grinned
back at her. “You’re to blame for my butt spreadin’ so wide in the
past few months.”

“Nothing is keeping you from the treadmill,”
Erikka tossed back.

“You give me motivation. We could gossip,
talk politics. Girl, wait till you hear what my crazy mama did this
time. Think you got mama drama?” Roni pointed at her. “You’ll never
top this.”

Erikka laughed. Roni was a year younger than
she. Though on the surface they seemed to come from different
worlds, they’d connected in true New Orleans fashion. Roni had
managed to pull herself out of a dangerous public housing project.
She was public school to Erikka’s private school, but they had
become pals.

“I should be through in an hour or so. You
still break for lunch at eleven-thirty?” Erikka could find out
about Roni’s mother and get the scoop on goings-on at her firm.
Roni had a nose for news.

“My new relief guy is always on time. Told
you they’d fire Carl sooner or later. Girl, we got to talk.” Roni
slapped the desktop for emphasis.

“Don’t you move without me. I’ll be back to
get all the dirt,” Erikka promised.

The elevator ride to the fourth floor brought
back the rush of being in charge. Plush carpet in a fern green and
red pattern complemented the dark wood. Erikka pushed through glass
double doors with gold lettering, doors she’d been convinced would
bear her name one day. Nadine Lewis, dressed in a navy skirt and
lime green silk blouse, stood at the wide reception desk.

“What do you mean the freaking package didn’t
arrive? I’m going to sue that damn courier service,” Nadine hissed
at the cringing receptionist.

“Ye-es, ma’am. I could call them again.” The
trembling young redhead reached for the phone.

“You do that, Misty. Call right now,” Nadine
said in a silky low tone Erikka knew so well. That particular voice
meant heads would roll if Nadine didn’t get the answer she
wanted.

Those weeks in the boonies must have done
Erikka good. She did not feel like putting off their meeting. This
despite the fact that Nadine had used that same tone with her the
last time they’d met. Today was different though. Nadine had called
her three days ago saying she needed help with a big client. Erikka
might have made mistakes, but she had helped her bosses look good
more than once.

Better still, Erikka had an ace up her
sleeve. The other young associates didn’t have her experience or
contacts. Dating Vaughn had paid off for something at least. He’d
introduced her to a lot of helpful people. Erikka guessed Nadine
must really be in a bind. She’d find out soon enough.

“Erikka, give me ten minutes. I have one last
phone call to make, but it won’t take long.” Nadine brushed her
cheek against Erikka’s and strode off.

“Hi, Erikka. You look fabulous, as usual.”
Jarvis winked and gave a thumbs-up signal.

“Thanks, big guy.” Erikka grinned. She turned
to Laurie.

“Hello, Erikka. You do look good. Living out
in the country agrees with you.” Laurie wore a restrained
smile.

“It was a nice break.” Erikka felt her scalp
prickle. Laurie’s gray-green eyes had a predatory glint that she
recognized all too well.

“We could all use that kind of break.”

“I hope you get one just like it real soon
then,” Erikka said with a smile.

Laurie bared her teeth even more. “A long
weekend is enough to refresh me. Visiting?”

“At Nadine’s invitation.” Erikka watched that
sink in. She could almost hear Laurie’s mind working.

“Well, isn’t that nice. Better get back to
work. I’m on the Glendale account now. Keeps me busy, but then you
should know.” Laurie seemed to look for reaction.

Erikka did not flinch. The Glendale account
had been her prize after two years of paying dues. The large office
supply company had expanded to five regional stores. She’d helped
them land an account with three state agencies. Laurie was living
off Erikka’s glory and wanted to rub it in.

“Have a good day,” Erikka replied dryly.
Laurie gave her a flip of the hand before she strolled down the
hall. Jarvis and Misty exhaled in unison.

“I better go, too, before Nadine cracks the
whip. We need you in the big NO. So stop playing around and get
your fine behind back here.”

“Thanks.” Erikka grinned at him.

The phone on Misty’s desk buzzed. She picked
it up. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll tell her. Ms. Lewis says go on back.”

Erikka adjusted the Coach purse on her
shoulder, glanced down at herself, and headed for Nadine’s office.
Jarvis and Misty gave her encouraging smiles. Suddenly Erikka felt
a blast of anxiety like ice water pouring through her. Nadine would
eat her own young if they screwed up. Erikka battled her twin
enemies, fear and doubt as she walked into Nadine’s office. Before
she could knock, Nadine called out through the closed door.

“Just come on in.”

Erikka winced. Nadine calculated everything
in numbers. The woman knew how many seconds it took Misty to walk
from the reception area to Nadine’s office. She had her commute
figured for all kinds of traffic conditions. Why in the world had
she stuck with this lunatic outfit anyway?

Erikka pushed through the carved French
antique door. A sumptuous oriental carpet in jewel tones covered
the floor. Vintage office furniture filled Nadine’s suite. The
scent of freshly brewed coffee, Nadine’s own gourmet blend, wafted
from a small serving area. A pot of hot water and a variety of teas
sat on the opposite end of it. Various sweeteners and flavored
creams surrounded glazed cups.

“Come, pour a cup and sit.” Nadine waved one
hand toward the long credenza. She flipped through a few pages of a
thick report, and then closed it.

Erikka fixed a cup of coffee and steadied her
nerves. She walked to one of two dark blue chairs facing Nadine’s
wide desk. Buttery soft leather cushioned Erikka as she sank down.
Ah, home, sweet, home. Nadine’s thin lips stretched into a feline
smile.

“You look marvelous, dear.” Nadine sat in the
executive chair like a monarch, head up and chin out.

“Thanks. I suppose everything happens for a
reason,” Erikka said politely. She put her purse on the floor near
her feet.

“As dreadful as that whole experience was,
you needed the rest. I can see that now.” Nadine nodded as though
she’d uttered great wisdom.

“Next time I’ll just take the usual
vacation,” Erikka replied. “Less traumatic, you know.”

Nadine pressed her lips together for a few
seconds, and then barked out a laugh. “You’re right. Oh, hell,
let’s get real.” She stood, came around the desk, and sat in the
chair next to Erikka.

“Uh, okay.” Erikka wasn’t sure what to make
of this, but she would go along.

“Look, we’ve all had our versions of a major
personal pileup on the highway of life. Ten years ago my husband
ran off with our secretary and half the business I’d helped build.
The little bottle blond bitch,” she said with venom.

“You’ve done very well,” Erikka said, to ease
her toward the point of this visit. She didn’t want Nadine to lapse
into a tirade about her ex and his trophy wife. They could be here
for hours.

“Damn right. But not before I took a nasty
detour to a very dark place. No shame in needing help. The
Hellinger Clinic saved my life.” Nadine gave a sharp nod.

Erikka knew that the expensive hospital in
Texas resembled an exclusive spa more than a psycho ward. Still,
she nodded as though they were blood sisters. “I know what you
mean. I needed a wake-up call.”

“Exactly. How are you?” Nadine’s pointed blue
gaze settled on her.

“Not too worse for wear. Like the old saying
goes, a little bent but not broken.” Erikka gave her a gutsy
smile.

“Good for you! I told Bill and Darryl you
would make a comeback,” she said, referring to her partners.

“I’m not the same. Better, I hope.” Erikka
got excited, knowing the partners had discussed her.

“I’m sure you are.” Nadine went back to her
desk and sat down, a signal their sharing sisterhood was over. She
was all business now. “After much discussion all three partners
have agreed. Your old job is yours if you want it.” “Why now?”
Erikka said bluntly. “A few weeks ago you were more than happy to
write me off.”

Nadine’s smile tightened as she struggled to
keep her kindly big sister facade in place. “I moved a bit too
fast. And a couple of clients asked for you.”

“But you have Laurie. She’s handling the
Glendale account for one.” Erikka wasn’t going to let her off that
easy.

“Ah, not to everyone’s satisfaction,” Nadine
clipped. “Plus we’ve got three tax audits to handle, an important
new client, and not enough help around here.”

“So, Mr. Brinkhaus and Calder suggested we
meet?” Erikka suppressed a smile when Nadine winced. Jackpot. The
other partners probably told Nadine she’d been too quick to fire a
seasoned staff person.

“We all agreed,” Nadine insisted. “We’re
offering your old job back with a raise.”

Erikka blinked hard. Until Nadine actually
said it, Erikka hadn’t really believed it could happen. She felt
stunned with joy. She would once again dwell in the rarefied
atmosphere of Lewis, Calder and Brinkhaus. They wanted her. She
would rise from the ashes and laugh in the faces of those who had
been delighted at her downfall.

Nadine sat forward with her hands folded on
the desk. She wore a solemn expression. “I know what you’re
thinking. Why should you want to come here? We weren’t as
understanding as we could have been.”

“I put you all in a bad position. My work may
have suffered somewhat.” Erikka’s thoughts whizzed by memories of
missed meetings and deadlines. Instead she thought about her old
office. She’d had a view down St. Peter Street. Lunches in the
Quarter. Crunching numbers for the elite.

“Which never caused us major problems. You
always came through despite your personal pain,” Nadine said, in a
voice full of empathy.

Erikka felt disoriented. This kinder, gentler
Nadine totally threw her off. Then she went with it. “I don’t know
what to say. Of course I’m gratified that the partners would give
me another chance.”

“This isn’t a charity offer, Erikka. You did
good things for this firm.” Nadine rose. “I’m sure you need a few
days to consider.”

“I’m not reluctant to come back. It’s just I
have to find an apartment, get my things out of storage—” Erikka
broke off. Right. She’d also need to replace furniture that had
been repossessed. Not to mention juggle community service hours
somehow. Her head spun at all the details of moving.

“My friend has a restored apartment in the
warehouse district. I’m sure she’d lease it to you at a reasonable
price. Of course it still needs work.” Nadine lifted a
shoulder.

“Those fabulous new lofts not far from the
art district? My Lord.” Erikka gave up her cool fa9ade. She’d
walked into a super lotto jackpot comeback.

“Here’s her number. Can you start in two
weeks?”

“I’ll call you.” Erikka took the slip of
paper from Nadine’s tapered fingers. She floated out of the fancy
comer office on a cloud. Somehow she found herself back in the
downstairs lobby.

“You back?” Roni asked when Erikka walked
toward the front door.

“Yeah,” she replied, in a muffled dazed
voice. Erikka still held the piece of paper in her hand as she
headed out.

“Hey, girl, what about our lunch date?” Roni
yelled at her.

“No time today. I’ve got a lot to do.” Erikka
stopped and let the glorious reality seep into her. She put on her
designer sunglasses, and then smiled at the world. “I am indeed
back.”

Chapter 15

Gabriel hummed along with the music as he
worked. Sunlight slanted through the windows in his shop. Wood dust
danced on the beams of sunshine as he put the finishing touches on
a bench. Satisfied with each detail, he prepared to fit the legs
into the replica of a nineteenth-century country church pew. He’d
added a light varnish, and then rubbed it to make the wood look
distressed. Fitted pegs instead of nails would make the piece even
more authentic. He loved each phase of creating, including the
historical research. Gabriel started to hum another tune and
laughed. Shaking his head, he set the finished bench on all four
legs. Examining it from all sides, Gabriel nodded. As he took off
his safety goggles, a clapping sound made him spin around.

“Another masterpiece,” his father said with a
grin as he applauded.

His mother joined them seconds later.
“Gabriel, you really should be careful. We’ve been walking around
here for fifteen minutes, and you didn’t notice.”

“I’ve got a bell on the door.” Gabriel
crossed to her and pecked her check.

She turned off his compact disc player. “No
wonder you didn’t hear it. At this rate you’ll have hearing loss
before you get to be our age.”