Good Woman Blues (28 page)

“Alexis has her staff working late to figure
it out. I feel a migraine coming on. I’m going to take my pills and
wait for Alexis to call me back.” Darlene pressed the back of her
hand to her forehead as she walked out.

“Daa-yum,” Malik repeated when she was gone.
“Somebody is partyin’ hard on that money.”

“The money is there. Like I said, it’s
probably just a recording mistake. Those things happen a lot.”
Erikka tried to make her explanation sound convincing.

“I could see a few hundred dollars, maybe a
few thousand dollars. But that much? Daa—”

“Stop cussing,” Erikka cut him off. “All
those zeros make it easy. I mean you put four instead of five.
See?”“If you say so.” Malik gave a skeptical lift of his shoulders
before he walked out.

For three hours Erikka paced around the
house. She was unable to stay in one spot for longer than a few
minutes. Darlene emerged from her bedroom several times, still
dressed in the clothes she’d worn to work. Neither of them ate
dinner. Erikka tried to nibble on crackers, but they tasted like
dry paper. When the phone rang Darlene had come to the kitchen for
water. She picked up the cordless just as Erikka raced in to join
her.

“Hello, Alexis. Oh dear Lord no.” Darlene
covered her mouth with one hand. She staggered back against the
refrigerator as the phone slipped from her hand.

Erikka caught it just before it hit the
floor. “Yeah, Alexis. It’s Erikka, Darlene’s niece. What the—” She
listened, and then asked several questions. The savings account
could just barely cover the checks.

“Everything I worked for just wiped out. My
fault.” Darlene shook all over.

Malik strode into the kitchen and caught
Darlene as she swayed on her feet. “Mama, what happened?” His voice
shook.

“Listen, let me call you back. Right, right.
No, we’ll take care of her.” Erikka hit the button and put the
phone down to help Malik.

“Erikka, what is goin’ down? I’ve never seen
Mama like this.” Malik’s big dark eyes were wide with fear.

“We’re having a crisis, baby. Something is
funny with the money. Help me get her to that chair.” Erikka nodded
to the kitchen table. Together, they managed to guide Darlene to it
and ease her down.

“Over seventy elderly people won’t have meals
delivered.” Darlene shook her head back and forth, tears streaming
down. “No health screenings, no recreational programs. We can’t
even pay the light bill.”

“How did it—”

“We don’t know, sweetie. But I’m sure we’ll
work things out. Naturally your mama is upset, but she’ll be
okay.”

“What can I do to help?” Malik seemed close
to tears himself as he looked at his mother.

“Make us some of that herbal tea she likes.
The one that’s supposed to be soothing,” Erikka said, thinking he
needed to feel useful.

“You mean that chamomile orange flavor?”
Malik went to the stove. He turned on a burner and put the water
kettle on it.

“Right, that’s the one. Then go turn down her
bed, draw die curtains in her room. You know, make it inviting for
her.”

“Right.” Malik got out two coffee cups before
he left, a man on a mission.

“God, what will I do now?” Darlene looked
around the room without seeming to see anything.

“We’re going to meet with Alexis tomorrow,
and we’ll handle our business.” Erikka rolled out those words
easily enough. The trouble was she had no idea if they were
remotely true. Still, she began to think of more assurances.

“This is a nightmare.” Darlene rubbed her
forehead with a shaky hand.

“First we’ll figure out if this is a computer
error.” Erikka stopped when Darlene looked at her.

“You think so?” Darlene’s brown eyes pleaded
for a crumb of hope.

Erikka scraped around for one. “Happens more
than you think. Even with all this fancy technology. Computers and
people screw up. I’ve seen some whopping errors in my time.”

Darlene gave her a tremulous smile. “You’re
just a kid.”

“I feel like I’ve lived my life in dog
years.” Erikka went to the whistling kettle. She turned off the
burner. “And you’re only forty-five, not that much older than
I.”

Darlene watched her prepare two cups of tea
without speaking for several moments. “I have to call the board
president. Harold needs to know.”

“You want me to take care of it? I could tell
them you’re ill.” Erikka glanced at her aunt’s stricken expression.
That explanation would be all too true.

“No. This is my responsibility. I’ll call
from the living room if you don’t mind.”

Darlene stood up as though she carried a
heavy load on her back. Erikka started to insist on being with her
for support, but Darlene shook her head. She watched Darlene walk
out. Her efforts to stand tall tugged at Erikka’s heart.
Immediately, Erikka started to come up with worst- case-scenario
plans.

“I put out that lavender bath stuff she
likes. The label says it calms people down. Let me know when, and
I’ll fill the tub.” Malik rubbed his hands together. “Where’d she
go?”

‘To call the board president.” Erikka could
only imagine how that conversation would go.

“Oh shit,” Malik let slip, and then flinched
when Erikka glanced at him. “I mean, oh shoot.”

She waved a hand. “Don’t sweat it. I’ve been
saying that to myself since the first phone call.”

Malik straddled a chair, his arms resting on
the back. “You don’t think they’ll blame my mom, do you?”“Course
not,” Erikka said quickly as she chewed a fingernail. Her tone must
not have been convincing.

Malik’s worried frown deepened. “She’s the
director. She signs all the checks.”

“They have dual-signature checks if they’re
over a certain amount,” Erikka said.

“Oh. Well, that means someone else had to
know about all the money going out.” Malik’s expression eased a
bit. “But—”

“Look, babe, go do your chores. You know
Darlene. She’ll be asking about it if you don’t.” Erikka shooed him
out before he asked even tougher questions. And she damn sure
didn’t have any answers.

He stood. “Okay. I’ll check on y’all
later.”

“You’re a good man to have around,” Erikka
said, with a smile. Malik stood tall as he strode out, a pleased
expression on his smooth, youthful face.

Darlene came back in. She seemed to have
collected herself somewhat. “Is Malik okay? I scared the poor kid
half to death, but it hit me hard.” She sat down in the chair Malik
had just left.

“I told him to finish his chores or you’d
want to know why.” Erikka put the now lukewarm cups of tea in the
microwave. Thirty seconds later she took them out and joined
Darlene at the table.

“Harold is going to meet us at the bank in
the morning, first thing.” Darlene sighed as she rubbed her
eyes.

“I won’t say something stupid like don’t
worry.” Erikka patted Darlene’s arm, then took a sip of tea.

“Good. I’d be tempted to slap you if you
did,” Darlene deadpanned. She heaved a sigh.

Erikka continued to drink her tea. They sat
in silence for a long time. Malik turned on the light in the house
as darkness fell. He made little noise when he fixed a snack, all
but walking on tiptoes. As he flipped on the kitchen switch it was
as though a light bulb went on for Erikka. She waited for him to
leave.

“This isn’t your fault.”

Darlene got up and went to the sink. “I have
to take responsibility. I’m the boss, and I should have known
something was wrong.”

“We don’t know it’s not an error caused by a
rogue computer or some careless teller.” Erikka looked at her
critically. “You should be mad at the bank.”

“I’ve known Alexis all my life. She’s a good
person. She’ll do what’s right.” Darlene kept her back to
Erikka.

Erikka got a bad vibe from her. “Can Kelvin
sign checks?”

Darlene drank the last of the tea from her
cup and washed it. “Yes.”

“But y’all did change the account like I
recommended, right?” Erikka had Darlene to comply with accepted
accounting practices. ‘Two people have to sign all checks.”“I
didn’t get around to it. With everything going on— We had to get
the new policies in place, then I had a bunch of meetings.” Darlene
wiped her hands with great deliberation, rubbing them hard with the
dish towel.

Erikka’s throat became tight, but she had to
ask. “You think Kelvin took the money.”

Darlene spun around “I don’t think any such
thing!” she shouted. “Look, I’ve got enough to think about without
you interrogating me. This has been one helluva day. I’m going to
my bedroom for some peace and quiet.” The heels of her pumps made
an angry rat-a-tat as she stomped out.

“Oh geez.” Erikka pulled a hand over her
face. On one hand this was a perfect time for her to leave
Loreauville. On the other, something told her she needed to
stay.

***

The next week Erikka returned to New Orleans.
Her probation officer finally agreed she could continue her
community service at the Senior Center in Loreauville. She moved in
with Hope until the renovations on her loft were completed. She
followed Hope inside the apartment. Hope griped about work, but
Erikka felt the opposite. Overtime was a joy. Every phone call,
every problem made her heart sing. She was back in the land of the
living. The only missing element was Gabriel. Erikka spent her
spare moments coming up with reasons why he could move to New
Orleans and be happy. So far nothing she’d thought up convinced
even her.

Hope tossed her purse one way and her Anne
Klein pumps flew another. She flopped down on the sofa. “Thank you,
Jesus, this day is over.”

“If you hate your job send out resumes.”
Erikka kicked the door shut and locked it. She put her soft leather
briefcase down.

“I’m going to do that.”

“Uh-huh.” Erikka knew Hope wasn’t serious.
She enjoyed complaining about her job. “As my mother would say,
don’t whine if you’re not going to take action.”

“Speaking of opinionated mamas, how’s she
doing? I’m surprised she isn’t giving you grief about not living
with her. Especially now that she’s single again.”

“Not single yet. I’m hoping she and Craig can
work it out. Of course, they’d have to dump their lovers first,”
Erikka retorted. She couldn’t decide which she was more ticked off
at.

“Go Roz. She doesn’t want you up in her house
slowing down her love train,” Hope said with a smirk.

“Ha-ha. Jaci is truly freaked about the whole
situation. She’s not speaking to either of them. Like our family
doesn’t have enough turmoil going down. I called her yesterday and
basically told her to grow up.” Erikka dropped her car keys in a
long tray near the door next to Hope’s.

“She’s a spoiled brat, always thought so. You
did right. Remind Ms. Center of the Universe that it’s not about
her.” Hope pointed a finger as though Jaci were in the room.

Erikka looked at her with surprise. “Hell, I
thought it was just me. Jaci does kinda think of everything as it
affects her.”

“Right. How’d she take it when you told her
off?”

“Not too good. Now she’s pissed at me, too.
She’ll get over it. Jaci really is a caring person down deep.”
Erikka sighed, thinking of her sister’s tantrums. She hadn’t
outgrown those just yet.

“Oh the joys of family life.”

“Don’t get me started,” Erikka replied,
thinking of Darlene. She dropped a stack of envelopes. They were of
various sizes and colors. “Here’s the mail. You might want to look
at all those bills.”

“I might not,” Hope tossed back.

‘Take it from me; you don’t want to ignore
them for long. Getting your credit record clean is a bitch.”

“Yes, Mother.” Hope strolled over to the bar.
When Erikka squinted at her, she held up a can of diet soda. “Damn,
I’m living with Saint Erikka.”

“Hey, do what you want. Drink, ignore your
bills, and chase after men who are no good for you. I’m just
concerned.” Erikka grinned when Hope let out a groan.

“I can’t have any fun'' Hope sat down again.
“I’m chipping away at those balances. As you can see I’m drinking
less, during the week at least.”

Erikka sank into a matching chair. “What
about the men?”

“Damn, girl. I gotta have some hobbies.
Speaking of men; how is Gabriel?”

“Good,” Erikka said after a few seconds.

“Sounds like you’re not too sure. He’s giving
you the blues about moving back to New Orleans, huh?” Hope took a
swig of soda and gazed at her with one eyebrow up.

“No, that’s not his way.” Erikka knew Gabriel
was not happy about her move. The distance wasn’t the issue though.
She was sure Gabriel worried he would have no place in her life
anymore.

“Jealousy. Country guys are like that I hear.
Want their women close by where they can see ’em.”

“Not Gabriel. I think he’s concerned about me
getting back into the old routine. You know the one, work long
hours, party too hard, and decorate the highway with parts of my
car?”

Erikka chewed on her bottom lip. She had
thought more than once about just that herself. Already Nadine was
expecting her to stay past closing of each business day. Hope and
Karin wanted to celebrate her return with all their old friends,
most of whom were dancing on the edge. The same edge that Erikka
had danced on before she took a tumble. She could understand why
Gabriel was worried. But what about trust? She was handling herself
fine so far.

“He should be supportive and have a little
faith in you. Besides, you’re with me. I’ll keep you straight,”
Hope said with a smile.

“Girl, please. The only reason he isn’t even
more worried is because he doesn’t know you well.” Erikka laughed
hard, and Hope joined in.

“Yeah, that was a good one.” Hope picked up
the cordless phone on the end table when it rang. “Hello? Yes, just
a sec.”