Good Woman Blues (35 page)

Erikka picked up the paper again and read
what she had almost memorized. Each word spelled big trouble no
matter how she looked at them.

***

Two days later Erikka went to Loreauville for
the weekend. She tried to lose herself in the moment, Gabriel’s
touch, and the feel of his satin-smooth sheets. A throbbing beat
started low, and then grew louder, like two lovers crashing
together. Usher crooned an erotic musical tale on the compact disc
player. He wanted to heal her. She needed healing. The past week
had proven harder than any day she’d had before. As his lips grazed
her thighs, a soft mist formed in her head. His mouth worked magic
that nothing else had been able to. She forgot that her world
verged on imploding again. Gently, Gabriel brought her high until
Erikka panted, and then eased her back into a steady rhythm of
ecstasy. He had control, and that was fine with Erikka. Finally, he
had mercy, letting go just enough that Erikka felt the magic build,
then crash into her. All she wanted was him around her, in-side
her, and through her. Seconds later, while Erikka still rode the
wave, Gabriel followed. They clutched each other, whispering and
moaning together. When both lay quiet, Gabriel stroked her hair,
barely moving his hand.

“When are we going to have dinner with your
parents?” Gabriel asked.

“Roz is going to take some getting used to,
just want to warn you.” Erikka gave a soft laugh.

“I’ll bet she’s not nearly as bad as you make
her out to be. No stalling, make the arrangements.”

“Okay, but don’t complain to me when she gets
nosy and pushy. We’ll have dinner or lunch with Craig separately.
I’ll call him,” Erikka said.

“Sounds good.” After a few moments of quiet,
Gabriel rested his chin on the top of her head. “Want to talk about
work?”

“Not much to tell. Terri, my friend who’s a
lawyer, has been advising me on how to cover my butt. Nadine turned
over a lot of reports to the Attorney General’s Office. Now it’s
just a wait-and-see game. Terri says there’s not much we can do
until we know what action they’ll take.” Erikka pulled her body
even closer to his to find more comfort.

“You think your bosses will be supportive of
you if this thing gets bad?” Gabriel pulled Erikka tighter into his
arms as though wanting to protect her.

“I wish I could say they would, but I just
don’t know. New Orleans seems to be a bad-luck town for me.” Erikka
let out a long sigh.

“You don’t have to stay in New Orleans,” he
said. “Come be with me.”

Erikka held him tightly. How she wanted
Gabriel to be her way out. “I can’t run every time things get
rough.”

“What’s wrong with starting over?” Gabriel
eased to one side until they faced each other.

She wiped tears from her face. Erikka
steadied her breathing before she could answer. “I don’t know.
Coming back here would be like admitting I can’t make it in the
city. Just doesn’t feel right.”

Gabriel took his hand away from her hair and
lay on his back. “It’s your decision, your career,” he said.

She placed a palm on his chest as though
trying to read his heart. Although she wasn’t certain how he felt,
Erikka did not hear anger or resentment in his voice. Maybe he was
disappointed in her? She had the answer when his large hand covered
hers. They kissed and the subject closed, at least for the
night.

***

Roz sat in Darlene’s living room when Erikka
got in the next morning. Her glow was gone. Darlene had the same
haggard expression she’d worn for weeks. The two sisters had a
resemblance forged as much by trouble in life as heredity. Erikka
imagined she had the same look, too. She didn’t need to ask how
they were as a greeting.

“Hi, Mama. I didn’t know you were coming this
weekend.” Erikka sat down on a leather ottoman. She tossed her
small purse on a chair.

“I needed to get away,” Roz said with a
sniff.

Erikka thought she knew why but asked anyway.
“Hakeem?”

“Yes. No. I’m not even sure.” Roz got up and
went to the window.

Darlene lifted a shoulder when Erikka looked
to her for a clue. The two women she’d most counted on for advice
seemed fresh out of ideas. Erikka realized she hadn’t spoken to
Craig in over two weeks. She wondered if Jaci had. Of course. She
was really his daughter. Another loss.

“Is it Craig?” Erikka asked.

Roz nodded without turning around. “He’s
furious.

Jaci told him about Hakeem. And Hakeem is
acting like a kid, demanding I get a divorce.”

“Uh, I thought you wanted a divorce,” Erikka
said carefully. “Isn’t that what this whole younger man and not
waiting around for Craig thing was about?”

Roz spun around. “Don’t even try that lame
reverse psychology on me,” she snapped.

“She’s right, Roz. You’ve been acting like
reconciliation was the last thing you needed or wanted,” Darlene
put in.

“I know this game. I invented it,” Roz said,
with a sniff.

“She’s got us on that one,” Darlene
mumbled.

“Oh, please,” Erikka blurted out. “Just admit
you want Craig back.”

“On my terms,” Roz said, with her nose to the
ceiling.

“Girl, you better go get your man before
somebody else hijacks him,” Darlene said flatly.

“No. I’ve run after Craig for twenty years.
Let him come to me this time.” Roz marched over to the sofa, sat
down, and picked up a copy of Essence magazine.

“How long do you plan to wait?” Darlene said,
with her eyebrows raised.

Roz looked up sharply from the glossy pages.
“You’re right. I’ll give him a deadline. After that, I’m talking to
my lawyer.”

“Hey, wait a minute. Don’t go telling him I
suggested the ultimatum and lawyer,” Darlene said loudly. “I just
meant Craig may move on while you’re making that power play.”

“Let him,” Roz said, with defiance in her
brown eyes. She went back to the magazine and flipped pages
aggressively.

Erikka exchanged a glance with her aunt.
“Mama, I’m not sure you want to—”

“I know what I’m doing,” Roz broke in. She
sighed and put the magazine aside. “I don’t blame Craig completely.
I let him take me for granted. You might not believe this, but I
chased him down after we first met.”

“No,” Darlene said, with a straight face.

Roz nodded. “I did. His mother was right in a
way. I was interested in climbing the social ladder so to speak.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” she added.

“There isn’t?” Erikka blinked at her.

“Of course not. Women have made matches for
gain since the dawn of time. Of course I was attracted to him. How
anyone can kiss on some man she thinks is a toad, even for a lot of
money, is beyond me.” Roz shook her head.

“If he’s worth over a million? I’d risk a few
warts, especially to help the center these days,” Darlene retorted.
She winced. “Just as long as he’s single.”

“Hard lesson learned, girl,” Roz replied,
with a nod of sympathy.

“Around here I’m a suspected thief and a
convicted tramp,” Darlene said quietly.

“I’ll bet no one blames him. That’s what I’m
talking about. Women shoulder the whole burden,” Roz complained.
“So, let Craig come to me.”

“What about Hakeem? You can’t keep seeing him
if you want Craig to come back,” Erikka said.

“Why not? Craig has his piece on the side. He
knows where I am and what I expect to hear,” Roz said. The stubborn
set of her mouth made her look fierce.

“I don’t know if that’s a good plan, Roz.”
Darlene gazed at her with a frown. ‘Two wrongs won’t make it
right.”

“My mind is made up. Now let’s go out to
dinner and rent a movie. Something about women being empowered,
showing men we’re strong.” Roz looked from her sister to her
daughter.

“I don’t know. Gabriel and I—”

“You haven’t been listening to me. Don’t come
back here and ignore your sister support to hang with a man. Let’s
have a girls’ night. What do you say?” Roz lifted one eyebrow in a
challenge.

“No problem for me. My dance card is empty.”
Darlene stood.

“I’ll call Gabriel,” Erikka said, after a
long moment, and went to the cordless on the table across the room.
When she heard his voice on the other end of the telephone line,
Erikka’s insides felt like warm melted butter. “I’ll see you around
eleven,” she whispered, and hung up.

Roz stood with both hands on her hips when
Erikka returned. “My hearing is exceptional.”

“Just pick a restaurant and let’s go,” Erikka
shot back.

***

Monday. Traffic. Work. All three had shaped
Erikka’s mood. By the time she got to the office, Erikka had gone
through her repertoire of cusswords. When she got off the elevator
Erikka stopped short. People crowded the lobby of Lewis, Calder and
Brinkhaus. Angry people, by the looks on their faces. Laurie wore a
flustered smile as her lips moved. She spotted Erikka and pointed
at her as though desperate. Everyone turned as a group to stare at
her through the glass doors. The elevator doors whisked shut,
efficiently cutting off one escape route. Erikka gripped her new
Etienne Aigner handbag against her chest as though it were body
armor. She entered the office lobby and paused just a few feet
inside. Well over a dozen pairs of eyes watched her. Most of their
gazes scraped over her as though wishing her harm, mouths turned
down in contempt. One woman’s eyes shone with a combination of
desperation and hope. She spoke first.

“Ms. Rochon? I’m Alison Ray and we’re with
Layton Inc. We wonder if you might have time—”

“She sure as hell better have time,” a tall
Black woman broke in, not waiting for niceties. “Brinkhaus and
Calder said they’d meet with us. They lied.”

“Right,” another woman agreed with a scowl.
“The news reports make it sound like we’re all crooks. You helped
Transome.”

Her comments brought on a burst of angry
responses. Erikka’s heart thudded at what looked to be a mob
thirsty for her blood. At that moment, Roni and another security
guard entered. Both had stony expressions to prove they meant
business. The tall strapping male guard stood a few steps behind
Roni to her left. He put both hands on his hips and planted his
feet apart.

“Okay, folks, time to go. Your appointment
has been canceled,” Roni said in a calm, firm tone. She seemed
poised to play the diplomacy card while her partner would provide
the muscle, if needed.

“You believe this?” One of the assertive
women spoke again. She nodded at Roni. “They mess over our money,
and then call rent-a-cops to toss us out. The whole bunch of them
should be in jail.”

“We’re not the thieves in this place,” a man
grumbled. He glared at Erikka.

“Look, all I know is you’re causing a
disturbance and disrupting the flow of business. Now I’m asking
y’all to leave.” Roni spoke in an even tone.

“The flow of business at Lewis, Calder and
Brinkhaus needs to be disrupted,” the woman shot back. She pointed
a finger at Erikka. “They helped our bosses rip us off.”

“Listen, we didn’t mean to scare you. But our
lives and futures are at stake. Layton management won’t tell us
anything. Please,” Alison said, appealing directly to Erikka with a
steady gaze.

“You call back for an appointment then. Now
let’s go,” Roni replied, and stepped between Alison and Erikka. Her
tone had changed to one of hard-edged authority.

“Wait a minute, Roni,” Erikka said. “I’ll see
one person, a representative.”

“I’ll meet with you, Ms. Rochon. Thank you,”
Alison Ray replied quickly.

“Don’t be thanking her. She’s in on it,” a
male voice spoke up. Still, the others started to file out past the
watchful guards.

“If you’re sure.” Roni looked at Erikka hard.
Her gaze questioned the wisdom of Erikka’s decision.

“I’ll be okay. Thanks, Roni. Follow me to my
office, Ms. Ray.”

Erikka made a vow to treat Roni real special
for at least a week. Feeling sweat roll down her sides, Erikka
walked ahead of the woman. Once they reached Erikka’s office and
the door was closed, Alison Ray started talking.

“We can’t get answers from the company. All
we know is there is an investigation or going to be one soon. Most
of what we hear is from the news media.” As she spoke, Alison
twisted the twin straps of her cheap purse.

Erikka played for time. She needed a way to
tell this woman she and the others would be disappointed again.
“Please, sit down. Let me get you a cup of coffee.”

“I don’t drink coffee. I started as a
secretary. Now I’m a vice president of the company, Ms. Rochon. If
you believe the reporters, I helped Transome make up profit and
loss figures. I didn’t.” Alison Ray stared at Erikka.

“Look, you know how business is done,” Erikka
started, and stopped.

“You gave them what they asked for, a way to
word reports that painted a healthy picture. We both know that’s a
fancy way of saying you helped them lie,” Alison Ray said
quietly.

“Don’t believe what they print in the
newspapers, Ms. Ray. I can assure you we followed accepted
procedures.” Erikka surprised herself by being so smooth under
fire. Still, she didn’t expect any applause for her
performance.

Alison Ray seemed to struggle to keep calm.
“What’s acceptable isn’t right. If I lose my job and my benefits—I
need medical coverage for my little girl.” She suddenly started
digging in her large handbag.

Erikka tried not to panic as the woman’s face
tensed with concentration. Erikka glanced at the door, hoping for
help, calculating the distance. Her throat closed with fear, but
she had to keep her talking. “Listen, I want to answer your
questions—”

“Her name is Janie and she just turned
eleven. I had two miscarriages before her.” Alison smiled at the
picture of a little girl with red hair. The child was propped on a
sofa with cushions holding her up.