Haunted (18 page)

“Oh, uh pepperoni and mushroom? Is that ok?”  I peeked out the bathroom door and he had just stuck his head in the door.

“That’s great. And Jaylene? We’re all really sorry. I can’t believe we were such idiots. Can you forgive us?”

I smiled and walked over to the door, opening it all the way. “There’s nothing to forgive, Star. It was my mistake and frankly, I can see why you guys would think it was humorous. Let’s just promise not to keep anything that major from Jaylene in the future, sound good?”  

He blushed. “Of course, yeah. I’m so sorry.”

“Not to worry. I’m fine. Devon and I talked.”

Star’s face split into huge, relieved grin. “He was so worried. I’m glad you talked. We were all afraid that you would leave.”

This seemed to be a common thread. I tried to answer him with a mild voice filled with conviction.

“Star, I’m not going to leave. I’m going to probably ask y’all more questions from now on, but I’m not going anywhere. Ok? So just forget about that.”

“That’s good. I’m glad. And I’m happy for Devon. He hasn’t been this happy since...” Star scratched his head. “You know? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this before. He’s always been fun to be around, kinda quiet and reserved like you’ve seen him. But he hasn’t smiled, really, in a long time. Even before we lost Maggie.”

I wasn’t surprised to hear that. It sounded like things were out of hand for a while before then.

“I’m glad he’s smiling more, but we have more work to do, right?”  

He gave me a sad smile and nodded. “Yeah. We do. So pizza should be here in about 45 minutes. After that we’ve got more to practice today. Sherry’s flying in tomorrow and we need to have something ready for her so she can tell the label we’re making progress. We may even start recording week after next if they like what we’ve got so far. Shit, we’ve got a lot to do though. I hate this part. The pressure really sucks.” He was running his hands through his hair, making it stand on end.

“It seems counterproductive to put timelines on art, doesn’t it?”  

He looked at me quizzically. “Yeah, you’re right! It’s not like I’m writing a research report, I’m writing to express myself. But they pay us, I guess, so we’re kind of on their dime.”

“No doubt. When I’m in the same situation with a client, I just draw word for word exactly what they ask for with minimal interpretation. Usually they’ll look at it and say, ‘Hmmm, that’s sort of it, but can we add a little of this or a little of that’ so I end up getting more time to work.”

He chuckled. “Ah, so you’re sneaky too, eh? Maybe we should try that, like perform some country shit or even some pop rock and have them say, ‘Weeeelll, we like where you’re going with that, but maybe something a little, more, oh say, heavy?” We both laughed at that and headed down the stairs together. Star just really had a way about him that eased peoples’ discomfort.

“I got a question for you. About last night.”

“Ok,” I said cautiously, worried about what he might say. “What did you want to know?”  Please don’t let it be about Devon, please don’t let it be about Devon.

“It’s about Mackenzie. She left so quick this morning. I didn’t get to even say goodbye and find out if she enjoyed herself at all.”

Poor guy was seriously bummed out! I had to give him a little help here.

“Hey! Buck up little camper! It just so happens she told me she had a great time with you, really enjoyed your talk. She also said she hopes to see you again.”

His eyes lit up like the Fourth of July and he hugged me tight.

“Oh, awesome, thanks, Jaylene! So should I call her? Like, should I ask to see her again?”  He was so eager.

“I tell you what. I’ll text her later and ask her if I can give her number to you. Then it’s up to you kids!” I winked at him and his grin spread.

I knew Mackenzie wanted to see him, but I had no idea how she would play this one. I loved my best friend, but she did have a little game when it came to dating. I had tried to convince her to be straightforward with the men she dated, but she complained that they never were honest. She felt she had to seem ‘aloof, uninterested, or even a little hostile to keep their interest.’ Hence the reason I’d never done much dating. I didn’t like trying constantly to figure out how the other person felt or what they were thinking. Being by myself had always been easier.

But I’d change all that in a heartbeat for Devon. And as much as I believed all the stuff I said to him about maintaining a professional relationship while I was here, I had fantasies about sleeping in his bed and curling up in those arms every night.

Downstairs the guys were all standing around their equipment talking about what they were going to play for Sherry. Marcus was making notes and speaking to the group.

“I definitely think we should play your track for her, D. What do you think about adding in the electric and beefing up the sound a little?”  

Devon shrugged. “I think it’s cool acoustic. We haven’t done that before. Let’s leave it for now.”

Marcus nodded. “Ok then. We’ve got “Leather and Lace” worked out pretty good. What do you guys think?”  

They all nodded and murmured that it was a good one.

Jade strummed his guitar a couple of times. “How about that one we were playing around with last week?”  

He started playing a riff that sounded promising. It was really fast, almost a punk-like vibe. Star gave him a backbeat and Mage started following along on the bass. Marcus was frowning.

Devon was nodding, looking amused.

“Sure, Marcus. You add some of your manwhore lyrics to that one and it will suit us just fine.”

He rolled his eyes at Devon and smirked. “Manwhore. Nice. Ok, let’s think about that one. Anyone else got any ideas?”  

They all kind of shrugged and looked at their feet. Marcus seemed very frustrated with them.

“Sherry’s not going to have much to take back the label then, is she? We better see what else we can come up with.”

For the next three hours the guys played riffs, played some of their favorite songs, but still they came up with nothing new. Anything the guys suggested, Marcus thought didn’t sound like them. They seriously needed a break.

Mrs. Boudreaux came over to me while they were arguing. “It doesn’t sound like they’re making much progress, does it?” She whispered to me.

I shook my head sadly at her. “It started off ok, but they just don’t seem to have enough material for their visit with Sherry tomorrow.”

She patted my shoulder.

“They will. They’re already doing better, just by talking to each other.”

We listened to them for a bit longer and then she asked me if I would help her in the kitchen. I agreed and we walked back together. When I passed Devon, who was playing along with the guys to Pantera’s ‘Walk,’ he smiled at me knowingly as I walked by and I felt his eyes follow us to the kitchen.

“Boy, I love hearing them play but it gets so loud! How have you been holding up hearing it all day, dear?”  

I laughed. “I work in a tattoo shop and we usually have the music up incredibly loud. It helps cover up the noise of the needle and keeps the clients calmer in a way.”

She smiled at me and started unloading some bags of groceries. “Do you mind peeling potatoes?”  

I shook my head. “Whatever you need me to do.”

I washed about 10 pounds of potatoes and got to work peeling them over a garbage can. Mrs. Boudreaux was seasoning pork loin chops and cutting up some fresh vegetables to steam.

“We’ll be boiling those potatoes to mash so you can put them in that pot over there.”

I pulled the pot closer to me and kept at it. I wanted to talk to Mrs. Boudreaux. I thought I’d try to get to know her a little since she had been very nice to me so far.

“So Devon told me you ran a restaurant back home, in Houma?”  

She nodded. “Well, I did. We sold it to some cousins about three years ago. It was getting too difficult to run it by myself, and with the boys and Maggie all in California, I was getting too run down. We still have the house there, but Devon bought me a place here in the Quarter so I could be closer to Daryl and Katie.” She sounded so tired.

“How do you like living here?”  

She shrugged. “There’s a lot going on, that’s for sure. I have a couple of girlfriends from high school that live in the Garden District that I see, but I haven’t found much to keep me occupied. I was glad to come cook for the boys.”

“But...if you could be doing anything right now with your time, what would you choose?”  

She got a dreamy look on her face. “I don’t know for sure. I hadn’t thought about it ‘til now. But you’re right. I can do what I want, can’t I?”

I laughed. “Of course. I’m sure it’s a tough adjustment after running your own business and being a parent. Are there any skills you wanted to learn to do when you were younger? Art? Crafts? Music? I know you were a dancer.”

She sighed and shook her head. “I always wished I could have stayed a dancer. I liked working in the restaurant, working with food, but there was so much more than that involved. With my husband gone out fishing a lot of the time I was there all day! Thankfully Maggie was around to take care of Devon. They were four years apart, but she was a little mama from the beginning.” Her smile disappeared and she was quiet for a bit.

“You miss her a lot, don’t you?”  

She looked at me, surprised. Then she nodded and her eyes watered.

“I’m sorry. I’m just not used to talking about her. It makes Devon so upset.”

I saw a box of tissue on the shelf above me so I took one over to her.

“It does make him upset, but I think I’ve got him convinced that it will do him some good.”

She looked up at me and damn if she didn’t have those same blue eyes that held her pain in them.

“It was hard when I lost his father. I cried a lot and felt like I couldn’t keep going. But losing Maggie has been like losing a part of me. She was such a joy! It just doesn’t seem fair.”

I nodded and reached for her hand. “Mrs. Boudreaux, will you tell me about her? Maybe just a little? If I have just a bit more information I’ll know better what questions to ask them to get them to open up a bit.”

“I’ll do anything if you think it will help them. I couldn’t do much to help Devon when he lost his father. I have to help him through this. He’s too young to spend his life devastated like he is.”

I put the potatoes on to boil and she put the pork loin in the oven to bake. That gave us some time to chat.

“Can I bring you anything to drink,” I asked her as I headed for the door.

“Thank you, sugar. I’d love some iced tea. Do they still have those bottles out there?”  

“Sure do. I’ll be right back.” I passed Devon in the hall.

“I was just coming to check on you two. Is that dinner, I’m smelling?”  

I nodded. “I’m helping your mom. We’re having some girl time.”

He smiled at me, and he seemed somewhat astonished and grateful at the same time.

“Thank you, chère. She could really use that. I’m afraid I haven’t been much fun to be around.”

I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Well, duh. You’re a guy! Can’t have girl time with your son!”  

He rolled his eyes at me and I skipped past him to get drinks for his mama and me. I might have heard him groan before he turned away. I might have been hoping for one. A girl can enjoy herself, can’t she?

When I came back, he was in the kitchen hugging Mrs. Boudreaux. “Mama, are you ok?”  

She nodded.“I’m fine, son,” she answered. She sounded tired. “Your friend and I were just talking about your sister.”

He grimaced at that. “I’m sorry, Mama. Please don’t cry. You don’t have to talk about her if it makes you sad.” His voice had gone scratchy and he was trying to keep himself together.

“Of course it makes me sad! But you being sad is worse. I don’t want you to hurt anymore, son. I’m afraid I haven’t been a very good example.”

He held her tight to him and she cried quietly. I waited just inside the doorway because I wanted to give them space. He noticed me at that moment and the look on his face had me concerned. Would he be angry with me for upsetting his mother? I couldn’t worry about that. I had to assure myself that this was what they needed.

“Mrs. Boudreaux I brought your tea. You probably want sugar for it though, right?”  

She looked up and laughed.

“Of course! I forget you’re not from these parts are you?”  

I shook my head. “No, ma’am, and where I grew up we drink our iced tea, black and strong.”

She made a sour face and laughed some more. It helped to make Devon relax a bit.

“That just sounds awful, you poor thing! Isn’t that terrible, Devon? They don’t even know how to drink tea in California!”

He gave his half smile. “I’m sure they drink tea just fine, Mama.” He kissed her on the top of her head. “I’m going to go out and bang my head against an amp for a while, maybe that will make the music miraculously happen.”

He was joking, but you could almost feel the tension was rolling off his shoulders. I wanted to check on him so I told his mom I’d be right back.

“Hey, head banger,” I called out to him.

He turned around and smiled a very sad smile. I put out my arms and he came to me for a big hug, picking me up off my feet.

“I’m sorry I upset your mom, Devon. But I think she really needs to talk. Are you ok with that?”  

His eyes bled sadness but, he was trying so hard to keep it together.

“Whatever you think is best, chère. But please, be careful with her. She’s tough, but breakable, you know?”  

I nodded grimly. “I know. Dinner should be ready soon.”

He kissed me on my cheek and put me down. “She’s all I’ve got, Jaylene.”

I shook my head at him and he raised an eyebrow at me.

“No, she’s not.” I winked at him and turned to go back to the kitchen, hearing him chuckle behind me.

Marcus yelled, “Hey, quit fraternizing and get your ass back in here, D.”

Devon answered him with a creative suggestion of what he could do with his own ass.

Back in the kitchen Mrs. Boudreaux was tossing a salad and smiling to herself.

“Sorry about that. Did you need help with anything else?”  

She pointed over at the loaf of French bread. “You could slice that. There’s a bowl and a towel to wrap it in over there.”

I got to work and waited for her to talk if she was ready.

“You know,” she said after a few minutes. “My son is very protective of me. Too protective, probably. He really took on the man of the house role when his father died, and Lord forgive me, but I let him.” She sniffled a little, cleared her throat and then kept talking.

“Maggie left home as soon as she turned 18, she wasn’t due to start college for a couple of months but she wasn’t waiting around. She didn’t want life or its vast possibilities to pass her by, she’d tell me. So she rented an apartment in Hollywood and knocked on every door in the music industry until someone would give her a chance. She interned while in college and loved every minute of it. After she finished, she was hired on with the boys’ label. Then she met Thomas.”

This was more than anyone had spoken about her to this point. I itched to have my sketchbook, but it would be difficult to sketch and help her around the kitchen at the same time.

“Thomas was her supervisor and she fell madly in love with the man. He was older than her, experienced. She was naive and there was nothing I could say to change her mind when she decided to marry him. At least they were married here.”

I thought about the wedding album. Their wedding happened in a beautiful place. It looked like one of the plantations down here.

“She and I weren’t real close during that time. I had a hard time keeping my mouth shut about Thomas. He was aloof around me, didn’t say much and didn’t want her coming home often. Devon wasn’t happy about it either. After he and the boys had formed the band, they sent her some recordings and she flew them all out there. Devon was sorry to leave me, but we both thought it would be good for him to be near her, make sure she was ok. He couldn’t stay home and take care of me forever, now could he?”  

She turned to me and smiled that sad smile. She was trying so hard to do the best she could by her son despite her sadness. I admired her for that.

“So they all came out to California and made it big?”  

She snickered. “Yes, I suppose. Although at first Maggie was just a gopher for Thomas. She went behind his back to play the demo she’d had the boys’ record for one of the executives. They went wild and gave her a big promotion. He was furious when he found out. Even though Thomas tried to keep his thumb on her, my Maggie was destined for greatness.” There was pride in her voice, and maybe even a little envy that her daughter was willing to fight for her own career when she had not.

“The boys put out their first album about eight months after they left here and toured non-stop for most of the last four years. I hardly saw any of them. Devon sent me money every time they were paid. He probably sent me all of his money! I worried about him. I knew he was having fun, sowing his oats in a way. But they were all drinking a lot, and from what I understand, there were drugs going around. Maggie assured me she had it under control that she was looking out for them.” I had been watching her closely and as she said this last part she gripped the counter hard, her knuckles turning white. Very quietly she said, “I guess no one was looking out for her.”

I walked over to her and handed her another tissue. She was crying silently. I stood next to her trying to will her some strength.

“It must have been so hard to be away from them and know something wasn’t right. Who did you have for support?”  

She frowned. “Why would I have needed support?”  

Ok, maybe I was going about this the wrong way.

“I guess I meant did you talk to anyone about your concerns? Did Daryl know what was going on?” She nodded, understanding where I was coming from.

“He knew. He went out there a couple of times and tried talking to all of them, but they were surrounded by people who only cared about how much money they were making off of my kids.” She grew tense. “Daryl told Maggie, she needed to get things under control or he was going to bring the boys back to New Orleans to clean them up. She begged him not to and said she’d get them to clean up their act. Things were better for a while, until a few months before the accident. There was so much pressure on them with their new album coming out. They were promoting it around the clock. Every time I talked to Devon he was exhausted and irritable. He wasn’t my little boy anymore. I knew that. But the man he’d become was not the warm and loving young man I raised. That part of him is back now that he’s away from all that insanity out there, but his sadness and guilt are weighing on him.”