Jezebel (19 page)

J
essie Belle played the dutiful, concerned friend and checked on Minnie frequently after Elton's funeral.

“I brought you some of my famous mint chocolate-chip cookies,” she told her when Minnie opened the door.

She stepped aside to let Jessie Belle enter the house.

They sat down in the dining room, where Minnie had obviously been going through a stack of paperwork.

“I don't understand what half of this stuff is,” she said with a frown. “I never really concerned myself with Elton's business dealings. Maybe I should have….” Her voice died. “I don't know how I could've lived all these years with a man I didn't know.”

Jessie Belle reached over and squeezed Minnie's hand. “I'm so sorry.”

“I've been thinking about what you suggested, Jessie Belle. I'm going to sell the radio station.”

She swallowed her excitement. “Really? Minnie, are you sure you want to do that?”

“I don't know a thing about running a radio station. And right now, keeping it would only bring hurtful memories. I'd rather sell and just start fresh. I'm selling the house and moving back to Kansas. I want to be closer to my mother.”

“Traynor and I were actually talking last night about buying it—if you'd planned on selling the station.”

“I had no idea you were interested in owning the station, Jessie Belle. You never said a thing.”

“It was my husband's idea and he only mentioned it to me last night,” Jessie Belle lied. “I'm like you—I wouldn't know what to do with it—but Traynor, he really wants it.”

“I'd be more than happy to sell it to Traynor. You two have been so good to me.”

“Actually, I think I'd like to surprise him with the station, Minnie. His birthday's coming up in a couple of weeks—this is the perfect gift.”

Minnie picked up one of the cookies and took a bite. “These are delicious,” she murmured after swallowing. “Jessie Belle, if you want the radio station…it's yours, dear.”

“Traynor will be so pleased. I can't wait to tell him.”

“What is this?” Traynor stared down at the documents Jessie Belle thrust at him.

“You're the new owner of the radio station,” she announced with a big grin. “The first thing we're going to do is change the name to WGOS—twenty-four hours of gospel music. Isn't that great?”

His eyebrows rose in surprise. “But how?”

Traynor couldn't imagine how Jessie Belle had come up with enough money to buy the station. “Where did you get the money?”

“Minnie made me an offer I simply couldn't turn down, so I sold off some stock,” Jessie Belle answered. “She's letting me pay off the balance in installments. Traynor, this is such a good investment. Raleigh doesn't have a twenty-four-hour gospel station but it's sorely needed. What good is it just to have a show airing only on Sunday mornings?”

First the Mercedes and now the radio station
.

“Jessie Belle, we should've discussed this first. I thought we agreed that you wouldn't go off on your own like that anymore.”

“Honey, I had to jump on this as soon as Elton's widow was ready to sell,” she explained. “If we'd waited, someone else would've snatched it up.”

“I understand that, sweetheart.” Traynor sat down on the sofa. “I do, but this is a major decision. We don't know a thing about running a radio station.”

“I did this for you,” Jessie Belle snapped in frustration. “A simple thank-you is enough.”

She rushed off to their bedroom. He could hear the door slam shut all the way downstairs.

Traynor felt like punching his hand through a wall. What in the world was wrong with his wife?

Why won't Jessie Belle listen to me?

He was so tired of going through this with her. He'd dealt with her over spending money like it was going out of style and had assumed he'd gotten through to her, but now she'd gone out and bought the radio station. Sure, they'd discussed it briefly, but no definite decision had been made.

Traynor decided to take a walk around the neighborhood to clear his head.

When he returned twenty minutes later, Jessie Belle was seated in the living room as if she'd been waiting on him.

“I guess you're really mad with me, huh?” she asked.

Traynor answered truthfully. “After all the talks we've had, Jessie Belle, about this very thing—I guess I'm just disappointed.”

“I was wrong, Traynor. I admit it, but it's because I got so excited and I didn't want you to miss out on the opportunity. We did talk about buying it at one time.”

“But we never came to any decision,” Traynor responded. “What am I supposed to do with a radio station, Jessie Belle? I'm not going to abandon my duties at the church.”

“You don't have to,” Jessie Belle replied. “All you have to do is hire a station manager to run it for you. Raleigh needs a twenty-four-hour gospel station. I think you should hire Mary Ellen. We trust her and she can do the job. You don't have to worry about anything, Traynor.”

She rose to her feet and walked over to where he was standing. “Traynor, I promise you, I won't do anything like this again. I give you my word, honey. You can trust me.”

He wasn't sure he agreed. What else would Jessie Belle take upon herself to do without talking to him first?

Late last night, Richard and Mary Ellen drove up to Raleigh to spend the weekend with them.

“Look at you and Traynor,” Mary Ellen began. “Y'all got your own radio station. Wow.”

Jessie Belle nodded. “A twenty-four-hour gospel station.” She pulled out the frying pan and sat it on top of the stove.

“That's some birthday present.”

“To tell the truth, Mary Ellen…my husband was a little upset at first, but he's come around.” Jessie Belle laughed. “I don't know why it takes him so long to get it. It's my job as his wife to make sure he's on the right track. We're a team. If he would just listen to me—he'd be the next Billy Graham. Traynor is that powerful. I refuse to let him settle for anything less than what he deserves.”

“He's lucky to have a woman like you in his corner,” Richard said, entering the kitchen. He sat down beside Mary Ellen.

“Make sure you tell him that when he comes downstairs,” Jessie Belle said with a short laugh. Her smile disappeared when she glimpsed the expression on her friend's face.

The tension was thick in the room. Jessie Belle felt like she could slice it with a knife.

A few minutes later, Richard got up to seek out Traynor.

“You and Richard okay?” Jessie Belle inquired.

She nodded. “He just thinks I'm a nag. Richard thinks I'm never satisfied. I just want him to be a little more aggressive when it comes to his career. He should have tenure by now.”

“I understand,” Jessie Belle murmured. “Traynor is the same way. He's not a go-getter. We wouldn't have any of this if I didn't just take charge every now and then.”

“I'm tired of this,” Mary Ellen complained. “I've been thinking a lot about my life and I've decided that it's time I make some changes.”

Jessie Belle broke into a grin. “I'm so glad to hear this. Wow. This is perfect timing, too.”

Confused, Mary Ellen asked, “Why? What's going on?”

“Mary Ellen, Traynor and I have a proposition for you.”

“What is it?” She reached for her orange juice and took a sip.

“How would you like to be the radio-station manager?”

Mary Ellen put down her glass and eyed Jessie Belle. “Really?”

Jessie Belle nodded. “Of course. You'd be responsible for the day-today operation of the station, including managing the various departments, scheduling on-and off-air staff. You'd be dealing with promotions and any other advertising issues. You'd also be the liaison between us and the employees. Mary Ellen, I just know you're perfect for the job, but more than that—I trust you. How does thirty thousand to start sound?”

Mary Ellen beamed. “It sounds great! Wow!”

“How do you think Richard's going to feel about it?” Jessie Belle inquired.

“I really don't care,” she responded. “He's held me back long enough. My husband can come with me or he can stay in Atlanta. I'm taking the job.”

“What job?” Richard asked, walking into the kitchen.

Jessie Belle glanced up at Traynor, who said, “You told her already?”

She nodded. “Did you want me to wait for you?”

He laughed. “No, I'm actually surprised you waited this long.”

The men joined them at the table.

“Somebody want to tell me what's going on?” Richard asked.

“You know about the radio station, right?” Traynor inquired. Without waiting on a response, he pushed ahead. “Well, we'd like for Mary Ellen to be the station manager.”

Richard glanced from Traynor to Jessie Belle. “Seriously?”

“She's more than qualified,” Jessie Belle contributed.

“What do you think, honey?” Mary Ellen wanted to know. “It's a great opportunity. Thirty thousand dollars a year.”

Richard didn't look as happy about the offer, Jessie Belle noted.

He's jealous.

Traynor poured himself a glass of juice. “I guess you're going to have to start sending out your résumé to the colleges in this area, Richard.”

The room was suddenly filled with tense silence.

“Let's eat,” Jessie Belle suggested. “Cold eggs don't taste that great.”

After breakfast, Mary Ellen and Richard went outside to talk.

“I don't think Richard's happy about the job offer,” Traynor said to Jessie Belle. “Sweetheart, don't be disappointed if Mary Ellen turns us down.”

“She won't. She wants the job and I think it's pretty selfish of Richard to not be happy for her.”

“I don't want this to cause problems in their marriage.”

“Honey, it's a job opportunity. Mary Ellen will be making more money—at least five thousand dollars more. Richard should be happy.”

“It's for them to decide as a couple,” Traynor advised. “We have to stay out of it.”

“I would never interfere in somebody else's marriage. I wouldn't like if someone did that to me.”

Traynor met her gaze. “I mean it, Jessie Belle. Don't get involved.”

When he left the room, she whispered, “Is he kidding? Mary Ellen is the only person I'd trust the station with—I need her to take the job.”

Mary Ellen and Richard returned.

Jessie Belle couldn't wait to get her alone.

“What did he say?”

“He thinks that I shouldn't take the job because we're friends. Richard feels like it could cause some problems down the line.”

“Like what?” Jessie Belle wanted to know.

Mary Ellen shrugged. “I think he's just trying to find something wrong.”

“It probably bothers him that you're going to be making more money than he is, but don't let that bother you, Mary Ellen—you deserve it.”

Jessie Belle's friend started to pace the floor. “I can't believe Richard wouldn't be happy for me. If our roles were reversed, I'd be happy for him.”

“Mary Ellen, you're a grown woman and you have your own dreams. Why not make them come true?” Jessie Belle asked. “You're in charge of your own destiny.”

“I've been so supportive of him. Why can't he support me just this one time?”

Jessie Belle shook her head. “I don't know. It's not fair to you and I don't like seeing you so unhappy.”

Their conversation came to a sudden halt when Traynor entered the room.

“So what are we doing today?” he asked.

“I was thinking about a day trip to the beach,” Jessie Belle responded. “It's a beautiful day.”

Mary Ellen agreed.

Jessie Belle excused herself when she spied Richard walking into the library.

She followed him and listened at the door while he made a quick phone call.

Richard nearly choked when Jessie Belle entered the room. He stuttered through his weak goodbye and got off the phone.

Her arms folded across her chest, Jessie Belle said, “I'm so surprised at you, Richard. When you're cheating on your wife—you should be a little more discreet.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I just heard you talking to Amelia. That is her name, right? And if I remember correctly, that's the name of the financial aid manager at the school. Does Mary Ellen know you're sleeping with her?”