Sweet Mystery (24 page)

“Oh come on.” Rae sniffed a few times.

“I’m not lyin’. His favorite story was that
time you snuck out to the dance down at Bayou Boogie.
Remember?”

“Do I? Daddy stormed into the high-school gym
and embarrassed me something terrible.” Rae laughed out loud at the
memory of how furious she was at the time.

“Yeah, and your so-called boyfriend tried to
hide out in the restroom. Lord, have mercy.” Aletha slapped her
thigh.

“Poor Keith. He was scared out of his mind
that my crazy daddy and older brothers were going to kill him.” Rae
sat up straight. “Thank you, Mama. You always know just what I
need.”

“That’s what Mama is here for, cher. Don’t
care how old you get.” Aletha kissed her forehead. “Now go find
that good-lookin’ man and dance.”

Rae kissed her cheek and went in search of
Simon. She found him chatting with Andrew and Baylor near the
bar.

“May I have this dance?” she asked.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Simon replied
with a gleam in his brown eyes. He led her onto the dance
floor.

“This is one heckuva party. Congratulations,
baby,” Simon murmured close to her ear.

“It’s all so fantastic. I’m scared it’s too
good to last.” Rae looked up at him.

“Every business has bumps along the way. Some
are little and some big. Just be ready for them.”

“No, I mean for most of my life nothing good
like this ever seemed to happen for my family. Or if it did then
something bad took it all away.” Rae glanced around with a tinge of
anxiety.

“You sound a bit superstitious. Not at all
like the tough lady I know.”

“Sometimes it seemed my family was cursed.
Even my uncles and aunts used to say so.”

“Don’t let old memories spoil a fabulous new
day.” Simon put a finger under her chin. “You’re a smash hit, a
talented musician and one heck of a kisser. A renaissance
woman.”

Rae let herself get lost in his brown eyes,
sparkling with the reflected lights strung around the walls of the
dance hall. “You’re right. Now I have it all.” She rested her head
against his solid chest.

Across the dance floor, Toya was watching
with and Marius, who had recently arrived with a tall, stunning
college student. Darcy was sitting at a table with several old
friends, but his gaze was on Simon and Rae.

“Look at her, clawing at Simon like a cat in
heat,” Toya said in a voice hard with animosity. “Slut.”

“At this rate, she’ll be an economic force in
no time.” Marius gestured with the drink in his hand. “This place
is almost as good as striking oil. With the college kids and
tourists, she’ll be a wealthy woman within three years.”

“Not if I can help it.” Toya faced him.
“You’ve got a stake in this, too.”

“Unlike you and Darcy, hormones don’t drive
my business actions. But you’re right. We need her land.” Marius
looked relaxed. “Don’t worry. Soon Ms. Dalcour will be glad to
sell.”

“Why? She won’t need the money.” Toya tapped
a long fingernail on the side of her glass of daiquiri.

“She will.” Marius wore a nasty grin. “Trust
me, she will.”

Chapter 12

“Mr. Henry, how are you?”

Simon shook hands with his former
grandfather-in-law. Despite his divorce from Toya, he and Henry had
always been on good terms. Still, he was puzzled at the reason for
this visit.

“Sit down. Nola, could you get Mr. Henry some
coffee please?”

Simon was thrown off by Henry’s sudden
appearance or he would never have assumed that Nola would fetch
coffee. She was firm in what she would and would not do. Yet she
wanted to linger because she was just as curious to learn more.

“Certainly. How’s Miz Cecile?” Nola beamed at
the older man as she prepared two cups for them from the pot on
Simon’s credenza. “You tell her I said hello.” She hovered near the
door after handing them both a mug of fresh dark-roast coffee.

“I sure will,” Henry replied. He dipped his
head to her in a slight bow.

Nola walked back into the room. “Sure y’all
don’t need anything else?”

Simon eyed her. “No thank you.” He gave a
silent signal to leave.

Nola’s mouth turned down with disappointment.
“All right.” The door closed softly behind her.

“So, how have you been?” Simon sat in the
chair beside Henry rather than behind his desk.

“Good. Can’t complain. And you?”

“Very well, thank you.” Simon felt a rush of
contentment. Things were perfect in his view, in fact.

Henry studied him for a few moments. “Son,
what I’m about to say might make you throw me out of here.”

Simon smiled. “I can’t think of any reason
why I’d do that, Mr. Henry. Even when I was married to Toya, we got
along pretty well.”

“Yes, but I know my granddaughter’s ability
to stretch the patience of a saint.” Henry fixed him with his
well-known sober stare. “I’m talking about all this business with
the Dalcour girl.”

Simon tensed. “I don’t know what you
mean.”

“Son, it’s your father and grandfather’s
place to give you advice on your personal life. But I have to say
getting involved with that Dalcour girl is–”

“Stop right there, Mr. Henry. My personal
life is not open for discussion,” Simon said, cutting him off.

A few seconds of heavy silence followed.

“Fine, I didn’t mean to offend. But I’ve
known that family longer than you, son. They’ve got some serious
problems. Maybe it’s not her fault who her grandfather was, or her
father.” Henry waved a hand.

“I don’t think I want to hear it.” Simon put
down his coffee mug. Suddenly his taste for anything was gone.

“I’ve never known you to be this
closed-minded, son. Before you judge me, listen to what I have to
say.” Henry leaned forward.

“I have a closed mind? You sit here,
condemning a young woman, based on fifty-year-old events. You don’t
even know Rae or her family.” Simon tried to contain his
temper.

“Oh, I know enough, believe me. You do know
she was... involved with Darcy at one time. There was always talk
about her back in those days.” Henry wore a grimace. “Her
grandfather was the same way.”

“Don’t say any more, Mr. Henry.” Simon could
feel the pressure building. In a few moments he might say something
very ugly to this man he’d known all his life. “Is there any other
reason for this visit?” He stood up.

Henry rose to face him. “I thought we knew
each other well enough that you would listen to reason. But at
least consider the business aspects for our families. That property
is important to both our companies, Simon. To sacrifice real
economic development for a juke joint is crazy. Think of our
community.”

“The Dalcours have a right to decide whether
to sell their property.”

“She’s being stubborn out of spite.” Henry
put a hand on Simon’s arm. “Since you’re close to the girl, talk to
her. Maybe there is some advantage to your being on good terms with
them. I want that property.”

Simon moved away from him. “I’m not going to
use my relationship with Rae to change her mind.”

“I was young once, Simon. I know how it is to
be single and carefree. After your fling is over, that property
will still be vital.” Henry persisted in pressing home his
logic.

“You’ve made one too many assumptions. What
happens between Rae and I is private.” Simon spoke louder as he
went on.

“Don’t be a fool!” Henry shot back in a taut
voice. “You’re from one of the oldest families in this parish. The
Dalcours are descended from field hands. You have a duty to the St.
Cyrs and, yes, to the Jove family.”

“That’s nineteenth-century nonsense.” Simon
lowered his voice when a cautious knock sounded on the office door.
“No wonder Toya thinks the way she does. This obsession with family
background is disgusting.”

Nola opened the door just enough to stick her
head in. She peered from Simon to Henry. “Everything all
right?”

Simon turned around and went to stand behind
his desk. He started gathering up a stack of blueprints. “Goodbye,
Mr. Henry.”

“We’ll discuss this again, Simon.” The older
man held himself stiff, his face etched with deep lines.

Simon returned Henry’s fierce gaze with one
of equal resolution. “No, we won’t.”

Henry stalked out of the office without
returning Nola’s goodbye. She flinched when the outer door
slammed.

“Oo-wee, things got loud in here. Mr. Henry
not too happy about something.” Nola looked at Simon
expectantly.

Simon threw down his ink pen. “Pompous bag of
wind!”

“Yeah, who does he think he is?” Nola threw a
glare in the direction Henry had gone. “Think their you-know-what
don’t stink.”

“The man is caught up in the past.” Simon
wanted to do more than throw something. The veiled insults to Rae
made him furious.

“Uh-huh. Just cause his slutty first wife
took off. Course he was jealous and mean.” Nola spoke in a
confidential manner, even though they were alone. “But then she
liked to roam, as the old folks say.”

“Now is that nice?” Simon scolded. Still, he
could not help but be amused.

“I’m reporting facts.” Nola shrugged.
“Anyway, don’t let him get you upset. Most of the town loves how
Rae’s bringing folks in to spend money.”

“The dance hall is a big success.”

Simon had to agree. There had been an
increase in the number of people strolling around downtown during
the past weekend. He was sure more than a few were either headed
for Rockin’ Good Times or on their way out. The few shop owners
that opened did a brisk business.

“My friend, Darlene, has an antique store on
Front Street. She’s so happy that she’s ready to fight anybody who
says a word against Rae. But it looks like she isn’t the only one.”
Nola’s arched eyebrows went even higher.

“She’s pretty special.” Simon wore a faint
smile. His anger at Henry’s words was fading. “I’m sorry I had to
get into an argument with Mr. Henry. I can understand his
bitterness even after all this time, but he was out of line.”

“Well, forget him. Let him stay back in the
old days while the rest of us enjoy all the good stuff happening
now.” Nola gave him the thumbs-up and left.

Simon sighed. He knew she was right. The
present was too wonderful, the future too bright, to let anything
or anyone spoil it. He was soon so immersed in his next task –
preparing to bid to build low-rent housing for the elderly – that
he forgot Henry.

* * *

Rae never felt so good lugging a weighty bag.
The receipts from the dance hall gave her a healthy cash flow.
Though the crowds over the last two weeks never matched the opening
weekend, she hadn’t expected they would. But the coming summer
months looked quite promising. She chatted amiably with the bank
teller who handled her deposit.

Leaving the bank, she stopped by several
shops to network with other small-business owners. Three black
female entrepreneurs had suggested they get together monthly to
share ideas and problems. Rae was thrilled for the chance to make
new friends. Marcelle had joined them for the first meeting since
she was self-employed as a bookkeeper.

As Rae came out of Darlene’s antique shop,
she collided with Henry, stomping down the sidewalk.

“Oh excuse me,” she said. Noticing the
pinched look on his face, she asked, “You okay?”

“Seems you have a talent for getting in the
way,” Henry snarled.

Rae squinted at him. “Good morning to you,
too.”

This was closer than she had ever been to the
man. Rae studied the expensive white shirt of soft knit cotton and
olive green pants. Even in casual dress, Henry Jove looked as
though he were on his way to a corporate boardroom. Rae did not
feel intimidated in the least by the hostile look stamped on his
nut-brown face.

“Young woman, you’ve always been too clever
for your own good. That dance hall will only lead to a lot of
drunken idiots falling into the bayou.” Henry brushed off his pants
as though contact with Rae had soiled them.

“You mean your relatives from out of town are
coming in soon?” Rae knew her response was childish, but he had
opened the old wound of being an outcast.

“Very funny. You won’t be laughing when folks
realize that hole in the wall is costing them tax money.” Henry
glared at her.

“What?” Rae put both hands on her hips.

“We’ll need more sheriff deputies to round up
the drunks, more ambulances to scrape them off the highway, and
more trash collection,” Henry sneered at her.

Rae resisted the urge to slap the superior
look from his face. “Get out of my way.”

“You won’t stand between us and industrial
development for long, girl. That property should have been sold to
Simon.”

“Simon and I have an understanding. And it’s
none of your business,” Rae shot back.

“Darcy and Simon had plans for that property
that could have meant hundreds of jobs for black people. But you
were too selfish and ignorant to see it.” Henry grew more incensed
with each passing moment.

“That’s a stretch. Operating a recreational
area wouldn’t have meant hundreds of jobs,” Rae said.

“Simon didn’t tell you? That was just for the
short-term. Most of the property was eventually going to be part of
a new plant.” Henry nodded with satisfaction when Rae looked
stunned. “Darcy was going to make it happen.”

Rae recovered. “Darcy? So he lied to Simon.
You forget that I know your grandson. Nice try.” She turned to
leave.

“I’m not finished, young woman.” Henry
blocked her way.

“Look, your first wife preferred other men.
Is that my fault? Maybe she was screwing my grandfather. It’s been
fifty years, for crying out loud. Get over it!” Rae threw the words
at him like well-aimed arrows.