NS (10 page)

“I never said you were a brat. You took up a cause and you fought for it. Fought like nothing I’ve ever seen before. You do it in the courtroom. My insides coil every time I read about this new case of yours. I’ve seen you in action before, and the crimes weren’t nearly this serious. The last time you went on a crusade, I think everybody in the room expected you to produce an AK-47 from under your jacket.”

“Wonder how I learned to do that.” She settled back in the chair and smiled. “I remember the story of you and my father when you were kids. Growing up on the streets of New Orleans. I see this gangly white kid with a big smile on his face in almost all of Daddy’s childhood photos.

You also convinced my folks that I wasn’t crazy when I decided to go to law school.”

“If I had any part in developing a fine courtroom persona, I’m both honored and

humbled. I’ve seen every one of your courtrooms crusades, and I’m still amazed. You’re serious to the point of looking sinister.” He grimaced before casting his eyes on her face. “I can’t wait for you to take over the DA’s office.”

“And I remember your comments about my attire during my last summation. You

called me General Constantine.”

“I called you a storm trooper. You wore that black suit with the slit in the skirt and those metal buttons on your jacket.” He laughed. “I’m proud of you, baby. I only wish one of my boys was a suitable husband so your father and I could have grandkids together. Maybe you and Isaac can produce a few female sluggers.”

She grimaced. “Perish the thought. I don’t even know if I’m mother material. I’m also not looking for a crusade, but I am concerned about Mama Rose. If ever there was a time for me to come out with a bone in my nose and a spear in my hand, it’s when someone messes with my grandmother.”

“I know anything concerning family will tick you off more than most. I just don’t

want you to go commando until we know there’s a problem. There’s a new man at the helm. It may just be an exercise of power.”

She knew there was a problem, and felt sure he did, too. He called with an answer

shortly after she returned to her office.

* * * *

After work, Chelsea let Dee and Skip know she was going to Mama Rose’s. She

then called Isaac, who had already phoned five times. “Mama Rose has been having problems with health inspectors. I’m on my way over there to tell her what I found out. What would you like for dinner?”

“You. Once I have that, I don’t need anything else.”

“I love you for saying that, but there isn’t enough food in my place to take you

through the night.”

“There is now. Just come on home as soon as you can. I’ve got a surprise.”

She ground her tires across the gravel that extended the parking lot at Mama

Rose’s and hurried inside. It was not going to be an easy message to deliver. Mama Rose rushed over as soon as she entered the door.

“Hi, honey. Hungry?”

“No. Well, I am but I think Isaac has dinner waiting.” She took her grandmother’s

elbow and guided her to the little office in the back. “Mama Rose, you’re not going to like what I found out today. I went to see Larry Mayeaux this morning. We were supposed to look into this whole mess tomorrow but he called me just before I left work. I guess he didn’t want me to “go commando” as he said, so he did a little checking and learned a restaurant chain wants this spot.

A hotel is going up down the street and this real estate is now worth at least fifty times what you paid for it.”

Mama Rose toyed with the arrant strands of silver that fell around her ear. “It’s

worth even more than you think. We didn’t pay a dime for it. Your grandfather won this property in a poker game. I run this place for him now, and I’m not planning on selling, no matter what they offer me. My memories are here. Mine and his. I won’t sell. I don’t need money. Besides, money could never replace what this restaurant means to me.”

Chelsea understood. “It’s political, Mama Rose. Larry said he would speak with

everyone he knows, but I can’t say they’ll call off the dogs.”

“I was ready to divorce you grandfather the night he came from one of his poker

games without a dime in his pocket. I told him, in no uncertain terms, that we were through. This was right after we married. Before we had children.” Tears flooded Mama Rose’s eyes as she raised her head in staunch defiance. “Let the dogs come. I’ll kill those bastards before I give up my place.”

* * * *

Fall air blended with river rot to form the indigenous New Orleans smell that

flowed through the open windows of Chelsea’s car. There were very few days of warmly pleasant weather, and she wanted to enjoy them before the air became damp and humid again.

With the pungent aroma slapping her face, she remained deep in thought until she pulled into the garage and walked around to the back entrance of the converted warehouse that was her home.

Another example of inner-city progress.

She made her way through the splash of color down the walkway. Candles flickered in the window. Smoldering scents of charcoal mixed with the evening air and reminded of her the uneaten sandwich in her desk drawer.

“Isaac! I’m home.”

“I’m up here. Come join me.” He yelled from her bedroom.

Chelsea always loved his pampering, but cautioned her appreciative heart not to

become accustomed to something that surely would not last. She found him in the bathroom, standing before a tub filled with bubbles and floating rose petals.

“Your bath, madam.” He bowed slightly, hiding a wide smile.

“And you are too kind, my dear man. Are you wanting me to relax or insinuating

I’m dirty?”

He pulled her into his arms. “Assuming you had a tiring day, I want you to relax

in the tub while I put the finishing touches on dinner. Wait until I leave the room and slip your fine frame in the tub.”

“Why should I wait until you leave the room?”

He grinned and ran his hand over the curves of her back. “Because if I see you

undress, you’ll never make it to the tub, dinner will be ruined, and we’ll both be hungry.”

They kissed. The image that floated through her mind was powerful enough to

take away her breath. She saw the two of them together, holding hands and walking into the sunset. Maybe Dee was right. Maybe he does want more than just a passing fling.

She

wondered if she should make a few hints and see what happened, but was still afraid to appear serious and scare him away. She relaxed in the warm suds, thinking of the many ways she found pleasure in having him in her life. Next came a rush of guilt for allowing Quincy’s uninvited comments to arouse her soul.

“Bubbly for my lady.” Isaac was back with a tray and two filled glasses. “Shall I

rub your back?” He passed one glass to her and held the other up for a toast. “To the most beautiful and charming woman I’ve ever known.”

Without thinking, she responded. “To us. To our love.”

A sobering expression replaced his smile. “Is that how you feel? Are we in love?”

He gazed without blinking. Her heart thumped against her chest. “Hey, don’t go

getting all mushy on me.” His expression changed to what she thought might be disappointment.

She mended her statement. “I do love you, you know.”

“How was your day? Any further signs of foul play—and don’t lie to me.”

“There have been no more signs of foul play, but everyone made a fuss over what

already happened. David was there today and two other officers are assigned to keep watch. I’m not sure if it’s for my protection or theirs. Felt like prison.”

In the awkward silence that followed, Chelsea wondered if he was thinking of her

safety or her earlier comment about their relationship. When he finally spoke it was to tell her that dinner would be ready in five minutes. Watching him lumber from the room, she wondered how someone so large could be so gentle. What’s he thinking right now? Did I respond incorrectly?

Her uncertainty about his feeling did not shadow the reality of her own. Her heart swelled each time she looked into his eyes.

Isaac stopped outside the door and glanced at the hall mirror to see if his face resembled that of a dying man about to take his last meal. He loved her, but she was still back in the casual stages of their relationship, just as Frankie had been. His heart ached as it had back then. He wondered why women felt men were the only ones capable of using the opposite sex as a play toy and then tossing it aside.

Going to the kitchen, he leaned on the counter and felt a heavy pounding in his chest. My damn fault! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Another dream turned into a nightmare.

He thought of several other relationships and wondered if he ever caused as much pain to anyone as he now felt inside. His fist crashed into the kitchen counter. One thing’s for sure, I’m too damn old to cry this time.

Pushing the flute of champagne aside, he took a bottle of Jack Daniels from the

cabinet and filled a water glass. After two gulps, he rubbed at the pain in his chest and began making plans. He didn’t want to lose Chelsea but knew he could not continue the way things were going. The team would be leaving before the end of the week. He reluctantly prepared to spend the last of his closing stages with the second woman to break his heart.

* * * *

Chelsea knew of Isaac’s cooking skills but was surprised at the elaborately prepared meal waiting in the kitchen. A carefully arranged green salad with red bell peppers and olives, followed by steak grilled to perfection, roasted garlic potatoes and marinated green beans.

“You truly are a master in the kitchen.” She sat across from him and smiled. “Did you start this early in the day?”

“I started the meal before I went to practice and finished just after you arrived, but I wouldn’t go so far to say master—at least, not in the kitchen.”

His leering smile put her at ease.

“What about your opponent? Did he whisper in your ear again today?”

“My boss requested a postponement. He didn’t want me to go in the courtroom

after all the drama this past weekend.” Not wanting to lie again by omission, she added, “Quincy did call. He heard about what happened Saturday morning.”

“What did he say, or am I’m being too intrusive?”

She smiled but stopped eating. “You’re not being too intrusive. He just called to

see if I was okay and expressed his concern.”

“Think whatever you want, but I smell a great big old rat, and if I had to put a tag on his toe, I’d call him Quincy. He’s after you.”

“I don’t know Quincy’s motives. I don’t know Quincy at all. I do know that the

only man who can change things between us is you. We promised each other fidelity. If I feel a need to be with someone else, I’ll let you know before, not after it happens.”

She changed the subject and started talking about her grandmother’s problem,

which seemed to get his attention.

“I can’t imagine how anyone could think they can scare Mama Rose away from

that restaurant. What can I do to help?”

“I’m hoping Uncle Larry diffused the situation. If not, we’ll have a mess on our

hands.”

“I’m quite fond of your grandmother. I don’t have one anymore, so I have plenty of extra compassion.”

“You’re very compassionate.” She squeezed his fingers. “That’s one of the things

I love about you.”

“So how does that go? This love thing?”

“What do you mean?”

He clenched his jaw a second before speaking. “Nothing at all. Forget it.”

Sensing his agitation, she stopped eating. “I came home and found you happily

preparing a wonderful dinner. Now you’re sullen. Did I say something to upset you?”

“Let’s drop it, okay?”

Pushing his chair from the table, he left her there. The tension between them later became obvious when they were in bed. Instead of snuggling next to her, he lay on his back, silently staring at the ceiling. Chelsea cuddled next to him, splaying her fingers across his chest muscles and downward to the elastic of his briefs.

“Dressed for bed tonight? That’s unusual.”

He grunted softly, still staring upward.

“What’s wrong, Isaac? If you’re upset because of something I said, baby, I’m

sorry. You know I sometimes talk without thinking. Don’t withdraw this way. Let’s talk about it, please.”

“It’s nothing you said. I’m just a little tired.” He turned over and kissed her

forehead. “Sleep tight.

* * * *

Finding it impossible to take his own advice, he watched her sleep. Every breath

she took reminded him of the emptiness he would feel when she was no longer a part of his life.

Coming home now meant knowing her arms would be there. He wanted love to happen, but knew he could not force it. From his observation, Chelsea was nowhere near the sinkhole in which he found himself hopelessly trapped.

He went to practice the next morning as she was leaving for work, and returned directly afterwards.

The answer to his dilemma seemed clear. It was just more painful than he had

anticipated. He started packing the things he had at Chelsea’s house but had no luck finding words to end their relationship. Taking a deep sigh and a swig of bourbon, he picked up the phone, dialed and waited for the soothing voice he would never forget.

“Hey. How’s it going?”

“Isaac!” The lilt in Frankie’s voice turned to anguish. “I don’t know why you’re calling, but I am glad you did. Where are you?”

“I’m still in town. Is something wrong?”

“I don’t want to talk about it on the phone. Can you come over?”

He headed uptown, driving much too fast. He tried to think. They had not spoken in a few weeks. Frankie had always been his rock, even after she married. He could not think of an instance, even during her mother’s illness that broke her down.

After hearing the distress in her voice, he still was not prepared for the haggard face that stared at him when she opened the door. She fell into his arms. He held her head as she sobbed.