Nether Regions (20 page)

There was something especially unusual about the women and men of Beulah’s family. They had hair dark as a moonless night and thick brows that framed piercing black eyes. Their smiles flashed often and the white teeth were big and bold. They wore beautiful clothing—shirts that appeared to have been hand-stitched or at least hand-designed on a sewing machine. The designs were loose and flowing, bearing butterfly colors and the occasional web of silver or gold embedded in the fabric. They looked Italian or Spanish. Maybe Middle Eastern. She made a mental note to ask Sophie about it the next time they were alone.

Three long tables, dressed in white cloths, supported a huge amount of food. One table bore hot offerings, another cold and a third was stacked with potato chips and other salty treats amid bottle after bottle of soda and tea. The beer and other spirits lay displayed on a smaller table set up on the deck. Most of the adults had found their way there already, and moods were light.

Delora felt happy and light herself, certainly more than she had in a long time. She found herself surrounded with new faces, faces that didn’t even know Louie existed and certainly had no inkling that she bore scars from his whim. This anonymity was refreshing.

Her eyes flew once more to Sophie. Although she was young, certainly no more than thirty, she obviously possessed an old spirit. She was wise in the ways of man and nature. Delora wondered if she ever lost her cool. She had yet to see Sophie angry or upset.

Sophie must have felt her gaze for she excused herself from the gaunt man with long black hair she was speaking with and strode toward Delora. Delora blushed and dropped her eyes only to raise them helplessly to watch Sophie’s lean form approach. There was something about her, something about that calm, confident smile.

“How are you holding up? It’s a little overwhelming, I know.”

Delora studied Sophie’s face but pulled her gaze away when Sophie’s interest deepened. “Your call was a surprise. How’d you get my cell number?”

“Ahhh, the ways of the bayou are mysterious,” Sophie said, laughing when Delora pulled a face of mock annoyance. “Sorry for the short notice. So what do you think of the family?”

“They’re amazing. Beautiful. Surely they’re not all family?”

Sophie’s sweeping glance took in the crowd as she viewed it from Delora’s vantage point. It was a motley crew, no doubt about it. Grandam’s sister, Yarrow, was there with her husband, Lemley Banks. They lived inwater on another piece of Wassel Cofe’s land. They lived even further into the old ways than did Grandam and Sophie. Visits to their house had always been like stepping into an ancient dimension when people were ruled by superstition and sorcery in equal measures.

A good number of the revelers were patients, however: men, women and children that they had led toward healing during the years. If taken to task, Sophie could have named every injury or illness. She couldn’t remember to tie her own shoes sometimes, but she could remember every patient she’d treated. She turned back to Delora. She didn’t want to think about other patients today.

“Some are other families from the Bayou Lisse. They live all up and down the waterways. Some, like Alvin and Doris Borrows, live over in town, Redstar, but most are from the water.”

“Your grandmother…” Delora began, but broke off, unsure how to broach the subject of Sophie’s ethnicity.

“What about her?” Sophie pulled Delora toward the food table.

Delora eyed the food-laden table. There was everything from a planked fish to a full roasted turkey, all the way to ice cream in a big bowl resting in an ice-filled barrel. It was a lot of food.

“Glory, who cooked all this?” she exclaimed.

Sophie laughed and sliced off a huge chunk of chocolate cake packed with pecan halves. “Everyone. Clary did some of it, but everyone brings something to these things. Didn’t your family ever do this?” She paused. “When they were still with us, I mean.” She watched Delora even as her hand lifted two plastic forks.

“No, not really. School functions. And church things with Rosalie. But never this much food.”

Sophie laughed at the other’s wide eyes. “Come on, Miss Innocent. You’ve got to try this cake. Myria Pulet makes it and I swear I could eat the whole thing by myself.”

“Come on here, Miss Sophie. Y’all can sit here,” Tassidy Myer said as he rose and offered his chair and the empty one next to him.

“Thank you, Tass. Your mama is smiling on you from heaven,” Sophie told him.

He grinned and ducked his head as he moved away.

Delora studied the man with his straight ebony hair worn long beneath a limp-brimmed Stetson and colorful shirt over metal-studded jeans. “Is he a relative?” she asked.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I should have introduced you. Tassidy is Grandam’s baby brother. Let’s see that makes him my, what? Great-uncle? We always called him Uncle Tass.”

Delora glanced after him as they sat. “He looks nice.”

Sophie nodded her agreement as she dug into the cake. “Salt of the earth.”

Delora lifted the fork Sophie had passed to her and used it to pick at the cake. “About Miss Beulah. Are y’all Italian?”

Sophie turned wide, astonished eyes on Delora. “Italian?” She laughed and used her fork to push a small bite of the cake into Delora’s mouth. “We’re Egyptian, but don’t tell anyone. We don’t talk about it. Isn’t that good?”

Delora lifted her eyes to Sophie. The rich sweetness of the chocolate in her mouth and the sheer sugar of Sophie’s gaze made Delora tremble deep inside. The moment was too perfect and it terrified her. Sophie seemed to sense her fear and her face went tense.

“Delora, it’s all right, honey. I’m right here. Tell me what’s wrong.”

Delora was too embarrassed to admit her feelings or her fear. She realized she loved Sophie. What was she to do with these feelings? Surely Sophie wasn’t interested. But wait, another part of her whispered.
What about the way she looks at me
?

Delora shook the optimism away like shrugging out of a winter overcoat.

“It’s good cake. I think it’s the nuts. Lots of nuts add richness.”

“So, you cook?” Sophie tilted her head to one side as she regarded the other woman.

Delora laughed, determined to ease up and not allow Sophie’s nearness to twist her stomach into knots. “I’m not sure I know the meaning of the word. I do what I have to do to get by.”

Sophie laughed, broke off another small piece of cake, then handed the plate to Delora “Okay, chocolate limit reached. The rest is for you.”

Delora grunted and studied the plate with suspicion.

They fell silent and watched the milling, laughing crowd.

“You still live with him, don’t you?” Sophie asked quietly.

Delora snapped her gaze back to Sophie. How much did this woman know about her life?

“Does he still hurt you?”

Delora knew she should be incensed at this invasion of her privacy. She knew she should consider the question the height of rudeness and disregard it. Sophie was different and Delora could feel no indignation. She realized with the bright light of epiphany that Sophie would always be one step ahead of her. And that Sophie could see where others could not. She considered her answer carefully.

“No, he ignores me mostly and that’s good.”

“So, he won’t do it again?”

Delora thought about telling her about the lighter fluid she’d found under his bed. It was too exhausting to open that door. “No. I don’t think it matters to him anymore. He’s blind now.”

Sophie leaned forward and dangled her hands between her knees. Her voice was soft and carried to Delora on angel wings. No one nearby could have heard. Only Delora.

“Do you know how I am?”

Delora’s puzzlement lasted only a minute. Sophie was trying to make sure Delora knew why the feelings were growing between them. She had to be sure though.

“Do you mean about the healing stuff?”

Sophie tucked her head and smiled, her eyes on the crowd. “No. The other.”

“Yes. Yes, I know.”

“Is that okay?”

Sighing, Delora mulled this question over. Was it okay? Did she want to give Sophie permission? A host of thoughts tumbled through her mind. She envisioned some possibilities, negated others. A part of her knew she had nothing to lose if others knew she was involved with Sophie, but the scars…how could she be what Sophie wanted and needed? She had to discourage Sophie. As soon as her mind was made up, however, Sophie lifted her eyes and snared Delora with a look of love and desire so pure that Delora quit breathing for a full minute.

“Yes,” she said. “Yes, it’s okay, Sophie.”

Sophie continued to fall deeply into Delora’s eyes, the contact broken only when one of the children, pushed by another, fell into the water with a loud howl. Infectious laughter swept through the crowd, catching Sophie and Delora up in it.

“I’d better get him a towel and something dry to wear,” Sophie said as she rose. Her loving gaze lingered, however.

“Sure,” agreed Delora. “I’ll be here.” She felt as though she could use a few minutes alone with her thoughts. And time to deal with the unfamiliar warmth spreading through her body.

“I’ll be back soon and maybe we can take a walk, okay?”

Helpless, Delora nodded.

Chapter Thirty-One

Bayou Lisse at night was even more incredible than in the daylight. Most notable were the insects. Here there was no subterfuge. Insects ruled openly. Next were the frogs. It seemed every step taken by the two women dislodged another resting amphibian.

“Frogs everywhere,” Delora muttered, finally breaking the silence that had enveloped them for some time.

Sophie reached and took Delora’s hand in her hot grasp. “Usually are, this time of year.”

Delora rubbed her thumb along Sophie’s knuckle. It felt good to connect with her.

Sophie paused next to a wide area of open water. Delora stood next to her and they watched the slow undulation of water.

“Can you see the lights?” Sophie asked quietly. “Watch the water. Deep.”

Delora looked at Sophie’s rapt face, then followed her gaze toward the water. And there it was—a chain of lights moving through the depths.

“What is it?” Delora whispered.

Sophie shrugged and pulled Delora’s hand closer, tucking it under her arm. The fullness of Sophie’s breast pressed against the back of Delora’s hand. “I’m not sure. I call them fairy lights.”

Delora nodded. Fairy lights. Yes.

“Life sure is an adventure, isn’t it?” Delora mused quietly. Mosquitoes danced about them angrily, yet stayed away. Bayou water tapped gently just down at the end of the grassy patch where the two women stood. “Just when you think things are duller than dirt something happens to shake your world.”

“Seems that way,” Sophie agreed.

Delora watched her in silence.

Sophie tensed suddenly, looking at Delora. A message passed.

“So what has happened to shake up your world?” she asked.

Delora smiled. Gone was the resigned bitter woman she’d been. Sophie wasn’t sure she knew who this new woman was, but she was sure glad she was having the opportunity to get to know her.

“Lots of things,” Delora replied. “Seeing you with all your people, for one. I never knew how special it is—this healing you do.”

Sophie smiled, her mouth gathering dusk and holding it. “It’s addictive—like that sweet German wine they sell over in Goshen. Once you’ve tasted it, you’ve got to have it again and again. Even though the cost is outrageous.”

Silence again for a short time. “And what else has shaken up your world?”

Delora grinned again, and Sophie saw the coy, flirtatious girl Delora had once been. Her heart flipped in her chest.

“Lord, Lora. I’ve got to tell you, I…”

Sophie couldn’t finish. Delora’s laughing gaze was pulling her in like water over a deadfall. She tilted her head and allowed herself to be pulled in. There was a small moment of doubt in Delora’s eyes as Sophie leaned and pressed her lips to hers. The kiss was charming and chaste. Even as their lips moved apart Sophie stayed close, inhaling the essence of Delora. She’d read once that touching faces was the greatest intimacy two people could share. She wanted this with Delora. Surprising her, Delora allowed it, even seemed to encourage the closeness.

“You’re healing me, you know,” Delora whispered finally. Her sweet breath, still bearing the essence of chocolate, tickled against Sophie’s cheeks.

“And you, me,” Sophie answered. “I didn’t even know I was broken until you came into my life. Now, without you with me, I am.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

“What’s your schedule today?”

The words next to her ear and the friendly smell of coffee wafted across Delora, waking her. Where was she?

Eyes opening slowly, they fetched up on Sophie’s smiling face. Alarm fired along Delora’s nerves. She sat up abruptly as the previous night replayed in her memory.

“Oh, my gosh, Sophie. I’m so sorry. What was I thinking, imposing like this?”

She tried to kick off misbehaving blankets, and Sophie laughed at her dilemma.

“Hold on,” she said, cautiously placing a mug of coffee on the bureau. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”

Delora relaxed against the pillows. “I slept here all night, didn’t I? Here with you.”

Calmly, slowly, Sophie folded back the blankets. “Yes. Yes, you did. That’s why I asked about your schedule. Where do you have to be today?”

“What day is it?”

Sophie smiled and handed the coffee over. Delora took it and sipped gratefully.

“Monday.”

“Blossom’s, all day until six. Then French Club after.”

“I swear, I don’t know how you keep it all straight,” Sophie muttered with a shake of her head. Delora watched her, enjoying the haphazard twisting of Sophie’s tawny curls, unbound this early in the day. She reached across and captured an escaping curl with an index finger. The curl grasped her back as if it were a sentient being. Sophie’s eyes grew soft and dreamy as they regarded Delora.

Sudden laughter penetrated from another room, and Delora started, dropping the curl and grasping the mug with both white-knuckled hands.