One Love (25 page)

“
Sugar, you know we love
you.” Jackie had finally gathered her courage. She went to her and
put an arm around her shoulder. “We wouldn’t repeat bogus
gossip.”

Yasmin whirled around with eyes bright
with tears. “Really? Then who is this reliable source?”

“
You’ve got to take my word
for it, okay? It’s true,” Lanessa said.

“
No way. You tell me who she
is,” Yasmin snapped. “Some woman who tried to get Charles and
couldn’t, I’ll bet.”

Jackie tried to help Lanessa out.
“You’ve got it all wrong.”

Yasmin seemed not to be listening.
“Charles is kind and sweet. He makes me feel like I’m the only
woman on this earth. I know he’s had lots of women. He told me
himself.”

“
He’s rich and handsome.”
Lanessa lifted a shoulder. “That combination draws women like bees
to honey.”

“
And makes them envious and
spiteful.” Yasmin gave Jackie a stony stare. “Only the other day at
lunch you were complaining about not having a man.”

Jackie’s mouth flew open to form a
large circle. She gazed at Yasmin for several stunned seconds.
“You’ve got to be kidding!”

“
Both of you are so proud of
all your contacts. You had to snoop around gathering rumors. There
is no trusted source.” Yasmin pressed her lips together.

“
Girl, you’re lucky I do
care about your crazy behind. Otherwise I’d--” Jackie put both
hands on her hips.

“
Jackie, hush.” Lanessa held
up a palm to cut her off.

She heard the note of hysteria in
Yasmin’s voice. Yasmin was trembling with the effort not to cry and
not to believe. Lanessa recognized the signs all too
well.

Jackie’s outrage faded as she realized
what Lanessa already sensed.

“
He does care about me.
You’re wrong.” Yasmin crossed her arms tightly to herself as though
for protection.

“
Honey, I wish it wasn’t
so,” Jackie said softly. “I really do.”

They stood in place, a sad tableau,
for five minutes. Yasmin covered her face with both hands. Neither
was sure what to say next. When Yasmin finally took her hands down,
there were no tears. This worried

“
As usual I’ve made a fool
of myself,” Yasmin said in a voice empty of emotion. “But then
what’s new?”

“
Don’t talk like that.”
Jackie went to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“
Why not? It true.” Yasmin
sank down onto the stuffed chair. “I’ve lied to myself that
drinking was the problem. But it’s me.”

“
Charles is a leech. Don’t
take the blame for what he is.” Lanessa sat beside her on the arm
of the chair.

“
Yeah, you’re definitely not
his first victim.” Jackie frowned. “He’s left broken up women all
over this state. Why I heard...”

“
The point is he’s not worth
getting upset about,” Lanessa cut her off.

“
Oh, right. That’s what I
was going to say, too.” Jackie cleared her throat.

“
I was so stupid!” Yasmin
rubbed her forehead. “And I’ve told everyone about my new man. I’ll
bet they all had a good laugh.”

“
No they didn’t,” Lanessa
said.

“
And what do you care what
they say?” Jackie added.

Yasmin looked at her. “So someone has
been talking about me.”

“
I was speaking in general.
You know, like
if
they’re talking don’t worry about it. I wasn’t referring to
any particular instance of--

“
Jackie, please.” Lanessa
shook her head. “Don’t help.”

Yasmin wore a sad smile. “It’s okay,
Jackie. The blinders are off. I’m back in reality.”

“
Girl, I’m not going to let
you sink into self-pity.” Lanessa said.

“
Everyone in south Louisiana
knows that Charles Metoyer is a player.” Yasmin spoke with
bitterness. “I’m the only idiot who thought he had
changed.”

“
I don’t know one woman who
hasn’t been down that road at least once.” Jackie waved a hand in
the air. “Common sense has nothing to do with it. We’re talking
emotion.”

“
Seeing what you want to
see,” Lanessa mumbled. She thought of Alex then pushed down the
spike of anxiety that she felt. This was about Yasmin and Charles,
not her and Alex.

“
That’s just another way of
saying I was a naïve idiot.” Yasmin sighed.

“
No, it’s not,” Lanessa put
in fervently. “You were honest and caring.”

“
He’s a very good liar and a
user.” Jackie wore a fierce look as though seeing the
offender.

“
It’s no good. I might as
well be honest with y’all.” Yasmin look at Jackie then Lanessa.
“For a week now I’ve suspected something wrong.”

“
You saw him with Shauntelle
St. Romaine?” Jackie blurted out. She gasped when Yasmin’s eyes
widened in shock.

“
Nice going, girlfriend.”
Lanessa wanted to rap Jackie on the head with her
knuckles.

Yasmin looked a Lanessa. “Alex’s
ex-wife? He’s been seeing her the entire time we were...” Her voice
faded.

“
Just more proof he’s a
dog,” Lanessa put in firmly.

“
Not worth the time it would
take to cuss his sorry butt out,” Jackie said standing as though
she was on her way to find Charles. She looked every ounce the
warrior queen. “We all need a drink. I’ll get more tea.” She
marched to the counter.

“
My, my.” Yasmin shook her
head slowly as though coming out of a mental fog.

“
I know you’ve had a shock
here, but we can get through this.” Jackie came back with three
glasses on a tray. She sat it down on the table and served her
friends.

“
Right. The three of us have
been through worse,” Lanessa nodded. “You’ve been to hell and back.
Look at far you’ve come. Your kids are doing so much
better.”

“
Yeah, you and your sister
are getting close after being enemies for years,” Jackie
added.

“
And we’ve all made our
share of mistakes.”

“
Darlin’, I had my share,
your share, and a couple of other women’s share when it comes to
men,” Jackie retorted. “I should be the one crying. Remember
Rico?”

Yasmin groaned. “Oh, Jackie. Yes I
do!

“
Listen, I never told y’all
but... Well you know I caught him with another woman.” Jackie
looked at them.

Yasmin seemed to have forgotten her
troubles. She sat forward. “Yes, you were devastated.”

“
Two days before our
wedding!”

“
Girl, I’ve still got that
damn pink bridesmaid dress,” Lanessa complained. “I look awful in
pink.”

Anyway, I was too humiliated to tell
you everything. They were in our townhouse in our bed.” Jackie sat
back with an expression that dared them to top her tale of
woe.

“
Have mercy!” Yasmin’s mouth
hung open.

“
Honey, hush!” Lanessa let
out a long sigh. “You’re stronger than I thought. It’s a wonder you
didn’t shoot them both.”

“
I don’t believe in guns.
But Rico and that hussy both still my mark on their
you-know-whats.” Jackie gave an evil cackle.

Yasmin sat staring at her for a few
seconds then threw back her head and laughed. Lanessa began
giggling. Soon all three were so overcome, they were gasping for
air.

“
Rico ran down the stairs
and out the front door buck naked,” Jackie said in between drawing
in air. “Had his drawers in one hand, his car keys in the
other.”

“
Stop, I can’t breathe,”
Lanessa pleaded. She was wiping tears from her face.

“
Child, how did he find his
keys?” Yasmin panted.

“
I don’t know, but he left
that woman behind.” Jackie patted her face with a damp napkin.
“Lord, that was a day. My neighbor Luci came over and restrained me
long enough for her to escape.”

“
Jackie, you’ve helped me
put this in perspective. Whew, I’m really thirsty now.” Yasmin took
a long drink of tea. She did indeed look better than she had only
minutes before.

Lanessa took a deep breath and gazed
at her friend. “Seriously, Yasmin. Tell us what you’re
feeling.”

Yasmin was pensive for a short time
before she spoke. “Seriously? It hurts. But now I know what he
really wanted.”

“
Oh?” Lanessa had not dared
voice her suspicions on just how calculated his courtship had
been.

“
Yes. The agenda for the
next Commerce Committee gave me a clue. Two items made me remember
something Charles just kept bringing up.”

“
What?” Lanessa
said.

“
There’s a proposal to
change the procedures on how barges are loaded. Lots of paperwork
and red tape, you know.” Yasmin raised her eyebrows. “But somehow
it’s connected Franklin Enterprises.”

“
Franklin Enterprises,”
Lanessa echoed. “That sounds familiar.” She searched her memory for
where she’d seen the name. It was recent and connected to
Paxton-Waite.

“
Charles has an interest in
the company. Though now that I think of it, he seemed real
undercover about it.” Yasmin looked at Lanessa. “It’s a barge
company that moves cargo down rivers from the port of New Orleans.
They’ve got a few eighteen wheelers, too.”

“
I’ve heard of them
somewhere.” Lanessa tried to put the name into an image of where
she’d seen it. It was another part of the pattern, but where did it
fit?

“
Anyway, he’s just another
lobbyist. Only he got to me in a special way.” Yasmin wore a stony
look. “It was a set up.”

“
At least you found out
before he could use you.” Jackie gave a curt nod. “Now I say we
burn his hind parts good. Lanessa?”

“
You two already have a
plan!” Yasmin stared at them.

“
Damn right!” Jackie spoke
up with force. “Mess with our best friend at you own peril.” She
hugged Yasmin’s neck.

“
Right, right.” Lanessa was
only half paying attention to their exchange. She frowned in
concentration. “Charles is somehow involved in what I’m beginning
to think is a shady deal.”

“
Break the law? I don’t
think even Charles would go that far.” Yasmin blinked at
her.

“
If we’re talking big money
he would,” Jackie said.

“
There I go again.” Yasmin
tapped her forehead with the tips of her fingers. “Even at my most
infatuated, I knew he was really into money.”

“
It runs in the family. One
of his stuck up sisters pledged with me. What a witch.” Jackie
munched on a banana muffin.

“
He talked about money more
than most men talk about sports,” Yasmin said.

“
I want to know what he’s
got going with Dawson.” Lanessa nodded slowly.

“
I’m in. Just tell me what
to do.” Jackie looked eager. “Let’s give him hell.”

“
Yasmin leaned forward.
“Lanessa, are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Her face was
sober.

“
What? The guy deserves to
get slammed.” Jackie looked at Yasmin.

“
But there’s more. Right,
Lanessa?”

“
Right,” Lanessa replied.
“If I start messing with men like Metoyer and Dawson, I’d better
know what I’m talking about.”

“
I can get over him,” Yasmin
said. “Charles may be scum, but he’s powerful scum. Let it
go.”

Jackie leaned back against the sofa
back. “Good point. He’s among a group of people who can be very bad
enemies in this town. Hell, in this state even.”

“
He’s not worth it. You both
said so. Lanessa, are you listening to me? Forget about Charles.”
Yasmin shook her arm. She had a worried look in her light brown
eyes.

Lanessa grew more certain the more she
thought. “I’ve got a nasty feeling I’m being used. And I don’t like
it one bit.”

“
Lanessa...” Yasmin
tightened her hold. “Don’t go on a crusade because of
me.”

“
Charles and Dawson are into
something big. They could be plotting some kind of plant that will
hurt the folks in Des Allemands. I’m going to find out.” Lanessa
looked at them “Well?”

“
You know I’m ready,” Jackie
said immediately.

Yasmin sighed. “Seeing Charles pay
would be nice.”

“
I won’t involve y’all too
much.” Lanessa held up a palm to cut off their protests. “Let’s be
practical. Too many questions from Jackie would look odd. Yasmin,
he’d know fast if you start snooping around.”

“
Be real careful,” Yasmin
said.

“
Watch your back twenty-four
seven,” Jackie added.

“
I worked in state
government, remember? Watching your back was in the personnel
manual.” Lanessa’s mind was not on any possible risk. She was
already thinking of where she would start. “I’m going to find out
more about Franklin Enterprises. It just might lead me exactly down
the right trail.”