Pretty Dangerous (23 page)

“Okay.” Jazz raised her eyebrows.

“Adrienne’s marriage isn’t perfect. Yes, a
scandal is what we need. I can go hard, too.” MiMi wore a wicked
grin.

“Your thinking up evil stuff. I like it,”
Jazz said and matched MiMi’s wicked grin with one of her own.

“Are you sure those civilized society folks
will act a fool?” Willa wore a skeptical frown. “Adrienne knows
about the mistress, and you said Chris won’t leave his trophy
family.”

“Most mistresses are lying when they claim
they don’t care if he stays with the wife. Plus if Chris and
Adrienne have one skeleton tucked away, then they have more. Let’s
find that walk-in closet and take a look around. Shall we?” MiMi
crossed her arms. Willa’s frown eased into a smile, and Jazz nodded
with glee.

Monday morning MiMi dove into work with more
energy. Her outlook had changed. She no longer felt pressed down by
the weight of certain doom ahead. When Kerry called, MiMi brightly
reported progress on her projects. Kerry implied MiMi wasn’t
telling the truth. Even that didn’t provoke MiMi the way it might
have a few days before.

An hour later, Elle arrived at her house with
fabric samples. Not even pictures would do, since texture and feel
would help MiMi make buying decisions for the fall line. She pulled
a rolling cart with samples and parked it by the sofa. Then she
dropped a large white bag on the coffee table.

“I brought some famous Mickey’s donuts. I
hope you have coffee made,” Elle said. She glanced around. “Nice
home office you got set up.”

“Thanks, but I’m not hungry. Has marketing
set up the fall catalog yet? I need to finalize what we’ll offer so
they can fill in the clothes section. Julie in New York already has
the accessories section done.” MiMi dove into the samples and
started scribbling notes.

“We’ve got time. It’s only April. The final
copy isn’t due until mid June.” Elle dug into the bag and pulled
out a glazed donut. “Coffee?”

“In the kitchen. I want the cosmetics line to
coordinate with this season’s hot colors, you know eye shadows and
lip sticks. Then we want to make sure that new line of fashion
jewelry complements the sweaters and skirts.” MiMi spoke loud
enough for Elle to hear her.

“Uh-huh,” Elle called back. When she
returned, she brought two cups on a tray. “You’ve been working
since six o’clock this morning.”

“How would you know that?” MiMi didn’t look
up from the fabrics. She fingered the textures. “This one seems a
bit thin.”

“Because you sent me emails, that’s how. At
least you took a break to take Sage to daycare.” Elle put the tray
down with a sigh. She walked over and picked up the textile sample
in question. “They’re going to line it with a poly rayon blend.
It’ll be fine for the career jackets we selected. Remember, these
will be sold in the south where it doesn’t get all that cold. The
heavier fabrics will be sold in the Midwest and Northeast
stores.”

“I’ll call Julie to see if she’s seen these
colors. She should have emailed the pictures of the jewelry by
now.” MiMi reached for her phone.

Elle blocked her by moving the cordless
handset. “It’s nine thirty, coffee and chat time.”

“You do know my boss and her minion are
plotting to get me fired, right? I have to score big this time
around or I’m out.” MiMi tried to push Elle’s hand away. She sighed
when her friend grabbed up the phone. “Elle, c’mon. You’re supposed
to be on my side.”

“Your clothes look loose. Have you just been
feeding Sage and not eating?” Elle gave her a critical complete
body examination.

“I may need a new career as a model or pole
dancer. So I could stand to lose a few pounds. Now give me the
phone.” MiMi gave her pal a mock scowl.

“You need to keep up your strength. I’m
cooking you a healthy breakfast of oatmeal with fresh apples,
cinnamon and milk. I found bacon in the fridge to go with it.” Elle
smacked her lips. “Umm, good.”

“Cut it out.” MiMi turned back to looking at
sample magazine pages. “I like these sweaters and skirts. Do these
slacks for women look a bit too masculine to you?”

“I’ll think about it while I’m stirring the
oatmeal.” Elle spun around and went back to the kitchen. Seconds
later, the smell of fresh coffee mixed with bacon.

“I don’t have time to eat,” MiMi complained.
But the smells coming from the kitchen made her stomach growl. She
looked down at her midsection. “Shut up you traitor.”

“You’re going to eat,” Elle yelled back as if
she had communicated with MiMi’s appetite already.

The chimes in the hallway signaled another
unwanted intrusion. MiMi marched past the kitchen and breakfast
alcove across the open floor plan. She ignored Elle. “If those
Jehovah Witnesses are on my doorstep, they’re about to learn some
new words.”

Instead her mother stood outside scanning the
neighborhood as though assessing it for approval. Her mother looked
at least ten years younger than her fifty-nine years. Her short
modified long bob haircut suited her heart-shaped face. She wore a
turquoise pullover t-shirt with white yoga style pants. Floral
sandals and a taupe purse completed the outfit. When she turned to
the door with an impatient frown, MiMi jumped as if caught doing
something wrong. Pauline Mims Landry had always inspired
anxiety.

MiMi undid the locks and swung the door open
quickly. “Good morning, mother. What a pleasant surprise.”

Pauline gave her a smile that lacked warmth.
She brushed by MiMi without waiting for an invitation to come in.
“Hello, dear. I apologize for not calling, but frankly I wasn’t
sure you’d answer. Caller ID is a gift and a curse these days.
Interesting choices for the foyer.”

“Thanks,” MiMi said, ignoring the fact that
her mother’s comment wasn’t a compliment. “I’m about to have
breakfast. You’re welcome to join me.”

“You hired a cook?” Pauline’s shapely
eyebrows went up. Her hazel eyes seemed to question how MiMi could
afford such a luxury.

“A friend is cooking for me. We’re working on
projects for store catalogs.” MiMi closed the door. She hesitated
as she faced her mother in the foyer.

Pauline took control as usual. “The living
room is fine. I’ll had breakfast, yogurt with fruit and organic
cranberry juice. Bacon? I don’t think that’s the best choice,
especially not for Sage.”

“It’s turkey bacon,” MiMi replied crisply,
though she wasn’t sure. She frowned trying to remember what kind
she’d bought on her last trip to the store.

“Hmm.” Pauline sat on the sofa. She lifted
her eyebrow again at MiMi until she sat as well. “I might as well
address the elephant in the room, this thing between you and
Adrienne.”

“Adrienne plans to tell a judge I’m a drug
using ex-con who puts men and street life before my baby.” MiMi’s
temper flared. “That’s more than ‘a thing’. She’s declared all out
war.”

“She’s honestly concerned about Sage, and
she’s very attached to her. There’s no need for our family business
to be aired like one of those grimy reality shows. Your father and
I talked to Adrienne.” Pauline set her purse on the cocktail
table.

“Mother--”

“And she’s seriously considering what we
think is a sensible solution. You’re going through a rough time
with no job and the police question your every move.”

“I still have my job,” MiMi clipped.

“For now. I understand there are difficulties
with your supervisor,” Pauline replied.

“The police aren’t ‘questioning my every
move’. They’ve only talked to me once. I’m not a suspect.”

“Yet...” Pauline let the rest of her thought
hang in the air.

“What’s your point,” MiMi said through
clenched teeth.

“Dear, I’m not trying to make you feel bad,
but face the facts. Taking care of an active toddler is added
stress. Adrienne can take temporary physical custody, not
guardianship,” Pauline added quickly when MiMi’s mouth flew
open.

“No.”

“I’m not talking about a permanent
arrangement. Adrienne can satisfy her need to mother a small child.
While you’ll be able to resolve all of these troubling issues
you’re having.” Pauline nodded at her own reasoning.

MiMi pushed against rising panic in her
chest. She’d always had trouble standing up to her mother. But not
when it came to her daughter. “I said no.”

“You’re being stubborn. Adrienne is doing you
a huge favor, though frankly I don’t know why. You’ve spoiled Sage
terribly. She’s as unruly as you were at that age. But there,
Adrienne is determined to help you...”

“No, Adrienne can’t have another baby so
she’s decided to steal mine,” MiMi cut in sharply.

“Listen, I think she should have discussed
this arrangement with you. I told her going to court was
extreme.”

MiMi stood. “So you knew. Adrienne discussed
attacking me, taking my child and you simply went along with it.
What kind of mother are you?”

Pauline sighed. She picked up her purse and
took out a tissue. “Good Lord, both you girls are so theatrical. I
just said I didn’t agree with her approach.”

“But you agree that she should take Sage away
from me?” MiMi balled both hands into fists. She took a step closer
to Pauline.

Elle stood in the archway that opened from
the foyer to the living. “Um, is everything okay?”

“We’re having a private family discussion, so
please excuse us. Now MiMi, I--”

“I don’t care if the whole city hears my
answer,” MiMi cut her off a second time.

Pauline’s eyes narrowed to slits as she stood
to face MiMi. “Watch your tone, Miliana Elise Landry. You wouldn’t
have this house, a very nice car and more if not for us. Your life
has become as chaotic as those friends of yours.”

“What are you saying?” MiMi’s voice pitched
higher with fury.

Her mother seemed not to notice she’d pressed
her luck one step too far. She drew herself up. “I mean you’ve
forgotten where you came from. Our families have never been
connected to crime. They certainly have never been arrested.”

“Only because they either didn’t get caught
or bought their way out of being prosecuted. You don’t think I
remember Uncle Jonathan’s ‘difficulties’ in nineteen-ninety eight?
Or what about the rumors that Daddy’s father took money for his
votes as city councilman?” MiMi drilled her gaze into Pauline as
she spoke.

“How dare you repeat those lies in front of a
stranger.” Pauline’s eyes flashed fire. “You’re testing me, MiMi.
That’s never a good idea. I’m trying to help keep all of the
unsavory details of your private life from spilling out in open
court.”

“If Adrienne wants a fight, she’s damn sure
going to get one. So if you came over here thinking you could bully
me into handing her over, think again.” MiMi stared her mother
down.

Pauline’s expression softened. “I’m not doing
a good job of keeping the peace in our family. Let Adrienne look
after Sage like she did when you were in that prison. She adores
the child.”

“Elle, does the word ‘no’ sound ambiguous to
you, like I’m open to negotiation?” MiMi glanced at Elle for a
second, but faced her mother again without waiting for an
answer.

“Only a few weeks, a month at most. I’ll
remind Adrienne that it’s just temporary until you can get your
footing again.” Pauline’s conciliatory expression barely covered
the irritation just beneath the surface. Her attempt at a warm
smile failed miserably.

“Hell no.”

“You wait a minute, talking to me like this,”
Pauline snapped, her voice rising.

“Goodbye, Mother. I have work to do, and a
lawyer to consult.”

MiMi spun around and headed through the
archway and into the foyer. She stood waiting for Pauline. Her
mother huffed in outrage, but picked up her purse after a few
seconds. Elle backed away when Pauline got closer.

“You’re making a big mistake,” Pauline said
tightly.

“Not nearly as big as the one Adrienne made.
I’ll fight to the death for my daughter. Something I could never
count on from you.”

Pauline blinked as though the words had hit
her in the face. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Instead she threw a look of contempt at Elle like she was at fault.
Then her mother lifted her nose in the air, walked to the door and
yanked it open. MiMi pushed the door shut the second Pauline’s rear
end cleared the threshold.

“Whoa,” Elle breathed out after a few seconds
of charged silence. “Are you okay?”

MiMi inhaled and exhaled five times to calm
the rage boiling inside. She resisted the urge to throw the front
door open and scream insults at her mother’s retreating back. Then
a kind of determined calm took over. She turned around slowly to
face her friend.

“No, but I’m not going to let them bulldoze
over me. I have a plan that involves a nasty, cheap underhanded
move. I’m talking about something that not even those reality show
housewives would stoop to. Things are going to get messy,” MiMi
said, her voice knife-edged sharp.

Elle blinked at her for a second before a
smile tugged her full ruby red lips up. “Please let me watch or at
least get video.”

MiMi smiled back at her. “Game on.”

****

“What do they want?” Willa muttered for the
third time.

After only one day of feeling back in
control, MiMi walked around the conference table at her lawyer’s
office waiting for the police. Detective Drake didn’t tell Edselle
anything beyond they had additional questions for MiMi. Willa
agreed to come for moral support.

“Making us wait is part of their strategy
I’ll bet,” MiMi said.

She went to the window looking out on the
historic downtown neighborhood. The three-story home was built
around 1896. A mature magnolia tree bloomed in the backyard. The
rooms had polished pine and oak furniture. Pictures on the walls
depicted scenes from Baton Rouge in the late nineteenth century.
Some were ink drawings, but there were vintage photos as well.