Page 32 of The Lady on Esplanade
“Whoa, sexy!”he said, looking at me.His open perusal left mefeeling naked, and I found myself wishing I hadn’t already checked my coat.I’d been more excited about wearing my new dress than I’d wanted to admit.It had a large keyhole opening that exposed the upper part of my back, and the hemline was above the knee—both acceptable to Jolene—and the sapphire color was, according to Jolene, on my color wheel.But that excitement quickly dwindled as I found myself being embraced by Henry, his fingers lingering on my bare skin and his lips leaving a wet spot on my cheek.
“How nice to see you again.”I tried to pull away, but he held on.Not wanting to cause a scene, I turned my head, trying to avoid the wafting alcohol fumes from his mouth.I hadn’t felt a desperate need for a drink since the debacle of Michael Hebert’s betrayal, but tonight I found myself craving the sort of emotional buffer only alcohol could give me, and the potent smell of gin on Henry’s breath didn’t help.The tighter he held me, the worse the craving got.I wouldn’t even have to ask my therapist about this visceral reaction.I already knew it had little to do with the unwanted attention—although that was definitely a part of it—and more to do with the tension I always felt when Beau was near.It was like a persistent itch I couldn’t reach.
“Let the lady breathe.”Beau’s tone was jovial, but the hand on Henry’s shoulder wasn’t.After a brief resistance, Henry released his hold on me and I stepped back, teetering on the borrowed high heels Jolene had said I needed to “complete the look.”Beau steadied me and then shed his jacket to place over my shoulders.
“You looked cold.”His eyes met mine, and I felt the familiar buzz that sparked between us at inopportune times.Like now.It reminded me of how much our thoughts always seemed to run in tandem.
I glanced up to find Sam’s eyes on us, and quickly stepped away.“Thank you,” I said in the direction of Beau’s shoulder, and turned to greet Camille.
She gave me an apologetic smile.“I’m sorry about that.I told Henry to go easy on the celebrating, but I guess he didn’t listen.”Shelooked down at her feet, as if this were somehow her fault.“I’ll make sure he doesn’t drink any more tonight and that he doesn’t sit next to you.I really am sorry.”
“Please don’t worry.I’m fine.”I almost addedas long as it doesn’t happen again, but she already looked so beaten that I couldn’t.“If you don’t mind my asking, what’s the celebration all about?”
“Oh, sorry.I thought Mimi or Beau or someone else would have already mentioned it.”
I wanted to tell her to stop apologizing, that she wasn’t responsible for everything and everyone, but I was afraid that would make her apologize again.“No.I haven’t heard from Mimi, and when I saw Beau yesterday he didn’t mention anything.What is it?”
“Henry and I both have jobs!Mimi said she could use more inventory and front-office help at the Past Is Never Past, and she hired us both.We’re so grateful for her generosity.Of course, we worked at the shop before, so it’s not like we’re newbies, and Henry and I already understand the antiques business, so it makes sense.It will certainly save time on training.”Two creases formed the shape of the number eleven between her eyebrows.“Of course, I’ll need Christopher to show me how to use the new computer, but everything else looks to be pretty much the same as before.I hope he doesn’t mind.”She gave me a worried look.
“I’m sure he doesn’t.Christopher has been nothing but kind and patient to Trevor, the young man he’s mentoring.He’s such a quick study.If either you or Henry need help with anything and Christopher isn’t available, Trevor will most likely be able to assist.”
Camille frowned again.“Yes, well.We’ll see.”
I wanted to ask her what she meant, but Jaxson and Carly were approaching Jolene, and I figured Jolene would need some moral support, so I excused myself and headed over just as Carly was planting air-kisses on both of her cheeks.
“Nola!”Carly shouted as I approached, and then enveloped me in a hug saturated with a fragrance composed of vanilla and spice andsomething that I couldn’t identify but was undoubtedly expensive.Carly was an attorney for a private law practice, and everything about her was expensive, including the strapless cocktail dress of emerald green and the diamond pendant necklace that sparkled almost as much as the diamond on her left hand.
Jaxson gave me a warm hug in greeting.He was a New Orleans native and an old friend of Beau’s.Despite working as a public defender, he was as kind as he was funny.The only thing to dislike about Jaxson Landry was his choice in fiancées.
I turned back to Jolene, who was listening to Carly bemoan all the wedding details she had to take care of.I wanted to point out that her mother was heavily involved in the planning, as was the team of wedding planners her mother had hired, but I doubted she would hear my sarcasm, and she might even continue talking about the wedding.Although Jolene was smiling and nodding, her eyes had become glassy, like those of a taxidermied deer whose last vision was of a bullet.
The lights dimmed, letting us know that it was time to find our seats.As we began to file into the auditorium, Carly was still talking to Jolene.“I wanted to make this more formal, but I guess now would be a good time to ask you to be my maid of honor.”
Jolene continued to smile, but I wondered if anyone else noticed that her expression was that of a person stuck in the middle of a highway with a tractor trailer barreling toward her.
Carly didn’t stop talking, oblivious to Jolene’s sudden muteness.“You’re so amazing at planning and organizing, and you understand that it’s the unique little details that make an event special, so of course I thought of you!And because I’m so busy with work and travel, I appreciate that you won’t need a lot of instruction and oversight, which is more than I can say for the planners my mother hired.”
Jolene’s smile didn’t falter, but she still seemed to be unable to speak.
“Our first order of business will be to plan a luncheon to surprisemy other bridesmaids with a formal invite to be a part of our big day.”She hooked her arm through Jaxson’s.“This will be so much fun!”
Jaxson looked everywhere except at Jolene’s face as he led Carly into the auditorium.
Jolene and I followed them to our seats.I turned to Jolene to ask her to say something but was interrupted by Henry.“What time is intermission?I’m going to need another beer pretty soon.I don’t know how long I can stand sitting in this monkey suit, either.”
“Henry,” Camille said, a warning in her soft voice, “we’re all here to have a nice time.Please behave yourself.”She ushered her husband into our row, thankfully putting him on the far end, and then followed him.Next were Sam and Beau.I grabbed Jolene’s arm and made her slide in next to Beau, followed by me and then Carly and Jaxson.
Jolene’s smile appeared frozen, and she still hadn’t said anything, despite an urgent finger poking from me.Turning to Carly, I took a deep breath.“You know, I don’t think Jolene will have time to be your maid of honor.She’s so busy doing the social media for JR Properties for both my house and now the new one, on Esplanade.She also hasn’t agreed.I think she’s too nice to say no—”
Carly cut me off.Leaning forward to look past me at Jolene, she said, “You’ll do it, right?Please?I really need you—you really are the perfect person for it.”She reached around me to take Jolene’s hand and squeeze.
With the sameI’m about to get hit by a truckexpression, Jolene said, “Of course I will.I’m honored.”
I sat back in my plush red velvet seat, aware of the chatter of the people around me and the general commotion of people taking their seats in the rows around us, and of a peculiarly silent Jolene.
I leaned close to her ear.“You okay?”
Still smiling, she nodded, then directed my attention to the startling ceiling, which mimicked the sky and was filled with stars and moving projections of clouds.Pointing at the architectural surround, she said, “I feel like I’m in Italy.”
