CHAPTER SEVEN
Super Bowl Sunday
Vivi stood in her mother’s kitchen and helped make the deviled eggs. As she mixed mayonnaise and mustard in, she felt the questioning glances of both Essie and her mama. Counting down from ten in her head, she waited for the inquisition to commence. She made it to six when Essie threw out the first question. Let the games begin.
“So, tell us about that young man who you brought along today?” Essie asked from her station behind the stove.
“I’m sure Uncle Buck has already filled you all in, so why don’t you both ask what you really want to know.” Carefully, she arranged the eggs on a platter and started to fill them. “I know you two are not going to be happy until you feel like you have the full story.”
Mama came to stand beside her and lifted her face up so they were staring into one another’s eyes. “I want all my children to be happy, and this is the first time I’ve seen you with a spark in your eyes in three years. Are you going kill the man, or are you going to love him?”
“It’s hard to say at this point. It could go either way,” Vivi replied.
Glancing over her shoulder, Val winked at Essie. “You were right, Essie. As usual. The two of them have some fire between them. I guess we just have to wait and see what they’re going to do with it.”
Stirring the big pot on the stove, Essie beamed at Vivi. “I think you should let the man light your fire in the bedroom and not your temper. You’re due for some lovin’, and he seems like a man who can give it to you.”
Vivi’s gaze bounced from her mama to Essie and back again. “You all have lost your mind.”
“Oh, no, we haven’t,” Mama replied. “You don’t think you have another opportunity at happiness, and you do. Maybe it’s time you give it and that man a chance.” Carefully, she added a small shrimp to the top of each egg after Vivi filled it. “I bet he would agree with me too.”
“Oh, he definitely would.” Essie added, “He’s opened himself up to the idea of you, and I’d say he’s got a plan on how he’s goin’ to convince you that you all should be together.”
“Have you two been drinking?” She lifted her mama’s glass of iced tea and smelled it to make sure. “Joel has just decided that he doesn’t hate me. And that’s it.”
“That’s not it. And you know it. So don’t insult us by trying to lie.” Val sprinkled paprika on the eggs and wiped her hands. Picking up the plate, she handed it to her daughter. “Go on out and put this on the table.”
“Make sure that you let Joel know that you made them. He needs someone to take care of him,” Essie called.
“He’s a retired SEAL. I don’t think he needs anything from anyone. He’s fully capable of taking care of himself,” Vivi replied as she sauntered out of the kitchen.
“He needs someone to take care of his heart,” Essie replied quietly.
“Amen,” Val replied. “It seems that we have some work in front of us, Essie. Let’s plan a big weekend at the horse farm for Vivi’s birthday. That will give them lots of time to get to know one another in a relaxed environment. Maybe we should send them up at the end of the week. It worked for Ronnie and Chase, and I see no reason why it couldn’t work for the two of them.”
“Those two are not going to have an easy road, but everything tells me that they’re going to make it.”
“I hope you’re right. Our Vivi needs someone to love, and Joel seems like a good man for the job.”
***
Joel sat between Nana Boo and Aunt Lolly and tried to keep from fidgeting under their watchful gazes. There were some naval interrogators who could learn a thing or two from these two. “Well, I should go and check on Vivi.”
A small, bony hand covered his arm as Nana Boo stopped him. “Not so fast, young man. We have a few more questions for you.” Leaning forward, she winked at Aunt Lolly. “I believe it was your turn, dear. Go ahead and ask him.”
“I can tell that you like my grandniece, but I wonder why you’re fighting it.”
Brushing his hand across his short hair, he tried to come up with a good answer. Glancing between the two women, he realized that honesty was the only thing he was going to be able to get away with. “I respect Vivi, and I think she’s a terrific woman.”
Nana Boo slapped his arm with her birdlike hand and snorted. “What a load of bull hockey.”
“Fine. I like Vivi, and I’m interested in getting to know her better,” Joel stammered.
A twitter of laughter escaped Aunt Lolly. “We may be old, but we’re not stupid. You’re half in love or lust with Vivi, and you can’t admit it to yourself. The moment you do, your life will become much easier.” Lolly took a sip of her tea and stared at the TV. “Look, there’s our Ana. Doesn’t she look happy?”
The NFL awards show was playing on the screen that filled a wall of the family room. Someone must’ve taped the program from last night and fast-forwarded it to the middle of the show. The camera was zooming in on Jack and Ana Ellis’s faces as they smiled at one another. It seemed that Jack’s name must have just been called, because Ana grabbed Jack’s hand and waited as they announced the winner of the best defensive player of the year. When his name was called, he grabbed her and kissed her hard. When she held his face and gazed into his eyes, she told the world how much she loved him. Letting her go reluctantly, he moved toward the stage to accept his award. They were a terrific couple, and Joel was damn happy to see Jack receive the award for the second year in a row.
“Now that’s a girl who never thought a love like that would come her way,” Nana Boo stated loudly. “Our Ana thought she was destined for heartbreak, but that big, sweet man came along and swept her off her feet.” Leaning forward, she spoke to Lolly on the other side of Joel. “I think Joel could take a couple of notes from him, don’t you?”
Nodding vigorously in agreement, Aunt Lolly stared up at him. “You might also want to take Chase as an example. He went after Ronnie and didn’t let her fussing bother him a bit. Vivi doesn’t fuss as much as her sister, but if she doesn’t like what she sees, then she will just ignore you. Has she been ignoring you?”
There was no good answer to that question, and Joel tried to figure out a way to escape the interrogation and advice that he’d been receiving, and he couldn’t see a solution. Until…Vivi walked into the room with a plate of deviled eggs.
“Here comes Vivi. I should see if she needs anything.” Heaving himself off the couch before the second round could start, he made a beeline for the woman who was going to save him. Or kill him. Either option was better than the one he was in. “Hi, honey. What do you have there? I’m starved.”
She looked him up and down and gave him an assessing smile. “I made some deviled eggs. Help yourself.” She was about to return to the kitchen, but he grabbed her hand before she could escape. “What in the world is going on with you?” Glancing over his shoulder, she saw Nana Boo and Aunt Lolly staring holes into the two of them. “Did those two old women get ahold of you?”
“They sure did. And I don’t plan on returning to their clutches anytime soon. So I’m sticking with you.” He held her hand and smiled like a man hoping for salvation. “I want you to have mercy on me and stick by my side.”
“Come on, then, you can sit with me over on the other side of the room.” Filling a plate with snacks, she then handed it to him. “I guess I better make sure that you have something to eat. It would be a shame to come to the South and not be properly fed. The last thing we need is for people to think we don’t know how to treat our guests.”
Watching her fill a plate for herself, he stood close and waited. He wasn’t going to wade out there into the DuMond family unescorted for the rest of the day if he could help it. Who knew how much advice was out there waiting for him? Putting a hand on the small of Vivi’s back, he led her over to a love seat on the other side of the room. “Thanks, honey.”
“No problem. I can see how a ninety-year-old woman and her eighty-year-old sister could be intimidating to a highly decorated naval war hero. Whatever they taught you in BUD/S didn’t include how to survive the good intentions and advice of old Southern women.”
“Truer words were never said.” He popped an egg into his mouth and grinned. “You make great deviled eggs.” Looking down at the full plate she made him, he relaxed for the first time since entering the house. “Thanks for taking care of me.”
When she let out a low groan, his head spun around, and he stared. Why did Mama and Essie always have to be right? “You’re welcome,” she mumbled.
***
The door opened, and Uncle Buck entered along with Mr. Stewart, his grandson, and Gideon. Steps behind that group were Trinity, Dane, Ben, and Ruby. “The gang’s all here,” Vivi remarked.
“Have Ben and Dane given you any details of what’s been going on over the last couple of days?” Vivi asked.
“They haven’t said much. All I know is that they’re incredibly happy and relaxed.”
Staring at her two best friends, she saw similar expressions on their faces. It seemed that the widows’ club was done. She was the last one standing. Oh, well…maybe she wasn’t meant to have love in her life. Or maybe the other thing that she wanted so desperately was going to happen and make the idea of a husband unnecessary. “I’m going to go and greet my long-lost friends and get some details. Now that you have some friends here, you should be safe from the prying questions of my family.”
Standing, he held his hand out and helped her up. “I’ll check in with you in a bit for an update. Let’s meet over behind the pool slide later on and compare notes.” Ambling off, he went to greet the men who had arrived.
What in the hell did that mean? Did Joel McDade want to kiss her? Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought. No one went from growling to kissing that quickly. Not even a SEAL. Especially not the one who was walking away from her. She called out to Ruby and Trinity and signaled that they should meet in the kitchen. At least she could live through them vicariously and hear about their weekends.
Vivi waited in the kitchen for her friends to join her. When they entered the room, it felt like high school all over again. This was the spot that they had spent a ton of time in, comparing notes and making plans. “Sweet tea or bourbon?”
“Sweet tea for me,” Ruby said.
“Me too,” Trinity added.
Vivi filled two glasses and handed them each one. “My first question is…are you as happy as you look?”
“Yes,” they replied in unison.
Smiling and clapping her hands, she sang out hallelujah. “Then all the trouble at the clinic is worth it. If that is how your happiness was supposed to arrive, then it was meant to be.”
“I’m only keeping Dane for a short time. I have no long-term plans for him,” Trinity stated.
“I’m keeping Ben,” Ruby trilled. “I’m going to keep him for as long as he’ll let me. He’s the finest man that I’ve ever met, and I don’t want to give him up.”
Vivi studied her two best friends and wondered where they found the courage to move forward. “How does this work? I don’t understand how you let go of the man you loved and move toward another one. You loved Kellan more than anything. And now you have feelings for Ben.”
Ruby took Vivi’s hand and held on. “I was exhausted by my own grief. Kellan is never coming back to me. If our positions were switched, then I would want him to find happiness. Why would I want less for myself? I lost a husband and a baby within three months. It has taken me five years to look at another man. It just so happens that the man that I’m looking at is extraordinary. I don’t want to die right alongside Kellan, and he would never forgive me if I did. So here I am, grasping on to happiness with both hands. I don’t want to go back to where I was.”
Tipping her head against their joined hands, Vivi felt a tear slip down her face. “I’m so proud of you, Ruby. I would do well to follow your example. I just don’t know if I’m capable.”
Trinity stood and placed her hand gently against Vivi’s back. “You will when the time is right.”
Lifting her head, she studied her two best friends. “I hope so.”
“Now, Trinity, tell me about Dane. Is he as delicious as he seems?”
Fanning her face, she let out a breath. “My goodness. There are no words to describe the pleasure he’s given me. He has an imagination that isn’t to be believed.” She took a large gulp of tea and grinned. “I didn’t know if my parts still worked, and I’m happy to report that they do.”
Vivi filled a glass with tea and laughed. “You don’t want to keep him around for a while?”
“No, this is all I want right now. This is all I can handle,” Trinity replied. “Andrew is still in my heart, and there isn’t room for anyone else. I don’t know if there ever will be.”
Val walked in and studied the group. “I see that nothing has changed in eighteen years. The three of you hatching plans, crying, and carrying on at the kitchen table.” Moving toward the group, she then enveloped all three girls. “Thank God.”
Trinity was the first to speak. “We have to get Vivi to take a step back into life.”
“I think there’s a man out there who wants to help her. She just has to find the courage.” Leveling a stare at her daughter, she smiled. “I imagine that it’s going to happen sooner than any of us think.”
Essie strode into the kitchen and started checking her pots. “You all need to help me put the food on the table. Everything is going to work out in God’s good time. There is no need to plot and plan. Just let it be.”
Val moved toward the stove and started helping Essie. “You all heard her, let’s get the food out to the table before the game starts.”
The girls wiped their faces and went to work. When Essie said it was time, then it was best to follow directions. “I’ll go check the table and make sure we have room,” Ruby called out.
“That one is going to be married with a child in her belly before the end of the year,” Essie proclaimed as she filled a big bowl with hot rice.
“Whatever you do, don’t tell her,” Vivi replied.
“Why do you think I waited until she left the room?” Essie replied.
The women hustled around the kitchen and got everything ready for the table. In an orderly fashion, they started making trips out to the table and filled it quickly. Before anyone knew it, the DuMond dining table was groaning with food. “You all come and eat now, before it gets cold. Essie didn’t spend all that time in the kitchen for you all to eat cold food,” Val told the crowd.
A line formed, and soon everyone had full plates. Joel came to stand next to Vivi, and she felt his stare. “Why are you studying me like a bug?”
“I’m admiring a beautiful woman. Quit fussing at me,” he said.
She lifted a plate and filled it with all the delicious food on the table. Turning, she handed it to him. “Now go eat.”
Winking, he grinned. “Yes, ma’am.” As he moved away, he had a big smile on his face, and Vivi wondered why he was so happy. Hands on her hips, she studied him. “What’s gotten into him?”
Her daddy came up behind her and spoke quietly in her ear. “I told him when you started fixing a plate for him, then you liked him. Quit resisting it, baby girl.”
“Oh, Daddy.”
Wrapping an arm around his oldest daughter, he kissed her head. “God wants you to have a little happiness, and I think that man over there wants to figure out how to give you some. Quit fighting what already is and let it in. You don’t know how many chances you’re going to have in this lifetime. I think it’s best not to ignore the ones that come your way.”
Turning her head, she kissed her daddy’s cheek. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you too. Don’t be so stubborn, and give that poor boy a shot.” He wisely moved away before his daughter could mount an argument. Lord knew she could, because she took after her mama.
It seemed that everyone felt like she should give Joel a chance. The question was…a chance at what? He told her flat out that he didn’t have relationships. So exactly what, if anything, was he interested in? Picking up her own plate, she wondered what it was that she wanted. As she piled her plate with food, she figured out it might be time to think about it and come up with an answer. Maybe Matt was her last relationship and the rest of the men she took on would simply be lovers. It seemed to be working out for Trinity, and maybe it could for her. As she studied her full plate, she realized that she had plenty going on in her life, and a lover was about all she had time for. Eyeing Joel across the room, she studied his handsome face and considered him as a candidate. He’d said clear as day that he didn’t want a relationship, and she could see now that maybe she didn’t want one either. People didn’t get blessed twice in one lifetime, and she didn’t want to waste energy thinking that they did.
***
Joel sat with Dane, Ben, and Gideon and confirmed their bets for the game. “I may have a chance of winning this year,” Joel proclaimed, as he sat back on the couch. “This could be my year to clean up.”
“You’ve not won in five years,” Dane crowed. “But a man can dream.” Following his friend’s gaze, he smirked. “I see your dream sitting over there with her friends.”
Sitting up abruptly, he scowled at the group as they all laughed together. “Maybe we should talk to Taylor and his grandfather before the game starts. It might be nice to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to ensure that Vivi’s dream survives.”
Gideon set his plate down and wiped his face carefully. “How did she take the news yesterday about the changes she was going to have to make?”
“Vivi took it as well as can be expected. She listened to everything that I had to say and said she would think about it. Nothing has been mentioned since. I’m not going to rush her, because it’s a lot to take in.”
“Did you all stay in last night, or did you venture out?” Ben inquired.
“I took Vivi out to dinner. We went to a place called the High Hat Café.”
“You all went out on a date?” Gideon sputtered. “And you two are still speaking? It’s a modern-day miracle.” Laughing hysterically, he slapped his knee.
Joel glanced at the group and shrugged. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”
Dane shoved his elbow into him and snorted. “Yes, you did. I haven’t seen you smile like that in longer that I can remember.”
Staring at his boots, he remained silent. “Vivi is an interesting woman, and we had a good time. We ate fried catfish and drank Turbo Dog beers. I forgot that going out with a woman can be fun.”
“There are some other parts that are fun about having a girlfriend,” Ben stated. “But I expect it will take a while and probably another miracle for you to be enjoying those parts.” Snickering, he caught Ruby’s eye and waved. “I have a girlfriend, so I know what I’m talking about.”
Gideon studied the men before him and shook his head. “I guess it’s true what they say about Northerners.”
Uncle Buck, Mr. Stewart, and Taylor came over and joined the group, so Joel had to hold back his retort. That was okay, he would save it for later. “Gentlemen, did you come over to bet on the game?”
Uncle Buck lowered his body gently down to the sofa and studied Joel. “No, son. We came to talk to you about the clinic. Young Taylor here has some information that he’d like to share with the detective. We need to keep the ladies safe and see if we can keep that clinic open. The more I hear, the harder I think it’s going to be.”
Joel stood and made room for Mr. Stewart on the couch. “Have my seat, sir.” Stepping out of the way, he moved around to the other side and sat on the floor.
“Thank you, son. These old bones of mine like to rest as often as they can.” Settling himself, he gave his grandson a long stare. “Taylor, you tell the detective what you’ve heard.”
Fidgeting from one foot to another, he stared at the group. “All I heard was that Dr. Vivi knows something that she shouldn’t. They want to keep her quiet and make sure that she doesn’t tell anyone what she’s seen.”
Sitting up and leaning forward, Joel came to attention. He was about to interrogate the kid, but stopped himself just in time. This wasn’t the service, and he couldn’t demand or coerce answers out of him…as much as he would’ve liked to. “Did they say anything about what it is she might’ve seen?”
Shaking his head vigorously, he stared down at his shoes. “I heard it at the corner, and I can’t ask any questions without people wondering why. It could even not be true. Maybe just a bunch of gossip. I have five months before I graduate high school, and I would like to be alive when it happens. I don’t need to have any bangers looking my way. I fly as far under the radar as I can, and I plan on doing that until I can get out.”
Gideon stood and shook the kid’s hand. “I appreciate you sharing what you have. I know it takes a lot of guts to speak up against the people in your neighborhood. No one will know.”
“Thank you, sir.” Looking around, he noticed Vivi waving to him. “Can I go now? Dr. Vivi wants to talk to me.”
“Sure,” Gideon replied. Turning to Mr. Stewart, he nodded. “You have a lot to be proud of. That is one smart and brave kid there.”
“Thank you, son.”
The men sat silently as they thought about the new piece of information. Not only was the clinic in the crosshairs of a neighborhood gang war, it was also in the sights of two opposing criminal crews from outside the state. Now someone thought that Vivi had seen something or knew something.
“What a shit show,” Dane huffed. “I say we just fly the girls back to Florida and close down the clinic. There is no way to keep them safe with this many people gunning for them. Even if they no longer offer prescription drugs, they’re still in danger.”
“I agree,” Ben stated flatly. “Ruby needs to come home with me.”
“Hold your horses, young man,” Buck said. “Those three girls are not going to pull up stakes and abandon the dream they have of helping the people of Algiers. I suggest you work out a strategy that gives them a better alternative. Or better yet, let them believe that the whole thing was their idea. Vivi is as stubborn as a mule, and she worked hard to get this thing up and running. She isn’t going to walk away without a real good fight.”
“Let me talk to her tonight and run the information past her. Ultimately, it’s up to her, and I want her to have the opportunity to come up with a solution.”
“And if that doesn’t work?” Gideon inquired.
Rubbing his hand over his head, Joel smiled. “Then I hog-tie her and take her the hell out of the state and out of danger.” He noticed Ben signaling to him to stop, and he spun in time to see Vivi step up behind him.
“What evil plans are you all hatching over here? It looks like you’re planning on overthrowing a small country.”
Standing, Joel took Vivi’s hand and tried to appear innocent. “Just talking about the game.”
“Sure. I believe you.”
“Hey, you haven’t shown me the pool yet. I heard you have a great pool slide.” Winking, he led her away from the group toward the back patio.
Stepping out into the humid air, Joel peeled his shirt away from his back and looked around.
“What in the world is going on with you?” Vivi stood in front of him with her hands on her hips. “You are acting awfully strange.”
“No, I’m not. I just wanted to see the pool.”
“If you want to kiss me like Timmy Budrow did back when I was twelve, why don’t you just say it? All this subterfuge about pool slides isn’t entertaining.”
Before she could say more, Joel stepped up to her, wrapped his arms around her, and brought her flush against his body. “What are you doing?” Vivi squeaked.
Lowering his head slowly, he rested his head against hers. “I’m going to kiss you, Viv.”
Before she knew what was happening, the rough scrape of his stubble moved against her cheek as he pressed his lips to hers. An atom bomb went off in her head as he gently sealed their mouths together. Sweet Lord, have mercy. It had been such a long time since she had kissed a man that she forgot how delicious it was. And to have a man like Joel be the one…was a blessing and a curse. Before she was ready for the kiss to end, he lifted his mouth away. Stumbling toward him, she tried to steady herself. “You kiss a lot better than Timmy Budrow.”
“I plan on doing it a lot when we’re not in your parents’ backyard.” Dipping his head, he dropped a sweet kiss and then straightened up. “Did I say a lot more? Because that’s what I meant.”
Moving her hair off her neck, she twirled it into a bun. “My goodness, it’s warm. I think I need something cool to drink.” Yes, they definitely needed to do that some more. Kissing was a much better alternative to fighting. It had been true when she was twelve, and it was true now that she was thirty-five. It was good to know that some things never changed. Lord, he smelled good. What the hell did men do to make themselves so appealing?
Stepping into the kitchen, they were greeted by Essie. She handed them each a tall glass of iced tea. “It looks like you two could use something cool to drink.”
Before Vivi could respond, Essie strolled out of the kitchen. “She always knows what were up to. It never fails.”
Taking a large gulp of tea, Joel grinned. “I guess we shouldn’t kiss at your parents’ house anymore.”
“Probably a good idea.” Vivi drained her tea and rolled the cool glass against her head. Sliding her eyes over, she noticed Joel starting to chuckle. “Be a smart man and don’t laugh at me.”
“Yes, Vivi.” Looking around quickly, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I look forward to kissing you later on.”
Mama came into the kitchen and studied them both. “What’s going to happen later on?”
Dragging Joel by the arm, Vivi moved out of the kitchen. “Nothing, Mama. We’re going to watch the game.” As they searched for an empty seat, Vivi swore she heard laughter from the kitchen. “I think Mama is laughing at us.”
Glancing down at her, Joel shrugged. “I know your mama is laughing at us. It was bound to happen. We just got it out of the way sooner than we thought.” He kissed her head and tugged her over to the love seat. The time for duplicity had passed.