Broken (12 page)

Parker observed, "There was a fourth if I recall the story. Have you thought about recruiting Neely? Uncle Raif loves her, but I think she feels a little out of place. I mean, Trista has been downright hostile toward her. From what I've seen, Neely adores Uncle Raif. The family accepted me so readily. I hope they accept Neely. Uncle Raif deserves to be happy."

"I'll do that, Parker," Carol said. "As for my daughter-in-law, she thinks Neely is trying to take Chris's place. Trista is still mourning. She can't be objective right now. She'll get there eventually. It might help if Raif actually said, 'I do,' to the woman. She has waited patiently for him; but if he doesn't hurry, he might lose her, especially if Trista continues to make her life miserable."

So, Parker got a flight, and Ray and Larkin drove him to the airport.

  Raif had tried repeatedly to talk to Trista about his relationship with Neely. Patrick accepted Neely as part of his father's life. He realized that his father needed someone, and Patrick liked Neely. He even joked with Raif that he wished Neely preferred younger men. Raif playfully told him to back off. Patrick knew his father. He knew that the only reason Neely was not his stepmother yet was because Raif was petrified of losing the woman he loved again. And, yes, he was fully aware Raif loved Neely. Patrick even argued with Trista on his next visit home.

"He's a hypocrite!" shouted Trista.

"What?" Patrick asked in confusion.

"He's sleeping with her, Patrick. What's the difference between them and Townes and me?"

"Let's see," said Patrick finally losing his own patience with his sister. "You were, and still are, a child. Grow up, Trista."

"She's not Mom!" Trista yelled.

"No, she's not," agreed Patrick with a shake of his head. "She's Neely. Trista, Dad's not trying to replace Mom. Do you know how many times I've seen him crying? He loved Mom so much. He
still
does. But he has the capacity to love someone else. Don't drive Neely away. Dad needs her. If you'll give her a chance, you'll really like her. I already told you this. She's really nice."

"Patrick, if he wasn't sleeping with her, I might not be so angry."

"Trista, she's staying in the guest house. What evidence do you have that they're sleeping together? Dad slept on her sofa in New Orleans."

"Do you really
believe
that?" She snapped her hands to her hips. "Maybe they haven't slept together all the time, but they have. I know it. Patrick, Dad's a good-looking man. I can understand a woman wanting him, but it's just hypocritical. You know, adults can get pregnant, too."

"For God's sake, Trista!" He gripped both sides of his head. "I'm sure if Dad and Neely
did
sleep together, they had sense enough to use protection. Frankly, it's none of your damned business!"
God! What am I doing yelling at my pregnant sister? She's a frigging baby herself.

"Townes and I used protection, too. It doesn't always work!"

"Good grief, Trista. Just stop being so
mean
about it."

"Whatever!" huffed Trista as she stomped back to her room.

He called after her. "Bratikin, sorry I yelled. I love you."

"Yeah, yeah." She waved him off without turning around.

Patrick went back to New Orleans and wondered what Trista would think about him if she knew about his life in the big city.

When Raif got in from work, he called Trista downstairs.

"What do you want, Dad?" she asked in a surly voice.

"Please, just stop," Raif said as he held a hand up like a shield. "I needed to let you know I have to go to Baton Rouge tomorrow. I've been summoned. I have to meet with the Louisiana Building Commission so we can
finally
put this inferior building and embezzlement fiasco to bed. I might have to spend the night. I'll be gone before you get up, and I didn't want you to worry."

"Are you taking Neely with you?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Well, I thought you might need a little booty call."

"Trista!"

"Good night, Dad. Don't worry about what I think." She stalked off back to her room.

During the time Neely had been living in the Gautier guest house, she and Raif had not slept together. She was uncomfortable with the tension she seemed to be causing between Raif and Trista. When Raif knocked on the door around ten, Neely was stunned. She barely cracked the door.

Raif sighed. "I need to see you before I go to Baton Rouge tomorrow. I would ask you to go with me, but I'll be tied up with business the whole day. Neely, I need to be with you. I need to feel you close to me."

"Did you have another fight with Trista?"

"There are no fights, just snide, rude comments."

"Raif, maybe I should go back to New Orleans."

"No!" Raif panicked at the thought. "I love you, Neely. Trista will come to grips with it sooner or later. Please, don't leave me."

"Raif, I would never leave you. I love you. I would simply be living in a different town until things get better."

He begged, "Don't even suggest it. Let me come in."

"Raif, I don't want Trista to hate me."

"Damn what she thinks!" said Raif angrily.

"You don't mean that."

"No, not completely," he groaned. "I'm being selfish right now. For the first time in my life, I'm truly being selfish. I want you. I need to feel your body next to mine. I will beg if I have to."

"Raif." Neely hesitated. "Oh, all right. Come in." She stepped back and allowed him entrance.

In her room, Trista watched the entire scene and stayed up all night to see when her father left.

At dawn, Raif sneaked back into his own house in an effort to avoid a confrontation with his daughter. He met her face to face, a wicked trick after the treat he had just left on a nasty, stormy October 31
st
.

"You fucking hypocrite!" spat Trista like a cobra spitting venom.

"Excuse me? Since when do you talk to me like that?" Raif snarled.

"Since you are a fucking hypocrite!" She suddenly took a swing at her father, connecting with his jaw. "How dare you come down on Townes and me for having sex? You're doing the same thing. Mom would be so disappointed."

"Leave your mother out of this." Raif's voice was choked as he held his face, too stunned to respond in a logical manner.

"You obviously are. Thank God that slut is in the guest house and at least not in Mom's bed."

Raif drew his hand back to slap Trista across the face. In all the years, he had only spanked her twice. He pulled his hand back and bit his knuckle.
Oh, God! This is not me. I almost slapped my daughter. I would never hit my child like that.

"Hit me! Go ahead!" Trista yelled.

With great deliberation and in a soft whisper, Raif said, "It's time for you to find your own place to live. Once this baby is born, you will find an apartment. Townes will pay for it. I have had absolutely more than enough. Get out of my way. I need to shower and hit the road." He started to the master bedroom.

Trista ran after him and pounded him in the back. He turned around and latched his arms around her upper body, pinning her arms to her sides. "Stop it, Trista!"

Still struggling, she screeched, "You're hurting me!"

Raif let her go. "You're going to hurt your baby if you don't calm down." His voice broke as he said, "I can't do this anymore. Maybe you can stay with Terry and Carol for a while." He walked away.

She stared at her arm.
I'm gonna have a bruise. My daddy put a bruise on me.

In the shower, Raif bawled like a baby. "Oh, God. I didn't mean to do that. What do I do?"

That all-too-familiar voice floated across his mind. "Suck it up, Buttercup. Raiford Lance Gautier, get it together. I'm doing all I can to guide you."

A few minutes later as Raif drove off in a downpour, unwanted tears on his own face, Trista stared furiously down the driveway.

Trista Gautier Johnson was determined to get rid of Neely Rivers. She snatched an umbrella and marched to the guest house. Neely, wearing baby-doll pajamas, opened the door, thinking Raif had forgotten something.

"We need to talk," said Trista, pushing past Neely and walking inside.