One Love (23 page)

“
No, I’m telling you we’ve
had some real soul to soul discussions.” Alex toyed with a paper
napkin. “Maybe I just need to enjoy what we have.”

“
Uh-uh, won’t work. I know
you, bro.” Evan spoke with conviction.

“
Then tell me what’s
happening.” Alex needed to hear an answer from someone. Obviously
he was not going to get it on his own.

“
Now I know you haven’t said
anything, but...” Evan took a deep breath as though preparing to
plunge into water. “You’re worried about her and the
twins.”

“
Not really. I--”

“
Let me finish. Lanessa is
an on the go kind of woman. You’re a stay at home man.” Evan’s
black eyebrows went up high on his forehead. “That’s the one thing
that hasn’t changed.”

Alex gazed back at him with his lips
pressed together. He thought through what Evan had said. “It’s so
stupid,” he finally burst out. “I mean, seems like we could work
out something so small.”

“
Must not be small or we
wouldn’t be having this discussion.”

Alex held onto the mug but did not
drink from it. “Lanessa is an exciting woman in so many
ways.”

“
She’s fine, no doubt about
it,” Evan agreed heartily.

“
Have I been fooling myself
that it would work between us?” Alex looked at Evan.

“
Hey, I can’t answer that
one.” Evan held up both palms.

They sat quiet for a long time, each
pondering his predicament. Alex could not imagine giving Lanessa up
one more time. Still he had a duty to his family. His gut told him
to take happiness and not be so cautious. Maybe it was time he
stopped being such a rigid traditionalist. After all, the way
Lanessa dived into life was what set his senses ablaze. Everything
she did was with exuberance. Where he took time to consider
alternatives, Lanessa jumped in and took him along for the ride.
Alex had to admit it loved it. She set him free from his own
inhibitions.

“
Evan, I’m going to hold
on,” Alex said simply. Yet his tone spoke volumes.

“
I hope you guys make it
last” Evan replied.

Alex gazed out the windows again. A
knot of uncertainty still lay in the pit of his stomach. He longed
to have some hope to make it disappear. “Me too, man.”

***

Lanessa was perched on a stool in
Jade’s kitchen. She chewed on a corner of the low fat blueberry
muffin. With a grimace, she swallowed. “You sound like our mother.
And this thing taste like card board.”

“
So I can’t do anything
right, eh?” Jade tasted her muffin. “It’s great. You’re just
overloaded on fatty, greasy donuts. As for sounding like mother,
maybe so. But she’s right this time.”

“
Now I’m truly scared,”
Lanessa retorted.

“
I’m serious.” Jade put an
arm around her shoulders. “You’re back into running the streets.
Not good.”

“
Gee, little sister, don’t
be so shy. Say what’s on your mind.” Lanessa moved away from
her.

“
It’s already put a strain
on your relationship with Alex.” Jade brushed aside her sarcastic
response.

“
Let’s not go there.”
Lanessa went to the coffee maker. She turned her back as she filled
her cup again.

“
I know the signs,
Nessa.”

“
Alex and I are doing great,
if you must know. A couple of nights ago we were doing better than
great.” She faced her again with a saucy smile. “Believe
me.”

“
I’m not talking sex. And
the fact that you’re using that as evidence, tells me I’m
right.”

“
Look—“

“
Let’s skip the part where
you deny it until I finally get you to confess,” Jade cut her
off.

Lanessa put down her cup. Jade could
see through her faster than anyone. They’d become close during
those dark days when she’d faced her demons. She tried to gather
together the loose threads of doubt that had been on her mind for
days.

“
Okay, so you’re right about
the parties,” Lanessa said. “Alex has mentioned it a couple of
times.”

“
And?” Jade pressed her to
continue.

“
And... It’s almost a replay
of what we’ve gone through before, okay? You happy now?” Lanessa
stared at the counter top.

Jade softened her tone. “Have you two
really talked about this? I mean, seems to me the issue goes deeper
than parties.”

“
No,” Lanessa burst out.
“It’s not something we can’t overcome. I’ll just be more selective
about which parties I attend. Some were more social than business
anyway.”

“
And is that what you really
want?”

Lanessa looked up at her. “What I
really want is to have Alex in my life. And this time I’m not going
to be selfish and stupid.”

“
You were never either of
those two things, Nessa.” Jade smiled at her with
affection.

“
Yeah, well you’re being
kind. I thought everything would be different but
better.”

“
Can you go from dinner and
the theatre in New Orleans every week to picnics and Disney
World?”

“
Sure I can,” Lanessa said
gamely. She glanced at the still skeptical look on Jade’s face.
“What? You don’t think I can?”

“
Yes, but for how
long?”

“
I know.” Lanessa massaged
her temples. “Okay I’ll be straight. I’m finally hitting my stride.
For the first time in my life I feel like I’m a
success.”

“
Info, Inc. was a great
idea,” Jade agreed. She went to the kitchen sink and rinsed the few
dishes they’d used.

“
It is! I put in long hours,
but I love it.” Lanessa frowned. “Sometimes I think Alex doesn’t
take it seriously.”

“
Like maybe he wants you to
be more, er, domestic?” Jade turned to face her.

“
Exactly,” Lanessa said.
“And we both know that’s just not me.” She bit off the words as
they came out. The implication of what she’d said hit her full
force.

Alex wanted a woman who could be there
for him and his children. Not someone who was always on the go.
Owning a business meant she would have to put in long days for the
foreseeable future. Lanessa liked the fast pace. Alex said he loved
her for who she was, but did he really?

“
Tell him what you just told
me.”

“
I’m scared.” Lanessa’s
voice broke. “I’m terrified that we’ll look at each and realize
we’re too far apart.”

Jade dried her hands on a paper towel
and sat down next to her. “I don’t think so, Nessa. You’re too much
in love.”

“
Will it be enough?” Lanessa
was long past believing in the simple answers.

Jade smiled at her. “It’s what carries
you through the roughest times.”

“
I’m crazy for Alex. But I
also know giving up too much of yourself is no good.” Lanessa
thought of all those hours of therapy. She’d gained perspective on
who she was and wanted to be. “Playing a part is what led me down a
road to nowhere.”

“
I really believe that Alex
wants
you,
the
woman you are.” Jade patted her arm.

“
But I’ve got to find a way
to adapt. I can’t expect Ales and the twins to run a distant second
to my business,” Lanessa said in a firm voice. She was speaking
more to herself than to Jade.

“
Spoken like a true mama and
mate in training,” Jade teased.

“
Who would have thought?”
Lanessa laughed. “I’m used to spending Saturdays having my hair and
nails done. Now it’s the Fun Fair Park.”

Jade studied her for a time. “But I
can tell how much you like it.”

“
Yes,” Lanessa said softly.
“I really do.”

“
Then I’d say you’re a long
way toward solving the problem.” Jade nodded happily.

Lanessa wanted to feel reassured.
Still she knew that the outcome was far from certain. “I’m giving
it everything I’ve got, Jade. I just hope it’s enough.”

***

Lanessa sat in the posh waiting area
outside the Paxton-Waite International executive suites. Dawson and
a handful of the top employees would hear a verbal summary of her
report. Far from reviewing her presentation, Lanessa was staring
straight ahead thinking of Alex.

“
Would you like coffee or a
soft drink?”The secretary leaned forward across her desk. “Ma’am, I
said would you like something to drink?”

Lanessa heard the last question
clearly. She hesitated before answering. “No, thanks. I’m
fine.”

Two lies told in less than ten
seconds. She craved a drink, and not diet cola either, and she was
not fine. She needed to focus on the task at hand. Yet last night
was still on her mind. On the surface her date with Alex seemed
fine. Yet there was a distance between them. Or was she imagining
things? Lanessa tried to remember every nuance of expression, every
gesture he’d made that might tell her otherwise. She was still
sorting through images of Alex when the secretary’s voice broke
through her thoughts.

“
They’re ready for you now,
Ms. Thomas.”

Lanessa picked up her briefcase and
followed the young woman down the hall. They went into a large
conference room. An oval table was in the center of it. Leather
chairs a deep red color matched green and red drapes pulled back
from wide windows. Lanessa put aside musings about her personal
life. Her attention was now on the three men and two women seated
around the room. They glanced at her in appraisal. Dawson and
Hargrove were not here. She was speculating on their whereabouts
when one of the women seemed to read her mind.

“
Mr. Dawson will be here
shortly. I’ll introduce us in the meantime. I’m Pauline Shuster,
executive vice president of customer relations.”

She introduced her colleagues. They
were all either vice-presidents or assistant vice presidents in
charge of a major department of the company. Ms. Shuster directed
her to an empty chair at one end of the table. Lanessa took out her
copy of the report, a note pad and her planner.

“
I’m glad to meet you all. I
hope you’ve had a chance to review the information I provided Mr.
Dawson and Hargrove.”

“
Indeed,” one man
said.

“
Very interesting.” Ms.
Shuster wore a professional smile.

“
Good, everyone is here,”
Dawson said. He stood in the door for a moment before walking. Ken
Hargrove was right behind him.” Good morning, Ms.
Thomas.”

“
Good morning.” Lanessa
watched him walked to the end of the conference table. The others
sat straighter and seemed to be on alert.

Ken came to Lanessa and shook her
hand. “Nice to see you again.” He sat down in the empty chair next
to her.

“
Same here,” Lanessa said.
She fought the urge to wipe her hand on a napkin. Hargrove was too
chummy for her taste. And what was that little squeeze to her palm
about?

“
Has everyone thoroughly
reviewed the report on the Des Allemand area?” Dawson looked around
at his staff. They all nodded.

Lanessa was amused. As if one of them
would be dumb enough to say no. Dawson might be all grace and good
manners. Yet it was clear he commanded respect, even
fear.

“
Ms. Thomas did an excellent
job,” Ken intoned. He gazed at her.

“
Why don’t I give a summary
of the major sections?” Lanessa looked down at her notes.
This guy is laying it on thick. I’m leaving
before the smell gets in my clothes.

She assumed an expression that gave no
hint of her thoughts. Lanessa gave a brief description of how the
topics were organized. Then she went over the major findings. Her
report was divided into a description of the history of the area,
the geography, the local political leaders, demographics and last
the culture. What she had not found on paper, she used her contacts
to talk to people who grew up near Des Allemands. From them she got
the names of relatives. That kind of introduction made her report
particularly informative.

“
So the final point I’d like
to make is the residents are willing to listen. The personal touch
is important. Formal hearings or meetings might work elsewhere. But
down here, walking in the town and introducing yourself to the
informal community leaders is what I recommend.” Lanessa sat back
in her chair.

“
Informal leaders?” Hargrove
held his head to one side. “Could you explain that?”

“
Sure. In every community
there are formal. The mayor, aldermen or city councilors and so on.
But there are also folks who don’t hold office but they wield great
influence,” Lanessa said.

“
So if we want to do have
good relations with the residents, we must pay attention to them
also.” Dawson wore a pleased look.

“
That’s why there are names
listed in the appendix that aren’t elected or appointed officials.
Each one has a short biography you’ll notice.”