Tender Touch (42 page)

* * *

“Hello, Mama.” Jade watched Clarice with a
wary eye.

They stood in the large laundry room of her
parents’ home. Since the night of the accident, her mother had been
on the defensive. In the therapy sessions, both her daughters’
anxieties had centered on living up to her expectations. The result
was that Clarice had missed the last two sessions. Now Jade wanted
to find a way through to her. No matter how resentful she felt
toward Clarice, Jade had always wanted them to be closer.

“Sure you want to speak to me? I’m such a
witch of a mother and all.” Clarice worked at folding up a pile of
laundry, a task she insisted on returning to after having let Jade
in.

“We don’t feel that way, and you know it.”
Jade set down her purse with a sigh. This was going to be as tough
as she’d expected.

“Sure can’t tell from the way you talked in
front of the social worker. I’m surprised you and your sister
haven’t disowned me by now.” Clarice popped the bath towel in the
air with a sharp flick of her wrists then folded it.

“Mama, let me—”

“It’s all my fault. You don’t like yourself
because I made you feel ugly. And Lanessa is in trouble because I
pushed her to it.”

“Lanessa is an alcoholic. She has an
addictive personality. Even she admits she was sliding into illegal
drug use.” Jade took a cue from the therapist and pressed the truth
on her. Clarice still resisted the fact of Lanessa’s substance
abuse.

“Everything is laid at my door. Well, what
about your father? I was left to raise you girls alone when he was
out working twelve hours a day, sometimes nights and weekends.”
Clarice yanked another towel from the stack. “Did anyone mention
that? How I stayed up nights nursing you two through fevers,
chicken pox and all kinds of illnesses? No!”

“We don’t blame everything on you.” Jade
tried to think of something to say that would diffuse her
anger.

“Well, thank you so much, Jade!” Clarice
whirled to face her. “You accuse me of pushing Lanessa until she
almost killed herself. Now I’m supposed to feel better because you
don’t blame me for everything.”

“Lanessa has to take responsibility for her
life. You didn’t put the drink in her hand. When all is said and
done, she can’t use any of us as an excuse to get high.” Jade
approached her mother. “She’s an alcoholic and at the edge of being
a drug addict.”

Clarice sat stiff with grief. She trembled
as tears flowed down her face. “Oh, Lord, what have I done to my
children?”

Jade led to the breakfast table and eased
her into a chair. “We all need to stop beating ourselves up. The
one thing we have is that we love each other dearly.” She made
soothing noises while her mother cried for a few minutes. Finally
Clarice gained some control.

“When I was coming up, my parents didn’t
have much. Oh, Daddy worked hard, but things were tight. Girls like
Marlene Knight used to laugh at us right to our faces. We didn’t
have money for fancy makeup or trips. I hated it. Mama made us wear
hand-me-downs even when we had money to buy new clothes.” Clarice
looked back to her past as though she could see herself as a young
girl again.

“Yeah, Grandmama was a little tight-fisted.
Daddy used to say she pinched her pennies so hard, Lincoln had a
frown on his face.” Jade smiled at the memory of her brusque but
lovable grandmother.

“Mama never understood how it felt to walk
down the hall at school while kids were snickering at you. She
didn’t want to hear it. She’d say, ‘When they start buying your
clothes, then start listening’ to them.’” Clarice wore a frown
traced with bitterness after forty years.

“So you blamed your mother, too?” Jade said
in a soft voice. She saw her mother in a whole new light. Clarice
even looked younger. Jade could almost see traces of the teenage
girl humiliated at how she looked.

Clarice seemed not to notice Jade anymore,
so deep was she in her past. “I wasn’t good enough to be asked to
the dance in seventh grade. All through high school, the teachers
favored the girls from so-called good families. I swore they would
never look down on me again. And I would make sure my daughters had
everything I’d never had.”

“We did, Mama. You did a wonderful job.”
Jade patted her hand.

“I don’t think so, baby. I never thought you
were ugly.” Clarice placed a palm on Jade’s face, cupping it
lovingly. “You’re the most beautiful child in the world. It’s just
you had the looks and a kind of inner strength. Since you were a
baby, you struck out to find things on your own. Your sister was a
fearful little thing. So I tried to give her confidence, you know.
Lanessa is more... vulnerable.”

They sat pondering her words for a long
time, listening to the kitchen clock tick. Jade knew that there was
no magic wand that would make things all right for her family, but
at last they were on the right path. She could feel it. For the
first time in her life, she felt a true kinship with her mother.
Clarice had never spoken to her so openly about her past hurts. Her
mother’s conflict with her own mother was a revelation.

“Seems like mothers are always trying to do
what’s best for their children.” Jade thought of generations of
mothers and daughters stretching back through time. She felt a
connection to all those beautiful strong black women. “But one
legacy we have is the love and dignity they gave to us.”

“Yes, Mama was a strong woman. She could
walk into a room of teachers and professors without feeling the
least bit intimidated.” Clarice’s face shone with pride. “You know
what, let’s call your grandmother. She’s got pictures of her
grandparents and great-grandparents. I’ll bet Lanessa would love to
see those, too.”

“Yeah, that would be wonderful! Then we can
get Mother Lucille to talking about her mother.” Jade chuckled.

“Lord, don’t get her started about Granny
Adele. You know Mama and her sister Loretha didn’t speak to each
other for two years after Granny Adele let Auntie Loretha wear the
best dress to a school function.”

“Get outta here! Two years?” Jade
cackled.

For the rest of the day, they sat talking
about family history and sharing coincidences as never before. Jade
poured out all her feelings for Damon. Clarice listened to her with
the kind of rapt attention Jade had always wanted from her mother.
Jade no longer felt like an outsider. And she knew they would get
through this horrible time together.

* * *

“Don’t get me wrong, sweet thing. I’m happy
to see you. But aren’t you taking a bit of a chance?” Tavis was all
feline grace as he poured them both a drink.

Yes, I know exactly what I saw in you.”
Marlene watched his every move. She didn’t return his smile when he
walked to her, holding out the glass.

“Really? Tell me about it.” Tavis took a sip
of brandy. He sat down and patted the cushion next to him on the
leather sofa. “I like this game we play.”

Marlene put the glass down on the glass
coffee table. “I have a bit of news for you. We’re through.”

“I see.” He swirled the dark liquid around
the heavy glass in his hand.

“What we had was entertaining, but...”
Marlene shrugged.

“You’re trying to tell me the thrill is
gone? Get real.” Tavis stood up to face her. The muscles of his
chest and arms rippled beneath the white knit cotton shirt he wore.
Powerful thighs were outlined by the olive khaki pants. “You were
begging for more the last time. You know I’m right.”

“As I said, entertaining.” Marlene was all
cool sophistication. Her full lips curved up.

Tavis kept smiling, but his jaw was
clenched. “So you’ve decided to get someone else. Younger than me,
no doubt.”

“No, not another lover.” Marlene arranged
the folds of her silk shirt.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to play the part
of dutiful wife.” He snorted and pointed a forefinger at her. “It
doesn’t suit you. And it won’t last.”

“What I’m going to do is irrelevant. But
there is something you are going to do.” Marlene sat across from
him on a matching chair. “Bill Lang has set up Jade Pellerin to
take the fall. But you’re going to make sure it doesn’t
succeed.”

Tavis could not hide his surprise at her
words. “How did you? I mean, I don’t have one clue what you’re
talking about.” He got up to pour more brandy into his glass,
though it was still half full.

“Nice try, lover, but you didn’t quite pull
it off.” Marlene stared at his broad shoulders.

Tavis turned around. “Oliver might be very
upset to know where you’ve been spending your evenings and
Saturdays. I think you have more to worry about than Jade
Pellerin.”

“Is that a threat?” Marlene did not seem
worried at all.

“Baby, come on now. We’ve had a wonderful
arrangement. Good sex and—”

Marlene held up a palm. “And my insider tips
whispered as pillow talk helped you jockey into a more visible
position. Your career has been enhanced in the few short months
we’ve been seeing each other.”

“We both got what we wanted and more so
don’t play naive.” Tavis wore a suggestive smile. “I’ve got big
plans and, well, frankly I need you.”

“So until you’re through using me, our
affair continues?” Marlene spoke in a quiet voice.

“I knew you’d understand. We both have
needs, mine are economic and yours are... let’s just say I fill a
gap the old man can’t handle anymore.”

“Suddenly it’s clear to me that I don’t need
you anymore.” Marlene stared past him, not seeing him for a few
seconds. “Empty physical gratification isn’t enough.”

“Humph! After a couple of weeks with Oliver
you’ll be blowing up my cell phone again. So don’t give me some
line about being in love with your husband.”

“I do love my husband, very much,” Marlene
murmured softly. Then she gazed at Tavis again. “But as I was
saying, we’re through.”

“Number one, we’re not through just yet.
I’ll see you as usual. Number two; don’t ever tell me what to do
again. Got it?” Tavis sat down next to her on the arm of the chair.
“Now drop the act, and let’s go into the bedroom so you can get
what you really came for.”

He stroked her arm. Marlene gazed at his
hand for a few seconds before she stood up. Tavis smiled at her in
triumph. He pulled her close to him with one hand on her hip.

“I can read you like always, baby,” Tavis
whispered.

“I have a surprise for you. My husband knows
about us. He has for some time now.” Marlene nodded slowly as the
full impact of her words changed the expression on his face.

“How did he... I mean who told him?” Tavis
stepped back and rubbed his face hard.

“No one had to tell him. Oliver is no fool.
And he has powerful friends.” Marlene smiled at the flicker of
anxiety that chased across his handsome features.

“Damn! He could bring me down a little at a
time now. I’m not yet in a position to stop him. Aw, man.” Tavis
ran fingers over his dark hair.

“Fortunately for you, Oliver isn’t
vindictive. He doesn’t care about your little career. Your dirty
deals with Lang were going to put you on top, with help from me of
course. Then you wouldn’t care about Oliver knowing or what
happened to me.” Marlene crossed her arms. “Well, you’re going to
have to switch to Plan B, my dear.”

“What are you talking about?” Tavis eyed her
with nervous suspicion.

“You’re going to help Jade Pellerin. Show
her where the bodies are buried.” Marlene now wore a hard,
relentless expression.

“You’ve got to be out of your mind. Bill
would throw me under the bus if he found out!” Tavis blinked at her
in shock. “No way.”

“Bill Lang will be very busy trying to cover
his own hind parts, sonny. He won’t have time for you,” Marlene
quipped.

“There’s no way I can get out from under all
the crap about to come down. Uh-uh, I can’t help your kid’s
girlfriend.” Tavis paced again.

“My dear, I have every confidence you’ll
find a means to save your own skin. We’re mainly talking about the
nursing home rates, I think. You didn’t have anything to do with
setting the reimbursements.” Marlene watched him with her head to
one side. “You were mostly in on the medical center expansions and
construction contracts.”

“How do you know...? What else have you
found out?” Tavis stared at her with his mouth wide open.

“Those wonderful connections you cherish so,
remember?” Marlene picked up her purse. “So do it, sugar. By the
way, be careful. They’re going to catch up with you soon.”

“Have you heard something?” Tavis pulled at
her arm with a jerk.

“I’d start backing away from Harlan Favre.
He’s a distant cousin, did you know that? Clever but no scruples.
I’ll be watching the newspapers, sugar.” Marlene’s amused look was
replaced by one of fury. “And don’t ever make the mistake of
threatening me again!” She swept out of the town house without
looking back.

* * *

“I’d like to kick his a—” Damon spluttered.
His brows were drawn together in a fierce frown.

“Ah, ah. Cool it, baby.” Jade stroked his
cheek. “Maybe we better keep you away from Bill for a while.”

They sat in Uncle Joe’s, having dinner on
Saturday. The usual weekend crowd flowed in and out. Tables were
filled with people enjoying the seafood and Creole dishes. Blues
and Zydeco played in the background.

“Yeah, if you want to keep him healthy,”
Damon retorted.

Jade had tried not to let on just how
worried she was about the pending interview with top officials. The
governor ordered Secretary Chauvin to conduct a thorough
internal

investigation. Shaena, courtesy of inside
information from Brad, had told Jade details than Bill had left
out. Jade wondered if her meager notes of meetings with Bill would
be enough. In recent days her name was mentioned with more
frequency in the newspaper articles. She suspected Bill and Mike
Testor were feeding the reporter nuggets through a third party in
an attempt to take the heat off them.