Elli (A Second Chance Novel Book 1) Page 18

  “I’ll find youz a good man to marry you to raise your fatherless child,” she offered. “Don’t youz worry none. I’ll pick a good one.”

  Elli started laughing now. The combination of hiccupping and laughing had her nearly wetting her pants. “No. No. Not pregnant.” She gasped. “Broke. Need money. Stolen. Children and families counting on me.”

  “Slow down, Texian.” Tante Izzy opened her purse and pulled out a small flask. “Medicinal spirits. Youz need this. Youz is hysterical.”

  Elli took a swig and started coughing. It tasted like what she imagined battery acid would taste and feel like going down her throat. “Burns.”

  “Take another swig, the first one numbs the way for the next few,” Tante Izzy advised. Elli took a second drink and her insides immediately felt happy.

  “Thank you,” she croaked, handing the flask to Izzy. Elli told her how Abby and she had founded the Gene I.D. Foundation. She explained how the donations from the latest fundraiser were stolen along with the private identity information of her generous contributors. She told her how funds were also stolen from the foundation bank account. She didn’t tell Izzy that she had personally funded that account with a personal loan she made using all of her sizable savings. She thought she would be able to pay herself back most of the money in a few years. Now she was broke with only an annual merchandising royalty check to keep her fed, clothed, and sheltered. Her next payment wasn’t coming for another eight months. “We only have enough money to tide us over for another week or two, at most.”

  “Mon dieu.” Tante Izzy scratched her head. “How youz plan to get more money?”

  “I’m going to sell my car and…” She shrugged her shoulders, looked at the ground, and then took a drink from the flask again.

  “Give me dat.” Tante Izzy swiped it from her hand and shoved it into her purse. “The bottle don’t solve no problem.”

  “You’re going to hate me.” She looked away. “I want to sell the plantation to a venture capitalist interested in building a Hollywood South in Louisiana. The state is offering really nice tax incentives for movie productions to come to Louisiana.”

  Tante Izzy didn’t say anything. Her brows lifted and her lips sealed tight in a wrinkled line. She opened her purse and took a big swig from the flask.

  “Sugar Mill Plantation is really a wonderful location for a movie studio. The plantation and land are well suited for a number of different scenes. Country. Westerns. Midwest. Rivers. Bayous. Forest.”

  “Harrumph.”

  “Oh, I don’t want to take Joey and Ben’s home away from them.” She twisted her hands. “I know how terrible that would be for them, but they still would have each other. There are kids, like Rickey and Keisha and sweet, cherub Paulina who don’t care about a house, they just want to have their momma—alive and with them as they grow up. I need to make sure their family has the best opportunity to survive—and other families, too. That means they need knowledge and hope. Finding out if the breast cancer gene is in these families and helping them get the right medical surveillance means they can catch the cancer early, if it rears its awful head. Early detection saves lives. We just need to give them a chance, Tante Izzy.”

  “Youz are between a rock and a hard place.” She nodded, twisted her mouth, and narrowed her eyes. “I think it’z nice and honorable and all, but seems to me youz cares an awful lot for dem strangers. Maybe more dan what is right for dem and you. Why is dat?”

  Elli looked into Tante Izzy’s wise, old eyes. “Because I am just like them.” Tears filled her eyes. “I was frightened and afraid I was going to die from cancer. Alone, with no help. My father died less than a year before my diagnosis. My mother had been long gone from the same disease I had. I had no sisters, no brothers, no aunts, no family.”

  Elli walked to the balcony railing and looked out onto the lawn, remembering. “There were these two amazing women getting chemo at the same time as me. Both of theirs was stage four. One had breast cancer and the other had Melanoma. They knew they were dying.” Elli took in a deep breath. “They were single mothers with no family to speak of. God, they worried so much about their beautiful families. They spoke of them all of the time. Never in the woe-is-me kind of way, but with real love for the children…and with such concern. Oh, what would happen to their daughters and sons when they died? Who would look out for them to protect them from getting the disease or being able to fight it off earlier? Elli rested her hand over her heart. The pain and sadness felt like a crushing ache. There are great organizations to help them keep a roof over their heads, to help pay their medical bills, and to educate them. But, there was nothing that was truly proactive in fighting cancer early on another level. It’s just so awful to have that kind of fear. You are afraid of dying and wonder if heaven will welcome you. But, most of all, you are so darn afraid of leaving your children behind.” Elli swallowed past the heaviness in her throat. When she spoke again her voice was hoarse and strained. “I heard their cries,” she whispered. “From the people who were dying and those who were being left behind. They both need to know that it will all be okay.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Starting the fight before the cells start dividing is just one more way to fight to win-to make it okay.”

  Elli looked over her shoulder at Tante Izzy, who was leaning against the window frame of Ben’s bedroom. “Knowledge is power, right? If you know you have the cancer genes, you can do medical surveillance in a more aggressive way. Insurance companies and Medicaid can’t discriminate against you if you test positive, but they don’t support the every-six-month surveillance protocol. Our foundation does that as well. We save lives. We find a way to give families hope.”

  “Everyone needs hope…and a family.”

  “And joy and security.”

  “Youz a human guardian angel on earth.” Tante Izzy joined Elli at the railing.

  “Hardly.” Elli smiled. “You know, our foundation office has even become a kind of gathering place for the families? We have toys and games for the kids. There’s a stocked kitchen for hungry bellies. Veronica, our social worker, has impromptu counseling sessions. You can’t imagine how much fear attaches itself to cancer.”

  “Goddaughter, dis is real special.” Elli smiled. “So, youz had cancer?”

  “I did. I was one of the blessed ones.”

  “Youz survived it.”

  “I didn’t have to burden my family with worry and problems while I had cancer.” Tante Izzy started to speak, but Elli raised her hand to stop her from saying something kind and meaningful because she thought Elli needed the encouragement. She didn’t want that. She didn’t want sympathy or the focus to be on her when there were so many who suffered far worse. “Now, you know everything. I just hope you don’t hate me for wanting to sell the plantation. I have to do it. I’ll make sure that I find a place just as wonderful for Joey and Ben to live. I’ll also make sure they have full access to the plantation if they want to come and fish or picnic or connect with their history.”

  Tante Izzy worked her mouth a bit, then walked up to Elli and looked her straight in the eyes. She didn’t say anything, she just extended the plate of pain perdu to her. Elli took one and her eyes filled with tears again. This woman, who had every reason to hate her for what she was about to do to her family, didn’t reject her. In fact, while it was clear Tante Izzy didn’t agree with what she had to do, she cared for her as a person.

  Elli threw her arms around Tante Izzy and hugged her. “Thank you. Thank you.”

  “Mon Dieu,” she gasped. “Be careful, now. I’m an old lady with dat osteo-bone thing. Youz is turnin’ my bones to chalk.”

  Elli laughed. “I adore you.”

  “And I love you, child.” She put the plate on the ground, wiped her hands on her dress, and looked at the painted wall. “Youz got another paint brush? I’m good at dis stuff, youz know.” Elli handed her the trim brush, then walked inside and got a chair from her bedroom. She placed the chair near the wa
ll for Tante Izzy to sit on while painting. She sat and pulled out her cell phone from colorful purse. “I’ll get a few of my teenage nephews over here to help us paint,” she said.

  “I can’t pay them,” Elli said holding up her hand to stop Tante Izzy from making the call.

  She rolled her eyes. “Youz don’t know nothin’” She shook her head. “They’z will do it because I ask dem’ to do it.” She swatted Elli away as if she was a nuisance. “Now, When dis is done, I need to get me my hair fixed so I look sexy for Sam Cooper.”

  “Fairy godmother, you are irresistible just the way you are with all of those dazzling sparkles shimmering around you.”

  “Got dat right.”

  * * * *

  “Did you encourage this, Tante Izzy?” Beau asked stepping onto the balcony at exactly six thirty. “This pink color has your name stamped all over it.”

  Tante Izzy stood from her chair and picked up the plate of pain perdu. She handed it to Beau. “It’s pretty, huh?”

  He took a bite of the sweet bread. “You, yes. The pink house, no.” He grinned, looking much too happy about the awful color. “Ben is going to have a seizure.”

  “We’re only painting this one side,” Elli offered with a forced smile before climbing down from the ladder. “It’s on my half of the house.”

  “Oh, well, that makes it better.” He shook his head looking at the four empty boxes of pizza. “The Bienvenu teen terrors were here I see.”

  “They were,” Elli laughed. “Thank God. They paint as fast as they eat. They knocked out most of the job before having to leave for the school dance. I couldn’t have done it without them.” Elli smiled. “Those boys are going to be lady killers when they grow up. They are so charming.”

  “I taught them everything I know.”

  Tante Izzy harrumphed. “I’ze hope not.”

  “Maybe they can charm Ben to ignore your half of the house that’s painted princess pink.”

  “It looks good,” Tante Izzy insisted. “And it’z fer a good cause…” She looked at Elli.

  “Does he know?”

  Elli shrugged. “Do you?” she asked Beau.

  “Pardon me, but I didn’t study the encrypted female language in law school.” He smiled, leaning against the railing.

  “He’s a lawyer,” Tante Izzy said to Elli. “He’s like a priest.”

  “What?” Beau choked on the bread he had just shoved in his mouth. Tante Izzy stood on her toes and whacked him on the back and when he frowned at her, she whacked him on the back of his head. “Hey, what did I do?”

  “It’z what youz think dat got youz the smack on da head,” Tante Izzy snapped.

  “He’s right,” Elli stated, ignoring their exchange. “You’re here as my lawyer, right?”

  “I sure as hell am not here as your priest!”

  “Same thang when it comes to secret repeatin’.” Tante Izzy nodded to Elli. “Tell him.”

  “You can’t repeat what I’m going to tell you. I invoke client-counselor privilege.

  “Yeah, just like a priest hearin’ confession,” Tante Izzy added.

  “I don’t want to hear your confession.” He pulled out his phone from the finely tooled leather case clipped to his pressed jeans. “Do I?” He lifted a brow and grinned. “No, I think it’s best if I call Father Étienne. He’ll come over right away.”

  Elli laughed. “Don’t be silly.” Beau looked at her as if he was dead serious. “This information doesn’t have to do with my soul. It’s not that bad.”

  “Part of it is,” Tante Izzy corrected.

  “I’m not going to tell him that part. He represents Ben for that. I’m not stupid.” Both Beau and Izzy looked at her with their brows lifted. “I’m not. I’ll have you know, I graduated with honors in college and high school. I’ve managed multimillion-dollar movie productions, hundreds of employees…all with a great deal of success.”

  “Dere is book smart and life smart,” Izzy insisted before rolling her eyes in a gesture of mutual agreement with Beau.

  “Some movie scenes are being filmed here tomorrow,” Elli told Beau without preamble. She was feeling too impatient and frustrated with the tone of the conversation for subtleties.

  “Oh, that. I know that already. Ben told me.”

  “Mon Dieu, why didn’ youz say somethin’ and stop her from yappin’ on like a plucked hen?”

  Elli looked at Tante Izzy and shook her head. “We are painting the house because of the movie.”

  “I get why you are painting the plantation, but why in the hell are you painting it this girlie pink?”

  “Heather Harley is an artist and dis here is her house.”

  Beau looked at Elli, eyes wide. “The Heather Harley?”

  “If you help us with keeping Ben from going apocalyptic, I’ll introduce you to Heather,” Elli said immediately, thinking of making Beau her ally. “Maybe I can arrange for the two of you to have lunch.”

  Beau’s eyes lit up. “Ben will be apocalyptic putty in my hands.” He smiled and it was bright, white, and warm. “Tell Harley that I look forward to meeting her.”

  “She’ll be here tomorrow.” Elli sighed. “And this place needs to be finished painted before the crew arrives in the morning.”

  “I’ll help once we are finished with the fire marshal.”

  “Mon Dieu,” Tante Izzy exclaimed. “The Po-Po is comin’ to arrest her?”

  “I don’t think so.” Beau grinned. “He said he just wants to ask her a few questions.” Beau looked at Elli, and she knew he could read the anxiety on her face. “Let’s put the painting on hold for now. He’ll be here in about fifteen minutes. I want to review some things with you.” Elli hated having yet another delay but couldn’t do anything about it.

  After covering the paint supplies and convincing Tante Izzy that she shouldn’t hang around for the fire marshal, Beau sat across the kitchen table from Elli. The scent of a pot of coffee brewing made the room feel cozy, but it didn’t do much to ease her nerves.

  “Should I be worried?” Elli asked. “I feel like I’m in a scene from a movie where the heroine is about to be wrongfully accused of something bad.”

  “Nah.” Beau clasped her hand. It felt warm, comforting, and friendly. Her relationship with Beau was similar to her relationship with Doug, but his touch felt very different. “All you have to do is answer his questions. Don’t volunteer anything. It’s simple. Let him ask you a question. Then you pause a moment before answering. That hesitation will give me time to interject or redirect if need be. So you just have to take it slow and easy. Relax and be yourself. And remember: Only answer the question he asks. Nothing more.”

  “It sounds like I’m on trial.”

  “Not at all. It’s just an inquiry. Procedure. No worries.”

  Elli wasn’t convinced. She was a stranger in town and rumors were flying of how she had intentionally started a fire.

  The coffeemaker beeped and she got up to pour a cup for Beau. “It’s worrisome when all I can tell the marshal is that I had this feeling something was wrong, and I think I saw a pair of eyes staring at me.”

  “The truth is the truth.” Beau took the coffee she handed him just as his cell phone began to buzz. “Excuse me.” He leaned back in his chair and answered the phone. A smile lit his face. “Yeah, I’m here.” He looked at Elli and winked. “No, the marshal hasn’t gotten here, yet.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Yes. Yes. I know. Who’s the brilliant lawyer here anyway?” Beau laughed and winked at Elli again. What in the world, did he mean with all that winking? Who else knew, much less cared, about her interview with the fire marshal? Tante Izzy? “I know my job. You go on and do yours. Leave me alone.” Beau hung up and took a sip of his coffee, his eyes crinkled and bright.

  Elli waited for him to volunteer who was on the phone. When he didn’t, she slapped her hand on the table. “Okay, I give up. Who was that asking about me?”

  “Consider me like a priest,” Beau smiled.

 
; “Oh for God’s sake.” She got up and poured herself a cup of coffee she didn’t want.

  “It was Ben,” he told her when she returned to the table. “He’s concerned about you. Wants to make sure you get a fair shake.”

  Elli bit her lower lip to keep from smiling. It was ridiculous to feel so pleased that Ben called out of concern for her. “I guess he’s worried about what all this fire business will mean to the plantation.” She immediately shook her head, feeling like a silly schoolgirl checking to see if the boy tugging on her ponytail liked her. “Sorry. That’s not fair. I sound so mean-spirited. I really appreciate everyone’s concern.”

  Beau smiled a knowing smile, “Including Ben’s. I probably wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for him. He’s the one who insisted you should have representation during the inquiry.”

  Elli shook her head. “He acts like he hates me, then he does this.”

  “Hate? Nah.” Beau got up and refilled his coffee cup. “Maybe uncertain, afraid.”

  “Afraid?” She sighed. “I don’t mean him any harm. I want to resolve our differences amicably. I don’t have the luxury of time, though. Amicable for us might mean time. We have to find a resolution quickly.”

  “You threaten him, dear Elli. That is for certain.” He sat and looked into her eyes with a genuine affection. “And, it doesn’t have anything to do with the plantation, the kennel, or even Joey.” He tapped on his chest with his fist. “You threaten his heart.”

  “What?” She swallowed past the lump in her throat. Was Beau talking about Ben having feelings for her? “We only met a few days ago. I think you misunderstand our relationship. It’s adversarial, at best, with just a little bit of male-female attraction thrown in.”

  Beau laughed. “A little bit? You two sizzle, crackle, and burn when y’all are around each other.” He grabbed her hands and squeezed them. “Darlin’, there is some serious chemistry between you two—the heat burning the beaker and smoking up the lab kind of combustion.”

  “I think you’re mistaken,” she stammered, but her words didn’t sound true to her own ears. Yes, if she was truthful, there was something basic and real that happened when they were together. It had nothing to do with their hearts and minds but everything to do with what made them a man and a woman. “Nothing can happen between us in that way. Our relationship is already too complicated.”