One Love (2 page)

“
Hey, get over it! You’ve
got more than enough to juggle, okay?”Lanessa threw up both
hands.

“
Are you talking to me, Ms.
Thomas?”Robyn came in.

“
No, and don’t call me that.
I’m only eight years older than you are. Makes me feel ancient,”
Lanessa muttered.

“
Yes, ma’am,” Robyn chirped
with good humor. She darted back to answer the phone on her
desk.

“
And don’t-- Oh never mind,”
Lanessa muttered.

For the next seven days Lanessa lived
and breathed work. She filled up every waking hour doing research.
Despite her party girl image, she had a real love of tracking down
facts methodically. Lanessa soon completed one job much to her
delight.

“
At last!”Lanessa fell back
against her chair. Sunlight slanted through the window near her
desk.

“
Mr. Harris is going to be
very impressed.” Robyn picked up the binder that contained
Lanessa’s final report.

“
Yeah, well he oughta be. I
dug up every bit of information I could find on Straecner
Chemical.” Lanessa rubbed her temples.

”
And you’ll get a bonus if
he buys the company.” Robyn put the report aside with five
additional copies.

“
We’ll get a bonus,” Lanessa
said. “You helped me out a lot.”

Robyn’s eyes widened with delight and
surprise. “Thanks a lot, Ms. -- I mean, thanks,
Lanessa.”

“
You’re welcome. And I’m
going to subscribe to Lexis®-Nexis®. That online database will mean
fewer trips to the library and faster results.” Lanessa stretched
her stiff muscles.

“
I think you could use a
vacation.” Robyn arranged a set of journals that related to another
assignment.

“
No way. I’ve got three
appointments in the next two days with new clients.” Lanessa
reached for a note pad. “So I’d best get at least another job
finished. Somebody came in I think. Probably the FedEx guy to pick
up that package.” She nodded toward the sound of the door
closing.

Robyn headed for her office that
doubled as their waiting room. Lanessa turned her attention to
reading a long article. She was deep into the mysteries of an
obscure Latin American Indian tribe when a voice called her back to
her surroundings.

”
Are you ever going to come
up for air?”Her best pal Jackie stood with both hands on her
hips.

“
Hey, girl.” Lanessa grinned
at her. “Don’t tell me you’ve got a break from the salt mines.
Cramer and Jacobs let you slip out on a Tuesday
morning?”

“
Now I know you’re spending
too much time here. It’s almost noon.” Jackie pointed to the wall
clock.

“
Eleven fifteen is not
almost noon, Jackie.”

“
Honey, you’re a bit too
driven even for me. C’mon, let’s go to Arzi’s for a fabulous
chicken schwerma salad.”

“
Can’t afford extended
lunches. Too much to do. Rain check.”

“
Nonsense.” Jackie slung her
navy leather shoulder purse into a chair. She fit her five foot
eight frame into a chair.

“
Hey, I’m not on someone
else’s time, babe.” Lanessa tapped the pile of magazines in front
of her. “I didn’t spend the last eighteen months getting here to
let it slide.”

“
Lunch is all I’m talking
about, not two months in Europe for goodness sakes,” Jackie said.
“We haven’t had a good old gab session in weeks. Yasmin is going to
meet us there.”

“
I thought she was in D.
C.”

“
Got back last night. She’s
collected all kinds of juicy news, too.” Jackie wore an impish look
as she tempted Lanessa.

Jackie James and Yasmin Butler had
become her closest friends in the last three years. She’d met them
both at the Lanier clinic. Jackie was a top accountant who had lost
custody of her son because of her drinking. Yasmin was the top aide
to Senator John Trent, a young black man with a bright political
future. Serious injuries from a motorcycle accident had led to
dependence on painkillers. They’d leaned on each other through some
rough days and rougher nights.

“
Well...” Lanessa wavered.
It had been a long time since they’d gotten together.

“
I miss you guys,” Jackie
wheedled.

Lanessa sprang from her chair. “Let’s
go before I change my mind.”

After a few hasty instructions to
Robyn, she and Jackie were on their way. They rode in Jackie’s
olive green Nissan Maxima. The restaurant, located on one of Baton
Rouge’s busiest streets, was beginning to fill up fast. They were
seated at a table near the front window.

“
Whew, we just beat the mad
rush.” Jackie waved at the elegant woman with shoulder length brown
hair. “Hey, over here!”

Yasmin strode over to the table.
Looking at Jackie over her Essence designer sunglasses, she shook
her head. “Really, Jacqueline, have you forgotten everything from
charm school?”

“
Dropped out,” Jackie shot
back with a smirk. “I’m not like you bourgeoisie gals. You can take
the girl outta Easy Town, but ya can’t take the Easy Town outta
this girl.”

Yasmin chuckled. “You’re so full of
it. Hi, Nessa.” She gave each of them a peck on the cheek then sat
down.

“
Hi, darlin’. You look
fabulous as usual,” Lanessa said.

After a few minutes of ordering and
getting settled, they each had a tall glass of Lebanese iced tea.
They shared a plate of three small spinach pies.

“
So are you as overworked as
us?”Lanessa popped a bit of pastry in her mouth.

“
Girl, don’t get me
started.” Yasmin shook her head. “And the trip was hectic. The
senator had a half dozen meetings in three days.”

“
So much for your plan to do
D. C. up big.” Jackie laughed.

“
You’re so right. I had more
meetings and then had to brief him on those.” Yasmin let out a
dramatic sigh. “I tell you, it was insane.”

”
And you love every minute
of it.” Lanessa nudged her arm with an elbow. “Now tell us
something really good.”

“
Yeah, spill it. Anything on
the mineral leases off Marsh Island?”Jackie sat forward.

“
Did Senator Trent meet with
the Department of Interior people? My client Mr. Blanchard is
driving me nuts whining about his land,” Lanessa joined
in.

“
Slow down, I thought this
was supposed to be a relaxed, get-away-from-the-office lunch.”
Yasmin took off her sunglasses and glared her reproach at
them.

“
Sorry,” Jackie
muttered.

“
She’s right, Jackie.
Shame,” Lanessa said with crooked grin.

“
Me? You...” Jackie’s
scowled at her.

“
Shush,” Lanessa cut her off
smoothly. “Let Yasmin catch her breath for a few moments. Then
we’ll get the scoop.”

“
Y’all need to think about
something other than work, that’s your problem.” Yasmin sat back
and folded her arms. “And I’ve got the answer.”

“
No blind dates. Forget it,”
Lanessa spoke up first.

“
Hey, I’m willing to at
least listen. I’ve had two dates in the last six months.” Jackie
gave a shiver. “If you can call those nightmares dates.”

“
Didn’t we decide not to do
the desperate divorcees thang?”Lanessa looked at them
both.

”
You ladies must have men on
the brain, because I wasn’t talking dates,” Yasmin said.

“
What then?” Lanessa still
wore a wary expression. “And don’t leave out any important details
this time.”

“
Yeah, like that trip down
False River on a party barge.” Jackie squinted at her.

“
Lord, will I ever hear the
end of that?”Yasmin waved her manicured fingers in the air. “Those
guys were perfectly decent.”

“
And it’s weird having your
ex-husband set us up with dates, don’t ya think?”Lanessa shook her
head.

“
Ed didn’t set us up, Nessa.
And—oh let’s not go into that again.” Yasmin brushed back her hair.
“This is strictly us women.”

“
Hey, I didn’t rule out all
men,” Jackie protested.

“
Shush and let her finish,”
Lanessa said.

“
I’ve got a long weekend
starting Thursday. The boys are with Ed’s parents on the farm in
Mississippi,” Yasmin said.

“
Don’t you just love
grandparents? Daren will be in Wakefield with Hilton’s folks for
the weekend.” Jackie smiled.

“
So we’re free. There’s a
West African dance performance at the Saenger this weekend. I can
get us tickets.” Yasmin looked smug. “I’ve got
connections.”

”
Hold on, I didn’t say I’m
free.” Lanessa shook her head. “I’ve got a lot of irons in the
fire.”

“
Work again. Don’t be
hardheaded. Pay attention, we’re taking time off.” Yasmin poked her
arm with a finger.

“
Ouch! Those tiger claws
hurt,” Lanessa said with a frown at the long red acrylic nails.
“And I’m in the middle of two major projects.”

“
I’ll bet you’re ahead of
schedule. Not only that, your new assistant is sharp.” Yasmin fixed
her with a hard stare. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

“
That’s beside the point.”
Lanessa was irritated that her friend was on target. Besides,
Yasmin had sent Robyn to her. “I’ve got meetings with potential
clients.”

“
On the weekend?” Yasmin
asked.

“
Well of course
not.”

Jackie took a sip from her iced tea.
“I’m in. The last thing I need is another weekend of watching the
shopping channel.”

When Lanessa still hesitated, Yasmin
shrugged. “Fine. Jackie, it’s you and me. We’ll drive down Friday
afternoon, have dinner and stay at the Le Meridian in a suite I’ll
reserve.”

”
Yeah, Saturday wandering
around the riverfront and the French Quarter. Let’s have lunch at
Copeland’s.” Jackie’s face lit up.

“
Maybe even stay over
Saturday and have dinner at Commander’s Palace.” Yasmin cast a
sideways glance at Lanessa.

Jackie nodded with vigor. “Ooo, I
like, I like!”She looked at Lanessa. “I’ll have a stuffed shrimp
for you, babe.”

Lanessa grimaced. They both knew how
much she loved shopping and dining out in New Orleans. “No fair. I
won’t be able to concentrate worth a darn. I’ll be thinking about
my two so-called best friends living it up without me.”

“
Then you might as well come
with us.” Yasmin leaned toward her.

“
Yeah, Nessa.” Jackie shook
her arm. “Come on. One weekend won’t kill your
schedule.”

“
Fine.” Lanessa held up a
palm to cut off their yelps of rejoicing. “But we come back
Saturday.”

This was greeted with fervent protests
from both women. For the rest of the lunch, they made their plans.
Yasmin would pick them up in her Mercedes. They discussed what to
wear and if they would call any friends while in New Orleans.
Lanessa swung between changing her mind and being excited. Yasmin
and Jackie kept up a steady stream of assurances that she’d made
the right choice. She went back to the office feeling refreshed by
the caring and wacky company of her pals.

Robyn greeted her news with a wide
smile. “Good for you, Ms. —I mean, Lanessa. And don’t worry. I’ll
have everything organized so you can pick right up
Monday.”

“
We’ve got to get through
the next few days first.” Lanessa frowned at the thought of three
new major assignments. “I was going to use the weekend to get
started.”

“
No problem. Just tell me
the file names and I’ll work from the notes on your lap top.” Robyn
handed her a set of neatly labeled folders. “You’ll have a list of
possible sources to start checking.”

“
You’re wonderful. Now back
to Mr. Blanchard.”

Lanessa had to admit that
she looked forward to the weekend. She thought of the wonderful old
theater. Without warning a memory rushed back. The sound of a deep
laugh and a handsome face the color of dark brown sugar made her
feel flushed with heat. Alex had loved live performances. Lanessa
shook her head to clear away more images that threatened to appear.
After so much time, he still came back to her. Yet she was sure he
did not think of her. Small wonder considering the things she’d put
him through.
Will you forget it? Don’t let
Mother plant those ideas in your head.
Lanessa knew that road was a dead end.

“
Work, family and good
friends. I should count my blessings,” she said in a low, firm
voice.

“
Pardon?”Robyn glanced at
her.

“
Nothing. Let’s go over the
Federal Register again.” Lanessa directed all her attention to
rules on wetland protection to blot out more memories.

***

The rhythmic beat of drums was like a
giant pulse. Women with skin the color of ebony, copper and mink
swayed. Their bodies were wrapped in earth colored fabrics. Some
wore beautiful head wraps. The sinuous movements seemed to hold the
audience in a trance for forty-five minutes. At the last dramatic
roll, the line of magnificent, statuesque performers froze in a
variety of poses. Wild applause broke out as the curtain floated
down. Soon all but a few in the sellout crowd were moving toward
the lobby for intermission. Lanessa was entranced with the whole
experience. Despite her grumblings about work during the ride down,
she was happy she’d come. Under Yasmin’s bold guidance they were
soon near the wet bar. She managed to charm three men into letting
her order first. Their dates stood against the ornate walls a few
feet away glaring.