Soulful Strut (30 page)

Monette gave them both one last nod, and then
turned to leave. She walked fast enough to put space between them
quickly, but not so fast as to seem rude. Jayson had made his way
to the exit When Jayson and Monette got outside, he hit the remote
alarm. “What was that about with you and Candi? I get the feeling
that lady has an issue with you.”

“Tell you about it sometime.” Monette tried
to call back the good vibes she’d had before dealing with Candi’s
attitude. She glanced around, confused. “Where’s your truck?”

Jayson approached a silver Jeep Liberty. “At
home. Picked this up yesterday. Like it?” He held open the
passenger door for her, wearing a wide smile.

“Just like that. You picked up a new vehicle
like some folks stop by the store for a loaf of bread.” Monette
stared at the shiny SUV. Sunlight bounced off the custom wheel
covers.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I
shopped around for two or three weeks. Made up my mind Saturday.
Wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Surprise is right” Monette climbed in. The
interior upholstery was a light gray fabric with a pattern of
darker gray and maroon stripes. She rubbed her hands along the
smooth surface of the seat.

Jayson climbed behind the wheel. He turned on
the engine, adjusted the temperature controls, and turned on the
stereo radio. “So, what do you think?”

“Please. You shouldn’t even have to ask. This
thing is fine.” Monette stretched her legs out in the roomy space
in front of her. She inhaled the wonderful new car fragrance. She’d
never owned a new car in her life.

“Good. Since I plan to take you riding in it
a lot. Besides, we’ll need more room eventually anyway when I take
you and Lenae out,” Jayson said in an offhand manner.

“Huh?” Monette snapped out of her new luxury
SUV daze and gaped at him.

“My daughter. You know, the one I’m always
bragging on. Shouldn’t exactly be news I’d want the two most
important women in my life to meet.” Jayson patted Monette’s knee,
then put the Jeep in gear. He backed out of the parking space and
drove while whistling a tune.

“Me meet your daughter,” Monette mumbled.

“Then we’ll have dinner with the family.”
Jayson steered with his left hand and put his right one on her
knee.

Monette closed her eyes as a queasy feeling
of dread took hold in her stomach. She had visions of all those
eyes staring at her, of seeing Jayson’s father gaze at her with
disapproval. But that scene did not inspire the horror of meeting a
possessive eight-year-old daddy’s girl. Lenae would no doubt loathe
the idea of sharing Jayson. All Monette could think of was how
complicated her life was already. She knew that family was
important to Jayson. He’d also made it clear that his feelings for
Monette ran deep. Now if she could hold onto this good thing
without dragging his kinfolks into the mix just yet

“Jayson,” Monette started, and then couldn’t
think of what else to say. She blinked hard; hoping that if she
strained something would come to her.

He gave her knee a little squeeze. “Yeah,
baby. What were you about to tell me?”

Monette pushed harder to come up with a way
to back out that wouldn’t seem like she was backing out. What she
got was a heavy sensation that felt like the beginning of a
headache. She massaged her temples with her fingertips, then faked
a yawn. “Uh, nothing. Lost my train of thought. Guess I’m more
tired than I realized.”

Jayson looked at her with a slight frown.
“Here I was just thinking about me. You’ve had a long day. In fact,
this week must have been a killer. Maybe we should plan on taking
up this celebration on the weekend.”

“Yeah, well, I do have a lot on me this week.
Got to meet with my parole officer, too.” Monette needed to remind
Jayson just who he was about to present to his family. The
reception at Second Chances, the radio show, the book deal were all
one part of her life. A notorious past was part of Monette’s life
as well.

“Sure, sweet thing. Another time, but we’ll
have just as much fun.” Jayson smiled at her. He turned the truck
down a street that took them in the direction of the halfway
house.

“Thanks.”

Monette did a seamless transition back to her
con artist ways and let Jayson think it was all his idea. Back in
the day she’d had no qualms about using her wits to get what she’d
wanted. Now she felt a prick of guilt. Still, she needed breathing
room. She wanted Jayson, but everything seemed to be pressing in on
her. Monette took a deep breath and let it out to combat the
sensation that she was suffocating.

Jayson drove on in silence for the fifteen
minutes it took them to arrive at New Beginnings. His hand stayed
on Monette’s knee, feeling warm and supportive. She gazed at it
then covered his hand with hers. He glanced at her with a smile
full of devotion. The prick of guilt Monette had felt moments ago
turned into a sharp stab. This man truly cared for her.

People lounged on their porches in the poor
neighborhood around the halfway house. A few waved to them as the
truck slowed down. Jayson smiled and waved back. He pulled into the
driveway. The van was not there. No doubt Sherrial had stopped with
the ladies for one last treat to celebrate. Monette sighed with
relief. She would have a few more precious minutes to be alone.
Jayson shifted into park, and then turned to her.

“Honey, you’ve got a lot going on with the
book, radio show, this new program and everything. We can put off
the whole official meet-the-family stuff for a few weeks.” Jayson
brushed her hair back with one hand in a tender gesture of
affection.

Monette pretended to consider his suggestion
for a few seconds. The knots of anxiety in her midsection
disintegrated. “Maybe that would be a good idea. You’re so
thoughtful.”

“It’s all about you, honey. Get some rest.
You can continue saving the world tomorrow,” he gently teased with
a smile. Jayson kissed her forehead before they exchanged
good-byes.

Monette waved to him as he drove away. Just
as his truck rounded a corner two blocks away, Sherrial drove the
van down the street. She grinned at Monette, who walked down the
driveway to the back of the house. Sherrial parked the van under
the covered carport Monette leaned against the railing that led up
the back steps and waited for them. Sherrial jumped down to the
pavement first.

“Wonderful reception. Now I’d better finish
up some work and get out of here. Gotta pick up my baby from my
mama’s house. Talk to y’all later,” Sherrial said over her shoulder
as she rushed past them.

“Whew! Some party, huh? I never seen so many
important people up close. I feel kinda like a big somebody
myself.” Tyeisha lifted her nose in the air and did a strut across
the driveway.

Lenore slid from the seat and stepped down.
“Yes. We’re society ladies now.” She did her version of a high-
class prance with her head held high.

Monette caught Candi by the arm before she
could follow the others. “What’s up with you? Seems like you got a
problem with me, or something.”

“Or something,” Candi shot back. “Ms. I’m
doin’ y’all a big favor.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make it sound
like that. This stuff shouldn’t come between us. You know me, girl.
I really am just trying to help. But maybe I went about it the
wrong way.” Monette let go of Candi’s arm. “I thought it was a good
idea. If you don’t want to be in the program, I’ll understand.”

Candi rubbed her forehead, and then glanced
sideways at her. “Yeah. Guess I’m bein’ paranoid. I’m sorry for
actin’ like a hater back there. Just sometimes I feel left behind.
By everybody.”

“Which is why I thought you’d be perfect for
Opportunity Knocking. Girl, you got crazy skills. Use ’em.” Monette
shook her by one shoulder.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Candi shrugged. “I’ll
put some effort into it.”

Tyeisha danced over to them. She grabbed each
of them by one arm and tugged. “C’mon now. Show us what you
got.”

“Y’all trippin’. One party ain’t changed
nothin’,” Yarva retorted as she watched them from the doorway.

Candi snorted and waved a dismissal at her.
“Some folks just can’t have a good time. Y’all ain’t got the right
‘rich bitch’ attitude. Here we go.” She affected a snooty sneer,
then swung her hips as she walked ahead of Tyeisha. “You gotta have
a look that says ‘This is my world. I’m just letting you scrubs
live in it.’ ”

Monette laughed. Seeing her friends dressed
up and full of hope restored her. Lenore seemed more relaxed than
she had in days. Tyeisha’s face glowed from the positive attention
she’d gotten from her mother and everyone else. Candi seemed to
have shaken Yarva’s bad influence, at least for the moment. Monette
no longer felt drained or boxed in.

“I used to be around upper-crust ladies back
in the day. Most of those women walked all stiff like something was
stuck up their butts. Now me? I’ve got my own soulful strut,”
Monette crowed as she smoothed down her skirt, ran her fingers
through her hair and sashayed across the lawn.Her hair bounced as
she walked, hips swaying to her own jazzy beat. She made a circle,
and then came back toward them wearing a self-possessed smirk.
Candi hooted and imitated her. Tyeisha squealed with delight and
followed them. Lenore shrugged with a shy smile. Soon all four
women had their own hip-shaking parade going in the backyard.
Janice and Tina, two other residents, heard the noise and came
outside.

“What the hell?” Janice smiled at them as she
shook her head.

“Ain’t nothin’ but a party. Come on.” Candi
beckoned for them to join in.

The staff person on duty peeked out the
kitchen window. She grinned, then disappeared. Two seconds later
she emerged from the house carrying a portable compact disc player.
“Hey, ya’ll oughta at least have some music for a parade. Got this
CD of funky Zydeco I been listening to.”Sherrial came out and
started for her car. When she saw the fun they were having, she let
out a whoop and got in line. “What the heck. Mama can babysit a
little longer.”

“Alright now,” Candi yelled. She danced
along, waving one hand.

“Wait a minute. Y’all can’t do a second line
right without this.” Another resident came out with a multicolored
umbrella. She opened it and joined at the end of the prancing line
of women. They made several circles around the small square of
grass, calling out encouragement to each other.

“Show ’em how it’s done old school,” Tyeisha
called out to the older women.

“Don’t get smart, baby girl. We ain’t ready
for the nursing home just yet.” Candi scowled at her over one
shoulder. Seconds later she staggered over to the wooden benches
beneath the covered patio.

Monette followed and collapsed into a chair.
“We may not be nursing home material, but we sure can’t party like
we used to.”

The noise must have reached Trudy’s office.
All the raucous teasing and laughter subsided when they noticed her
standing in the back door. “Ladies, I suggest you save that energy
for job hunting and group therapy.”

“I’d call this group therapy. What do y’all
think?” Monette looked around at the grinning faces.

“Very effective, in fact,” Sherrial added,
putting on her social worker hat. She wore an impish grin.
“Research shows play is therapeutic.”

“I feel better,” Janice piped up when the
other women remained silent.

“Me, too,” Candi chimed in with her usual
boldness.

“I suppose letting off steam can be helpful,
in moderation. I’m sorry I had to leave the reception early,
Monette. I had appointments and a meeting with the local
interagency council,” Trudy said.

“No problem. We understand you’re a busy
lady.” Monette smiled back at Trudy warmly.

Trudy tried to maintain a serious expression
but lost the fight. “Oh, what the heck. Let’s see if I can keep
up.”

When the director joined in, the women let
out a shout of encouragement. Everyone paraded around in a circle.
They danced to the music and waved their hands in the air to the
beat. An elderly woman who lived in the house next door came
outside. She leaned on the fence between the houses. She clapped
her hands in time with the music and added her shouts of
encouragement. After a few more rounds, everyone stopped. With a
grin, their neighbor waved good-bye.

“I enjoyed the show,” she called, and then
went inside.

“My goodness. I need to take off my dancing
shoes.” Trudy hobbled as though in pain as she went into the
halfway house.

Sherrial grabbed her purse and headed home.
“I better get out of here before y’all have me jammin’ again. See
you tomorrow.”

“Ya’ll come get some fresh lemonade. Squeezed
the lemons myself.” The evening shift staff person beckoned for
them to follow her inside.

“That sounds good. Whew! Worked up a sweat.”
Candi fanned her face with one hand.

“Yeah, we know,” Janice joked. She pinched
her nose with her fingers and grimaced.

Candi aimed a playful swat at the woman’s
head. The others filed along behind them to go into the house.

Tyeisha lingered to walk beside Monette.
Lenore joined them. “This was the best day I’ve had in a long
time,” Tyeisha said with a sigh.

Monette felt warm inside, as though she had a
true family in the women of New Beginnings. In that moment Monette
felt like all complications and tangles in her life would somehow
turn out fine. She draped one arm around Tyeisha’s shoulder and the
other around Lenore.

“Yeah. Not too bad at that,” Monette
said.

Chapter 15

A week later Monette could not believe the
difference a few days could make. After a great reception to
celebrate the launch of Opportunity Knocking, things had gone
south. First she learned the Pardon Board had once again moved her
hearing further away. Apparently the board wasn’t looking forward
to taking on a high- profile applicant. Monette suspected the
influence of Winn Barron’s powerful family played a part. One of
his nephews was running for office in New Orleans. At first Jim had
tried to reassure her. Finally he’d admitted that her notoriety,
combined with the power of the Barron clan, might have something to
do with it. Monette had been trying to shut out bad vibes for days.
Danica’s executive assistant came into Monette’s office without
knocking, the frown on her face announcing the obvious before she
spoke.