Paint Me Fearless, page 17
I grew angry just thinking about it. Poor Desi.
“Lenny is furious. They’re doing the same thing to him. He wanted to bring a plumber over Wednesday afternoon—it took him forever to line one up—and Dolly said they could come, but only for five minutes because she had to go somewhere.”
“What’s wrong with the plumbing?”
“Nothing. Lenny just wanted to see if down the road we might be able to install a garbage disposal. He wanted the plumber to see how involved it would be, how much it would cost us. Anyway, Lenny told Dolly it might take a little longer than five minutes, but he’d be happy to lock up when they left. Do you know what she said?”
“I’m almost afraid to hear.”
“She told Lenny no, because she didn’t feel comfortable with laborers in her house when she wasn’t there. I kid you not—that’s exactly what she said.”
“Oh my. What is going on with her? That’s just mean.”
A beat passed as Desi sighed hopelessly. “I guess we should have known. Done our due diligence. Remembered who we were dealing with.”
Sterling had settled down, and lazily rested his head on the propped pillow while Violet nibbled on his toes. They both watched me closely. When I grinned at them, their expressions flooded with assurance.
“I’m so angry,” Desi went on. “And hurt, honestly. I’m to the point I won’t humiliate myself anymore by asking. We’ll just wait until closing.”
“That’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Doesn’t closing have to be in so many days or the contract is null and void? Or something like that?”
“Yeah. It’s set for two and a half months from now.”
Violet’s eyes drooped with exhaustion. Apparently, Sterling’s toes were close enough to a pacifier to put her to sleep.
“You know what’s so bad?” Desi asked. “I finally got up the nerve to share the news with Sunny. I even asked her to go see the house with me. She was so excited. You know how she’s always wanted a house.”
“I do. What was Dolly’s excuse that time?”
“I don’t remember. She had an aerobics class or something.”
“She’s a horrible person,” I said angrily. “And yet she acts so sanctimonious and holier than thou.”
“Yeah. Speaking of holiness, have you and Dean found a church home yet?”
Now it was my turn to make up excuses. “Uh… we’ve been to a few, but nothing fits. And with the twins…”
“I understand. I’ve got three little energizer bunnies myself. You should see Micah. She’s such a prissy little thing now.”
The more Desi talked about the kids, the more I wavered on the notion of moving back to Louisiana. Forcing myself to shake it off, I waded into unchartered territory. “How is Sunny these days?”
“The same,” Desi said sadly. “She’s overjoyed at whatever scraps of love are thrown her way.”
Dare I push this? While Desi had always been vehement in her refusal to talk about the dustup with Sunny, this sounded like an opening. “Desi,” I broached slowly, “whatever happened—”
“Robin, don’t—”
“Okay, I won’t push, but just let me say this.” When she didn’t protest, I went on. “Whatever happened, no matter how horrible it was, don’t let it diminish the beautiful relationship you had with Sunny. Part of what makes you special is her and vice versa. You two shine the most lovely, bright light on one another. Whatever happened, it’s just Satan trying to dim those lights.”
“I agree,” Desi said finally. “And that’s why I’m so disappointed in Dolly. This would have been a good chance to show Sunny some love.”
Chapter Sixteen
Filthy Microwave That Did Me In
Desi
Micah’s little snores hummed through the intercom speaker perched atop the kitchen bar, while the boys quietly colored on the back porch.
On my hands and knees, I was in the process of scrubbing the grime off all the baseboards in the trailer. The couple who had bought our place were moving to Shady Gully in a few weeks, so I had time to make it squeaky clean and as inviting and cozy as possible.
A box of yellow rubber gloves and a blue bucket filled with bleachy water sat next to me. So far, I’d been through three pairs of gloves, and even with those, my hands had gone from itchy and red to full-fledged blistered and chapped. I huffed as I pulled a fresh pair of gloves from the box and wrenched them onto my stinging hands. Winston watched me from the comfort of his doggie bed, looking as exhausted as I felt.
Outside, the boys bickered over the merits of red violet, debating whether it was more pink or more purple. Fortunately, they came to a peaceful compromise, before moving on to sea green.
It was hard to concentrate today. This was the day I would finally set eyes on my beautiful new house on Piney Lake.
Dean’s flight into Alexandria was due around midday, and unless there was a delay, he was all set to meet us at the lawyer’s office in Belle Maison for closing this afternoon. I scrubbed a little harder on the baseboard under the sink as my heart catapulted with anticipation.
When the doorbell shook me out of my reverie, I quickly yanked off my gloves and hurried to answer it. Sunny stood on the other side of the screen, with a giant package in her hands.
“Mama.” I opened the door.
She’d made an effort with her clothes and her makeup, and I sensed in her an air of well-being and contentment.
“Good morning, kitten. Did I interrupt anything?” She took in my cracked hands. “My goodness, what did you do to your hands?”
“Oh, I was cleaning. I’m fine.” I ushered her in. “What’s that?”
“It’s a surprise. Sort of a housewarming gift.” When she handed it to me, I could feel the outline of a picture frame. “Everything looks spotless. I thought you and Lenny found buyers already.”
“We did. I just want to make sure everything is nice. Lenny’s going to repaint the baseboards, so I’m trying to get the muck off.”
Sunny walked to the sink and set her purse down. She took in the stove grates and oven racks I had soaking in hot, soapy water. “You’ve always taken such good care of your things.” She nodded, as if she were making a point to herself.
Just then the patio door slid open, and Luke and Petey raced each other to get to Sunny first.
“Nana!” Petey exclaimed.
Sunny delighted in the attention, and for a brief moment, I saw a flicker of the old Sunny.
“What’s in the bag, Nana?” Luke asked. “Did you bring us a surprise?”
“Yes, of course I did. But this is for your mama. For your new house.”
While Luke fixed his eyes on Sunny’s car, Petey moved excitedly toward the package. “Open it! Let’s see!”
I knelt and carefully tore away the thick brown paper as Petey’s hot breath warmed the side of my cheek.
When I had cleared the paper away, I found myself face to face with my past. I couldn’t have been more than seven years old. Mama and Daddy stood behind me, all of us aglow as Farolitos lit up the dark skies of downtown Santa Fe. It had been Christmas Eve and one of the most wonderful nights of my life. Daddy had coaxed Mama into breaking tradition, and we drove up to Santa Fe for the legendary Christmas Eve Farolito walk. Farolitos, little lights made with tea candles, sand, and paper bags, lined the rooftops of old adobe buildings throughout the art district of Santa Fe. Folks sipped hot chocolate while strolling in and out of art galleries along Canyon Road, home of some of the country’s finest art collections. Street musicians sang Christmas carols as families bundled up in festive hats and scarves and warmed themselves by tiny bonfires, called luminarias, which smelled like pinon logs.
It had been a street musician who’d taken our picture. My cheeks were flushed, and there was a thick sheen of chocolate on my upper lip. Mama’s eyes were sparkling, and her nose was red from the cold. Daddy’s eyes squinted as his happy cheeks pushed them up into little slits.
We had been so happy that night. I found myself wistful for the little family in the painting. Their faces so confident, so sure of the countless nights of happiness and joyous celebrations ahead.
“Mama,” I breathed. “Look at us…”
“Do you like it?”
“I love it. The colors, the background. Look at our faces. You did a beautiful job.”
“Good,” she said in a thick voice.
“Can we go get our surprise now? Is it in your car?” Luke interrupted. Once Sunny told him it was in the backseat, he sprinted off, Petey right on his tail.
“I wanted you to remember the good times,” Sunny said to me then.
I looked at her. “I do. I always will.”
She nodded, as if relieved. When she glanced at Winston, who was almost sound asleep, she frowned. “He didn’t even get up to follow the boys. He looks so tired.” Mama bent to pet the old dog, and as they exchanged looks it seemed a jolt of empathy passed between them.
“Harry is getting married,” She said pensively.
It took a minute for the shock to wash over me. And even then, I looked to Mama for further explanation. How could that be? Sunny was the love of his life. He would never get over her. “What? Why?”
“I don’t know, Desi. I guess you’ll have to ask him.” Mama looked sad, and for some reason that irked me.
“Well, why should he be heartbroken forever?” I asked. “He has a right to a life.”
“Of course he does.”
“I mean, you’re the one who left him.”
“That’s true.”
“He waited for years, hoping you’d come around—”
“Yes, Desi.” Mama finally reacted. “You’re right. I broke his heart. I destroyed his life. I’m aware.”
After the initial satisfaction of her reaction faded, I felt deflated. “Who is she? How did you find out?”
“He wrote me a letter. Some woman named Connie.”
I saw Luke and Petey outside, running around blowing bubbles at each other. “I’m glad for him.”
“I suppose deep down I am as well. I just regret that my bad choices, or the culmination of them, have hurt you and Harry.” Mama fidgeted, no doubt itching for a cigarette. “I guess that’s what I get for picking style over substance.”
“Your motto,” I harrumphed.
“It’s true.”
“Well then, stop doing it.”
Sunny looked at me, taken aback.
“I’m serious, Mama. You’re doing it now. You’re picking Tom over me. Over your grandkids.”
“I’m not,” Sunny denied.
“Then why don’t you leave him? I don’t understand,” I said with rising anger. “Why aren’t you furious with him?”
“It’s not that simple—”
“It is that simple.”
“Where would I go? What would I do? I’ve made such a mess of my life, and it’s too late for me to start over, Desi.”
We stared at each other, frustrated, hurt. At an impasse.
“The best thing I ever did in my life was having you,” she said. “I want you to always know that.” Mama’s eyes clouded as she watched Luke and Petey play outside. “Now that Harry’s happy, and you’re doing so well with your beautiful kids, your wonderful husband, and moving into a big new home…”
“There’s room for you in that home, Mama. Just pick me.”
Mama kissed my forehead tenderly. “I pick you, Desi. Always know that. And knowing you’re happy is everything. And I’m grateful that you’ve kept this between us. It’s the only thing that’s helped me function without humiliation. Without shame.” She took a long look at the painting, seemed momentarily adrift in better times.
Poor Sunny, I thought, utterly confused.
“Why on earth would I ever tell anyone, Mama?” I couldn’t hide the pain in my voice. “Because it’s humiliating, that’s why. And shame? I have to live with the shame of what happened every single day of my life.”
A long moment passed as Sunny watched her grandsons chasing bubbles outside. “I’m sorry, Desi. If it makes you feel better, the guilt haunts me every day.”
“So what then?” I demanded. “He just wins? Is that it?”
Sunny’s face was ravaged with hopelessness and defeat. “I don’t know.” She picked up her purse. Stole one last glance at the Farolito painting, at our joyful, unknowing faces. “I’m not sure anyone does.”
†††
Dean’s flight landed early, so he was already at the law office when we arrived. After he and the real estate attorney did some brainstorming, we were pleased to learn our monthly notes were going to be lower than we’d thought.
“That’s great news,” Lenny said. “Maybe we can swing this without Desi having to go back to work.”
“Yeah,” Dean commented. “That would be ideal.”
My heart leapt at the thought. Despite scouring my hands raw and the troubling encounter with Sunny earlier, my day was improving. Particularly since Dolly and Mitch opted to send a proxy to sign the official closing documents. It turned out to be Kendra, who was an assistant at another law office in Belle Maison.
“How’ve you been?” I asked pleasantly.
“Great,” she said in a clipped voice. “Sorry Dolly and Mitch couldn’t make it. They moved out of town.”
“Really?” Lenny said. “Where to?”
Kendra didn’t seem inclined to elaborate, so I added, “I hope everything is okay.”
Kendra focused on the paperwork in front of her.
Lenny raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical as we began to sign papers. Everything went smoothly as a lot of talk revolved around the scandalous arrest in the local news. I’d been so busy cleaning and planning our move that I’d barely had time to check the weather, much less the news of the day.
“This guy is going to do some time,” said David, the good-natured attorney. His eyes were blue, his smile warm, and his demeanor hopeful. Apparently, a huge Yankees fan, David had a Derek Jeter jersey encased and framed on the wall.
“This quack was practically running a pill mill, from what I understand,” Dean commented. As I watched Dean and David banter back and forth, I was struck by Dean’s transformation into a self-assured, professional executive. “Wasn’t he based somewhere around Natchez?”
“Yeah,” David replied. “He’s charged with multiple counts of unauthorized practice of medicine, gross negligence, overprescribing controlled substances, and reckless endangerment. A basket full of felonies.”
As realization swept over me, I forced myself to focus on the document on the table, but my hands had gone clammy, and the pen kept slipping in my fingers.
“I read one lady with heart disease died.” Dean shook his head. “Our good Dr. Schmidt is in serious trouble. And rightly so.”
“Agreed,” David quipped. “Drugs like phentermine and amphetamines have serious side effects and should be carefully regulated.”
While I was busy making an effort to concentrate on the paperwork, I noticed something with the numbers…
Just as I was about to question it, David, the affable attorney, tossed a few keys on the table. “Congratulations folks,” he said with a grin. “You just bought yourself a house.”
†††
As we drove to the new house, I forgot all about the creepy fat doctor, his whistle-wielding nurse, Cruella, and even the funny closing numbers. Instead my thoughts were consumed with new beginnings and what lay beyond the key I held in my hand.
“We’re ahead of schedule,” Lenny said after glancing at his watch. “That’ll give me a few extra hours before I have to hit the road for New Orleans.”
“I can’t believe you have to leave for offshore this evening,” Dean said. “Seems like they could’ve been more flexible with your schedule.”
“They were. I was supposed to be there three days ago.” Lenny said as he turned into our driveway on Piney Lake. “Check it out, Desi. Home sweet home.”
As we pulled in, I thought how handsomely the lake framed our white-siding house on the hill. My heart swelled with anticipation. “I’m so excited. If only Robin were here.”
Dean whistled. “Wow, that’s beautiful.”
“Not bad, huh?” Lenny looked pleased.
“It’s like a picture,” Dean agreed. “And trust me, Robin is disappointed she couldn’t be here, but Violet’s inner ear issues are making her crazy. She’s convinced she’s the only one who can get her through it. Nevertheless, she sent me armed with this.” Dean opened a fancy leather carrier and pulled out an expensive-looking Nikon camera. “She wants a play-by-play.”
After Lenny parked, he retrieved the garage opener from the big envelope with the paperwork. He clicked it, and just like that, the door lifted to my dream house.
“Nice big garage,” Dean said.
It was. Even if there were garbage bags, broken lawn chairs, and random plastic throw-outs piled on one side. “Let’s go inside.” I could hardly feel my legs underneath me as I put the key in, turned, and opened the door.
I knew something was wrong immediately. The first thing I saw was a plastic bottle of soda lying sideways on the hardwood floor. The lid hadn’t been properly secured, and sticky brown soda had leaked all over the oak planks.
“Well… that can be cleaned up,” I muttered.
“Nice wood though,” Dean offered.
As we walked down the hall, I couldn’t help but notice how our feet made imprints on the scratched, filthy floor. I said nothing, until a glance in the small office revealed a lone lightbulb hanging from the ceiling. “Lenny, wasn’t there a ceiling fan there?”
I could tell by his tight expression that there had been. Okay. Whatever. The kitchen would be beautiful no matter what. When we turned the corner the kitchen windows shone brightly against the granite bar. Unfortunately, the granite bar was carelessly scattered with…
