Rescue Me (3 page)

Alex didn’t have to ask which brother had stuck his nose where it didn’t belong. “When did you talk to Eli?” he asked through clenched teeth.

“He came over to the site just after your surgery and briefed us all about what you’d been through. All the guys here felt so bad for you.”

Alex made a mental note to beat the hell out of Eli when he saw him to night at Mama’s. As if he needed his brother to play spokesman for his injury. One thing he did not want was sympathy from the men who worked for him.

Alex toured the rest of the site and gave his employees the praise they deserved for a job well done. On the drive back to Mama’s he tried to abate his sense of uselessness by going over all the work he’d accomplished in the past week. The time off had given him the opportunity to tackle the mountain of paperwork that had accumulated on his desk over the past few months. He’d had extensive safety investigations performed on two minor incidents that happened on a job over the summer. He’d spent the last couple of days studying the findings and had figured out measures he
could implement to prevent the incidents from occurring again.

The extra time had also given him a chance to concentrate on school. No one in his family knew about the online classes he began taking last spring in an effort to finally earn the bachelor’s degree he’d given up on after his father died and left Alex with two brothers and a mother to watch over. With running his business, taking care of Jasmine, and trying to finish up the paper he had to write for the European history class he’d foolishly chosen as an elective, Alex was on the verge of burnout.

He turned down Amelia Street and spotted Toby’s Acura parked along the curb in front of his mother’s house. His family usually got together for Sunday dinner, but his youngest brother, Toby, was leaving tomorrow to go on tour with the singing sensation he’d discovered, Aria Jordan. Six months ago, Aria had won the title of a reality TV talent show and was now one of the hottest names in music.

Alex pulled up behind Toby’s car and tried to get out of the truck as quickly as his aching shoulder would allow.

Mama was standing just inside the open front door.

Alex swore under his breath. He walked over to the gravel driveway, passing Eli’s SUV and Mama’s car. No one ever used the front door. Maybe he could pretend he didn’t see her standing there with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Don’t act as if you don’t see me, Alexander.”

His chin fell to his chest. Alex turned left and walked along the pathway up to the small front porch. “It’s no big deal, Mama,” he said as he approached.

“Then why did you have to sneak out of the house?” his mother asked.

He was about to argue that he didn’t sneak out, but decided it was time he confront Mama about her constant hovering.

“I had to sneak out because someone has been keeping me in here like I’m in prison.”

“I have not—”

“Yes, you have,” he cut her off. “You’ve been smothering me and you know it. The fact that I had to wait until you were out of the house before I could leave says enough.”

“I’m trying to help you follow your doctor’s orders.”

“Dinner is getting cold, Mama. Let’s go inside.”

“Where have you been?”

“Let’s go inside,” Alex insisted.

His mother turned and retreated into the living room. “I’m going to find out,” she said.

“And just what are you going to do if you find out? You do remember I’m a thirty eight year old man, right?” Alex asked.

“Since I’m the one who suffered through forty one hours of labor with you, I guess I would remember,” she answered. She was The Guilt Master. “Now tell me where you ran off to,” she said.

“No.” Alex followed her through the living room and into the dining room where his brothers and future sister in law, Monica, were already seated around the table.

“Oooh, you’re in trouble,” Eli said.

“I wouldn’t want to be you,” Toby followed.

“Shut up,” Alex told the both of them.

“Hey there, Alex.” Monica rose from her seat and greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. “Don’t pay attention to your brothers.”

“I never do,” Alex said.

“Daddy!” Jasmine flew in from the kitchen, her arms opened wide. Her light brown eyes, so much like her mother’s, were bright with excitement.

“Hey there, Jazzy Bean.” Alex smiled, stooping down to give her a one armed hug. One of her two thick braids was missing a barrette on the end and had started to unravel. “How was school?”

“I killed a turtle,” she answered matter of factly.

“On purpose?” Toby asked.

“No, Uncle Toby.” Jasmine gave him an exaggerated eye roll only a six year old girl who watched more television than she should could pull off.

Alex tapped her on the shoulder to draw her attention back to him. “What happened to the turtle, Pumpkin?”

“I don’t know.” Jasmine hunched her shoulders. “Mrs. Overland brought the turtle in for everybody to see, and we all got to hold it. When it was my turn, it just died.”

“Well, did you do anything to it?” Monica asked. Jasmine shook her head, guilt gleaming through her round eyes.

“You sure, Water Lily?” Eli asked, using one of the many nicknames Jasmine pretended she didn’t like, but secretly loved. Eli always called her a different type of flower.

“I didn’t do nothing to that turtle,” Jazzy persisted.

“You didn’t do anything,” Eli corrected.

“I didn’t do
anything
,” Jasmine reiterated, again with the eye roll. It was time Alex broke her of that habit. “I just tried making the turtle better, that’s all.”

The adults at the table all looked at each other. Alex turned his daughter to face him again and asked, “How?”

“I gave him a cough drop.”

“Why?”

“He looked sick, and when I put him up to my ear, I didn’t hear him breathing. When I couldn’t breathe, Grandma gave me cough drops to help clear up the mussus.”

“Mucus,” Alex corrected.

“Yeah, the mussus. I thought the turtle had mussus, so I gave him one of my cough drops to help him breath better.”

“She murdered the turtle,” Eli deadpanned.

“Stop it,” Monica said under her breath. “It was a mistake.”

“Let’s hope,” Toby added.

Mama came into the dining room carrying a glass dish with baked pork chops covered in gravy.

“Grandma, did you see the towels?” Jasmine asked. “I put them all away.”

“I saw, baby.”

“So, can I go?”

“Your plate is on the kitchen table.”

“Yes!” Jasmine cheered. She disentangled herself from Alex’s hold and ran to the kitchen. In a matter of seconds, she ran back from the kitchen holding a plate of something Alex couldn’t identify, and went straight through the dining room into the living room. The sound of the television firing on soon followed.

“What was that about?” Alex asked his mother as he rounded the table and took the seat at the opposite end.

“I told her she could have chicken nuggets and watch TV if she helped me with the laundry. She put the towels away.”

“That’s part of her chores at home, Mama. She shouldn’t get special treats for doing something she already has to do.”

There was a pregnant pause; then Eli said, “We didn’t think Jasmine should be in here for the conversation we’re about to have.”

The hairs on the back of Alex’s neck stood at attention as his eyes roamed over the faces at the table. Faces that were focused on him.

“What’s wrong?” His heartbeat automatically escalated.

“Jasmine’s principal called while you were away,” Mama answered.

Trepidation slithered down his spine. “What did she say?”

“Apparently, Jasmine has been acting out in class,” Monica said.

“Acting out how?”

“The teacher says she’s been bullying some of the other students,” Eli answered. “And any time they try to discipline her, she starts screaming uncontrollably and crying about not having a mother anymore.”

“Pretty smart, if you asked me,” Toby said, stabbing a pork chop with his fork and plopping it on his plate. “I tried milking Pop’s death my entire seventh grade year.”

“Tobias Anthony!” their mother screeched.

“Could you try not being an ass once in a while?” Eli grumbled.

“No language at the dinner table, Elijah,” Mama warned. She turned to Alex. “The principal wants to speak with you tomorrow.”

If he were not so upset, Alex would have laughed at the irony. He’d gone through twelve years of school without ever being called to the principal’s office for discipline problems. Jasmine was only in the first grade and was already making a name for herself as a troublemaker.

“What am I supposed to do?” Alex asked.

“Talk to the principal. Then you’ll need to talk to that little diva in there,” Mama said. “She has to learn she cannot use Chantal’s death as an excuse to behave however she wants.”

“This from the woman who’s allowing her to eat junk and watch TV during dinner,” he snorted. A flash of hurt stalked across Mama’s face, and Alex immediately felt like a jerk. “Sorry, Mama.”

“We are all guilty of spoiling her,” his mother argued. “I can admit to giving her more than I probably should. She’s my only grandchild, and it is hard to think about her having to grow up without her mother.”

“Yeah, but she’s not the only kid that’s ever had to grow up without a mother,” Eli rationalized.

Mama nodded. “We’ve got to stop making excuses for her.”

“Did the principal suggest a time we should meet?” Alex asked.

“She asked that you call her office tomorrow morning so you two could set up a time that works for the both of you.”

“Well, any time works for me. It’s not like I’m doing anything with my day.”

“Except for sneaking out like a teenager,” Mama said.

Alex swallowed his retort as they settled in to eat. Dishes piled high with succulent sides made their way around the
table as everyone took turns filling the rest of the family in on what was happening in their lives.

“Where’s Sienna?” Monica asked Toby.

Sienna Culpepper was Toby’s fiancée. The two had been best friends since childhood. However, Toby had never pursued a real relationship with Sienna until earlier this year when Sienna worked on the promotion for the TV show that also solidified Toby’s career in the music business.

“She’s having dinner with Ivana. She said she would try to stop in tomorrow to see you before we leave,” Toby said between bites.

“Well, Monica and I have some news,” Eli interrupted.

Alex, Toby and Margo looked at them expectantly.

“We’ve set a date for the wedding,” Monica answered, her smile stretching from ear to ear.

“It’s about time,” Toby said.

“Congratulations.” Mama jumped out of her seat and came around to the other side of the table, lavishing both Monica and Eli with kisses. “I can finally start buying all the wedding favors and decorations I’ve found on the Internet.”

“Only if you plan on bringing all that stuff to St. Martin,” Eli said.

“What?” Mama asked.

“We’ve decided to have a small ceremony in the Virgin Islands,” Monica explained. “We’re thinking of St. Martin, since that’s where Eli’s father’s ancestors came from.”

“Oh yeah, baby,” Toby said, rubbing his hands together. “I’m up for a little fun in the sun. When are ya’ll gonna do this thing?”

“We were hoping to get married later this fall. The weather is really mild around that time.”

“But all the ladies from the church can’t go to the Virgin Islands,” Mama argued as she returned to her seat.

“That’s a good thing, since they’re not invited,” Eli said.

“Eli.” Monica slapped his hand. “We just want a small ceremony with family, Margo.”

“But—”

“No buts, Mama.”

“I hope I can get away,” Toby said.

“You’d better,” Monica threatened. “We’d love for Aria to perform at the ceremony.”

“I wonder if Sienna would go for a double wedding on the beach,” Toby mused, reaching for the last dinner roll.

A high pitched sound chimed throughout the kitchen.

“That’s me.” Eli pulled his BlackBerry from its leather sheath and stared at the screen. “I’ve got to get to the hospital.”

“I thought you were off to night,” Mama complained.

“Not for this patient,” Eli said as he rose from the table, taking one last bite from his pork chop. “I promised Amanda Daniels I would deliver her baby boy, no matter what.”

“Wait, I’ve got pecan pie in the kitchen. Let me get you a piece.”

“Send it home with Monica,” Eli said. He kissed his fiancée, then went over to Mama’s side of the table and kissed her.

“I should probably get going, too,” Toby said. “I left one last batch of clothes in the dryer. I need to get my laundry done so I can finish packing.”

Everyone started rising from the table at the same time. Mama went around and gave Toby a long, hard squeeze. “Love you, baby.”

“Love you, too, Mama,” Toby said, returning her hug.

He said good bye to Monica before making his way to Alex. Alex captured the hand Toby held out and brought his brother in for a hug.

“Take care of yourself,” Alex ordered.

“You, too. Don’t push it too hard. You need to give your self time to heal.”

“You sound like the doctor,” Alex said.

“No, I sound like someone who knows a little about injuries.”

If anyone knew about debilitating injuries, it was Toby. His spine had been crushed in a head on collision just before his rookie season in the NBA began. Toby had endured a long recovery, but he’d gotten through it.

“Good luck with that meeting with Jazzy’s principal tomorrow. Call and let me know what happens,” Toby said. “Let me go in and give her a kiss good bye.”

“Give Sienna my best, just in case she doesn’t make it here tomorrow,” Mama said, giving Toby one last squeeze.

“I will, Mama,” he answered, then went into the living room to say good bye to Jasmine.

“I’ll clear the table,” Monica offered.

“Don’t worry about that,” Mama said, going for the dish with the squash and shrimp casserole.

“I’ve got it, Margo,” Monica insisted. “Go in the living room and give Toby one last kiss good bye. You know you’re dying to.”