Threads of Steel (Bayou Cove) (2 page)

“Hate?
No, I don’t hate her. I hate what she did. Now I simply don’t think about it.”

“Oh sure.
You’re kidding yourself. I know you too well to think you’ve forgotten about that night. You need to let it go. Forgive her.”

Anna Marie reached out to take Little Harry, but stopped. “Forgive her for taking my husband? That’s easier said than done. Had it been Harry she lured into that hotel room, could you have forgiven her?”

“But it wasn’t my Harry. It was Ronnie.” Nancy snuggled Little Harry closer to her body
and stared at Anna Marie. “Maybe she didn’t lure him. Maybe he lured her.”

Anna Marie opened her mouth to answer, but what could she say? Ronnie wasn’t an angel. Still,
Doti
hadn’t been tied up and taken to that room against her will. She’d been a twenty-three-year old, grown woman who knew exactly what she was doing, a woman who was supposed to be her good friend.

Some friend.

But now wasn’t the time to rehash it. She tried to calm her thumping heart before answering.

“I’m not angry with either of them anymore. I simply don’t want to have anything to do with them.”

Nancy’s eyes narrowed. “I think you wouldn’t hurt so much inside if you forgave her.”

Anna Marie raised her hand.
“Enough already.
I didn’t come down here to talk about them.” She took Little Harry. “Come here to Aunt Anna.” She let the scent of baby powder and baby lotion take her away from the sordid subject of Ronnie and
Doti
. “You must’ve just bathed him. He smells so clean.”

Nancy scrunched her lips. “Okay, we’ll change the subject. We won’t talk about them even though I think we should.” She stopped, touched her baby and smiled. “I did just bathe him
.
I always love to smell my babies after their baths.”

The bottle and the afternoon sun had his eyes partially closed, and as soon as he settled in her arms, he cuddled next to her chest. With the fingers on one hand clutching her blouse and his mouth making a sucking motion, he stole Anna Marie’s heart.

The two women sat in the afternoon warmth, savoring the joy that only a baby can bring.

Finally, Nancy leaned back in her chair. “I have some other news. You’re not going to like this one.” The twinkle had returned to her eyes. “I heard through the grapevine that
he’s
going to be at the funeral.”

“He?”
Realization struck. “Ronnie? Ronnie’s coming to town for the funeral? Damn, Nancy. Why would he do that?” She shook her head. “No, that was a stupid question. He has as much right to be there as I do, but I’m not even sure he liked Miss Ellie. She was always on our side, especially when she found out what they were doing behind your back.”

“Yeah, when Miss Ellie heard about their escapades, she used language I didn’t know a little Southern lady knew.” Nancy stood and took Little Harry.

Anna Marie nodded. Her words came out soft and low. “Maybe this is his way to make amends.”

The two friends stood for a moment with nothing but the whirr of a distant outboard motor as a boat raced through the channel.

Finally Nancy let out a loud breath. “Come on, Anna. I have kids to pick up.”

“Can we get together tomorrow?” she asked as she helped Nancy put Little Harry into the stroller. “Maybe we can grab lunch someplace.”

Nancy wrinkled her nose. “I can’t. I volunteered to chaperone one of Samantha’s field trips. We’re going to the Emporium in Mobile.”

“That’s okay. I’ll have an excuse to play golf.”

They walked through the lobby on deep padded, red carpet. Paintings of magnolias, oak trees, and bayou scenes hung above side tables adorned with vases of deep red roses.

As they neared the desk, the clerk looked up. “Would either of you be Ms.
LaFaire
?”

“Yes, sir, I am.”

The man reached into a box of paper while Anna Marie walked up to the desk.

Nancy followed close behind then leaned on the counter just inches from her. “Who’d try to contact you here and not call your cell phone?”

She shrugged. “It must be someone from here who doesn’t have my cell number.”

“I took the call for you before you arrived,” the clerk exclaimed. “Sorry I missed you when you checked in.” He handed an envelope to her. “Enjoy your stay at the resort, Ms.
LaFaire
.”

Anna Marie took the envelope, smiled her thank you and headed toward the door.

“Wait.” Nancy touched her arm. “Aren’t you going to read it? Like you said, it’s got to be someone from around here.”

Anna Marie held the envelope close to her body. She itched to know what it said and who it was from, but hesitated opening it here.

Nancy gripped her arm when they stepped on the sidewalk. “You might as well open it. I’m not leaving until we see who it is.” Her eyes twinkled with excitement.

Anna Marie wished she could be as enthusiastic as Nancy, but she had a feeling this wasn’t anything good. She lifted the envelope to the light as if she could see the message without opening it.

“Oh, good grief, Anna.
Open it before I do.”

Finally she ripped the envelope. With Nancy hanging over her shoulder, she read, “Your partner in New Orleans said you’d be here today. It’s time to talk. Call me.
Doti
.
”
A phone number was written below the name.

Both women stood silent. Anna Marie gripped the piece of paper, her heart pounding.

Nancy grabbed her arm. “Oh, my
gawd
, she wants to talk to you! Can you believe that? After all these years,
Doti
wants to talk.”

Stunned by the message, Anna Marie nodded but hardly registered Nancy’s words.

Nancy put her free hand on Anna Marie’s arm. “You okay, Anna?”

She pulled herself together and inhaled deeply. “Sure, Nancy, I’m just hunky-dory. With the woman who stole my husband wanting to talk with me and my ex at the funeral of the woman who was like my second mother, why wouldn’t I be okay? All this should make for an interesting few days.”

“But you can handle it.”

Nancy looked so sincere that Anna Marie grabbed her and hugged her hard. “If you’ll be by my side, I certainly can. Now go get your kids.”

Anna Marie watched Nancy drive away from the hotel. True friendship had a way of bonding people together no matter how different their worlds were.

Her chest tightened as she looked down at the message in her hand.
Doti
had once been like a sister to Nancy and her. Anna Marie tried hard, really hard, to remember the happy times in their lives instead of the hurt she felt each time she thought about
Doti
and Ronnie.

It didn’t work. Even though she tried to deny it, the stab of betrayal from over a decade ago was as strong today as it was then.

“Damn it,
Doti
. How can you expect me to pick up the phone and call you?”

She dropped the message in her purse,
then
headed toward the country club to sign up for a tee time tomorrow morning. She’d have most of the day to herself before having to go to the funeral home tomorrow night, and there was no reason not to take advantage of the hotel’s golf course, one of the finest in the area.

She was here to bury Miss Ellie, but she’d thrown her golf bag into the car at the last moment. How long had it been since she’d enjoyed a game of golf?

“Forgive me, Miss Ellie. I know this isn’t supposed to be a vacation, but, gosh, I do need
this get-away.”

She slowed her pace and watched an older man and woman slide off their golf cart at the practice driving range. They pulled drivers from their bags and removed matching fuzzy tiger heads,
then
each one took a practice swing with little or no talking. Obviously this was not their first time to play golf together.

The lady took her stance, swung the club and drove the ball straight and long. With an approving nod and smile, the man stepped up for his turn.

I wonder how long they’ve been
married?
Forty years?
Fifty
?
Amazing.
How does a person find a mate for life? Not just any mate, but one that loves and understands the other as this couple seemed to be doing.

She thought how lucky some people were. Nancy and Harry would probably be like that couple one day. Whatever they were going through now was sure to be only a little bump in the road. They’d grow old together and make all their friends jealous—including her.

She entered the clubhouse with its typical golf décor of green and burgundy plaids. At the desk she requested an early tee time from a young man. “Ma’am, I’m sorry, but we’re having a tournament tomorrow. If you’d like, I’ll put your name on a waiting list for the afternoon.”

Disappointment settled over Anna Marie. She looked at his name tag. “Jimmy, I’m staying in the hotel, but I’m here for a funeral, and I don’t think I’ll have a lot of time to be on the course.” She hoped she wasn’t whining, but she’d promised her partner Stephen she’d be home right after the funeral. Their design business was in the middle of the busiest time of year. Mardi
Gras
season was gearing up in New Orleans, and their workroom stayed buzzing from early in the morning until well after the sun went down.

“Yes, ma’am, I understand.” The boy looked back over his list. “Could you play this afternoon? I have one single scheduled in thirty minutes. He’s a regular here. He doesn’t mind being paired with our guests.”

When she didn’t answer right away, he continued. “I promise he’s a nice man. You’ll enjoy yourself.”

She glanced out the window at the luring green fairway. “Okay. Put me down, if you think he won’t mind.”

“Perfect, you’ll like him. His name is Doug McCall.” He stretched his neck to see out the front window. “There he is now if you’d like to introduce yourself.”

Anna Marie thanked Jimmy,
then
hurried out to meet this “nice man.” She hoped he’d be as pleasant and understanding when she explained she hadn’t played golf in quite a while. Deep inside, she hoped he was an older gentleman, someone she might be able to keep up with. Even though she loved the game and felt she was pretty good at it, she was a little out of practice.

She chuckled.
A little?
That’s an understatement if I ever heard one.

She’d kept her five-foot, six-inch body in good condition by spending occasional lunch hours in the gym, but as far as getting out to the greens to practice, she could only dream.

Crossing her fingers that her partner would be only a fair-to-medium skilled golfer, she walked out to the rows of golf carts.

Doug McCall stood next to the neat line of carts but was now talking to an attractive lady. He worked at strapping his clubs to the back of one of the carts while he talked to the woman. From her yellow golf shirt and shorts, Anna Marie assumed she was also a golfer and wondered if the lady was asking to play a round with him or maybe she was the man’s wife. She hoped she wasn’t interfering with his afternoon plans, but since this was the only time she had to play, Anna Marie took a deep breath and headed toward them. He could always tell her he couldn’t
play if he’d already made other plans.

As she got closer, she saw that his white golf shirt fit snugly across broad shoulders and was tucked into a pair of khaki shorts that emphasized a flat stomach and muscular, tanned legs. His dark hair, with a light sprinkling of grey, told her he wasn’t young, but he certainly wasn’t the elderly,
poochy
-stomached gentleman she’d hoped for.

Before she reached the pair, the lady smiled then sashayed across the parking lot.

Anna Marie approached him. “Mr. McCall?” The man turned. She relaxed when he smiled. “My name is Anna Marie
LaFaire
. Jimmy scheduled me to play with you this afternoon. I hope you don’t mind.”

His smile widened, bringing attention to his well-shaped mouth and straight, white teeth. “Jimmy’s always looking out for me. I’ll have to leave him a nice tip this evening. It would be my pleasure to play a round of golf with you, Miss
LaFaire
.”

“Thank you,” she said, relief rushing through her. “I’m in town for a funeral, and with the tournament tomorrow, I’m not sure when I’ll have the chance to play again.” She looked up at the lady who walked into the hotel’s front lobby. “I hope I wasn’t interfering with your afternoon.”

He looked toward the hotel, then back to her. “No.
Not at all.
She’s just a guest here who played a round with me yesterday.”

Not sure what she was supposed to deduce from that, she didn’t reply. Instead, she glanced down at her dress slacks. “Could I have a few minutes to change into my golf clothes? I swear I won’t be long. My clubs and golf shoes are still in the car.”

“Not a problem. Do you need help with your bags?”