“Has she been giving you a lot of trouble, following the doctor’s orders I mean.” LaShaun ate a bit of teacake.
“Girl, don’t get me started.” Rita rolled her eyes and groaned. “She doesn’t want to swallow a lot of pills, won’t stay in bed, thinks the doctor is too young. On and on. Finally I told her to I was going home if she could take care of herself.”
LaShaun shook her head. Rita was the only one of Momon Odette’s eight grandchildren that dared talk to her that way. “What did she say?”
“I’m not sure,” Rita replied with a frown. Then she grinned. “I think she cussed me out, but it was all in old Creole French.”
LaShaun and Rita shared a long hard laugh until both were crying. After a few minutes they both recovered. Rita got up and poured herself a glass of water.
“But doesn’t she just love drama. Like tonight, dropping hints about her lawyer coming over.” LaShaun sipped milk then looked at Rita. “Okay, so what’s up?”
Rita leaned against the kitchen counter with the glass of water. “Speaking of drama. The vultures are circling. Your two uncles and your aunt, not to mention the cousins all tryin’ to figure out what they can get.”
“They're you're people, too, don't forget. You don't even have to tell me. They've been trying to get you out of the house. I hope they haven’t made your life too miserable.” LaShaun gave her sympathetic look.
“Child, I was just bluffin’ with Momon. Unless I’m satisfied she’s gonna be taken care of right they would have to blast me outta here with dynamite.”
“I really appreciate you being here for her. I should have come sooner.” LaShaun stared down at her hands gripping the mug. “Especially considering the way the rest of the family treats you.”
Rita’s father had been Momon Odette’s middle child, Simon. He’d been as wild as LaShaun’s mother Francine. And like his older sister he had died young. Rita’s mother had been left a young widow with a child to support. Momon Odette had stepped in to help her. There was no denying that Momon Odette had favored her two orphaned grandchildren.
“I don’t care what they think. And you stop feeling guilty.” Rita pointed a finger at her.
“You know me too well.” LaShaun smiled at her. “So what’s up with this lawyer?”
“Devin J. Martin. He’s fine, but a little too slick for me. Just your kind.” Rita raised an eyebrow at her.
“Now why does that name sound familiar?” LaShaun twisted a lock of her hair as she tried to clear the cobwebs.
“I don’t know. He’s not from around here I can tell you that much, so that’s not it.” Rita shrugged. “Anyway, Momon Odette is about to answer everybody’s questions about who is gonna get what. And I got a feelin’ most of them won’t be happy.”
“Have you seen her will?” LaShaun asked and looked at Rita. “Since she’s giving up secrets.”
“As if. Givin’ me a recipe is one thing, but that old lady is havin' way too much fun makin’ us all wonder. Our kinfolks are being so nice to her it makes me queasy. Girl, you oughta hear ‘em.” Rita grimaced. “This is Aunt Leah, ‘Now mama, you should have called me soon as you started feeling bad. Let me come over and fix you something to eat.’”
“Aunt Leah never cooked for her own husband and children,” LaShaun retorted. She giggled. “Ree, you sound just like her. Aunt Leah has that chicken squeak voice when she’s being phony.”
“Momon told her, ‘Leah, I’ll eat your cookin’ when I’m ready to leave this earth faster than sickness and old age can do me in.” Rita threw back her head and laughed.
LaShaun laughed with her. “Well, this fine and slick lawyer is going to be here tomorrow.”
“Then buckle your seat belt, baby. Ain’t no drama like Rousselle family drama, cause Rouselle family drama don’t stop,” Rita chanted in a hip-hop singsong.
“Especially when money and property are involved,” LaShaun added. They nodded at each solemnly. Neither of them looked forward to having their predatory kinfolks swoop in.
“Girl, don’t get me started.” Rita rolled her eyes and groaned. “She doesn’t want to swallow a lot of pills, won’t stay in bed, thinks the doctor is too young. On and on. Finally I told her to I was going home if she could take care of herself.”
LaShaun shook her head. Rita was the only one of Momon Odette’s eight grandchildren that dared talk to her that way. “What did she say?”
“I’m not sure,” Rita replied with a frown. Then she grinned. “I think she cussed me out, but it was all in old Creole French.”
LaShaun and Rita shared a long hard laugh until both were crying. After a few minutes they both recovered. Rita got up and poured herself a glass of water.
“But doesn’t she just love drama. Like tonight, dropping hints about her lawyer coming over.” LaShaun sipped milk then looked at Rita. “Okay, so what’s up?”
Rita leaned against the kitchen counter with the glass of water. “Speaking of drama. The vultures are circling. Your two uncles and your aunt, not to mention the cousins all tryin’ to figure out what they can get.”
“They're you're people, too, don't forget. You don't even have to tell me. They've been trying to get you out of the house. I hope they haven’t made your life too miserable.” LaShaun gave her sympathetic look.
“Child, I was just bluffin’ with Momon. Unless I’m satisfied she’s gonna be taken care of right they would have to blast me outta here with dynamite.”
“I really appreciate you being here for her. I should have come sooner.” LaShaun stared down at her hands gripping the mug. “Especially considering the way the rest of the family treats you.”
Rita’s father had been Momon Odette’s middle child, Simon. He’d been as wild as LaShaun’s mother Francine. And like his older sister he had died young. Rita’s mother had been left a young widow with a child to support. Momon Odette had stepped in to help her. There was no denying that Momon Odette had favored her two orphaned grandchildren.
“I don’t care what they think. And you stop feeling guilty.” Rita pointed a finger at her.
“You know me too well.” LaShaun smiled at her. “So what’s up with this lawyer?”
“Devin J. Martin. He’s fine, but a little too slick for me. Just your kind.” Rita raised an eyebrow at her.
“Now why does that name sound familiar?” LaShaun twisted a lock of her hair as she tried to clear the cobwebs.
“I don’t know. He’s not from around here I can tell you that much, so that’s not it.” Rita shrugged. “Anyway, Momon Odette is about to answer everybody’s questions about who is gonna get what. And I got a feelin’ most of them won’t be happy.”
“Have you seen her will?” LaShaun asked and looked at Rita. “Since she’s giving up secrets.”
“As if. Givin’ me a recipe is one thing, but that old lady is havin' way too much fun makin’ us all wonder. Our kinfolks are being so nice to her it makes me queasy. Girl, you oughta hear ‘em.” Rita grimaced. “This is Aunt Leah, ‘Now mama, you should have called me soon as you started feeling bad. Let me come over and fix you something to eat.’”
“Aunt Leah never cooked for her own husband and children,” LaShaun retorted. She giggled. “Ree, you sound just like her. Aunt Leah has that chicken squeak voice when she’s being phony.”
“Momon told her, ‘Leah, I’ll eat your cookin’ when I’m ready to leave this earth faster than sickness and old age can do me in.” Rita threw back her head and laughed.
LaShaun laughed with her. “Well, this fine and slick lawyer is going to be here tomorrow.”
“Then buckle your seat belt, baby. Ain’t no drama like Rousselle family drama, cause Rouselle family drama don’t stop,” Rita chanted in a hip-hop singsong.
“Especially when money and property are involved,” LaShaun added. They nodded at each solemnly. Neither of them looked forward to having their predatory kinfolks swoop in.
****
The next morning Rita had gone home for a few days at LaShaun’s insistence. She finally shooed her cousin off after two hours of instructions on Momon Odette’s medications, doctors, foods to avoid and more. After a quiet breakfast with her grandmother, LaShaun sat in the front parlor with the local newspaper. She was amused to read what passed for news in Beau Chene. Promptly at nine o’clock a sleek silver BMW sedan rolled up the driveway. Seconds later a tall, fine black man got out. LaShaun dropped the newspaper no longer interested in the new discount store opening or local high school sports. She watched Devin J. Martin, aka “Slick” according to Rita, size up the house and surrounding land. His expression was unreadable behind the expensive sunglasses he wore. Moments later he smiled as if aware he was being observed. He walked to the front porch. LaShaun went through the front door and unlatched the screen door. She held it open, squinting against the bright winter sunshine. Devin’s handsome smile widened in appreciation when he saw her.
“Good morning, Mr. Martin,” she said and smiled back at him. LaShaun shook his hand. His skin was smooth and warm. He held her hand for the just the right amount of time. Not too long to be suggestive, yet just long enough to leave the door open. She recognized a fellow player.
“Good morning.” His handsome face registered surprise for an instant.
“Come in. I’ll get you a cup of coffee. You’ve had a long early drive way out here in the country.”
“Thanks,” he said as he followed her into the living room. He set his briefcase on the floor. Then he took off his sunglasses and carefully placed them in an inside pocket of his suit jacket. "You must be LaShaun. Nice to meet you."
"And you." LaShaun turned to face him.
“So the stories are true. You’re supernatural. You knew my name and that a cup of Louisiana dark roast would be appreciated.”
She gave him a head to toe glance then smiled at him again. “Apparently not. I don’t know what you like in your coffee.”
Devin let out a throaty baritone laugh. “Nothing. I like it hot and strong.”
“Then you’re in luck. We can accommodate.” LaShaun gestured for him sit. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
Momon Odette met her in the hallway. She leaned on the cane. “He’s here. Good. Best put out more cups because your aunt and uncles will be here soon.”
“What are you up to, Momon?” LaShaun gazed at her through narrowed eyes. “You set up some mess inviting them here.”
“Now why would I want to provoke my sweet children?” Momon Odette dark eyes sparkled with mirth. “Now do as you’re told for once.”
“Yes, ma’am.” LaShaun shook her head and went to the kitchen.
