Lessons of a Lowcountry Summer (27 page)

“Why didn't you say something before, Hope?” Patrick asked angrily.

“There was nothing to say, Daddy. What do you say to a man who prefers a same-sex relationship?”

“I just realized I have another use for those golf clubs you gave me.”

“Daddy, no!”

“Patrick!”

Hope and her mother screamed at the same time.

“Junior, Bobby and me will handle this, Hope.” There was a distinctive click when Patrick hung up.

Hope felt weak, as if she were going to faint again. “Mama, please talk to Daddy. If he goes after Kendall, then I'll never clear my reputation.”

“No worry, baby. I'll talk to him.”

“You better talk to Bobby. You know he's the one who will thump, then talk afterwards.”

“No one is going to hurt anyone. What I want you to do is sue the hell out of that paper for printing those lies.”

She smiled. “I intend to do just that.”

“When are you coming back?”

“The end of September.”

“Will you be able to conduct your business from down there?”

“Yes.”

“I'm going to pray for you, baby.”

“Thank you, Mama. I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Hope pressed a button. She had made her three calls, and now what she had to do was wait—wait for her attorney to call her back, and wait for the onslaught of negative reaction to the tabloid article.

 

Theo hit the Talk button,
listening for the ringing on the other end. He sat up straighter when he heard a male voice.

“This is KC.”

“KC, this is TH.”

“I don't know a TH.”

“Don't hang up,” Theo warned softly, “because you will know me soon enough.”

“What do you want?”

“This is about Hope Sutton.”

“Look, man, I don't want to get into that with you.”

“You won't,” Theo snapped, “if you just answer my question.”

“I'm going to hang up.”

“I wouldn't do that if I were you.”

“Who the
fuck
do you think you are?”

“If you hang up on me, then you'll find out who I am real quick. All I need from you is a name. The name of your lover.”

“He's not my lover.”

“What?”

“I saw Otis a few times, but it didn't work out.”

“Does this Otis have a last name?”

“Pratt.”

“Does Mr. Otis Pratt have an address?”

“What are you going to do?”

“That's none of your business, KC.”

“If anything happens to him, then the police are going to come looking for me. That spiteful bitch has done enough damage. Once that article hits, I'm done.”

“You should've thought about that when you took up with him. An address and phone number, KC.” Theo wrote down the information Hope's ex gave him, smiling.

“I don't know if he's still there. It's his sister's place. He bounces around quite a bit, looking for someone to take him in. He's what I call a homo ho.”

“Thanks for the information. Good luck.”

Theo was still smiling when he dialed the number of a friend in San Francisco. He liked the old adage that it's not
what
you know but
who
you know. Jay had once lived on the streets for five years. He'd entered a rehab clinic and eventually taken over his father's trucking business.

Jay's daughter answered the call. “Daddy, it's Mr. Howell.”

Less than a minute later Jay's soft voice came through the line. “What's up, friend?”

Theo explained Hope's situation and why he needed his friend's help. “All I need is for him to recant what will appear in tomorrow's paper.”

“Consider it done,” Jay said without hesitation. “What's your connection with the lady, Theo?”

“I like her.”

“Just like?”

“Okay, Jay. I think I'm in love with her.”

“Think or know?”

“I'm still confused.” And his confusion stemmed from the fact that at forty years of age, he still had not accepted his mother's rejection.

“Once you clear up the confusion, send me a wedding invitation. If a former drug-addicted male prostitute can clean up his act, marry, and have a couple of beautiful, normal kids, you can, my friend.”

“You're right about that, my friend.”

Theo rang off, then headed for his bathroom to shower. It would be the first night in nearly six weeks that he would not share Hope's bed. Perhaps he needed to be alone with his thoughts to see things more clearly. He was scheduled to leave McKinnon Island in two weeks, and he knew his relationship with Hope had to be resolved.

 

 

H
ope whispered a prayer
of thanks that she was cloistered on McKinnon Island, because once the article was released about the ménage à trois, newshounds would descend on the newspaper like a swarm of hornets, or sniff around her Harlem apartment like predators hunting prey.

The soft chiming of her phone greeted her early Friday morning. She squinted at the display. “Hey, Lil Sis.”

“I just found out this morning what that freaky, punk-ass bitch did.”

“Who told you?”

“Mama. She wants everyone to meet tomorrow morning at her place for breakfast. I believe she's trying to diffuse Daddy and Bobby. Both are off the chain.”

“Marissa, please tell them not to do anything that will jeopardize what will definitely become a slander suit.”

“As much as I'd like to get my licks in, I'm going to agree with you, Hope.”

“Please get the others to agree.”

“Don't worry, Big Sis, I'm on your side with this one. But I need to ask you one question.”

“What's that?”

“Are you and Theo Howell a couple?”

“No. We're friends.” Friends who happen to be sleeping together, she added silently.

“That's too bad, because he's a helluva lot better than what you just kicked to the curb. Is he really as hot as his photographs?”

“Hotter.”

“Ouch! I'm afraid of you.”

Smiling, Hope sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Keep me posted on the family gathering.”

“I will. Love you, Hope.”

“Love you back, Rissa.”

She left the bed knowing she had to fortify herself for what was to come: the media's dissection of her sex life.

 

Hope sat on the porch,
eyes closed, with an open book on her lap. She caught the scent of a familiar perfume and slowly opened her eyes. Rebecca stood several feet away. A floral print, strapless sundress accented her slim waist before it flared out around her hips and legs.

“Hi, girlfriend.”

Rebecca forced a smile. “Hi, girlfriend. I'll leave if you don't want company.”

Hope extended her hand. “Please stay, Rebecca.” She hadn't seen her neighbor since the night Theo had gotten the call from his agent.

Rebecca took the chaise. “I wanted to come over earlier, but Lee said you probably needed to be alone to get your head together.”

“He's right.”

“Are you together?”

Lowering her head, Hope affected a sad smile. “As together as I'm ever going to be. My attorney has contacted the
Chatterer
, my editor at the paper has reassured me that I still have a job, while a prospective position with an Atlanta radio show has been placed on hold until I clear up what they're considering an image problem.”

“Buttheads!”

Her head came up. “I'm trying to understand their position. They want to hire me because they're selling an image that's squeaky clean and morally above reproach. Americans like to believe they're so tolerant and open-minded, when in reality they're the most uptight, amoral, hypocritical people on the planet.

“People become instant millionaires selling sex on the big and small screens, and in magazines, yet the ordinary Joe and Jane are prosecuted for solicitation or loitering if they use the street corner. I don't have an issue with any consenting adult's sexual predilection as long as it's conducted in privacy. If Kendall had told me when we first met that he'd fantasized about a sexual encounter with a man, I never would've slept with him.”

“The question is would you have remained his friend?”

“Yes, I would,” Hope said after a pregnant pause. “Every woman should have at least one male friend.”

“Like Theo?”

Two pairs of golden eyes measured the other. “Yes, Rebecca, like Theo.”

“What's going to happen to the two of you?”

Hope turned her head and stared at the beach. “Theo is scheduled to return to L.A. in another eight days, and I'm going to stay here until the end of September.”

“That's not what I mean, and you know it.”

“You're talking in riddles.”

Rebecca shifted on the chaise, moving closer to where Hope sat on the rocker. “I asked you this question before, and I'm going to ask you again. Are you in love with him?”

Hope sank lower into the cushioned seat. Her gaze shifted to the candy-apple-red polish on her groomed toes. “I've asked myself the same question over and over since the first night we slept together, and the answer is always no. No, because I don't want to lose my heart again. No, because I keep telling myself that I can never trust a man completely. And no because what I want most Theo isn't willing to give me. He doesn't want children.”

“Would you consider marrying him and becoming stepmother to his brothers and sister?”

Hope repeated Rebecca's question to herself. There were thousands of women who were unable to bear a child yet had earned the status of mother once they adopted one.

“I'm not opposed to becoming a stepmother.”

“You didn't answer my question, Hope.”

She glared at Rebecca. “You remind me of a little poodle I had that used to snap at me whenever I tried petting her. Muzzle it, Rebecca!”

Blushing furiously, Rebecca pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “I'm sorry. I guess I'm on edge because I'm leaving in a couple of hours, and tomorrow I'll celebrate my fortieth birthday without my new friends. My parents and in-laws have planned a special dinner for me.”

“Congratulations!” Hope reached over and hugged her soon-to-be ex-neighbor.

Rebecca swiped at her tears with her fingertips. “I suppose I'm freaking out for nothing. Women turn forty every day.”

“That's true, but not every forty-year-old woman has embarked on what you're about to undertake. I'm the one with the Gullah roots, yet you're the one who has assumed responsibility for preserving the culture.”

The moisture in Rebecca's eyes turned them into shimmering jewels. “I couldn't have done it without you. It all started when you introduced me to Janie Smith.”

“I hope we're not going to lose touch with one another.”

“Heavens no. You're always welcome to stay with me if you ever come to Charleston. And of course we'll see each other next summer. You have my address and phone numbers. I expect to hear from you.”

“Of course you will, “ Hope promised.

Rebecca stood up, and Hope rose with her. “I have to get back and finish packing.”

Hope extended her arms, and she wasn't disappointed when Rebecca hugged her. “Good luck, Sophie Lady.”

Rebecca sniffled. “Good luck to you, too, Sophie Lady.”

They pulled apart. Hope stood motionless, watching her friend until she disappeared from view. Then she walked into her house and closed and locked the door.

 

Rebecca nodded to Helen.
“I'd like to see Theo for a few minutes.”

“He's writing, but I don't think he'd mind being interrupted.”

“Tell him I only need a few minutes.”

Helen walked away, leaving Rebecca standing in the middle of the living room. Her children had said their good-byes to the Andersons the night before. What had surprised the adults had been the tears. Noelle, Kyle, Ashlee and Brandon had wept openly, while Christian hadn't bothered to come out of his bedroom.

“Rebecca.”

She turned and smiled at Theo. It was the first time she had seen him unshaven. “I just came to say good-bye.”

He took several steps. “I thought we did that last night.”

She clasped her hands together to stop their trembling. “We did. But I wanted to talk to you about something.”

His gaze narrowed. “Talk.”

“It's about Hope.”

“What about her?”

“She's hurting, Theo. She needs you.”

He lifted a black, curving eyebrow. “Did she say she needed me?”

“No. She'd never say that.”

“I've done all that I can to help her. What she'll have to do is wait.”

Rebecca's nostrils flared with fury. “I don't believe you.”

“What is it you don't believe, Rebecca?”

“How can she fall in love with someone like you?” Turning on her heel, she ran out of the house, Theo steps behind her.

He caught her arm, spinning her around to face him. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Nothing at all, Mr. Holly-wood! Now, take your hand off me.”

Theo dropped his hand, watching as Rebecca got into her Mercedes and sped away amid a spray of gravel and a cloud of dust.

He stood in the same spot for a long time—long enough for the sun to penetrate the shirt on his back and burn his flesh. He replayed her accusation over and over in his head:
How can she fall in love with someone like you?

He did not want to believe that Hope loved him. Nothing in the way she related to him indicated anything deeper than a mutual fondness for him. They'd slept together, but a lot of people slept together without falling in love.

He shook his head. Rebecca was wrong. Hope did not love him.

 

Hope went online.
She had two new e-mails, both from Theo. She clicked on the first.

Hope clicked on Reply.

She clicked on Reply to his second e-mail.

Then she signed off.

 

It was not the first time
that Hope cursed not having a television in the house. At least she would be able to view the news without having to rely on her sister to give her updates on what had now become a scandalous exposé of Dr. Hope's love life.

Marissa repeated the commentary over the phone as she viewed
Access Hollywood, E! True Hollywood Story,
and
Entertainment Tonight.
A shock jock referred to her as Dr. Dope, who should've known better than to engage in kinky sex while masquerading as America's moral conscience.

Lana called to tell her that the press had camped out in front of Hope's Harlem brownstone after William Cullen informed them that she worked from home.

Someone from WLKV-Atlanta leaked the news that the owners of the radio station had withdrawn their offer to hire Dr. Hope for a late-night talk segment.

Her attorney informed her that Kendall Clarke had gone into hiding, and that he could not move forward with the suit until he surfaced. His testimony was crucial to refuting his lover's slanderous article.

She hadn't left the house in nearly a week, but she knew she could not continue to hide out much longer. The larder in her pantry was dwindling rapidly. She wondered how many on McKinnon were privy to what the outside world had found so intriguing.

 

Hope got up early
Saturday morning with the intention of going to Savannah to shop, but she was thwarted when she walked out of the house to find Theo sitting on the porch. “What are you doing here?”

Theo came slowly to his feet and turned to face her. She gasped. The lower portion of his face was covered with a short black beard. He pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I came to see you because you didn't come to me.”

“Why would I come to you?”

He angled his head. “I thought we were friends, Hope. And where I come from, friends look out for each other.”

“You've looked out for me.”

“I came to tell you some good news.”

Her heart thudded. “What about?”

“Your ex-boyfriend's lover has recanted his story.”