Tell Me Something Good (31 page)

“Thanks. I owe you big time,” Lyrissa said in
an undertone.

“Honey, Julie D. wants to hurt you bad. Watch
your back.”

“I know, girl. She’d kill to have Noel,”
Lyrissa said in a low voice as she smiled at those around her.

“With her rep, I believe it! I have friends
who have done business with her. She’s ruthless.”

“Yes, but I can handle her little bursts of
jealousy.” Still Lyrissa frowned as she thought of their
exchange.

“Listen, I saw those two eyeing ‘Sunday
Stroll.’ I say we get rolling. We can organize the documentation
and meet next week. Then—”

“No,” Lyrissa cut in sharply. She rubbed her
forehead. A tension headache throbbed behind her eyes.

“I’ve been working my butt off for two weeks.
Let’s move,” Ebony said with intensity.

“I know, but...” Lyrissa heaved a sigh. “I
can’t just hit him with it out of nowhere. Not now.”

Ebony maneuvered them into an alcove away
from the crowd. She jerked Lyrissa around by the arm until they
were nose to nose. “You didn’t!” She stared into her eyes and
gasped. “Oh hell, you did!”

“I didn’t plan it. We just sort of—”

“What, tripped and all your clothes flew
off?” Ebony squinted at her. “Who do you think I am, Bozo the
Fool?”

“You’ve seen him!” Lyrissa blurted out. She
sighed again.

“Well...” Ebony took a deep breath and let it
out. “I can’t argue with you there. The brother has it all!”

“And then some.” Lyrissa tingled all over
just thinking about his hands on her body.

“So the plan is off completely? Please warn
me to get out of town when you tell your grandmother!” Ebony gave a
melodramatic shudder.

“I’m going to change the plan, not give it
up.”

“Since I’m your attorney, you might want to
fill me in. I think we both need a fresh drink.” Ebony darted off
to catch a passing waiter. She gave him their empty glasses and
came back with refills. “So tell me this new strategy.”

“I haven’t worked out the details yet,”
Lyrissa said with a slight frown.

“Just how far have you gotten?”

“Uh, that’s it.” Lyrissa wore a weak smile.
“We’ll think of something before we tell Mama Grace and Aunt
Claire.”

Ebony’s eyes widened and she shook her head.
“Forget it. I plan to have urgent business elsewhere that day,
girlfriend.”

Lyrissa gripped her forearm. “Oh, no you
don’t, girlfriend. You’re going to help me.”

“Lord, have mercy!” Ebony gulped a mouthful
of wine and swallowed it. “You’ve forgotten something, Lyrissa. The
story is going to nm in the Picayune real soon.” “We’ve got to stop
that reporter.” Lyrissa chewed her bottom Up until her raisin
lipstick came off.

“Right, stop Dionne Jackson from printing a
juicy scandal about a prominent Black family. We’ve got all the
makings of a movie of the week here. The woman loves that kinda
stuff.”

“You’re a hot shot young lawyer. Talk to
her.” Lyrissa gripped her arm tighter.

“Let go before you amputate my arm.” Ebony
pried Lyrissa’s fingers from her flesh.

“Sorry. I’m in deep, Eb. We’ve got to head
this whole thing off.” Lyrissa looked up to find Noel staring at
her. He smiled. She managed to smile back.

Ebony followed her gaze. “Damn, this love
thang has gotta be good. Okay, I’ll talk to Dionne. I’ll tell her
we’re not sure of the facts yet and mention the word ‘libel.’ Maybe
that will get her attention.”

“You’re wonderful, Ebony.” Lyrissa gave her a
quick hug of gratitude. “No wonder you’re considered one of the
most intelligent and impressive young attorneys in the city. Hell,
in the state. I—”

“Don’t lay it on too thick, please. I didn’t
bring my hip boots,” Ebony quipped. She looked at Noel again. “I
have to say I don’t blame you one bit, sugar.”

Lyrissa gazed at him. He was six feet three
inches of caramel delight on two legs. Yet he was more than a
pretty package. She loved the way he approached life. Noel St.
Denis seemed to take the best of his world and toss the crap that
came with it. Noel nodded to her before a well- dressed couple
claimed his attention. When she turned, Lyrissa met Mrs. St.
Denis’s stony gaze. Julie stood beside her, whispering low in her
ear.

“I’ve got to figure this out soon, Eb,”
Lyrissa murmured. “Real soon.”

Two days later Lyrissa sat across from her
grandmother at the breakfast table. Aunt Claire shot sideways
glances at them as she ate her scrambled eggs and grits. She
cleared her throat finally after ten more minutes of tense
silence.

“We’re supposed to get rain this afternoon.
That cute new weatherman on Channel Six said so.” Aunt Claire’s
tentative smile soon faded when no one answered. She tried again.
“Take your umbrella now that you’ve been warned, Lyrissa,” she said
cheerily.

“She doesn’t listen to good advice, Claire.”
Mama Grace dabbed her lips with a paper napkin. “Lyrissa thinks
we’re just a couple of old fools.”

“I didn’t say we should just forget the
painting,” Lyrissa blurted out.

“Warning them is the same thing, Lyrissa
Michelle.” Mama Grace threw down her napkin.

“Noel isn’t the kind of man you think he
is.”

“I gave you more credit, child. He’ll be on
the phone to his lawyers the minute you walk out. Don’t doubt it!”
Mama Grace stabbed a forefinger at her nose.

Lyrissa crossed her arms. “I don’t want him
to read about it in the newspapers.”

“He will put his family first. So should you”
Mama Grace glared at her.

“I won’t walk over him to get the painting.
Isn’t that why you despise them so? They didn’t care who got hurt
as long as they profited.”

“Let me remind you that we’re at a
disadvantage in this situation, young lady.”

“I don’t believe Noel will want to keep
‘Sunday Stroll’ when I tell him the truth and what it means to us.”
Lyrissa wore a stubborn expression. “I’m sure he won’t.”

“A few moments of pleasure will not override
years of upbringing.” Her voice sliced through the air like a
razor. “That’s enough, Grace,” Aunt Claire said loudly.

“No, she has to hear the truth. The St. Denis
family wasn’t satisfied with holding onto stolen goods. They
discredited your great-grandfather and ruined his business because
he dared to tell everyone what they’d done. Now our family can’t
even preserve our ancestor’s historic home because we’re poor.”
Mama Grace stood and looked down at Lyrissa.

“You’re judging Noel by people he never even
knew— people who died decades before we were born. It’s not fair.”
Lyrissa stared back at her.

“If life were fair, young lady, we wouldn’t
need to have this discussion! He’s a St. Denis,” Mama Grace
shouted.

“Decide right now if you’re going to turn
your back on this family.”

Lyrissa shoved her chair back and stood.
“Don’t be absurd. I’m going to get the painting back.”

“Your father needed treatment, but we
couldn’t afford it. Our family’s inheritance was stolen, our
reputation destroyed by the St. Denis family. The consequences have
haunted us for generations.”

Lyrissa flinched with pain at the mention of
her father. “I know how much Daddy suffered. But we can’t blame
everything on one act committed over a hundred years ago, Mama
Grace.”

“Can’t you see that this is about more than
one painting?” Mama Grace replied, her voice strained with
frustration.

“You have to trust me on this,” Lyrissa said
forcefully. “We’ll do it my way.”

“You’re only thinking of him. Well, I won’t
let you throw our legacy away.” Mama Grace marched out of the
kitchen.

“God!” Lyrissa sat down hard and put her head
in her hands.

Aunt Claire put an arm around her shoulders.
“I’m starting to think we’ve lost our way.”

“No, Aunt Claire. Mama Grace has freaked out.
She’s more interested in revenge.”

“Guilt,” Aunt Claire murmured.

“What did you say?” Lyrissa looked at
her.

Aunt Claire shook her head. “Ah, cherie, it’s
a sad story. She’s right about one thing, though. The St. Denis
family has dogged us for generations. This feud started with the
painting and grew.”

“Tell me the sad story.” Lyrissa turned to
her.

“You see us as little old ladies, a bit
strange, but sweet.” Aunt Claire smiled.

“No, babe. I think of you as lovable
eccentrics.” Lyrissa patted her cheek.

“Same thing. You’re not far wrong, either.”
Aunt Claire waved a hand. “But we were young once, of course. You
should have seen us back then, the Joubert sisters.”

“I’ve seen the old photos.” Lyrissa grinned.
The faded black-and-white pictures showed two lovely young
women.

“We went to parties every week. Mardi Gras
season was the best, of course. And we had lots of gentlemen
admirers, naturally.”

“Naturally. But what’s that got to do with
‘Sunday Stroll on the Faubourg Tremé’?” Lyrissa blinked at her.

“That painting has a way of reaching into the
future.” Aunt Claire stared ahead as though looking back in time.
When she spoke, her voice was so soft, Lyrissa had to lean close to
hear her.

“We moved in the same social circles as all
the best families. Of course, we were Jouberts. Our grandmothers
insisted that we go to all the right parties. We even rubbed
shoulders with Georgina Rohas. That was before she married into the
St. Denis family.”

“I thought—” Lyrissa broke off.

“That we weren’t acceptable? Well, we weren’t
on the same level as the Rohases, St. Denises, and some others. But
our grandfather had rebuilt the family business and we had money.
Plus the Joubert name did mean something. So we got our share of
invitations to the best functions.” “Mrs. St. Denis snubbed you
every chance she got. I’ve heard the stories.” Lyrissa frowned.
“And I know the feeling. Even some of the nuns treated the darker
skinned kids in school differently.”

Aunt Claire gazed at her in dismay. “Was it
still so bad at St. Mary’s? Lord, I never realized. You always
seemed to enjoy school. You were in so many clubs and such.”

“I didn’t want you to worry about me. Anyway,
I’m tough, like you two.” Lyrissa smiled in spite of the dull ache
from the memories. She still felt sad for the little girl convinced
she was so ugly.

“I’m sorry, baby. We only wanted you to have
all the advantages.” Aunt Claire wore a regretful expression.

“It was years ago. Besides, it wasn’t all
bad. I had two teachers who really encouraged me.”

“God has a plan for good even from evil.”
Aunt Claire made the sign of the cross. “Thank you, Lord.”

“Now back to the painting,” Lyrissa prompted
her. “You never wondered how we knew Georgina had the painting?”
Aunt Claire tilted her head to one side.

“You had old letters and journals from Jules.
Right?” “True, but they only referred to Gustave and his grandson
as being in possession. Any of the descendants could have had
it.”

“Come on, ted me the whole story, then.”
Lyrissa sat back, eager to hear.

“Grace had more gentlemen callers than most
of us girls. Including a certain St. Denis boy. Phillip St. Denis,”
Aunt Claire said dramatically, and spread her arms wide.

“Get outta here! Mama Grace was tippin’ with
Georgina’s man?” Lyrissa’s mouth hung open with shock.

“Grace had him first, dear. Oh yes,” Aunt
Claire nodded with a grin. “They were quite the talk of New
Orleans

Creole society. Mother was fit to be tied,
let me tell you. Grandpapa demanded that Daddy put his foot down.
Grace defied them all, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”

“He dumped her and married Georgina Rohas
because she was from the right family,” Lyrissa said with
certainty.

“Tossed her aside like that.” Aunt Claire
snapped her fingers.

“I can see why she’s so upset about Noel and
me. But I still don’t see the connection to the painting.”

“While they were still courting, one of
Phillip’s elderly aunts died. Grace had always loved old houses. He
took her to see all the antiques and fine furniture.”

“Right, they were alone in a huge mansion to
look at antiques.” Lyrissa raised her eyebrows.

“Don’t be impertinent.” Aunt Claire’s eyes
danced with merriment. “The point is, Grace saw Sunday Stroll on
the Faubourg Tremé’ and naturally recognized it. She told Phillip.
The poor dear trusted him.”

“Oh.” Lyrissa felt a chill as she remembered
her defense of Noel to Mama Grace. How her words must have brought
back painful memories.

Aunt Claire nodded slowly. “So you see,
Phillip let Grace believe they would become engaged soon. He didn’t
outright promise, just said things like ‘We’ll be together, love.’
Instead, he sent her a short note saying they couldn’t see each
other again. Then the painting vanished. By the time Grace told our
parents and grandparents about it, well...” “They’d assembled
lawyers and stonewalled,” Lyrissa added.

“That’s about it. They put out all kinds of
nasty innuendos about us. Grandpapa’s business suffered.” Aunt

Claire sighed deeply. “Grace has blamed
herself for that and more since then.”

“Did they really ruin his business on
purpose?”

“Oh yes! Poor Grace. She read about Phillip’s
engagement to Georgina in the paper.”

“Mama Grace really believes all our financial
problems are her fault?” Lyrissa felt sorry now that she’d been so
harsh with her grandmother.

“After years of struggling, Grandpapa was the
first in years to rebuild the family fortunes. They made sure he
lost business.”

“I don’t blame her for being angry. But it’s
not all her fault. Sounds to me like Great-grandpapa was
overbearing and inflexible.”

“True. Grandpapa was hot headed. He didn’t
follow his lawyer’s advice. He even accused Phillip’s grandfather
of embezzling from the bank. Old Henry St. Denis was on the board
of Citizens Trust.” Aunt Claire shook her head. “Our father didn’t
help by trying to punch Phillip’s father in the nose at the country
club.”