“We’ve been playing at lunch and after school. He taught me how so that he could get in enough practice to beat the colonel.”
“But you beat him today?”
“Like he stole something. Leah was a big help. She gave me a book a few weeks back that was real easy to understand because it showed pictures of the moves and the strategies I needed to get better. She said her dad gave it to her when he taught her to play.”
“How’d Preston take being beat?”
“Not sure. He gave me a high five just like I do when he beats me, but he was real quiet for the rest of the day. He hasn’t called or texted me tonight, either. Do you think he’s mad?”
“I don’t know. Shoot him a text and see.”
“Maybe I’ll wait until I see him at school tomorrow. I never got mad when he was beating me all the time.”
“Could be he’s not used to losing at chess.”
“That’s not it. Leah whips him all the time.”
Trent thought maybe Preston was having issues with being beaten by Amari. For as long as they’d been friends, Preston had been Brain, and Amari had been—well, just Amari, but Trent didn’t say any of that aloud. “I’m sure you guys will work it out. Real proud of you, though. Maybe you can teach me to play.”
“Whenever you’re ready. I’m good now.”
“That’s great,” Trent said, and left him to his drawing.
The depositions that were due to take place later in the week in the case of Curry v. Curry didn’t. Rumor had it that Eustasia had left Kansas with Chocolate and gone back to her spread in Texas with her fancy, high-priced lawyers in tow. Nobody knew why, or when she’d made her exit, or even if it was the truth. All they knew for sure was that everyone on the list had been called and told not to show up because the charges against Genevieve had been dropped.
The only person who might have had the answer was Genevieve, but she and Marie celebrated the news by hopping a plane to Vegas early the next morning. According to Cliff Dobbs, the two best friends were going to be gone five days.
In the interim, Lily found a suit she loved at one of the high-end stores at the mall. It was made of ice blue silk and perfect for the wedding. She also found some killer shoes. As an afterthought she purchased a pair of dressy boots, too, just in case it snowed on the big day.
Genevieve and Marie arrived home right on schedule, so Lily drove over the next day after work. Once they’d caught her up on their Vegas trip, she asked the question everyone in town had been buzzing about.
“She left town because she finally got the truth about what happened to my home, and she got to see the real Riley,” Genevieve said frankly.
“How’d she find out about the house?”
“Gen told her on the day she came over for a visit,” Marie replied.
“Eustasia came over for a visit?”
“It was the morning after Riley and I got into the argument at the movies,” Genevieve said. “I asked him point-blank, had he told her the truth? He said he had. I knew he was lying, so I challenged her to come over and see the pictures the coroner and the police had taken of the house on the night Prell died, and she took me up on it. When she saw them, she was appalled. She said Riley had explained to her all about Prell but hadn’t told her he was married. She didn’t know I even existed until the extradition hearing down in Louisiana.”
Marie added, “She also said Riley had gotten real bossy since coming back to town. Ordering her around, being snippy for no reason. Fussing about the shows she watched on TV. Wanting her to fetch this and that. I guess she’d had enough and left.”
“You think she’s gone for good?”
Gen shrugged. “All I know is that she is gone. Not sure whether Riley’s still living in the trailer or not, and I don’t care.”
Lily turned to Marie. “I’ve been meaning to ask if you’ll need any help packing.”
“Packing? Why am I packing?”
“Leo told Trent you were moving in with him as soon as his house is finished.”
“He wants me to, but I’m not.”
Marie had on her poker face, making it impossible for Lily to know what was really going on or how the relationship between them might be faring. “You heard about the letters his company is sending around.”
“I have. I tried to tell him that only a few people would take the money, but he’s kind of a know-it-all.”
“Maybe he should ask Riley to move in with him, then,” Genevieve cracked. “They’d probably get along great.”
Even Marie had to laugh.
“You and Leo okay?”
Marie shrugged. “Not sure, but if it ends tomorrow, I can say I’ve been to Paris and Bermuda. New York City. Not bad for a sixtysomething country girl. He’s been in Pittsburgh for the past week or so at company headquarters. He wasn’t sure when he’d be back.”
Lily’s lips thinned. Once again it was difficult to tell how Marie was really feeling, but she decided not to ask anything else.
On the evening that Trent picked to start his flute courting, it snowed. Hard. Coat on, he stood in the doorway watching the white stuff come down in blinding blowing sheets.
“You aren’t really going to go over there, are you?” Amari asked from behind him.
“No. She’d never hear me over the wind, and I’d probably freeze to death.” He closed the door.
“Why don’t you just play for her in her kitchen? Does it have to be outside?”
“Supposedly.” Suddenly, Zoey’s assessment of the fence-painting tradition came to mind. This tradition needed to get a clue, too. It was November. He doubted any brave would be out playing the flute in such terrible weather.
He pulled out his phone and called Lily to let her know he was coming over for a few minutes.
On his way out the door, he heard Amari yell, “Good luck!”
When he entered, she gave him a kiss and took his coat. He stepped out of his hikers and left them on the mat by the door. Wearing his socks, he followed her into the kitchen. “Where’s Devon?”
“Upstairs, taking his shower. What brings you over besides wanting to see a good-looking woman?”
“This,” and he took the flute out of its case and played a few notes.
“Why don’t I know that you play the flute?”
He played a few more soft trills. “I’d quit by the time you moved to town.”
“You came over to give me a concert?”
“No, to court you.”
“Court me?” she asked.
He could see the confusion in her face. “Yes, darlin’. Court you. It’s part of the wedding tradition.”
She had her hand over her mouth now, and he thought she might be starting to cry. For once he didn’t mind her tears, because these weren’t from pain or sadness. “Have a seat.”
When she complied, he began.
Lily had no idea he could play so beautifully. From the first note, she was enthralled. The skill, the tone, the intense look in his eyes as his fingers moved skillfully over the keys, left her breathless.
“I’m going to play for you just like this on our wedding night,” he promised, and Lily went weak in her chair. He set his lips against the instrument again, and she wondered how many women could claim to have been seduced at their kitchen table by a man playing a flute. She was glad Devon was upstairs.
Trent continued playing long enough for her to wish he’d go on forever. He played songs that were familiar love songs from the likes of Stevie, Luther, and Teddy, interspersed with classical choices that he must have learned in school, but it was the free-form improvised tunes that she felt the most. They rose and fell, soared, flirted, and teased. And when he was done, the notes slowed and faded into the silence.
The air in the room was electric.
“Next time you play for me, we need to be in the house alone.”
Eyes shining, he said, “After the wedding you got it. Right now, I’m on the celibate diet, remember, but I’ll come and play for you ever
y evening until the night before the wedding.”
“Thank you for the great music.”
“Anytime.”
Neither wanted to move. The music had touched them both.
He stood. “I need to get going so Amari can head to bed.”
She walked him to the door and waited for him to put on his boots and coat before opening the door. “See you in the morning.”
He gave her a kiss and held her close. “Living in separate houses is about to kill me.”
“Me, too.”
He placed a solemn kiss on her head and stepped out into the snow.
Lily leaned back against the closed door and sighed with contentment.
Chapter 21
Thanksgiving was a little over a week away, and the town geared up for the double treat of a holiday and a wedding. Trucks arrived at the Dog filled with the meat and other items Rocky had ordered for the meals. The kiva was being readied for the ceremony. Bing and Cliff used tractors to clear the snow from the field where the football game would be played and then covered it with tarps so it wouldn’t have to be cleared again if it snowed.
The kids were on break and spent most of their free time helping out wherever the adults needed them. Trent continued to serenade his fair maiden every evening, and Lily tried not to make herself crazy wondering whether her son would show up for the wedding or not.
The answer came the next day. He called to let her know he was in town and coming in the door of the Power Plant. Ecstatic, she stuck her head in Trent’s office. “Davis is here!”
She ran off to meet him, leaving Trent to follow or not.
Lily’s mood changed as she saw the tall, well-dressed woman walking beside her son, but Davis’s familiar smile reignited her happiness. He gave her a big hug. “Hey, Mom.”
She squeezed him tight. “Oh, baby. I’m so glad to see you.”
When she finally let him go, she extended her hand to the woman with him. “Hi, I’m Lily Fontaine. Welcome to Henry Adams.”
“Jessica Harris. Pleased to meet you as well.”
By Lily’s estimation, Ms. Harris was a good ten years older than Davis and had on a suit that gave off the air of an executive. Lily wondered what she did for a living but held on to the question when Trent and Bernadine joined them. Lily did the introductions.
Davis shook Trent’s hand firmly. “Pleased to see you again, Mr. July.”
“Same here, but please call me Trent.”
“Thanks.”
Once the formalities were over, Jessica intoned, “I’m starving. Is there a restaurant here somewhere, preferably Italian?”
Lily saw Bernadine raise an eyebrow.
“No Italian,” Lily told her. “Just a small-town diner, sorry.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
Davis’s tightly set jaw told Lily a lot. The coolness in his gaze on Jessica told her even more.
Trent asked, “How about I drive? Lunch’s on me.”
“I have some work I want to finish,” Bernadine replied, giving Jessica another once-over. “I’ll see you all later.”
Lily went back to her office to grab her coat and muttered to herself, “This is going to be a long visit.”
Or maybe even longer, she decided after the ride to the Dog, which Jessica spent complaining about the flight and the woman who’d been sitting beside her. She complained about the weather and how cold the day was, and that she hated snow. Then they even had to listen to her gripe about getting mud on her expensive brown boots during the walk across the parking lot.
Trent held the door open so Davis and Jessica could enter first. When Lily moved past him, they shared a speaking look before he followed them inside.
Crystal was their waitress, and she stood patiently waiting to take orders while Jessica studied the menu with a disdainful eye. “I’ve never been in a restaurant that didn’t serve chicken cordon bleu.”
“Welcome to Henry Adams,” Crystal replied, rolling her eyes. While she waited for Jessica to decide, Crys went ahead and took everyone else’s orders. She turned her attention back to Jessica. “Are you ready?”
Jessica sighed with what sounded like resignation and ordered a burger and fries. Crys thanked her and departed.
The silence in the booth was awkward. Lily wanted to know more about this woman, but was afraid to ask anything for fear of what she might start complaining about.
Davis must have sensed her thoughts. “Jessica is in real estate, Mom. In fact, she was the person who sold me my condo.”
“So that’s how you two met. I was wondering.”
“And since he knew nothing about decorating, I handled that as well.”
“I see.” Lily wondered if she was making sure he cleaned his plate, too, but kept that to herself.
Trent asked Davis, “You play any ball? There’s going to be a football game before the wedding, and we could use a good player.”
“I’m more of a track man, but I played a little wide receiver at Rutgers.”
While they talked, Lily used the moment to study Jessica more closely. She wasn’t bad looking. Lily checked out the gold hoops in her ears and the bracelets and rings. Everything looked expensive. From the way she’d been acting, it was obvious she was accustomed to being in charge, which made Lily wonder again why Davis was letting this woman be in charge of him. And what in the world was Jessica doing with someone so young?
Reverend Paula walked into the Dog. Lily waved her over and invited her to sit with them. Jessica was rude, condescending, and turning out to be a real pain in the butt. Lily hoped having Paula’s Christian presence at the table would help Jessica be more charitable.
Crystal returned with their orders and set everyone’s food down. After handing out straws for the soft drinks, she turned to leave.
“Excuse me, young lady.”
Crystal sighed and directed her attention at Jessica. “Yes, ma’am.”
To Lily’s displeasure, Jessica sent her food back to the kitchen three times; the burger wasn’t cooked properly, the fries were too greasy, the bun didn’t taste fresh. As it went on and on, and poor Crystal was run to death trying to satisfy the demands, even Paula shot Jessica a few testy glances. Lily looked over at Trent, who pretended to be concentrating on his food, but she could tell he wasn’t happy with the woman’s self-important act, either. Davis’s jaws were so tight, Lily wondered how he was even managing to eat.
The Dog was packed with the lunch crowd. The waitstaff was hustling. The jukebox was jumping to Fontella Bass singing “Rescue Me,” a title Lily found highly ironic, when the music went dead. Everybody looked up to see what the problem might be, and there stood Tamar in the middle of the room. She didn’t appear pleased.
In the midst of the silence, Mal came out of the back. “Why’d you turn off the box?”
“Listen.”
“To what?”
“Listen!”
Mal cocked his head as if using his ears to search the air; then, as if finally hearing whatever it was she was referencing, he immediately went still. Lily could see that Trent had stopped eating and appeared to be listening as well, and then he smiled knowingly.
“What is it?” Lily asked.
“Drums. Can you hear them? You might not be able to, because it sounds like they’re still miles away.”
Lily listened hard but didn’t hear a thing. Paula, either.
“Listen for the rhythms,” he told them.
Davis’s face lit up. “I hear it.”
Suddenly, Lily did, too. She had to listen hard, but there it was again, like the faint boom of thunder from a far-off storm, the cadence too even for it be a natural occurrence.
Soon everyone in the diner had picked up on the sound, and a buzz began. Lily noticed that some of the older locals like Bing and his friends hastily paid their bills and departed.
Mal called out, “Trent, take those flags and pictures off the wall over by you.”
The colorful flags encased in gl
ass frames had been designed by Crystal for the August First parade. The pictures were of various subjects. One in particular was of the old Dog and Cow, with its hole-filled roof and duct-taped booths. Lily wondered why Mal wanted them taken down.
“So they won’t be broken,” Trent explained, handing them down to her and the others in their booth.
“By what?” Paula asked.
“The Oklahoma Julys. Those drums you hear are theirs. They’ll be here shortly.”
Lily and Paula shared a surprised look. Under Mal’s orders the waitstaff collected all empty glasses from the diners and took them into the kitchen. Tables were moved to open up the center of the room. Tamar had taken a seat at the booth vacated earlier by Bing and sat as unmoving as the Sphinx.
Meanwhile, the sounds of the drums seemed closer. Lily could hear what sounded like voices accompanying the unceasing but ominous-sounding beat, though they were still some distance away.
Jessica said, “Davis, I insist you get me out of here.”
He ignored her for the moment as he asked Trent, “How many do you think there are?”
“Uncle Thad had nine kids, so anywhere from a dozen to thirty—who knows?”
“It sounds like hundreds,” Paula said, and Lily agreed.
“During the wars, that’s what it sounded like to the enemy. They’d hear the thunder getting louder and louder and closer and closer and be scared big-time, not knowing how many braves they’d be facing. The Julys come in this way because it’s tradition and fun for them.”
“It’s sorta like waiting for Godzilla,” Davis said, smiling while looking out the window like an eager kid hoping to catch sight of Santa.
Trent laughed. “Pretty much, but they’re mostly harmless.”
Lily noted the word mostly. Apparently Jessica had, too, because she’d tensed like she wanted to get up and run.
Ten minutes later the drums were so close, Lily swore the walls of the Dog were vibrating in sync with the noise. Suddenly they were inside, entering en masse and filling the air with their drumming and chanting as they slowly danced their way around the room, bent at the waist and doing a stomp step that shook the tables. This was her first look at Trent’s relatives, and they were a sight to see. Most were wearing shirts and jeans, but some were shirtless and wore traditional vests that appeared to be made of embellished leather. Some were carrying long clublike sticks decorated with paint, bells, and feathers, which they beat against the tabletops in time with the drums. There seemed to be waves of them, so many in fact that the center of the room was filled with chanting, dancing men. The sound was deafening. It was the wildest and craziest thing Lily had ever witnessed. Davis was grinning, but Jessica had shrunk back against the booth as if the sight of the men snaking their way in a line to the beat of the drums was terrifying.