I must give her credit for such a well-thought-out lie.
“I can’t find Chan-Chan,” Alex whines.
“When I go into town I’ll find a stray cat for you. We’ll call it Chan-Chan number two.”
“No, I need Chan-Chan.”
Impatiently, I look down at my niece. “You need your nanny. Better yet, why aren’t you in bed?”
I can’t decide what it is I said to cause her eyes to well up with tears. All I know is her lower lip begins to quiver right as the voices from inside the dining room approach the doors. There’s no time to offer her condolences or bribery. Promptly, I bend down and sweep Alex into my arms. The door opens and I turn to my niece and smile as if I didn’t corrupt her by teaching her first cuss word. “No, my sweet Alex, I love you.”
The four of them stare at me with confusion. After a few seconds Rainey tilts her head to the side, crosses her arms and narrows her eyes into thin slits.
“Livingston? What are you doing here?” Serene asks as she strides toward Alex and me.
“I came here to … talk about finances.”
“At eight o’clock at night?”
Gladly, I give her Alex. “I take great offense to that question, Serene. Finances have always been incredibly important to me. I think my brother would agree with me.”
All eyes turn to Étienne, but he’s staring at me as though I’ve grown three heads. The only time I’ve expressed interest in my finances is to pay off gambling debts, or a bill at Vincent’s Chicco’s from the night before.
“Well, okay then,” Serene draws out as she pats Alex’s back. “I’m goin’ to lay Alex back down in her bed.”
They’re almost to the staircase when Alex yells, “Oh, dammit!”
What is the child, a parakeet?
Serene stops in her tracks and turns on her heels, and gives me a questioning look. “Did my daughter just say dammit?”
At that, Alex giggles once again and slaps her own cheek. “Dammit,” she repeats.
I hold my hands out in front of me. “It’s remarkable what kids acquire at such a young age, but this one.” I wag my finger at my niece. “She just might be a genius. You and my brother should truly be proud.”
“Uh-huh,” Serene finally says, in a flat monotone voice. She’s far from moved. The only advantage with Conrad being present is Serene is on her best behavior, and isn’t demanding to know all that I said to Alex.
While she goes upstairs, I turn to Étienne, Rainey and Conrad. “Havin’ a pleasant dinner?”
“We were,” Rainey remarks.
“I think now is the perfect time to retire to the sittin’ room. Shall we?” Étienne says diplomatically.
“Wonderful idea,” Conrad says. He steps back and gestures for Rainey to walk in front of him. As she does, I can’t help but notice how he places his fingertips on the middle of her back. It’s a gesture I’ve done when I’m intimate or comfortable with a woman. As far as I knew this is the first time Conrad and Rainey are having dinner together, but I’m having second thoughts. He should be locked away for showing any interest in her. She’s too young for him. If Conrad had the sudden desire to find a wife he needs to look closer to his age. Not at Rainey.
Briefly, my eyes meet Rainey’s. It doesn’t last for longer than a few seconds. She stares boldly back at me until I look away. That’s always been the fascinating thing about Rainey. While most women blush and play coy, Rainey chooses to be direct and straightforward. What you see is what you get.
“Livingston, you’re more than welcome to join us in the sittin’ room, unless you need to speak with me privately?” Étienne asks with one brow arched.
The real meaning behind his words: why are you here?
“You know, I do believe I will take you up on your gracious offer. Thank you, dear brother.”
Shaking his head, and muttering words under his breath, Étienne walks down the hall with Conrad. They begin discussing one of Étienne’s newest business acquisitions and through no fault of my own, I’m left with Rainey.
“I need to speak with you before you leave,” I say, keeping my voice neutral.
Rainey looks at me from the corner of her eyes. “About what?”
“My finances,” I say, placing emphasis on the last word.
She doesn’t stop walking, but her shoulders stiffen. “You came here to speak about that? Couldn’t that wait until tomorrow?”
“It could. But I had important questions. Meet me in Étienne’s office.”
“But–”
“Meet me in Étienne’s office,” I repeat, my tone brokering no room for argument.
I turn and walk away, knowing full well that this time, she’s stopped in her tracks and is staring daggers at me because no one ever tells her what to do and lives to tell the tale, and two, she will meet in the office because her curiosity will get the best of her. She wants to know what I have to say.
In the office, I make sure the heavy ledger is where I placed it on the desk and make my way to the sideboard to pour myself a stiff drink. I don’t know how long the rest of the night will go on for Rainey and Conrad.
Out of all my miscreant friends, is Conrad the worst for Rainey to possibly have a future with? No. In fact, some would say if you placed my pitfalls against his, I’d be considered the immoral one. I’m not trying to win Rainey’s hand, though. But I see nothing wrong with trying to avert her attention away from the men who are no good for her.
There’s a small knock. I turn in time to see Rainey slip into the room, and quickly shut the door behind her.
She takes a deep breath and points at me. “Stop sabotagin’ me, Livingston.”
“Good evenin’ to you, too, darlin’.”
“Good evenin’. Now stop it.”
“I’m not sabotagin’ anythin’. Belgrave happens to be my childhood home. I come here often.”
“Did the garden theater happen to be your childhood theater, too?”
“That happened to be a coincidence.”
She walks deeper into the room, rubbing her temples in the process. “Livingston, what did you discover about our finances that you just have to tell me tonight?”
Now that we’re alone, I take her in, and my brows nearly connect. She looks different tonight. I cannot decide if that’s for the best or worst. Her hair is half up with the dark strands hanging to her waist. And what is that on her cheeks? Rouge?
The hem of her sleeveless, gold lamé and peach insert gown grazes her calves. It’s a drop waist that I’ve noticed is becoming popular as of late. Unsurprisingly, the style nearly hangs on Rainey’s lithe frame. But it highlights her collarbones, the elegant curve of her neck. For all her stubbornness and strength, she’s still incredibly delicate and incredibly female.
Clearing my throat, I gesture to the ledgers and put a mask of indifference on. “I’ve begun the process of lookin’ through your family’s finances.”
Rainey hurries forward, her eyes filled with concern. “And?”
“Just as I thought, the accountant your momma hired after Pleas’s death is a halfwit.”