Chapter Twenty-Five

She’d sneak inside, put on a bra, panties, and work clothes, or so Julia thought. Barely beyond the door of Alleman, Marv called, “In the kitchen, Jules. Do you want breakfast? How is Remy?”

Trapped. Now, she had to put in a brief appearance. She poked her head around the entry. Her uncles dined on omelets overstuffed with ham, cheese, onions, and green peppers. Todd went with all veggies. Marv drank coffee from an elegant, gold-rimmed cup and perused the morning paper. He glanced her way. “Don’t worry, I told your crew you’d gone on an errand of mercy. Come, come, give us a full report.” Marv patted the chair next to him.

Too aware of Patty’s comment on her jiggling breasts, Julia stiffed her shoulders and crossed the kitchen very sedately. Her uncles averted their eyes from her chest. Todd couldn’t seem to raise his higher than her neck. Marv simply poured a cup of coffee. More comfortable at the table, she accepted the coffee and gave them a report.

“Huh,” Sal, who had plenty of experience with brawls, said. “Sounds more like he took a beating than fell down the stairs, somebody holding his arms while they hit him in the face and torso.”

“Yeah, he’d be black and blue all over if he took a tumble,” Sammy agreed.

“Whatever he did, he probably deserved it.” Todd crunched his whole-wheat toast savagely.

“What I believe he did was save the Queen, Todd, so shame on you. He wouldn’t admit it, but I think the Broussards got wind of his deal with Jonathan Hartz and weren’t pleased. Anyhow, it’s out of my hands now. Miss Patty showed up to take care of him.” Julia busied herself spreading fig preserves on a biscuit she didn’t really want.

“Ooooh, poor Remy.” Marv shook a sympathetic head. “I thought I might take him a basket of muffins and a container of chicken soup, but I’m simply not brave enough. Regardless, the word is definitely out.” He showed her the Clarion’s headline. Hartz cuts deal to save the Queen. “No credit given to Remy.”

“As I said, out of our hands. Let’s finish repairing those cracks on the second floor today.” Julia wiped her fingers on a napkin, rose, and showed the men only her back on the way out of the room to dress for work.

They labored all morning, paused for a lunch of chicken soup laced with hot sauce originally meant for Remy, and completed their task late in the day. Julia lay back in Alleman’s deep, claw-footed tub and soaked away the sweat after washing her hair with the usual floral shampoo. No word from Remy, and she’d used work to stave off the urge to call him. His grandmother would probably hang up on her. Miss Patty appeared to be a great woman to have on your side and a terror to have against you.

At this point in the job, they’d pack their equipment in the trucks and steer both plus the motorhome to New Orleans. When the plaster dried, she’d return to supervise the painters and paperhangers. They’d complete the project well before autumn when the heat broke and Mr. Getty planned to return for the festival season. She’d read the Hartz proposal making Remy the supervisor for the renovation of the Bayou Queen, but when they could start, no one knew with the condition he was in currently.

Around ten, more than ready for sleep after the previous night, Julia relented and made the call he’d begged for behind his grandmother’s back. Remy answered instantly, sounded tired and groggy from his meds, but not hopped up like last evening.

“I gather the coast is clear.”

“Yeah. Remember you pointed out my lack of bedrooms. Turned out to be an advantage. Even Patty wouldn’t put me out of my bed in order to stay overnight. She just left. Said she’s too old to sleep on my uncomfortable couches, but will definitely return in the morning to feed me, wash my back, give me a shave. I’m thinking of growing a beard. Just smother me with a pillow, and let me die. I wish they’d left me at the hospital.” Misery, pure misery, sounded in his voice.

“Have you gotten in touch with your mother? Maybe she’d drive Patty away.”

“She would. Mom can deal with people in the most steel magnolia kind of way, but I don’t want her to see me until I’ve gone from black and blue to green and yellow. My parents warned me not to move here or get involved with Dad’s side of the family.”

“And that would have saved you from falling down the stairs?” Julia allowed skepticism to creep into her voice. “I’m not stupid, Remy.”

“Far, far from stupid. It’s me who lacks brains for getting myself mixed up in all this. I only wanted to keep you out of it. So, my relatives taught me a lesson, and Patty is part of the punishment. I can take my licks if you are okay.”

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

“You will be. Are you coming over tonight?” He seemed both sure and quick to change the subject.

“No, I don’t relish sneaking out of your place at dawn to avoid another run-in with your grandmother. I wouldn’t want my sexpot reputation to get around town.” She couldn’t help the small surge of anger.

“It will. Nothing can prevent that. It’s how Patty operates when a person falls out of favor. We might as well enjoy the notoriety.”

“I won’t. Look, we’re cleaning up and going back to New Orleans tomorrow.”

“Don’t leave! We can start on plans to revive the Queen.”

“You aren’t up to walking a job site, and what I suggested is in the papers Todd delivered. Study them when you can read again, make notes, and get in touch when you are ready to talk. I have a business to run, and that’s what I’m going to do. See you in a few months, Remy. Take care and don’t fall down any more stairs on my account.”

Julia disconnected, knowing she should have said the words, “I love you, Remy Broussard,” but afraid to admit and commit. Hitting a man in a weakened state with those words made the outcome unpredictable. Considering the drugs he’d swallowed, no telling if he’d recall what she said or did.

When she returned, would the town have turned against her? She could handle that by immersing herself in the revival of the Queen. But, might Remy feel less passion, less need and desire for her after his grandmother’s incessant onslaught? Better to retreat now, and come back fighting.