Chapter 10
Leah smiled as she turned into the driveway to Derrick’s beach house to find the garage door open. When she’d called to tell him she was on her way, he told her he would leave it open for her to pull her car in. She maneuvered next to his Highlander, shut off the engine, and got out. She picked up the container with dessert off the seat and a bouquet of flowers in a colorful hand-painted vase from the floor behind the second row of seats, leaving a baking sheet covered with flour-rubbed dish towels over unbaked Parker House rolls on the passenger-side seat.
Earlier that morning she’d driven into town and purchased the flowers from a shop on Main Street. She hadn’t had the ease of driving around on the island last summer because as a tourist she was given a vacationer permit to park in designated lots, allowing her to get around the island either on foot, bicycle, or jitney. There was an island-wide ordinance that vacationers were not permitted on local roads because it led to congestion and impacted the quality of life. She planned to talk to Kayana about getting her a resident sticker, because after all she would be living in the upstairs apartment through the tourist season.
The door leading from the garage opened, and she went still when Derrick came down the stairs to meet her. He’d covered his white shirt and dark slacks with a bibbed apron. Whenever she recalled the taste and feel of his mouth on hers every nerve in her body tingled; and when she remembered writhing against him she was unable stop the waves of shame attacking her when she least expected it. He had to know that he had aroused her as she had him. And once she’d felt his erection pushing against her thighs she’d wanted to beg him to make love to her. Her body had been on fire, and even after she’d finished cleaning up and retreated to the apartment, the need to assuage what had been years of sexual drought was stronger than ever.
Using a vibrator to relieve the buildup of sexual frustration had become a temporary reprieve as an alternate to sexual intercourse. Inasmuch as she’d told Derrick how long it had been since she’d had sexual relations, she did not want him to think she was using him replace what she should have had with her husband.
However, whenever she looked back on her relationship with Alan, Leah knew she hadn’t been a prisoner, that she could have taken her children and left him. There was no doubt she would’ve been facing a long and costly legal battle to retain full custody of her sons, yet she would have been willing even to share custody with Alan if it meant being rid of him.
But fear and intimidation from her husband and mother-in-law had stripped her of any modicum of self-confidence as they manipulated her life from sunrise to sunset. The few times she’d picked up the phone to call her parents, she’d lost her nerve because she feared her father’s reaction. Within minutes of her exchanging vows with Alan, Larry Berkley had whispered in her ear that anytime she wanted out he would come and get her.
And now, nearly thirty years later, she still hadn’t called her father because at her age she was too old to run to Daddy as she had as a little girl. She was old enough to be a grandmother, and it was time for her to stand up and face the reality that she was going to be in for a vicious fight for her freedom once Alan was served with a summons that his wife was divorcing him. It had taken several weeks, but she had narrowed down the list of law firms she planned to contact to ascertain if they would be willing to represent her. There was one in particular headed by a team of female attorneys well versed in matrimonial law who had won several high-profile cases for their clients. They were number one on her list of six. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to exhaust the list before starting over from scratch to research out-of-state firms with attorneys licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
She smiled when Derrick took the cake carrier and flowers from her. “Happy Easter.”
He lowered his head and brushed a light kiss over her mouth. “Happy Easter to you, too.”
Leah bit her lip to stop its trembling. She hadn’t expected him to kiss her. It was his first display of affection since their passionate encounter in the Café’s kitchen when she’d poured out her heart to him about her upbringing and marriage. She was certain Kayana never suspected anything had happened between her and Derrick when he came in the next day at closing to help his sister with the Saturday menu. He’d spent all his time in the kitchen while she had busied herself cleaning the dining and restrooms. And by the time she’d returned the cleaning supplies to the utility closet, he was in the walk-in freezer and didn’t see her when she closed the door to the kitchen and took the staircase to the second story.
He did call her later that night to let her know he planned to serve dinner at three and then gave her directions to his house. Her voice was shaded in neutral tones when she volunteered to come over early to set the table.
Leah had ended the call and debated whether to set the table for formal or informal dining; she decided on the latter, because there were only going to be two couples. In the past she had hosted gatherings in Kent House’s formal dining room with upward of twenty guests seated around the table. The chef had a staff of assistants and servers for the required five-and six-courses meals. Prior to the arrival of their guests, Leah would inspect the table to make certain the fish and salad forks and plates were in the proper position at each place setting. Adele would come in and check behind her, if only to complain if there was a water spot on the crystal or a speck of tarnish on the silver, blaming her for not closely supervising the servants. That was when she most detested her mother-in-law, who looked for any reason to belittle or embarrass her, while constantly reminding her that if Alan had married Justine Hamilton she never would have to correct her. Justine had been raised knowing exactly what to do as a woman in her class. And that was also when Leah wanted to remind Adele that Justine had married a man who’d fathered two children with her maid, and when she’d discovered her husband’s infidelity he divorced her, gave her the big house, a generous settlement, and moved to Miami’s Little Havana with his new wife and children.
Leah forgot about Alan, Justine, and Adele as she carried the pan of rolls and followed Derrick up six stairs and into a mud/laundry room that opened into a pantry and then an enormous kitchen. The mouthwatering aroma of garlic and herbs tantalized her olfactory nerves. Derrick’s beach house was designed with an open floor plan where the kitchen and breakfast nook flowed into the dining, family, and living rooms. The walls were painted a pale blue-gray, harmonizing with shades of blue, white, and gray upholstered chairs, love seats, and sofas.
“Your home is beautiful.”
Derrick smiled. “Thank you. If you want I’ll give you a tour before Kay and Graeme get here.”
“Please.” She sniffed the air. “Something smells delicious.”
“It’s the herb crust. I made it with fresh breadcrumbs, about a half dozen cloves of finely chopped garlic, fresh parsley, and thyme leaves, mixing them in softened butter to form a paste. I just put the lamb in the oven on a low temperature, estimating the cooking time should take about two hours.”
The sound of an Isley Brothers’ classic song flowed throughout the space from hidden speakers. She set the baking pan on the countertop as she sang along with the lyrics to “Don’t Say Goodnight.” Leah recognized the tune because her former college roommate had grown up with her parents playing music from the seventies. Cynthia had brought a turntable and collection of vinyl records with her, and Leah had come to appreciate what had been designated protest music as much as the artists on the Top 20 contemporary music list.
Derrick stared at Leah as he set the cake carrier on the kitchen island. “You know this song?”
“Yes. My college roommate grew up listening to her parents’ music and she turned me on to soul and R and B when most kids our age were into rap and hip-hop.”
“So, you like old-school jams?” he asked, smiling.
“Some of them. I’ve also grown quite fond of classical music, too.”
“Did your roommate also turn you onto the three B’s?”
Leah gave him a puzzled look. “What are the three B’s?”
“Beethoven, Bach, and Brahms.”
Throwing back her head, Leah laughed, baring her smooth throat. “What do you know about them?”
“Probably as much as you do or more. I have sister-in-law who happens to be a concert pianist. When I lived in New York I tried to attend all her concerts in the tri-state area. A couple of years ago she went to Africa. She met a Nigerian doctor, married him, and now teaches piano to kids that exhibit exceptional musical talent.”
Leah sobered. “I don’t want to give my mother-in-law credit, but she did introduce me to classical music.” She told Derrick how there was always a classical composition playing in the solarium whenever they had high tea.
“You’re really full of surprises.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Just when I believe I’ve figured you out, you shock me with another revelation.”
“Are you saying you misjudged me?”
“Absolutely,” Derrick admitted.
Leah’s pale eyebrows lifted. “What was there about me that you found so confusing?”
“I must confess that when I first saw you I thought you’d come to the wrong place to spend the summer. Coates Island has always been known as a vacation spot for families. We rarely get single folks, or even young couples like those on Myrtle Beach. Our vacation rentals are somewhat expensive for an island that is only two miles long with one eating establishment, because the locals don’t want their properties to become transient motels where folks stay a week or two, and then move on.”
“So, you’re saying I didn’t meet the profile of the folks that summer on the island?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I figured you were married because you were wearing a wedding band, but it was how you didn’t interact with some of the other vacationers whenever you were in the Café. Most of the time you had your head in a book, which was a signal that you didn’t want to be disturbed. Then, when I discovered you were in a book club with Kay, I figured perhaps you weren’t that stuck up after all.”
Leah’s mouth opened, but no words came out for several seconds. “You thought I was stuck up?”
“Come on now, Leah. I’m no fashion expert, but I know enough about women’s clothes and especially shoes to know yours didn’t come off a department store rack. And even the restaurant’s waitstaff was whispering about your jewelry. Fast-forward six months later and you return battered and bruised with no rings on your fingers or diamonds in your ears. Then you reveal that you’re married to a judge that beat the hell out of you because you said something that he didn’t like. You claim you haven’t shared a bed with your husband in more than ten years, although your adult sons were already out of the house. What I don’t understand is why.”
“Why what, Derrick?”
“Why did you stay?”
A momentary expression of discomfort crossed her face as she lowered her eyes. “You don’t know how many times I’ve asked myself the same question, and each time I come up with the same answer. I don’t know. Perhaps I kept telling myself it would get better, when I knew in my heart of hearts that it would never get better because Alan wasn’t going to change. Some men cheat because they like it, and others because they can. But for Alan it was both. There were times when I told myself if I threatened to leave he would stop, then I heard his father did the same to his mother, so like father, like son.” Her head popped up as she gave him a direct stare. “I did not stay with Alan because of his money or because he is a judge. I stayed because I’d learned to deal with the bullshit. Last summer was the first year we did not vacation together, and coming here was like being released from prison after serving a lengthy sentence. I think folks nowadays call it doing a bid. But my first act of rebellion was buying the Audi as a birthday present for myself. All before Alan would go with me to purchase or lease a new car.”
Derrick bit back a smile when she’d mentioned “doing a bid.” It was obvious she was more than familiar with street slang. “Your husband didn’t know you were coming down here?”
“No.” There was a trace of laughter in the single word. “I knew he was taking our sons away to celebrate their passing the bar. What had originally been scheduled as a monthlong stay was extended to two months when Alan added an African safari to their itinerary. I’d gone online to research vacation rentals and discovered there was an available bungalow here on Coates Island. It was far enough away from Richmond, and Adele was in the nursing home, so I could go anywhere and do whatever I wanted without having someone spying on me.
“Kayana and Cherie gave it to me straight no chaser after I’d shared details about my life that I’d never told anyone else up to that time. Unburdening myself to them was akin to spending hours on a therapist’s couch. What I really appreciated is they never told me to leave Alan. That was a decision I had to make on my own. However, there was one thing I knew I didn’t want to do was take another vacation with him, and that’s when I contacted the rental agent to come back here this summer. Alan found the agreement and went ballistic when I told him he couldn’t stop me. And you know the rest.”
Derrick did know the rest, and what Leah endured before she’d been physically assaulted by her husband confirmed that she was an exceptional woman to have stayed in a dysfunctional marriage and not emerge completely broken. It was obvious her husband had recognized her strength when she’d refused to have an abortion and he had systematically tried to break her spirit, but despite the difference in their ages and with his mother as ally, he’d failed.
Rounding the island, he took her hands and pressed a kiss on the back of each one. A dreamy smile parted her lips, bringing his gaze to linger there. “I’d like to apologize for jumping to conclusions about you.”
Leah took a step, bringing them closer. “There’s nothing to apologize for, Derrick. A lot of people have misjudged me all my life, but what I refuse to do is change who I am or what I’ve become. I happen to like the new and improved Leah.”
“And I like her, too,” Derrick said truthfully.
He liked Leah, enjoyed spending time with her, yet Derrick knew their association would never go beyond friendship until she sued her husband for divorce. He did not want to become involved with a woman who could possibly change her mind and decide she wanted to work to save her thirty-year marriage. And she wouldn’t be the first physically abused woman to reconcile with her abuser. After all, Leah had put up with constant ridicule from her husband and mother-in-law for more than half her life, and still she stayed. She’d admitted not sharing a bed with her husband for more than a decade, and she still did not leave him. And when she finally challenged her husband, the result was a savage beating that resulted in her being hospitalized. However, Derrick had to give her credit for revealing to her doctor and sons that her injuries weren’t the result of an accident, but domestic abuse. Her medical report and her sons’ willingness to testify against their father were the weapons that she could use or not use to legally free herself from a man who had controlled every aspect of her life until she’d had enough.
He’d wanted to do more than give her a chaste kiss in the garage. Everything about Leah shouted sophistication, with the royal blue dress in a stretchy fabric clinging to every curve of her slender body while exhibiting more skin than she had since coming to the island. The asymmetrical neckline bared her throat, the capped sleeves her arms, and the hem ending at her knees her legs. Derrick knew she’d spent time on the beach in the sun because her once-pale body had taken on the hue of a ripened peach. She’d brushed her hair off her face and pinned it in a twist at the nape of her neck.
“What are you thinking about?” Leah whispered.
“It’s not what, but who. You look incredible.” Derrick hadn’t lied to Leah. She’d applied a light cover of makeup to accentuate her best features: eyes and mouth.
Leah demurely lowered her eyes. “I try.”
“You don’t have to try.”
He wondered what her husband had said to Leah to make her doubt her looks. She was an extremely attractive woman, tall and slender with strawberry-blond hair, jewel-like blue eyes, pert nose, and lush mouth. And seeing her in the body-hugging dress and heels made her a head-turner.
Derrick thought of himself as a normal man who liked women; however, he’d always been very discriminating when becoming involved with a woman. Unlike some men he didn’t have a type. It was personality and intelligence rather than race, ethnicity, and body type that topped his list of criteria. His sister and Leah had bonded over books, yet it went beyond their love of reading. He’d watched and overheard them talking and laughing together about the antics of some of Leah’s students or Kayana’s clients.
And he’d made a serious faux pas when judging her. Everything in her deportment indicated she’d lived a privileged life as a judge’s wife. When Kayana had informed him Leah was married to Judge Alan Kent, Derrick had gone online to research the man whom he suspected had assaulted his wife as evidenced by the bruises around her throat.
Derrick knew Leah was going to be in the proverbial fight of her life when seeking to divorce a man who used his family’s name and the power of the bench get his way. He wanted her, got her, and it was obvious he wasn’t going to make it easy for her to be rid of him. Alan Kent had a plan, and that was to make her financially dependent on him. He’d used his influence to have her discharged from her position as headmistress at the prep school and had denied her the use of his credit cards. Derrick wasn’t certain if Leah was financially solvent, but he had reassured her that she would always have a home at the Seaside Café.
“Are you ready for a tour of the house?”
She flashed a wide grin. “Yes.”
Leah wondered if Derrick’s wife had decorated the beach house or if they’d employed the services of a professional interior decorator. The monochromatic blues paired with white predominated every room. A sea of blue floral area rugs and Wedgwood blue furnishings in Derrick’s daughter’s bedroom with a full-tester bed, high chest-on-chest, and a plump settee were sophisticated and inviting.
Leah stared at a collection of photographs on a round table near the window seat. She couldn’t pull her gaze away from the incredibly beautiful woman with large light-brown eyes, delicate features, and a flawless nut-brown complexion. The resemblance between his late wife and their daughter was remarkable, and she knew Derrick would never forget the woman to whom he’d been married, because his daughter was her mother’s clone.
The two guest bedrooms were mirror images of each other with slate blue walls. One had a queen-size bed and the other smaller one had white twin beds. The linens were the perfect contrast to the botanical designs in the quilts, framed prints, and upholstered armchairs with matching footstools. When Derrick stopped outside the master suite and Leah walked in, she went completely still. Gray and white had replaced the repeated blue-and-white palette in the other rooms in the house.
A California-king mahogany bed with a leather headboard, matching triple dresser, and chest of drawers allowed for a more masculine appeal. It was the same with the reading corner that was converted to a space with a wall-mounted television and a storage unit spanning the width of the wall; shelves were filled with books, magazines, and an extensive movie and music collection. Pale-gray, wall-to-wall drapes were opened to allow for unobstructed views of the beach.
“You’re probably wondering why this room looks different from the others,” Derrick said behind her.
Leah turned to find Derrick leaning against the doorframe. “I do, but I can figure that out. You didn’t want to be reminded of your wife.”
Derrick inclined his head. “Yes. There was a time when I couldn’t sleep here because everything reminded me of Andrea. I was sleeping in the larger guest room until Kayana suggested I hire a decorator to give it a complete makeover.”
“Did you retain the services of a decorator for the rest of the house?”
“Andrea did. She grew up on Long Island, and her best friend’s family had a summer home in the Hamptons, and she’d always talk about the blue-and-white rooms. So, when we bought this place, she insisted on decorating using the same colors. The only difference is the outbuilding, which I’ll show you now.”
Leah followed him down a narrow rear staircase. She peered into a space that was set up as a home gym. There was a treadmill, exercise bike, NordicTrack elliptical, dumbbells, and rowing machine. It was obvious Derrick did not have to leave the convenience of his home to get a full-body workout. He opened a door that led to the backyard. The sun had disappeared behind dark storm clouds.
Derrick tapped a keypad on a shingled garden shed and opened French doors to the structure that had been converted into a bedroom with painted cornflower-blue shutters matching the doorframe; window boxes and planters overflowing with colorful blooming flowers, a paved walkway, and a manicured lawn revealed particular attention had been paid to the interior and exterior to transform an outbuilding into comfortable living quarters.
The tiny cottage was filled with homey touches and garden accents, with a hutch displaying items usually found at flea markets or lawn sales. Two Depression glass vases were filled with green-and-white dried hydrangeas. Wrought-iron chairs, an antique desk, a twin bed with a pale-green wicker headboard, and framed prints of Audubon birds and flowers made it the perfect space to nap and while away the hours doing absolutely nothing.
Derrick moved over to stand next to her. “This was our go-to guest bedroom whenever Andrea had friends and family over. There is a commode, vanity, and shower stall behind that door in the corner next to the wardrobe. Andrea had planned for Deandra to move in here when she turned sixteen to give her a sense of independence.”
“Did she?” Leah asked.
“No. Deandra was thirteen when Andrea passed away, and it has taken a while for her to adjust to losing her mother.”
Leah could not imagine losing her mother. Even at sixty-eight, Madeline was still spry and full of life. “Did you put her in therapy?”
Derrick’s icy-black eyebrows flickered. “Both of us were in therapy. I was prepared to lose Andrea, but it was my daughter that most concerned me. She’d come home from school and sit at a table at the Café to do her homework. And whenever I’d ask her if she was okay she would give me the pat answer that she was. It was when she’d become practically monosyllabic that I called Kayana for advice. That was when she said we both needed counseling. Once we had individual and family sessions, Deandra was able to verbalize her emotions. She was angry with her mother for getting sick and dying.”
“Why would she blame her mother?”
“Andrea had complained about extreme fatigue and excruciating back pain for more than a year until I finally convinced her to go to the doctor. After a battery of tests she was diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic and bile duct cancer. There were times when Deandra overheard me pleading with her mother to undergo chemotherapy, but Andrea refused. She also did not want to go into hospice, and two months following the initial diagnosis, she passed away at home. I hired a live-in nurse to make certain she was comfortable until the end.”
“Losing a parent at that age has to be traumatic for any child. How is she doing now?” Leah asked Derrick.
“Thankfully, a lot better. She spent last summer in Florida with her aunt, cousins, and grandmother, and then asked me if she could spend her senior year there because she was planning to attend a local college. I must admit I gave it a lot of thought before I finally told her she could stay once I realized she only had one more year before she left for college.”
“How often do you get to see her?”
“Not often enough, but I try not to be the overprotective dad. The entire family flew up from Florida to attend Kayana and Graeme’s wedding in Massachusetts, and I flew back with them and spent almost two weeks there. I’d made plans to see her during the Easter break, but she has other plans. It was a wakeup call for me that my little girl is growing up and doesn’t need her daddy as much as she has in the past.”
“Daughters always need their fathers, Derrick. I know if I’d called my father to let him know what I’d been going through, Alan would’ve never had the opportunity to put his hands on me.”
“Why didn’t you, Leah?”
She focused on the prints on the walls. “Because my father would be serving time as we speak. And knowing how protective my sons are of me, I pleaded with them not to do or say anything to their father, because I intend to blindside him if he decides to contest the divorce.”
“Have you served him yet?”
Leah shook her head. “No. I just finished researching firms I intend to call this week to ask if they’ll represent me. The Kent family roots run deep in Virginia, and there’s always the possibility that many of the attorneys are not only familiar but may have some connection to Alan. Whenever I’d attend a social event with him, he would introduce me to someone with political or legal connections.”
“Have you considered hiring an out-of-state firm?”
“Yes, but only if I exhaust my first list. Now that I’ve lost my job it’s not necessary for me to live in Richmond.” Derrick gave her a long, penetrating stare. “What’s the matter?”
“You plan to live here?”
Leah had given her future a lot of thought since getting the call from Erin that she was losing her position at the prep school. She’d planned to return to Richmond and purchase a house or condominium because she wanted to live close to her place of work. But, on the other hand, if she did decide to purchase a condo on the island, then she would apply for a teaching position in one of the nearby school districts. Having to drive to work while living on Coates Island was not a drawback, because she wouldn’t have to deal with rush-hour traffic.
“I’ve seriously been thinking about it. Maybe I can purchase one of the two-bedroom condos that went up several years ago, and hopefully get a teaching position either on the mainland or even in Shelby,” she said, revealing her thoughts aloud.
“Living here year-round is going to be culture shock for someone who has lived all her life in a cosmopolitan city.”
“Maybe for someone else, but not for me. I just can’t imagine returning to that circus where I had to perform like a trained monkey to everyone’s satisfaction. When I came down here last summer I knew I had to go back to Richmond, so I was mentally prepared and knew what to expect. But it’s different now. If and when I go back it will be short-term.”
“What if your divorce turns out to be long and contentious?”
Derrick was asking Leah a question she’d asked herself over and over, and the answer was always the same. “I hope that’s not going to happen after I inform Alan that I have medical documentation of his assault and that his sons are willing to testify against him. Although Alan is semi-retired, I don’t believe he would want to ruin his illustrious judicial career with a charge of spousal abuse. Enough talk about my soon-to-be ex, because I intend to make this Easter the first of many more where I can enjoy it with folks I want and like.”
Derrick waited for her to leave the shed and then closed the French doors. “What do you think about holding your book club meetings here?”
Leah stared at him, tongue-tied. “Are you really offering the she-shed for our meetings?” she asked, once she’d recovered her voice.
“She-shed?”
“Yes,” she said, smiling. “You guys have your man caves, and this is what women would call a she-shed.”
Derrick smiled. “Well, live and learn. And yes, you can have full use of the she-shed. And I’m willing to even give up my kitchen for you to prepare your refreshments.”
“Where will you be during this time, because we don’t want to put you out?”
“I’ll be in my bedroom’s mini man cave or the family room either watching a game or a movie.”
“Does Kayana know about your generous offer?”
“Not yet. But I’m certain she’ll go for it, because after spending seven days a week at the Café I’m certain she’ll appreciate a change of scene.”
Leah knew Derrick was probably right. When she’d volunteered to host one of the meetings, Kayana and Cherie had enjoyed coming to her bungalow where she’d prepared a Mexican-inspired buffet with spicy salsas; empanadas; hard and soft beef, chicken, and shrimp tacos; quesadillas; guacamole; and crispy tortilla chips. She knew she had impressed her friends with her cooking acumen because Kayana and Cherie were effusive with their compliments, while she was too ashamed to tell her new friends that she had never prepared a meal for her husband at any time during their marriage.
They returned to the house, where Derrick handed her an apron to protect her dress. Leah washed her hands and began the task of covering the dining table with a light-blue tablecloth, and then set out four place settings with china, silver, and crystal. She unwrapped the bouquet of flowers and arranged them in the vase for the table’s centerpiece.
When Kayana and Graeme arrived, Derrick set out the platter with herb-crusted lamb chops, a large glass bowl filled with Greek salad, a cloth-covered basket of hot, golden-brown rolls, and bottles of red wine and chilled rosé. Kayana held a pan of macaroni and cheese with two oven gloves, placing it on a trivet. Graeme stood behind her cradling a carton of wine.
“You’re good for my brother,” she whispered in Leah’s ear. “This is the first time he’s hosted anything in more than five years.”
Leah wanted to believe it didn’t have anything to do with her but with his daughter’s plan not to share the holiday with him. Although she was still attracted to Derrick, she did not want to delude herself into believing, kisses aside, he wanted more from her than friendship.
Perhaps it was better they not become involved with each other, because she needed to focus on ending her marriage. “He’s a good guy, Kayana.”
“I know that, Leah.” She leaned in closer. “But it’s about time he’s come out of his shell to invite a woman into his home. And I’m glad it’s you, because you deserve to have a man treat you with respect.”