Good Woman Blues by Lynn Emery Read Free Book Online Page A

taken a temporary turn for the worse.
She went along for the ride and laughed with them, at least for the
moment. That was all she could promise. There would be hell to pay
in the next two days. Facing a judge, her creditors, and her boss,
Nadine. The price for past sins.
     
    ***
     
    Roz uttered a curse word. They were in
standstill traffic for the fifth time. Getting downtown from the
clogged inter-state had taken twenty-five minutes. Once her mother
exited on Poydras Boulevard, their progress had only been slightly
better. Her mother wheeled the gray Mercedes- Benz like it was a
sports car, changing lanes when the cars ahead of her got too slow.
Roz was driving Erikka to her meeting with Nadine. With her license
suspended until the hearing Erikka felt helpless. Even so, she
savored being back in New Orleans. She took in a deep breath and
noticed every detail as they entered the French Quarter. She could
feel the city’s pulse through the cushioned luxury car ride, could
smell the soul of it through the cool, filtered air.
    “Flowers, cayenne pepper, and just a hint of
unwashed sidewalk urinals. Ah, to be home again.” Erikka spread her
arms out as though to embrace the Crescent City.
    “How did you put up with this for five
years?” Roz cut someone off, ignoring the obscene gestures and
honking that resulted.
    ‘Try concerts, the House of Blues, and
Hurricanes,” she answered.
    Erikka pressed a button. The car window slid
down without a noise or hitch. Humidity sucked at the
air-conditioned interior of the car. Roz protested after a few
minutes and used her master control to raise the window again.
    “Leave the Hurricanes alone for now. And as
for clubbing at all hours—”
    “Yes, Mother dear. I know. My lifestyle is
what landed me in serious trouble,” Erikka said.
    On a roll, Roz didn’t hear her. Or didn’t
want to. ‘Take the good and leave out the bad. You’ve got a career
most women, and a lot of men, come to think of it, would kill for.
I’m not saying don’t have fun. You work hard, and you should cut
loose every once in a while.”
    “Yes, Mother. In moderation, like all the
strong Ro- chon women.”
    “Exactly.” Roz gave a curt nod. She drove
into a small parking lot next to Erikka’s office.
    “I’ll give it my best shot. Come back for me
in about two hours. If I’m not out here, wait in the lobby.” Erikka
said a silent prayer of thanks that her Acura would be ready in
three days.
    “I’m sure Nadine wouldn’t think anything of
me coming in with you. After all—”
    “No.”
    “Fine,” Roz rejoined.
    “You’ve been my rock. You got me through the
first week in that hospital. Did I thank you for calling me every
day and giving those nurses hell for being rude?”
    “I don’t remember if you did,” Roz replied, a
note of grievance in her voice.
    “I deserve a whipping then. Thank you, Mama,”
Erikka said softly.
    Roz lifted a shoulder. “Being a royal bitch
to protect my baby is my job. I just want you and Jaci to have the
best. Not like what I went through.”
    “I know, and we appreciate everything you’ve
done. But some things I have to handle alone.” Erikka embraced her
mother and let go. The tender moment passed quickly, as usual.
    Roz cleared her throat. “Go in there and
reclaim your rightful place from that little skeezer. Heather,
Amber, or whatever the hell her name is.”
    “Laurie,” Erikka said with a laugh.
    “Whatever. I sized her up that day I came in
to pick up your paycheck. In my face pretending she was so
concerned. She just wanted dirt to use against you.”
    “We’re all jockeying for a promotion. Laurie
isn’t the only one with ambition enough to climb over dead bodies
on her way to the top. Including me.” Erikka stared at the elegant
building that housed Lewis, Calder and Brinkhaus. The
nineteenth-century fa9ade had been restored with the help of the
New Orleans Historic Trust.
    “Are you sure I should leave?” Roz’s