Jezebel (21 page)

“Honey, I really don't think you have anything to worry about,” Mary Ellen said, trying to reassure her. “Traynor adores you.”

There was a time when Jessie Belle would've agreed with Mary Ellen, but her relationship with Traynor had been pretty strained lately. Had been since she purchased the radio station without talking to him first.

“I saw the way they looked at each other. Traynor's attracted to her. I'm sure of it.”

“Are you going to talk to him about it?”

“I don't know yet,” Jessie Belle answered. “Mary Ellen, I don't know what I'm going to do right now. I have to do some thinking on it.”

“Well, I think you're wrong about this. Look, I kinda noticed that things are a little off with you and Traynor. That's why I'm taking Holt to dinner and a movie tonight and I'm moving out this weekend.”

“Mary Ellen, this doesn't have anything to do with you.”

“I didn't think it did,” she responded. “But I'm sure my being here isn't exactly helping either. It's time for me to get my own place anyway. Richard should be hearing something soon from one of the colleges up here. Hopefully, he'll be up here permanently in a couple of months.”

Jessie Belle wanted to tell her friend that Richard had no intention of leaving Atlanta, but she didn't have the heart to do so.

“Traynor's not going to cheat on you. You do know that, right?”

“I'm not gonna let him cheat on me, Mary Ellen. I won't give up my marriage without a fight.”

Jessie Belle took Holt inside the house for a nap.

Mary Ellen grabbed her purse. “I need to run some errands. I'll be back in a couple of hours.”

“We'll be here,” Jessie Belle murmured.

Holt was dressed and ready for his evening with his godmother when Mary Ellen returned.

“You look so cute,” she told him. “Just give me a few minutes to shower and change and we'll be on our way.”

Jessie Belle laughed. “He's so excited.”

Grinning, Mary Ellen responded, “So am I. An evening out with my godson. What can be more exciting?”

Jessie Belle ran out and picked up a couple of lobsters, shrimp and scallops. She prepared each item with love, wanting to make the evening special for Traynor. He'd pretty much told her that they weren't as close as they used to be. She hadn't paid much attention to him until finding him and Serena being all friendly.

After dinner was prepared, Jessie Belle went upstairs to find something to wear.

Traynor arrived home promptly at six.

He did a double take when he laid eyes on Jessie Belle, dressed in a see-through negligee. “Where's Mary Ellen?”

“She took Holt to dinner and a movie.” Jessie Belle strolled over to him. “I thought we could take this evening to get reacquainted again. Things have been crazy between us for months now. I miss the way we used to be, Traynor.”

“Jessie Belle…we need to talk. Sex isn't always the answer.”

“What's going on with you, Traynor?”

“Nothing. I just can't keep doing this over and over again. Jessie Belle, I'm tired.”

“Tired of what? Me?”

“There you go again,” he stated. “You don't listen to me.”

“That's not true. I do listen to you. I know what's going on. You're still upset with me for buying the radio station. Why, I don't know. It's making us a lot of money. I could see if I did something to hurt you.”

“Jessie Belle, you have gone behind my back too many times—I feel like I can't trust you.”

“So this is about the Mercedes and the radio station.”

“This is about the way you lied to my aunt,” Traynor blurted. “You told her that I want my mother's jewelry. Why would you do that?”

“I never did any such thing,” Jessie Belle lied.

“Aunt Eleanor wouldn't lie about that. I know you did it—I've known for a while, but I just didn't think it was something to dwell on. But now I see that it's the way you operate and I have to be honest with you, Jessie Belle. I don't care for it.”

“Your aunt doesn't like me, Traynor, and you know it. She'd say anything to break us up.”

“She's never once tried to break us up, Jessie Belle.”

“We're never gonna agree on this,” she murmured. “Traynor, I'm sorry for buying a car without your permission. I'm sorry for buying the radio station without your permission. I'm sorry for anything else I've ever done wrong in life.”

“Jessie Belle…”

“No, Traynor. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything.”

“I don't want your apologies, Jessie Belle. I want to be your partner. I want to be your husband. I am the head of this household and I want you to treat me as such.”

“Is that it? I don't make you feel like a man?”

“I've had enough of this conversation,” Traynor uttered.

“Honey, wait….” Jessie Belle walked over to him and put her arms around his waist. “I'm sorry. I love you and I want us to get past whatever this is. If you need me to listen—I'm here.”

He looked skeptical.

“I'm serious. I want to hear whatever you need to say to me.”

They sat down in the living room.

“Jessie Belle, I love you more than my own life, but there are times I feel like I just don't know you.”

He waited for her to respond, but she didn't.

“I really don't like the way you went behind my back with the jewelry, the car and the station. Jessie Belle, it's important to have trust in a marriage. I want to be able to trust my wife. If a marriage has no trust—what else is left?”

“I'm listening,” was all she said.

“I want the woman I married, Jessie Belle. I want her back.”

“Am I that bad?”

He shook his head no. “That's not what I'm saying. When I say that, I'm just talking about the girl that was up-front and honest. I don't like scheming, Jessie Belle, and I just want to make sure it's over.”

“It's over, Traynor. I was wrong and I've apologized. I hope that after tonight we can just move on.”

Traynor reached over and took her hand. “We can.”

Jessie Belle gave him a sexy grin. “I've missed you. I was thinking we could skip dinner and go straight to dessert, if you catch my meaning.”

“I'm right behind you.”

T
raynor had to be in Wilson, North Carolina, the next day for a conference. He was the keynote speaker and wouldn't be home until after six p.m.

Jessie Belle decided that while he was away, this was the perfect time to confront his secretary. Serena was in her office talking on the telephone when she arrived.

She waved at Jessie Belle.

Taking a seat, Jessie Belle waited patiently for Serena to finish her call. There was no way this little snit of a girl was taking Traynor from her.

As soon as the secretary hung up, Jessie Belle went straight to the point. “I want you to leave my husband alone.”

Serena gasped in surprise. “Mrs. Deveraux, I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm just the pastor's secretary.”

Jessie Belle wasn't about to fall for her little innocent act. “Serena, I'm not stupid. I can look at you and tell that you want my husband, but you're not going to get him. Traynor Deveraux will never divorce me.”

“He's a good man—a man of God,” Serena uttered. “How can you treat him like this? He's not done a thing for you to not trust him.”

“I'm not worried about Traynor—it's
you
that I don't trust. I know women like you. And for your information, Serena, I don't need you to tell me how wonderful my husband is. You just remember that he's a happily married man.” Jessie Belle reached into her purse. “As a matter of fact, I think you should consider looking for another job.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don't want you working with Traynor.” Jessie Belle tossed an envelope containing cash on Serena's desk. “Here's some money—consider it your severance pay. Give your notice to my husband, effective immediately.”

“I don't believe you. You're actually trying to pay me off? What kind of woman are you?”

Serena pushed the envelope back toward Jessie Belle. “Mrs. Deveraux, I don't want your money and I'm not leaving my job unless Pastor fires me. What I will do is pray for you and for Pastor Deveraux, because he doesn't deserve this foolishness. I can't believe I used to look up to you as a role model. I see now that I don't want to be anything like you.”

Jessie Belle took a step closer, but the secretary didn't flinch. “You have no idea who you're messing with, Serena.”

“Neither do you,” she responded. “You don't scare me, Mrs. Deveraux. I've got the Lord on my side.”

“You think so?”
Jessie Belle chuckled. “We'll just see about this.”

“I want you to know I'm gonna tell Pastor about this conversation.”

“And if you do—it'll be the last thing you ever do in life,” Jessie Belle warned.
“I mean it.”

Serena gasped. “I can't believe you just threatened me.”

“It wasn't a threat, little girl.
It was a promise
.” Jessie Belle headed to the door but paused long enough to add, “Just remember what I said, Serena.”

During the drive home, Traynor had a long conversation with God.

“What am I going to do with Jessie Belle?” he asked. “I do love her, but she infuriates me when she goes behind my back like that. We had a long talk last night and I believe that she's sincere.”

He was met with dead silence.

“But even with all that, I'm not happy, Lord. I'm not happy with Jessie Belle. I just can't shake the feeling that I can't trust my wife.”

More silence.

“I need Your help, Lord. Show me what to do to keep my marriage intact. I'm beginning to have feelings for another woman and I know it's wrong. I don't want to feel this way about Serena. Please help me.”

Traynor revisited his earlier telephone conversation with Serena. She hadn't sounded like herself. He'd inquired if something was wrong, but she reassured him that she was fine.

He didn't believe her. She definitely sounded as if she was upset about something.

Traynor stopped at a pay phone and called Serena at the office because he wanted to check on her.

“Serena, when I spoke to you earlier—you didn't sound like yourself. I hope you know that you can talk to me about anything. If you're uncomfortable with me, then give Jessie Belle a call. I know she—”

She cut him off. “No…I'm fine, Pastor. Really, I am.”

“I'm on my way to the house,” Traynor told her. “I'll see you on Monday.”

“Have a good weekend, Pastor.”

“You too, Serena.”

He ended the call.

There was something definitely wrong with Serena, but if she didn't want to confide in him, there was nothing he could do about it.

Jessie Belle wasn't perfect.

All her good qualities outweighed the negative—he couldn't deny that.

Maybe I'm being too hard on her and I haven't let go of the past. This is my issue. Not hers
.

Traynor prayed for forgiveness and vowed to do better by Jessie Belle. She wasn't perfect and neither was he. He needed to remember that. She was worth her weight in gold, as his father used to say about Traynor's mother.

For the first time in a long time, he was actually looking forward to seeing his wife and spending time with her.

In the corner restaurant off Highway 98, seated in a booth near the kitchen, Jessie Belle paid off the two men.

“Did anybody see you leave her place?” she asked.

“No, lady,” one answered. “We were real careful.”

She smiled. “Thanks so much for your help.”

“You need us to do anything else?” the one wearing the blue bandanna asked.

Jessie Belle shook her head. “Remember, you've never seen me before.
Ever
.”

“Got it,” they said in unison.

Rising to her feet, Jessie Belle stated, “It was a pleasure doing business with you.”

She left money on the table. “Don't forget to pay the check.”

Walking out to her car, Jessie Belle broke into a grin. “That should teach that little troublemaker not to mess with me.”

She rushed home, hoping to get there before Traynor did.

“Mary Ellen,” Jessie Belle called out as she rushed through the door.

“I'm in the kitchen.”

Jessie Belle cut through the dining room to get to the kitchen, where she found Mary Ellen preparing two steaks, baked potatoes and green beans. “We're going to need another steak. My man's on his way home.”

“This is for you and Traynor. Holt and I have already eaten. I've given him a bath, and right now he's in his room playing.”

“Mary Ellen, you didn't have to do this.” Jessie Belle hugged her.

“You and Traynor have been way too good to me, and you two should at least have some quality time together without me underfoot, so I'm going to see a movie.”

“Mary Ellen, you're always giving us time alone, and I appreciate it—especially since Traynor's been a little distracted.”

“Distracted in what way?”

“You've met Serena—she's after him, and I can tell he's attracted to her, too.”

Mary Ellen shook her head. “I don't think so, Jessie Belle. Traynor loves you.”

“I know he loves me, but that doesn't make him immune to other women. Anyway, it's all over—I put an end to it already.”

Folding her arms across her chest, Mary Ellen studied Jessie Belle. “What did you go and do?”

“I had a talk with Serena.”

“Jessie Belle…”

“I'm not about to let that little tramp steal my husband. I've invested too much into Traynor.”

“This is gonna blow up in your face. You do know that, don't you?”

Jessie Belle shook her head. “It won't, Mary Ellen. I paid a couple of guys to scare the heck out of Serena. Believe me, she won't be saying a word to anybody about our little conversation.”

“I can't believe you'd do something like that.” Mary Ellen peeked into the oven to check on the steaks.

“It's not like I told them to beat her up. I just told them to scare her, Mary Ellen. I want her to quit working for Traynor.”

“Jessie Belle, you're wrong for this. I hope you know it.”

“Mary Ellen, you're supposed to be my friend. What am I supposed to do? Just sit back and let her have Traynor?”

“You could've tried discussing this with your huband,” she suggested.

Shrugging in nonchalance, Jessie Belle uttered, “Well, it's all done. I can't do anything about it now.”

Mary Ellen eyed her for a moment before saying, “I found a place today. The realtor's putting in the offer tomorrow. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks, I'll be in my own place.”

“I see. Congratulations.”

“I'm happy about it. I've been here way too long.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Jessie Belle snapped.

“Just that it's time for me to get my own place. This has nothing to do with you, Jessie Belle. I need my own space.”

“I'm sorry for snapping like that. Mary Ellen, I know what I did to Serena is wrong, but so is trying to steal my husband. I fight for what I want—it's who I am.”

“I suppose it can be a good quality, but it's also a bad quality, Jessie Belle.”

They finished preparing dinner in silence.

Mary Ellen left the house fifteen minutes before Traynor arrived home.

Jessie Belle greeted him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “How did everything go?”

“Fine,” Traynor responded. “How was your day?”

Jessie Belle met his gaze and said, “Uneventful.”

“Where's Holt?”

“In his room playing. Dinner's ready, and I was just about to fix our plates. Why don't you go up and spend some quality time with your son or just relax for a minute?”

He was watching her.

“Honey, what is it?” Jessie Belle questioned. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“You are so amazing at times.”

“What's this about?” she wanted to know. “You have this strange look on your face.”

“I…we have not been as close as we used to be,” Traynor stated. “There's been a lot of tension between us.”

“I've made some bad choices, I know that. I'm sorry.”

“I do love you, Jessie Belle, but I have to be honest with you—I'm not sure how much more I can take. I have to be able to trust you.”

“Traynor, you can….”

“I mean it, Jessie Belle. There are two people in this marriage and when it comes to major decisions—we need to be on one accord.”

She nodded in agreement. “I understand.”

Traynor went upstairs while Jessie Belle fixed their meals.

Apparently Serena decided to keep her mouth shut.
Wise girl,
she thought silently. Jessie Belle hoped that Serena would be smart and just quit her job, too. She didn't want the girl anywhere near Traynor. He was in a vulnerable state right now and probably too weak to resist Serena's seduction.

I'll never let her have my husband
.

“Did you speak to Serena today?” Traynor asked when he and Holt entered the kitchen.

Jessie Belle turned around, facing him. “Why do you ask?”

“She didn't sound like herself when I spoke to her earlier. I think Serena was upset about something.”

Shrugging, Jessie Belle responded, “Maybe she was having a bad day or something. I'm sure if it was anything serious, Serena would've told you about it.”

“So you haven't talked to her, then?”

Jessie Belle shook her head. “No. Didn't speak to her today.”

She picked up a plate laden with dinner rolls. “Could you put these on the table, please?”