Sit! Stay! Speak! (12 page)

A
DDIE STOOD IN HER KITCHEN STARING DOWN AT
F
ELIX
. “I promise I'm only going to be gone one night,” she said to him.

“He's going to be fine,” Geneva, the dog sitter, replied. “Remember, I come very highly recommended by Dr. Dixon
and
Wanda.”

“I know, I know.” Addie squatted down to give Felix's head a pat. “It's just that we've never spent a night apart since I got him. I don't want him to think I've abandoned him.”

Geneva's eyes crinkled. “Honey, I'm going to keep him so busy that he won't even notice you're gone.”

“I appreciate you not thinking I'm a crazy person.”

“I have twelve cats and four dogs,” Geneva replied. “Between the two of us, I can guarantee that you're not the crazy one.”

“And remember, don't give him strawberries. They make him puke. And he likes to have a walk at 7:15
P
.
M
. sharp. And whatever
you do, do
not
put the TV on Animal Planet. That channel freaks him out.”

“I think you hit all the highlights in the three pages of notes you left,” the elderly woman replied. “Now, go on. Scoot.”

Addie allowed herself to be pushed out the door. She stood on the porch for a second listening for signs that Felix might be unhappy. Hearing nothing, she walked down the steps and out to her car.

Augustus Smoot was sitting on his porch watching her. She waved at him and said, “How are you today?” Augustus didn't answer. He stood up and walked back inside the house, ignoring her. Addie shrugged and got into her car.

When Addie arrived at Wanda's her friend didn't seem nearly as worried about her son as Addie was about Felix. Wanda gave Bryar a kiss on the cheek and skipped out to Addie's car. Bryar and his nana waved from the window.

“Hey,” Wanda said. She slid into the front seat. “Let's get this show on the road!”

“I'm so excited about visiting the city for a couple of days,” Addie said. “My aunt used to take me there to the movies sometimes when I came to visit. Sometimes we even went down to the riverfront to the little farmers' market.”

“You ought to be able to see the riverfront from where we're staying.”

“Where are we staying?”

“In a loft downtown,” Wanda said. “It's about eight hundred times nicer than any hotel. And it's free!”

“How is it free?”

“That's a surprise.”

“Wanda . . . why is the loft free?”

“Promise you won't be mad?”

“No.”

“It belongs to Jasper.”

A sick feeling slid all the way down Addie's throat. It sat like a rock in her stomach. Jasper had a loft in Memphis? She assumed his life existed entirely in Eunice.

“Addie? Are you mad?”

“No.” Addie shook her head. “I just figured when he moved to Eunice that he . . . you know, actually moved.”

“I think he's planning to sell it,” Wanda replied. “But the last time I talked to his mom, she said he was still traveling to Memphis quite a lot to manage the firm.”

“Will he be there?”

“Nope.” Wanda fished around in her purse. “Look, he even gave me a key!”

“Oh, okay.”

“It's really beautiful,” Wanda said. “I've been there once. Back when I was fighting for custody of Bryar. I mentioned to Jasper that you wanted to go to Memphis for your birthday. I thought he might be able to give me some advice about what to do and where to stay. That's when he offered his place.”

“Don't you think it's weird that he just gave you a key and free rein over his home?” Addie asked. “I mean, that's pretty trusting.”

Wanda shrugged. “He said he owed you.”

“I'm going to pull over at the next gas station,” Addie said. Her head was swimming. “You can drive after that.”

“Okay,” Wanda chirped. “I'm so glad you're not mad.”

“Don't be silly.” Addie forced a smile. “What could possibly go wrong this weekend?” It was then that she did something she hadn't done in a long time. Without even thinking, she brought
her left thumb up to her ring finger to twist her engagement ring—the ring Jonah had given her—the ring she no longer had. It had been an old habit, something she'd done when she was nervous or thinking too hard. Addie felt a lump forming in her throat. There was no ring on her finger. She'd given it back, after all, hadn't she, to Jonah's horrible parents at the funeral.

At the funeral, Addie hadn't been allowed to sit with the family. She sat with her mom and Jerry in the back of the crowded church. When it was her turn to walk to the front to face Jonah's closed casket and his stoic parents, she'd given his mother the last thing he'd ever given her, the thing she held most precious—her engagement ring. Addie hoped it would somehow validate her in their eyes. She'd wanted them to embrace her, to cry with her, to remind her of how much their son had loved her. He'd loved her so much he'd given her a ring. He'd loved her so much he'd died trying to make her happy.

Neither of them even said thank you.

What she felt after the funeral went deeper than death, and she didn't know how to explain it to anyone. Her friends soon tired of calling and begging to see her. After a year, they stopped calling altogether. Her mother began suggesting she go out, get out of her childhood bedroom and meet new people, meet new men. She always refused.

Wouldn't her old friends like to see her now? Wouldn't her mother be thrilled to know that she was headed to Memphis with her friend,
her new friend,
to have a lovely birthday? Tonight there would be no more thoughts of Jonah. There would be no more imaginary ring twisting. There would be no more worrying.
I'm going to have a lovely birthday,
she thought.
I'm going to.

Jasper's loft was located in the downtown cross section of the
South Bluffs neighborhood and the South Main Arts District. It was a hip and artistic area that Addie was drawn to, and she was excited about being in a city once again.

“So, what do you think?” Wanda asked as the two made their way from the parking garage to the lofts.

“It feels like a city,” Addie replied. She took a gulp of air.

Wanda's phone began to ring. “It's Jasper.”

“He must be telepathic.”

Wanda walked ahead of Addie so that Addie couldn't hear the conversation. When she finally hung up, they were standing in the lobby of the building. “Well, Jasper's here.”

“What do you mean he's here?” Addie closed her eyes. She wasn't going to worry. It was fine. It was
fine.

“I mean he's here. In the building,” Wanda replied. “Apparently he's been in Memphis since Thursday finalizing the sale of his law firm. He said he's getting ready to leave, so we'll have the place all to ourselves tonight. But he didn't want us to get to the loft and be surprised when we saw him.”

“We'll just be surprised in the lobby instead.”

“Well, he didn't know we were already in the lobby.”

“How far up?”

“All the way,” Wanda replied. “Well, not all the way, but almost. He lives on the ninth floor. The tenth floor is like a rooftop garden with a pool.”

“Wow.”

“So should we let ourselves in or knock?” Wanda clacked the key into her manicured nails.

“Knock?”

“Oh, all right.” Wanda returned the key to her purse. “But I was excited about pretending I lived here.”

They exited onto the ninth floor. Something about the sterile white walls of the hallway made her feel like she needed to be quiet. Wanda stopped at the door of 901N and knocked. After a few seconds they heard footsteps and then the rustling of the lock.

Jasper stood in the doorway, one arm propped against the frame. “Hey, y'all.”

Addie struggled to keep her jaw from hitting the expensive ceramic tile floor in the hallway. The man standing in front of her sounded like Jasper Floyd, but he sure didn't look like him.

The man standing in front of Addie looked like . . . well, he looked like a lawyer.

In the time that Addie had known Jasper, she had never seen him in anything more formal than muddy boots and jeans. She'd never seen his face without three or four days of stubble. But today was different. Today he was dressed in a blue pinstripe button-down shirt with a white collar and white cuffs. He was wearing a paisley tie that was a darker shade of blue and red suspenders with gray slacks and Italian leather shoes. Addie could see a red sock peeking out underneath one of his pant legs. Everything Jasper was wearing fit as if it had been tailored specifically for his expansive six-foot-four frame.

“I've been in meetings all morning,” Jasper said, opening the door so both women could step through. “I really had planned on being out of here by now.”

“It's your place. You don't have to apologize to us,” Wanda replied.

The loft was every bit as posh as Addie had expected it to be after seeing the way Jasper was dressed. It was exquisitely furnished and very clean—much like the carriage house back in Eunice. Every appliance in the stainless steel kitchen was new,
along with the white furniture and carpets in the living room. Modern art hung on the walls, as did one of the largest televisions that Addie had ever seen. The bedrooms were the same, and there were three of them. Jasper led each of them to a bedroom.

Addie sat her overnight bag down on the deep purple bedspread and stood there, taking in her surroundings. She hung up her dress and made her way back into the main part of the loft. Jasper was sitting on a bar stool in the kitchen, a glass of water and a sandwich in front of him. Wanda was beside him, busily screwing the cork out of a bottle of wine.

“Wine?” Addie raised an eyebrow. “It's one o'clock in the afternoon.”

“Think we should try something stronger?” Wanda asked. “C'mon, loosen up. It's your birthday.”

“Technically, it's not my birthday until tomorrow,” Addie reminded her. “But whatever. Pour me a glass.”

“Glasses are on the top shelf on the right,” Jasper said.

Addie could feel his eyes on her as she turned to open the cabinet door. Standing on her tiptoes, she grabbed at the glasses, her fingers just brushing them.

“Let me help you with that.” Jasper was behind her, reaching up. He was pressed so close to her that she could smell the starch on his shirt.

“Thanks.”

He grinned at her, and it was all at once infuriating and endearing. “Anytime.”

“So are you done for the day?” Wanda asked. She poured the glass to the brim.

“I've got to get to my last meeting.” Jasper polished off the last bite of his sandwich. “I'll be out of your way in just a few minutes.”

“You're not in our way.” Wanda snorted into her wine. “Hey, before you go—can you recommend a nice restaurant for supper? I want to take Addie somewhere fancy.”

“Well, I actually have supper reservations just a couple of blocks away from here. At a restaurant called Fish,” Jasper replied. “I'm sure we could squeeze you two in at our table . . . that is, if you don't mind having supper with a bunch of lawyers.”

“Is it a fancy restaurant?” Wanda asked. “I can't tell with a name like Fish. Who names their restaurant Fish?”

“The specialty is fried catfish, but with a special twist. The chef apparently studied in France.”

“Then what does he know about frying catfish?”

“I guess you'll have to find out,” Jasper replied.

“Sure,” Wanda said. “We'd love to go to your weird restaurant.”

Jasper stood up and smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles in his pants. “I'll text you directions. See you around eight?”

“We'll be there.”

“H
OW DO
I
LOOK
?” W
ANDA ASKED
. “B
E HONEST
.”

“I think you've had enough wine for both of us.”

“I can hold my liquor.”

Wanda could hold her liquor better than just about anyone Addie had ever met. And Wanda really did look great in her lacy green minidress, high-heeled boots, and black leather jacket. “You've got such long legs. I envy you.”

Wanda's face broke into a wide grin. “Thanks, sugar. My granny used to say, ‘That girl's so tall if she fell down she'd be halfway home.'”

“She's not wrong.”

Addie was supple and feminine in her floral dress and pink cardigan. Instead of wearing her hair stick-straight as usual, she had ringlets that cascaded over her shoulders.

“Lose that cardigan,” Wanda said as they headed out the door
and made their way toward the elevator. “You're not going to church.”

“No.” Addie clutched the top button. “My boobs are about to come out of this dress.”

“That's the point. Besides, even at night Memphis is going to be hotter than a billy goat's ass in a pepper patch.”

“Another one from your granny?”

“Of course.”

“She was so eloquent.”

“Let's get a move on. We're going to be late.”

All around them, people were buzzing about their Saturday night activities in the balmy Memphis air—couples with strollers full of children licking ice cream cones, teenagers on dates walking hand in hand, dogs on leashes yapping at passersby.

Memphis was different from Chicago in a way that Addie hadn't expected. There was calm to the rush—as if even the busiest person had time to stop and discuss the weather with a friendly stranger. It was both foreign and beautiful, and Addie drank in the city's southern hospitality.

The restaurant was packed by the time they got there—people were waiting at tables outside, sipping on mixed drinks and talking amongst themselves. “Should we just go in and find them?” Wanda asked. “This place is a madhouse.”

Addie walked up to the man standing at the podium who was busily checking names off his list. “Excuse me? Can you tell me if my party is already inside?”

“There's a two-hour wait.” The man didn't look up. “Give me your name and I'll put you on the list.”

“The name is Jasper Floyd.”

“You're with Mr. Floyd?”

“Yes.”

“He's been expecting you.”

They waded through the sea of people to the back of the restaurant where their group sat in a plush half-moon booth.

There were four men and two women at the booth. Jasper sat on one end and slid out to greet Wanda and Addie as they approached. “I was beginning to think you'd stood me up.”

“We lost track of time,” Wanda said. “You have an excellent wine selection.”

“My wine selection pales in comparison to the wine selection here.”

Wanda sat down first, followed by Addie and then Jasper. The booth was a tight fit for all of them. Addie's skin tingled when Jasper brushed against her.

“Addie, Wanda, I'd like you to meet a few of my colleagues,” Jasper said. “Well, as of today I suppose I should say former colleagues.”

“That's right,” a balding man on the other end of the booth replied. “Just remember you have to share with the rest of the partners.”

“That's all you've ever cared about, Warren.” Jasper grinned. “This is Warren Benson and his partner Neil Alexander.”

“I'm not a lawyer,” the man beside Warren broke in. “When Jasper says ‘partner,' he means ‘life partner' and not ‘business partner.'”

“Neil also owns this restaurant,” Jasper finished.

“It looks like you're doing very well,” Addie said. “This place is packed.”

“So far, so good.”

“And next to Neil is Natalie Rains,” Jasper continued.

A slight woman with a blond pixie cut smiled over at Addie and Wanda. “It's nice to meet y'all.”

“And next to Natalie is her husband, Dan, and then you all might remember Harper Blake.”

“Hello again.” Harper's voice was low and gravelly.

Addie squinted at her in the dim light. She was just as gorgeous as she'd looked the first night Addie'd met her. She was wearing a tight, pink tube dress. It sizzled against her copper skin. Harper kept her eyes on Jasper as a nervous waiter buzzed about the booth dispensing drinks.

“Everything is on me tonight, ladies,” Neil said to Addie and Wanda. “Drink up!”

“Neil, I have a feeling you and me are going to get along just fine.” Wanda's head was buried in the wine menu.

Addie opened her mouth to order her usual, but decided against it. She wanted something sweet. Something colorful. “I'll have a Midori sour, please. Extra cherries.”

“Oh, that sounds good,” Wanda said. “I'll have that, too.”

The waiter nodded and rushed off. Jasper had introduced his friends as couples—Warren and Neil, Natalie and Dan, Harper and Jasper? Addie's heart sank. Every time she convinced herself that it didn't matter—that Jasper didn't matter, he did something that proved her wrong.

“Jasper tells us it's your birthday,” Natalie said.

“It is,” Addie replied. She was thankful for a break from her thoughts. “Well, technically it's tomorrow.”

“And you're from Chicago?”

“Yes. I moved to Eunice a couple of months ago.”

“If you don't mind me asking,” Warren said, “how in good gravy did you get from Chicago to the Delta?”

“To make a long story short, I inherited a house.”

“And what was it that you did in Chicago?” Harper asked.

“I owned an antique wood shop.”

Neil leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “That sounds interesting. What kind of wood shop?”

“Furniture, mostly,” Addie replied. “We bought from estate sales and auctions. Then we'd refinish and sell them.”

“We?”

Addie cleared her throat. “My fiancé and I.”

“You have a fiancé back in Chicago?” Harper asked.

“No,” Addie said. “Not anymore.”

“Let's order some food,” Jasper spoke up. “Let Addie catch her breath.”

Addie let out a sigh of relief and stared down into the menu. Jasper's hand brushed across her bare thigh. In an instant his touch was gone, but it left Addie struggling to read the words in front of her. She looked up through her eyelashes at Jasper. He wasn't looking at her.

“This is the best thing I've ever tasted,” Wanda said, marveling at the Midori sour. “I never even knew this drink existed.”

“Wanda's right,” Addie said to Neil. “Your bartender knows what he's doing.”

“Thanks,” Neil replied. “I hope you'll say the same thing about the chef!”

Addie sat back and sipped her drink. Wanda was talking to Natalie about their mutual love for leather pants. Warren and Neil were talking to Jasper and Harper about the law firm. Addie marveled at Jasper's animated expressions. He was relaxed and
happy—not at all the person he was at the pumpkin patch weeks earlier. There was no brooding, no talk of his father.

Jasper was comfortable, and Addie was jealous. She wanted to relax. She wanted to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. Enjoy her birthday dinner. And she wanted to know
this
version of Jasper.

Her thigh still burned from his touch.

The food came, and the group ate in silence, reveling in the thick sauces, tender meat, and generous portions all elegantly served by the staff as Neil watched hawkishly from the booth.

“The food in the South has got to be better than anywhere else in the country,” Addie marveled, scraping every last bite from her plate. “I could barely squeeze myself into this dress tonight, and now I feel like I might just burst out of it.”

“That's how we like our women down in these parts,” Warren said.

“And what would you know about that?” Neil replied. “You got secrets I don't know about?”

Jasper's hand was back on her thigh. And this time there was no mistake. His thumb and forefinger made miniature circles over her skin and Addie was on fire with want.

“Well, I hope you saved room, honey,” Neil said, forcing Addie to concentrate, “because we haven't even had dessert yet.”

Behind Neil, waiters were wheeling in a three-tiered cake with yellow frosting. The words
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
were painted across it in pink icing.

“Wow!” Addie exclaimed. “Neil, thank you so much. You didn't have to do this!”

“Don't thank me,” Neil replied. “All I did was place the order. It was Jasper's idea.”

Addie looked up at Jasper, her face flushed with excitement. “Thank you, Jasper . . . it's . . . it's beautiful.”

“Happy birthday.” Jasper's hand grasped hers underneath the table.

“I think it's time to sing!” Neil raised his glass. He stood up and lit each one of the candles until all Addie could see were twenty-eight little flames blazing in front of her.

It was almost midnight by the time they spilled out onto the streets of Memphis, full of cake and liquor. Natalie and Dan said their good-byes while Warren and Neil debated the agenda for the rest of the night.

“I'm getting old,” Jasper declared, stretching his arms to the sky. “I'm ready to go home.”

“Hush up, Jasper Floyd,” Neil said. “I'm much older than you are. Why don't we all just go back to your apartment? You've got plenty to drink and a great view.”

Jasper hesitated. “Okay, but when I say it's time to go, it's time to go. Got it?” He wagged his finger in front of Neil's face.

“Got it,” Neil replied. “Homeward ho!”

“I think I'm going to go home, too.” Harper spoke up. “Jasper, could we talk for a second?”

“Why don't you all start back to my place?” Jasper said, turning away from Harper. “Wanda has a key. I'll catch up.”

As they trekked back to the loft, Addie tried not to think about what Harper and Jasper were talking about. She hadn't seemed at all pleased with the birthday cake.

“Are you having a good time so far?” Wanda asked. “Because I think I might be having enough fun for the both of us!”

“Of course I'm having a good time,” Addie said. “This is the best birthday I've had in a long time. Although I have to admit—going
back and falling into bed does sound pretty damn good right about now.”

“No talk of bed!” Warren called out from behind them. “Memphis never sleeps!”

Once inside, Addie took off her shoes and heaved herself down onto the white sofa. It looked more comfortable than it actually was.

Wanda handed her a glass of wine. “This room looks like a doctor's office.”

“I wonder who decorated this place.”

“Maybe it was Harper.”

“You think?”

“I doubt it,” Wanda replied.

The front door opened and Jasper entered, followed by Harper. “Where are Warren and Neil?” he asked.

“I think they're out on the balcony.” Wanda jerked her thumb toward the far end of the living room.

“Let's get a drink before we join them,” Harper said.

“Go on ahead. I've got to get this tie off from around my neck. It's strangling me.” Jasper tugged at the knot in his tie.

“Don't do that!” Harper slapped at Jasper's hands. “You're going to ruin it doing that.” She reached up and expertly pulled the tie away from Jasper's collar. “You're the only man I know who can tie a tie but can't seem to get one off.”

Jasper laughed, and for a moment his head was hunkered so close to Harper's that Addie couldn't hear what they were saying. Addie wasn't sure how she could compete with someone whose legs were as long as her whole body. How could Jasper ever be interested in her next to a woman like that?

“Maybe he's a boob man,” Wanda whispered to her. “What's Harper doing here, anyway? I thought she was going home?”

“You just read my mind.”

Wanda patted her arm. “Sugar, you gotta be pretty on the inside
and
out. Something tells me Harper looks like she was born downwind from an outhouse on the inside.”

Addie giggled. “I have no idea what that means, but it sure does make me feel better.”

“What are you two laughing about over there?” Jasper asked. He looked up from his conversation with Harper.

“Nothing,” Wanda replied. “Just girl talk.” She set down her glass of wine on the coffee table. “If y'all will excuse me, I've got to use the powder room.” She wobbled off down the hall in search of the bedroom, leaving Addie alone with Jasper and Harper.

The two sat down on the couch. Harper was still holding Jasper's tie in her hands. “So, Addie,” she began, “how do you like the Delta?”

“I like it just fine.”

“Must be quite a switch from Chicago.”

“It is,” Addie replied. “But I visited my aunt down here nearly every summer until I was twelve.”

“Jas and I always talked about moving the practice somewhere else, someplace exotic.” Harper scooted closer to Jasper. “But the Delta is home, I suppose.”

Addie cringed. She hated the way Harper said “Jas” like there was some kind of intimate connection between the two of them—a two-person club that Addie wasn't allowed to join. She glanced around the room for an escape.

“Do you want another glass of wine, Addie?” Jasper stood up. “Addie?”

“Oh, yeah, sure.” Addie handed him her empty glass. His fingers clasped around hers, and her heart leapt into her throat. She wondered if he felt it, too. Surely he did—hadn't he been the one to kiss her first? Hadn't it been his hands on her hands . . . on her leg? She shook those thoughts from her head. She hadn't come to Arkansas to meet a farmer. She was leaving, she reminded herself.
Leaving.
None of this was going to last.