Tender Touch Read online

  Bill ran his fingers over his dark hair. “No one is going to believe she didn’t get clearance from me.” It was clear he was already considering escape routes.

  “Yes, they will. Just say she was too emotionally attached to you and got carried away. Make them believe it.” She fixed him with a look of cold steel. “You’ve pulled off far more difficult performances before. Our wedding day, for example.”

  “Kathy, you know that’s not true.” Bill softened his scowl into contrition. “I’ve made mistakes. And yes, I’ve been unfaithful. But it was my weakness for a momentary fling, nothing more. You’re the only woman I really care about.” He reached for her hand and pulled her to him.

  “Do you?” Kathy watched his hands move down the front of her shirt to caress her breasts. She opened her mouth to accept his kiss.

  “It’s always been you.” He moved them over to the sofa. “Come on, baby, let me show you.”

  Kathy grabbed his hands. “You’ll see to it that Jade Pellerin is destroyed starting tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, sure,” Bill rasped. He was eager to push her down onto the dark wine leather.

  Instead, Kathy shoved him down on his back. “Good. And don’t forget, I’m in control,” she said as she climbed on top.

  * * *

  “Marlene, stay out of his love life.” Oliver stared at her with a determined expression. “Damon should choose the woman he wants.”

  “He’s a fool like most men when it comes to women.” She glared at him.

  Oliver got up and got another glass of apple juice. “Damn stuff. I need a good cup of strong coffee.” He sipped the juice with a frown. “Listen to me, Damon is happy for the first time in years. To tell you the truth, I was glad when he escaped the claws of that scheming little harpy.”

  “I don’t remember your being so choosy when her father suggested you two go in on those business deals together.” Marlene wore an expression of disdain. “So much for supporting the cause of true love. Your practical side won, just like before.”

  Oliver stiffened at her last statement. “I couldn’t very well refuse Eugene’s offer without insulting the man. Besides, Damon thought he was in love with Rachelle. He wanted to marry her.”

  “After I made sure they stayed close from the time they were in junior high school,” Marlene said. She laughed. “You both think it was a coincidence they went to the same social functions and that I served on all those committees with her mother? Just proves men are dense.”

  “Good lord, woman. Manipulating your sons’ lives isn’t something to be proud of.” Oliver shook his head. A look of weariness and disillusionment crossed his drawn face.

  “Don’t give me that morally superior attitude. You married me for less than pure reasons.”

  “Please, Marlene, don’t start that again. It’s been almost twenty years.” Oliver turned form her.

  “Lisette Honore. Your one true love.” Marlene spat out the words like acid. “Lots of long, black hair and big brown eyes. Unfortunately her father was a drunken dirt farmer.”

  “Lisette died years ago. You talk as though we’re still lovers.”

  “You don’t think I know how you’ve nursed those memories? I can see it in your eyes.” Marlene’s voice choked. “You’ve never been able to look at me when we make love.”

  “That’s not true,” Oliver shot back.

  “It is! I know it.”

  “I’ve tried to give you a good life. I treated you with respect and tried to be considerate in every way.”

  Marlene closed her eyes. “She had your love, your passion. I settled for being treated with consideration.”

  “I’m sorry,” Oliver mumbled. He sank back in his chair. “Is that what you want to hear for the thousandth time, Marlene?”

  “I don’t want or need your pity.” Marlene banged down her cup of tea so hard the brown liquid splashed across the carpet.

  “I see,” Oliver said in a quiet voice. “Do all your affairs over the years even the score, including the latest with Tavis Collins?”

  “Only a little,” she snarled. “At least I know they want me.”

  Oliver rose with effort and crossed to sit beside her. “Marlene, I never pretended to feel passion when we made love. I care about you.” His voice was deep with emotion. “Please believe me.”

  “Nice speech, Oliver. Your acting skills have improved with the years.” Marlene was unmoved. She got up and got a damp cloth. Without looking at him, she blotted the stain from the carpet.

  “I wasn’t acting, Marlene.” Oliver stared at her with resignation. “But I guess you’ll never believe me.”

  “Keep trying, darling. I might swallow it one day...right after I start believing in the tooth fairy again.” Marlene laughed.

  She looked up to find Damon standing in the doorway. “Oh, hello, Damon.”

  “Tavis Collins is one of Bill Lang’s pals.”

  Marlene’s eyes went wide with alarm. “Who?”

  “I heard it all, Mother.”

  “How dare you sneak into my home and eavesdrop!” Marlene stood before him in outrage. “You don’t have any right to pass judgment when you’ve skulked around and think you know—” She turned away from his hard stare. “Don’t ever walk into my house uninvited again.”

  “I knocked on the back door before I used my key, Mother— something Trent and I have done since Dad got sick.” Damon looked at his father’s stricken expression. “But you’re right. I’ll wait to be let in from now on.”

  “Make sure you do.” Marlene hurried from the other room. After a moment they could hear the door to her bedroom slam shut.

  “Son, sit down.”

  “I’m sorry for you, Dad. I’ve known Mother was insensitive—a snob, even, but now...” Damon felt sick to his stomach.

  Was every woman in his life manipulative and deceptive? A long time after their marriage, he’d been forced to admit that Rachelle was very much like his mother. He had always been thrilled to see the light of approval in Marlene’s eyes. To him she was one of the most elegant, beautiful women in the world. But there was the unpleasant fact that she had to have her way. Was that why he had been so drawn to Rachelle? And Jade? Was she in the same mold?

  “Damon, don’t judge your mother based on things you don’t understand.” Oliver looked as though he was aging before Damon’s eyes.

  “I think I understand very well based on what I heard tonight.” Damon threw his keys down on the end table. He jammed his fists into his pockets. “How long have you known?”

  “Awhile. Your mother is younger than her age. Physically I haven’t been able to...I mean, my medications—” Oliver broke off with a look of dejection.

  “Dad,” Damon said with a catch in his throat. He put a hand on his father’s shoulder and squeezed hard. For several minutes he could not speak. “That’s no excuse. If anything, she should have been more devoted.”

  “I’m at fault, too.” Oliver held up a hand to stop Damon from interrupting him. “Sit down, son. I can’t let you go away thinking your mother is the only villain in this sordid situation.”

  “You’re one helluva man to have put up with her all this time.” Damon threw a hostile glace in the direction his mother had gone.

  “Now stop it!” Oliver barked in a loud angry tone to get his attention. “I will not have you showing disrespect for your mother.”

  “Dad, I—” Damon jerked around to stare at him in surprise.

  Oliver took a deep breath. “I hurt Marlene terribly. I’ve been callous and selfish for the last thirty-six years.”

  “You’ve treated her like a queen.” After a few moments of thought, Damon sat back on the sofa. “Wait a minute. Did you have an affair, too?”

  Oliver looked away from him for the last time. “I married your mother out of family loyalty, Damon. It wasn’t just my parents but my grandparents—Very strong-willed people. I should have shown more backbone but...”

  “What are you saying?”
Damon was confused by this thread.

  “Lisette Honore was from a poor family that lived outside of town. Back in those days, there were only a few high schools for blacks. So kids from all over traveled to the nearest one. Lisette rode one of three buses that brought kids to the old McKinley High School. She was so beautiful. When she didn’t have her long hair in a braid, it would fluff out like dark shiny wool around her head, soft with big thick curls.” Oliver seemed lost in the memory for several moments. Then he blinked back to the present. “My grandmother saw us together one day. There was no question t we could get married. After pleading from my mother didn’t work, my father laid it on the line. I was seventeen and the only job I would get without family connections was as a janitor back in those days. At least I thought so.”

  Damon could not believe what he was hearing. “You cared more about your social position?”

  Oliver hung his head. “That’s not the worst of it. Nasty rumors about Lisette started circulating. Rumors that her drunk of a father had molested her and her sisters. I turned my back on her like all the rest. Years later I found out my family helped expose his behavior not to help Lisette, but to destroy any chance I might rebel and marry her anyway.”

  “What happened to her?”

  “She went to live with relatives in New Orleans. Her father was stabbed to death drunken brawl a month later. Lisette came back about six years later to teach.” Oliver wore a sad smile. “She forgave me for being so cowardly. I don’t think your mother even guessed we had a brief affair. But Lisette wanted a home and children. She broke it off and married a nice man. She died about ten years ago, cancer.”

  “Why did you bother to stay together?” Damon stared at him.

  “For you boys, for appearances, our families...for a lot of reasons. But mostly because I really tried to make up for it to Marlene.” Oliver stared ahead. “And for some crazy reason, your mother has always loved me.”

  “How can she love you yet have an affair?”

  “It’s all so complicated, so messed up.” Oliver shook his head. “I don’t have any answers for you, son. We just keep doing the best we can.” He gazed at him. “Don’t give up someone you love. Look what it’s done to our lives.”

  “It’s a dead issue at this point,” Damon said. “Mother will get her wish.” The dull ache returned. “Jade and I are through.”

  Oliver studied his son for several seconds. “Damon, take it from me. When you love a woman with all your heart, there isn’t a damn thing in this world worth keeping you apart.” He rose with stiff movements. “Now I’m going to go to my room. I’m so tired.”

  Damon watched him walk away with slow, shuffling steps. Oliver J. Knight had never looked small or defeated, until now. Damon wanted to make it right for his father. But events that had taken place before he was born made that impossible. Damon sat deep in thought for a long time with nothing but the tick-tock of the antique grandfather clock down the hall to keep him company. After a while, he rose to leave. There was much for him to think about.

  * * *

  “Lady, you’ve had more than enough,” the burly bartender said in a gravelly voice. “Last thing I need is the cops comin’ down on me.” He turned away without filling her glass with more whiskey and soda.

  “Look, I’ve got money. Now give me another drink.” Lanessa tossed back her hair. She straightened the expensive jade green jacket she wore over matching slacks.

  A tall, muscular man in a blue shirt at the other end of the bar was listening to their exchange with interest. “Come on, Greg. Give the lady another one. The cops don’t care what goes on in this dump.” He barked a husky laugh.

  Greg walked to him and bent down to whisper in the man’s ear. “Looka how she’s dressed, man. I don’t need no grief behind some bourgeois broad getting wasted in my place, Ray.” He eyed her again. “Probably got some high-powered daddy who’ll use his influence to shut me down.”

  “She ain’t the regular skanky female you got comin’ in here, that’s for sure.” Ray licked his lips.

  “Look, I done warned Malik and them to keep it on the down low. Now this I don’t need.” Greg jerked a thumb in Lanessa’s direction.

  Ray studied the leather purse and shoes. He gave an appreciative wink at the curves beneath the fine fabric. “Listen, I’ll take care of this, honey. You just keep ’em comin’.”

  Greg followed his gaze. He handed Ray a bottle. “Just keep it quiet. You can use one of the rooms upstairs to help her sleep it off if you want.” He gave Ray a crude wink.

  Ray strolled over and sat on the bar stool next to Lanessa. “Here you go, ma’am. Greg just kinda concerned for your safety. But I assured him you was okay.” He gave her a wide grin.

  Lanessa reached for the bottle. “My hero.”

  Ray did not let go of it. “What’s your name, pretty woman?”

  “My throat’s kinda dry. I’ll talk better after a drink.” Lanessa pried his fingers loose and poured some of the whiskey into her glass.

  “Hey, what about the soda?” Ray laughed as he signaled to Greg.

  “Oh, yeah.” Lanessa giggled. “Soda.” She found this funny and continued to laugh.

  “Yeah, let’s cut this some or you’ll end up out cold.” Ray raised an eyebrow at the bartender.

  “From the looks of it, she can hold lots of straight booze.” Greg gave a knowing grunt. “Yep, she ain’t just started puttin’ away a lotta liquor.” He walked away.

  “I don’t like his attitude,” Lanessa said with a scowl. “I don’t have to spend my money here, you know,” she called out at Greg’s retreating back. He only waved a hand in dismissal as a reply.

  “Ah, that’s just how he is. Hey, you some kinda fine woman. How you got loose tonight without your man?” Ray leaned toward her.

  “Real easy.” Lanessa’s eyes filled with unshed tears. She swiped at her face with the back of her hand. “I don’t have to ask permission from anybody,” she said with force. “To hell with him.”

  “I know what you mean, baby.” Ray poured more whiskey in both their glasses. “Woman like you needs the right kinda man. Somebody gonna treat you good.”

  “Uh-huh.” Lanessa took a deep drink. “It’s too hot in here. Hey you, turn on the air conditioner,” she yelled. “And turn down that music while you’re at it.”

  “Say, listen, it’s hot ’cause it’s too crowded up in here. Let’s go where we can really talk.” Ray took her arm with one hand and picked up the bottle with the other. He pulled her through a door leading down a dim hallway.

  “Where we goin’?” Lanessa hesitated.

  “Our own private bar, babe. With soft music. Come on,” Ray urged in a soothing voice. “I’m going to take care of you.”

  Lanessa gazed up at his smiling face. “I just want time to get myself together, you know? Everything is rushing at me at once.” She let her body slump against his imposing bulk. “You understand, don’t you?”

  “Sure, babe. I understand just what you need.”

  Ray walked her into a dingy room and shut the door. Illuminated by a single lamp with a dirty shade, the room was furnished with a couch that sagged in the middle and several ragged chairs. A fold-out single bed, covered with a faded blue bedspread worn almost to holes in spots, was in one comer. Lanessa plopped down onto the sofa before Ray could get her over to the bed.

  “Where’s the bottle?” Lanessa pushed back her hair.

  “Give me a kiss, and I’ll give you a drink.” Ray stood in front of her.

  Lanessa smiled and wagged a finger at him. “Now don’t play games with me, Ray.” She got to her feet, wavering a little. “Where’s that drinky?”

  Ray laughed and danced backward with the bottle held behind him. “Guess. Come on, babe.” He moved away from her in time to the music that could be heard from the barroom. “You give me what I want, you get what you want.”

  “Okay, you asked for it.” Lanessa lunged at him. She put both arms around him and
touched the bottle. “Now give it up.” She took it from him.

  “You first,” Ray said in a husky voice. He grabbed her to him as he fell onto the bed. “Some fine.” His hands worked with amazing speed to undo the buttons on her jacket.

  “Now don’t be in such a hurry,” Lanessa said. She tried to wriggle out of his reach. “We’ve got plenty of time.” His groping became more insistent, his fingers digging into her flesh. ‘You’re hurting me. Stop it!”

  “Feel this.” He guided her hand to his crotch. “I’m ready now. Don’t try to tell me you don’t like it rough. I know your kind.”

  “Let go.” Lanessa’s voice rose in panic.

  “Come down here for a little ghetto excitement. I got it for you, sugar.” Ray groaned at the sight of her beige lace bra. “Oo-wee,” he muttered.

  “I said, let me go.” Lanessa slapped the side of his face hard. Her long nails scraped skin from his cheek.

  Ray snarled as he jumped up from the bed. “You really wanna play, huh? Then you got your wish.” He hit her with a back- handed blow.

  Lanessa staggered back in stunned horror. Suddenly she remembered the bottle in her hands. “Stay away from me.” Her voice trembled. She held the bottle upside down sloshing the remaining whiskey down her pants.

  “I’m going to show you something, pretty woman.” Ray wore a nasty smile as he walked toward her.

  In a blind panic, Lanessa swung the bottle. The crunch of the heavy glass on his scalp shook her arm. Ray stumbled a bit before he reached at her like an enraged bear, his fingers curled into a claw. Lanessa hit him again harder. The bottle broke and blood flowed down his face. Ray screamed at the realization that the blood was his. He fell hard against the sofa then fell to the floor. Lanessa backed away and looked down at him. He did not move.

  “My God!” Lanessa was shaking. She grabbed her purse. “Gotta get out of here.”

  Once out in the hallway, she ran blindly to a door. With a cry of relief, she found herself outside. Somehow she found her car. It seemed to take forever to get the driver door open. Her hands shook so hard, she dropped the keys three times in her attempt. Finally she got in and drove off the parking lot at top speed. The dark highway curved ahead, causing her to jerk the wheel more than once. Oncoming headlights left her blinking away spots that danced in front of her. Which way was home? She had to get her refuge. But she had no real refuge. Everywhere was pain. Tears streamed down her face further reducing her vision. There was nothing at home but emptiness, nothing at home to comfort her. The car lurched to the left. With a spray of gravel, the tires hit a soft shoulder. Lanessa screamed as the world spun around like a carousel.