Tender Touch by Lynn Emery

hair was black
without a hint of gray. At fifty-four she moved with the same
self-possessed confidence she had at eighteen.
    “Hello, Mother.” Damon gave her a respectful
kiss on the cheek. “Hello—and your father is right.” Marlene
arranged her dress after sitting down on the love seat across from
her husband.
    “Mother, I’m a little old for matchmaking.”
Damon swallowed the rising irritation that threatened to force a
sharper response.
    As usual, Marlene went on without commenting
on his protest. Any disagreement with what she wanted was ignored.
“Monique is quite devoted to you. Her parents were in school with
us.”
    “Monique is devoted to money more than
anything, Mother.”
    “So she’s used to the finer things in life,
what’s wrong with that? Her family has been prominent in this city
and Point Coupee Parish for the last ninety years. She’s perfect
for you, dear.” Marlene ran a hand over her styled hair.
    “Let’s not get into this again,” Damon
mumbled low.
    “I heard that.” Marlene tilted her head back
to stare at him. “Why shouldn’t you find her attractive? She’s
beautiful, smart and from a good family.”
    “Mother—”
    “She comes from the same background as you.
Tell him how important that is, Oliver.” Marlene prodded her
husband with a darting glance.
    “Philip Benoit has the most successful
insurance bonding company in south Louisiana, not to mention a
string of funeral homes. Thriving concerns run by all three of his
sons,” Oliver said with more than a trace of envy.
    “I know, Pops.” Damon had heard it all
before, several times.
    “Just think of what that would mean in terms
of advancing African-American presence on the business scene in
this state.” Oliver rubbed his hands together in anticipation of
forging a commercial empire with his schoolmate Philip Benoit.
“Something we could leave our grandchildren with pride.”
    “Choosing the right wife is important,”
Marlene added.
    Damon gazed at his parents. Marlene Cormier
Knight came from a prominent family in West Baton Rouge Parish. His
parents met at a charity ball when they were still in college, she
at Xavier University and Oliver home from Morehouse. They married
with the approval of their parents, mainly because both were
old-money families. She and Oliver weren’t a passionate couple by
anyone’s standards.
    Damon wondered how his mother had overcome
her distaste for anything as untidy as lovemaking long enough to
have two sons. And though Marlene wasn't unfeeling mother, she
wasn’t the warm maternal type. Now Damon realized why he’d been so
captivated by Rachelle with her penchant for emotional drama. She
seemed so gay and warm compared to what he was used to at home. But
Rachelle required constant admiration. She resented anything,
including his business or commitment to helping others, that took
his attention away from her. Her solution had been to find a lover.
His mother’s voice cut into the painful memories.
    “So when are you going to call her?” Marlene
spoke in a firm tone that was more a command than a question.
    “Remember how you pushed Rachelle and me
together for the same reasons, Mother?” Damon said with
bitterness.
    “Well, you can’t compare Rachelle to
Monique. I mean the Balleaux side is fine, but on her mother’s
side...” Marlene shrugged. “They made their money from saloons for
goodness’ sakes.”
    Damon barked out a harsh laugh. “Her
great-grandfather owned a bar a hundred years ago, Mother. And you
didn’t seem to care about her grandfather’s bar when you introduced
us ten years ago.”
    “Let’s put that behind us, dear. There is no
value in dwelling on the past.” Marlene was untouched by his
implied criticism of her.
    “It’s getting late,” Damon said in a clipped
tone. “I’ve got a long day ahead of me. Good night.”
    “Call me, son. I want to visit the Thibodaux
location since I haven’t been there in a while. I know you’re