men
who had been unaffected by Lanessa’s beauty, and Nessa had
dismissed them anyway since she had so many devoted admirers.
“No, I mean we disagreed a couple of times.”
Lanessa shrugged. She did not offer any more information but looked
away from Jade’s questioning gaze.
“Was the disagreement over something
serious?”
Lanessa stared at her glass and took another
sip. “I don’t really remember. Anyway it doesn’t matter now.”
“You don’t remember? Oh, come on, Nessa.
What did you do? I know you have a sharp tongue. Tell me—”
“Look, forget it, okay?” Lanessa cut her off
and started pacing again. “It’s over so it’s pointless to rake up
history now. Besides, Keith Darensbourg has been flirting with me
for months now. He’s got more money than Alex— the nerd.”
“Lanessa...” Jade did not like the direction
she was headed. “Don’t you think you’re a little old for this wild
girl, let’s par- tee act? Not to mention how dangerous jumping from
one man to another is these days.”
This seemed to touch a nerve. “I’m only
thirty-four! I’m not old. Look at this body. There are
eighteen-year-olds who work out every day to look like this,”
Lanessa said, her voice rising with each word.
“I didn’t say you were old—”
“There are men younger than me who have
thrown platinum credit cards down to get my attention. I am not
old.” Lanessa stood with her feet apart in front of Jade.
Jade stood to face her. She was annoyed and
troubled at the same time by her reaction. “Get a grip, sister.
You’ve still got men breaking out in a sweat just by walking by.
I’m talking about maturity up here—” Jade tapped her forehead “—not
chronological age.”
Lanessa glared at her for a few moments, and
then slumped down into the chair opposite the sofa. “Don’t pay
attention to my ranting, Jade-girl. I’m just stressed out with
work. Not only is this thing with Alex getting on my nerves, but my
boss is on my case now.”
“Listen to me; it’s just your pride that’s
hurt. You didn’t even care for Alex that much. You said so yourself
only a few days ago.”
“You’re right.” Lanessa chewed on a
fingernail for a few seconds before realizing she would ruin her
expensive silk wrap. “Let me pull it together, acting stupid over
Alex of all men.” She gave a brittle laugh.
“Tell you what; let’s go get something to
eat. I’ll drive.” Jade got up and gave her a pat on the
shoulder.
“I guess, but I’m not that hungry.”
“You will be when we get to Bamboo Gardens.
They’ve got a shrimp and snow peas entree that is fantastic.” Jade
got her purse and car keys.
“Chinese would be good. I don’t want
anything heavy. Gotta keep this fine frame for Keith.” Lanessa
stood and pulled at her form-fitting dress.
“Lanessa, what did I just say about that?”
Jade put both hands on her hips.
Lanessa laughed. “I know, I know. But I can
still let him savor what he might get in the future. You know he’s
on the board of Louisiana National Bank?”
“Oh Lanessa!” Jade shook her head with a
chuckle.
For the rest of the evening, Lanessa seemed
her old self again. Jade began to think she had been imagining
things. Her sister was fine. They talked on about a variety of
subjects since Lanessa knew all the gossip about the prominent
families around town.
“And Mrs. Louvillier was bragging on her
daughter. You know how she is, ‘Queisah did this and Queisah did
that.’” Lanessa spoke in an exaggerated imitation of a patrician
accent.
Jade rolled her eyes. “She is sickening with
that snob act.” “Well, finally Mama looked at her and said, ‘I’m so
glad to hear Quiesah’s doing better after that unfortunate library
incident. So they let her return this semester?”
“No—she didn’t!” Jade sat forward.
“She did. Mama smiled at her in that way she
has, and Mrs. Louvillier kept her mouth shut for the rest of the
luncheon.” Lanessa sat
who had been unaffected by Lanessa’s beauty, and Nessa had
dismissed them anyway since she had so many devoted admirers.
“No, I mean we disagreed a couple of times.”
Lanessa shrugged. She did not offer any more information but looked
away from Jade’s questioning gaze.
“Was the disagreement over something
serious?”
Lanessa stared at her glass and took another
sip. “I don’t really remember. Anyway it doesn’t matter now.”
“You don’t remember? Oh, come on, Nessa.
What did you do? I know you have a sharp tongue. Tell me—”
“Look, forget it, okay?” Lanessa cut her off
and started pacing again. “It’s over so it’s pointless to rake up
history now. Besides, Keith Darensbourg has been flirting with me
for months now. He’s got more money than Alex— the nerd.”
“Lanessa...” Jade did not like the direction
she was headed. “Don’t you think you’re a little old for this wild
girl, let’s par- tee act? Not to mention how dangerous jumping from
one man to another is these days.”
This seemed to touch a nerve. “I’m only
thirty-four! I’m not old. Look at this body. There are
eighteen-year-olds who work out every day to look like this,”
Lanessa said, her voice rising with each word.
“I didn’t say you were old—”
“There are men younger than me who have
thrown platinum credit cards down to get my attention. I am not
old.” Lanessa stood with her feet apart in front of Jade.
Jade stood to face her. She was annoyed and
troubled at the same time by her reaction. “Get a grip, sister.
You’ve still got men breaking out in a sweat just by walking by.
I’m talking about maturity up here—” Jade tapped her forehead “—not
chronological age.”
Lanessa glared at her for a few moments, and
then slumped down into the chair opposite the sofa. “Don’t pay
attention to my ranting, Jade-girl. I’m just stressed out with
work. Not only is this thing with Alex getting on my nerves, but my
boss is on my case now.”
“Listen to me; it’s just your pride that’s
hurt. You didn’t even care for Alex that much. You said so yourself
only a few days ago.”
“You’re right.” Lanessa chewed on a
fingernail for a few seconds before realizing she would ruin her
expensive silk wrap. “Let me pull it together, acting stupid over
Alex of all men.” She gave a brittle laugh.
“Tell you what; let’s go get something to
eat. I’ll drive.” Jade got up and gave her a pat on the
shoulder.
“I guess, but I’m not that hungry.”
“You will be when we get to Bamboo Gardens.
They’ve got a shrimp and snow peas entree that is fantastic.” Jade
got her purse and car keys.
“Chinese would be good. I don’t want
anything heavy. Gotta keep this fine frame for Keith.” Lanessa
stood and pulled at her form-fitting dress.
“Lanessa, what did I just say about that?”
Jade put both hands on her hips.
Lanessa laughed. “I know, I know. But I can
still let him savor what he might get in the future. You know he’s
on the board of Louisiana National Bank?”
“Oh Lanessa!” Jade shook her head with a
chuckle.
For the rest of the evening, Lanessa seemed
her old self again. Jade began to think she had been imagining
things. Her sister was fine. They talked on about a variety of
subjects since Lanessa knew all the gossip about the prominent
families around town.
“And Mrs. Louvillier was bragging on her
daughter. You know how she is, ‘Queisah did this and Queisah did
that.’” Lanessa spoke in an exaggerated imitation of a patrician
accent.
Jade rolled her eyes. “She is sickening with
that snob act.” “Well, finally Mama looked at her and said, ‘I’m so
glad to hear Quiesah’s doing better after that unfortunate library
incident. So they let her return this semester?”
“No—she didn’t!” Jade sat forward.
“She did. Mama smiled at her in that way she
has, and Mrs. Louvillier kept her mouth shut for the rest of the
luncheon.” Lanessa sat
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