too long. They still working me to death, but I’m walking pretty good now. Maybe won’t be long, chile.”
Big Mama had fallen and broken her hip almost seven months ago. After extensive surgery, she’d done well, until the pneumonia had set in several weeks later. She’d been in a nursing facility ever since, determined she wouldn’t live out her days at Plantation Manor.
“That’s good. You keep doin’ what they tell you. Dr. Tom said you’ll be home to dye Easter eggs for Kenzie.”
Big Mama cackled. “Lordy, that’s in two months. I need to see that baby hide her eggs. Gotta make her a dress, too.”
Tre drove through the alley between the Queen’s Box and a vintage clothing store, and put the van in Park. A loading platform on his right led up to rusted double doors. “I’ve got to go now. Got to make another delivery before I can get out of here.”
“Tre, you don’t worry about me. You got enough to worry about. Try to take some time for yourself, chile. You not even twenty years old yet.”
He felt a hell of a lot older. “I know. I got time.”
His grandmother huffed but didn’t say more, and after promising again to call her about Devontay’s game, he hung up.
Pocketing the keys, he slid from the van, careful to lock it. As he came around the side of the van, Eleanor met him.
“Hey, Tre, we need to talk if you have a minute.”
He looked up, sensing what was coming. Winnie Dupuy had called. “Yeah?”
“Mrs. Dupuy called me a few moments ago.” Eleanor held tight to the door, looking embarrassed. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Oh, well, she said you made her feel uncomfortable. Uh, like in a sexual way.” Eleanor stared him in the eyes and he could see her discomfort, but she didn’t shy away. He, at least, liked that about her.
“No, ma’am.”
Eleanor looked hard at him and nodded. “She’s lonely.”
Folding his arms over his chest, he met her gaze. “Yeah, I guess she is.”
For a moment they were both silent. Her studying him. Him bearing her scrutiny, defensive on the outside, hoping she believed him on the inside. As the seconds ticked by, Eleanor’s posture changed. Relief gathered in him because he knew she’d worked out the facts rather than jumping to conclusions.
“Winnie propositioned you?”
“What you mean?”
Eleanor rolled a hand, still looking as though she’d rather clean toilets than have this conversation with him. “Make a pass? Come on to you?”
“Why you think that?”
“Because the more I think on it, the more I see the flaw in this accusation. Winnie’s husband ignores her, she’s lonely and you’re awfully nice-looking,” she said, holding open the heavy steel door and jerking her head toward the black yawn that led into the back room. “She’s a good customer, but I don’t necessarily believe you’d have to hit on older ladies when you’ve likely got plenty of girls your own age blowing up your phone.”
The knot in his gut unraveled as he started up the steps. Eleanor believed him over Winnie Dupuy. The thought startled him, put a dent in the shield of mistrust he kept between him and his employer. Between him and everyone. “Did you just say ‘blowing up my phone’?”
Eleanor made a face. “Blakely says that all the time. Guess it seeped into my vocabulary without me noticing.”
Tre didn’t smile much, but he had to smile at her admission. He hadn’t yet met her daughter, since Blakely was away at college, but from the way Eleanor talked about her, she had attitude to spare. He liked a girl with attitude. Someone who wasn’t all mealymouthed. His Big Mama had always said to never trust mealymouths. They’re the sneaky ones.
“I’m sorry Mrs. Dupuy accused you of something so awful.”
He shrugged. “Don’t matter.”
Eleanor stopped him, pressing a hand to his shoulder. He flinched, but didn’t pull away. “It does matter.”
“She just embarrassed is all.”
He met Eleanor’s gaze and an understanding lit in them. He knew she saw he tried to be an honorable man—the kind of man Big Mama would be proud of. The kind of man who didn’t screw lonely old white women just ’cause he could. He had pride, integrity and respect for himself.
Eleanor could see all that in his gaze.
The dent grew wider.
“Maybe so, but I’ll take care of it. She can’t make those kinds of accusations against my employees and think it’s okay. Go ahead and wrap the Queen Anne and get it over