Twenty-one

“Promise me, Cyrus,” his mother said, clutching his arm as he helped her out of the cab. “Promise me you won’t mention a thing about Celina and that man.”

He paid off the cabdriver. “I will not bring the issue up.”

“What will you say when they ask where she is?”

“The truth. I don’t know where she is.”

“Say she’s at that place. At Errol Petrie’s place. Say she’s upset and not feelin’ well. She wants to be alone. Promise me you will.”

Cyrus smiled at her, longing to be far away, and detesting whatever weakness made him want to flee the constant upheaval that surrounded his parents.

“Cyrus. Say it.”

“Look at me,” he told her. She glared up at him and he said, “I am at the Lamar house because you begged me to come, to bring you. I have promised you I won’t say a word when people start asking why you were too ill to come earlier, but you’re fine to be here now. I—”

“I was too ill. My children have made me ill. You refuse to understand the sacrifices your daddy and I have made for you. But I know my duty, and my duty is to be at my husband’s side while he tries to make the best of what few resources we have left to us.”

“Yes.” The brief flurry of fight left Cyrus. “Let’s go in. You probably shouldn’t stay too long when you’ve been so upset.” He said a silent prayer that he’d be forgiven for his hypocrisy.

His mother held his arm tightly and clipped up the Lamars’ tree-lined driveway in her high-heeled Ferragamo pumps. Bitsy Payne had always worn Ferragamo pumps because her feet were “so small and narrow, nothin’ else would possibly fit.”

“It’s late,” he said when they reached the open front doors and he saw and heard people who had already partied too long. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.” He knew it wasn’t a good idea, but he was a man of peace and intended to get some. Since he’d arrived at his parents’ home to discover his mother alone, Cyrus had listened to her wailing against the evils of ungrateful children. Her tearful suggestion that he should take her to the Lamars’ had sickened him, but he’d given in—in the name of peace.

“Smile,” his mother said. “Go on, smile. Why do you have to wear the collar when you aren’t working?”

At that, the smile she’d wanted came readily. “God’s work is never done, especially in this kind of place.”

She stopped on the black and white tiles in the Lamars’ elaborately decorated, crowded foyer. “This kind of place?” she echoed in a hissing whisper. “What can you mean?”

“Ι don’t mean anything. How does a lawyer keep up his practice while he runs for political office? These campaigns are so long. And how does he afford all this? The house was Sally’s mother’s.”

Mama sighed hugely, smiled at a woman who passed with a glass in her hand, then sighed again. “Money came with the house, Cyrus. And Wilson is a very successful lawyer. That’s all we need to know. I’m sure there are ways of doing these things. After all, most politicians are lawyers, and they do very well from both things, don’t they?”

“Bitsy!”  Sally Lamar forced her way through the throng. “You’re here! Oh, how lovely. Oh, Bitsy, I am so glad to see you.” All the time she spoke to his mother, she looked at Cyrus.

Drunk, he thought. So drunk she hardly knew what she said, and he hoped she didn’t know how disheveled she appeared.

“And Cyrus,” she whooped, winking at him. “The dark horse.”

Wilson appeared at his wife’s side and put an arm around her waist. “We heard you weren’t well, Bitsy,” he said. He nodded at Cyrus and said, “Where’s Celina?”

Cyrus resented the man’s curt, demanding attitude.

“Celina’s upset,” Bitsy said. “She’s at that awful place in Royal Street and won’t come out for anything. I just had a little headache, but dear Cyrus looked after me and it went away.”

Sally pointed at him and wriggled inside a black dress that gaped to give a display of her breasts that made Cyrus uncomfortable. “Did you put a bad spirit out of Bitsy, Father?” she asked, and assumed an almost innocent expression. “My, perhaps you aren’t in that little parish Bitsy talks about after all. Perhaps you’re really hiding out somewhere right here. In the Quarter? Practicin’ voodoo?” She hiccupped and leaned heavily on Wilson.

Wilson snapped his fingers at a good-looking, dark-haired man who came smoothly forward and put a hand beneath Sally’s elbow.

“Let me go!” She jerked away and launched herself at Cyrus. “Thank you for coming. I knew you would help me.” He had to catch her, and steady her.

She gazed up into his face with eyes that weren’t quite focused. “Thank you, Cyrus,” she said, her mouth trembling. “I need you.”

“We all need spiritual help sometimes,” his mother said, loudly enough to make sure the curious who were still sober enough to care would hear. “When Cyrus heard you were troubled—”

“Sally is so concerned about the inequities we live with,” Wilson said rapidly, also in a raised voice. “I’m afraid society’s ills weigh very heavily on her. That’s why I suggested she might like to talk to you.” He propelled his wife toward a closed door, indicating that he wanted Cyrus to follow.

“Do it,” Bitsy said. “Go and help them, Cyrus.”

The dark-haired man was already a few steps behind Wilson. “Who is that?” Cyrus asked.

“Who?” Bitsy frowned. “Oh, him. The bodyguard, of course. It’s very dangerous being a public figure. Wilson needs protection.”

Wilson was, and always had been a man who looked after his own wants and needs, and he was a man of vast appetites. Cyrus remembered him from school, and not with fondness.

“Are you coming?” Wilson called from the door that now stood open to a sitting room.

Cyrus saw his stepfather shambling toward them, his heavy face florid and sullen. He bumped into another male guest, scowled, and pushed the man hard enough to all but knock him down. Neville Payne was usually a pleasant enough drunk, but there were times when the wrong brand of scotch, or just a. combination of the right scotch and a bad humor, made him vicious. In his childhood years Cyrus had worn more than a few bruises that had to be hidden.

“Cyrus?” Wilson’s tone had turned irritable.

“Coming,” Cyrus said, and hurried after Wilson and Sally into a room furnished with comfortable but shabby antiques. Wilson’s bodyguard was also there. He stood behind a green brocade couch with his arms crossed. Too young to have such old eyes, Cyrus decided.

Wilson closed the door. “Sit down, Sally,” he said brusquely, and hustled her to a chair. “And keep your mouth shut if you can. Glad you came, Cyrus. How’s Celina? What did your mama mean when she said Celina’s upset?”

“Celina,” Sally said, sniffling and wiping the back of a hand vaguely over her nose. “He thinks she can do him so much good. He thinks she’s perfect.”

“Shut up,” Wilson told her. “Ben, get Mrs. Lamar another drink.”

“Don’t you come near me,” she told the other man. “I only want Cyrus.” She began to cry brokenly.

“Oh, my God,” Wilson moaned, rolling up his eyes. The man looked tired, but otherwise he was his old, smoothly tanned, blond and handsome self. And he oozed self-assurance. “Get her a drink, I said.”

Trying not to look at her chest, Cyrus studied Sally’s hunched figure. The dress appeared to have stretched—or he assumed it must have. “Leave Sally to me,” he said, suddenly certain that he ought to help her. “With all due respect, Wilson, she doesn’t need anything else to drink. I understand you’re interested in pursuing a return to the Church, Sally? My parents told me that was the case.”

She fell back in the chair and nodded. “That’s what Ι want. And I couldn’t talk to a stranger.” She glowered at Wilson. “I’ve got so much Ι need to get out of my heart, Father.”

“This is fucking unbelievable,” Wilson said, his finely chiseled nostrils flared. “I need a strong woman at my side, a strong partner, and my fucking wife falls apart.”

“Wilson,” Cyrus said automatically. “I don’t think—”

“Yeah, yeah. Sorry about that. I’ll say a thousand Hail Mary’s when I’ve got a minute to spare. I’d appreciate it if you could calm her down and talk some sense into her. I’ve got to get back to my guests. There are important people here tonight, people I need.”

“People with a lot of money?” Cyrus said, deliberately making his voice and face expressionless.

“Holy ...” Wilson closed his mouth. Then he smiled. “We’re both pimps in our own way, huh, Cyrus. I pimp for the good of the country. You pimp for the Church. Not so different, really.”

The bodyguard laughed.

Cyrus didn’t, but neither did he argue.

Wilson opened the door to leave and said, “Make sure she doesn’t give the priest too much trouble, Ben.”

Sally moaned, and Cyrus said, “I don’t need any help here, thank you. These things are between the penitent and God. I’m his physical body. We don’t have audiences on such occasions.”

“Ben stays,” Wilson said.

“Ben goes,” Cyrus told him. “Sally is troubled and needs someone to listen to what’s on her mind. I’m good at those things.”

“From what she told me after the famous prom, that’s about all you are good at,” Wilson commented. He jerked his head, indicating that Ben should leave the room, then went out and slammed the door.

“Do you remember the prom?” Sally said. She tried to kick off her sandals but couldn’t coordinate the effort. “I took off all my clothes and you wouldn’t look. I thought you were a nancy boy, but you were just a man of God. Who’d have thought that?” Her eyes almost closed, but she forced them open again. “I should have known you were the best thing I’d ever be that close to, then maybe I’d have done the right things to make you want me.”

“Are you comfortable, Sally? Would you like to lie down on the couch? You might fall asleep, and Ι think that would be good.”

“And you’d go away.” She cried afresh.

“I wouldn’t go away. I’d sit right in this room until you woke up.” She had been a sweet kid when she was real young. It wasn’t until she got in with Wilson and his clique in high school that she changed.

She got unsteadily to her feet and managed to step out of the sandals. “I shouldn’t have done that to you,” she said, wandering to the couch and sitting with a thud. She slid sideways to lie with her head on a large cushion. When she wrapped her arm beneath the cushion, her right breast was naked. The abbreviated skirt of her dress had risen to the tops of her thighs, where ruined black stockings ended in lace tops.

Cyrus felt stirrings he tried to feel as infrequently as possible. He’d fought against his own sexual urges for a long time and could pass a number of weeks, and sometimes months, without discomfort now. But tonight he was confronted with a lovely woman’s body and his erection was both an embarrassment and a potential disaster.

“Will you be my thingie?” Sally mumbled. “You know, who I tell everythin’ to?”

“Your spiritual director,” he told her, fixing his gaze on the middle distance. “Are you sure you shouldn’t go to a church nearby and attend classes first?”

“No. I won’t go. I won’t do anything if you don’t help me. I don’t trust anyone else.”

When had he got so lucky? “Why me, Sally? You and I haven’t been anything to each other—not ever, really. You never did understand me because you thought I was different.”

“You are different. You’re lovely. Holy. Untouched. You’re what I need. I can talk to you. I’m askin’ you to save me, Cyrus. If you don’t, I’m afraid I’m going to hell. I’m a sinner, Cyrus, a terrible sinner. I’ve cheated—committed adultery. Lots of times. And I’ve wanted things that belong to other people. And sometimes I’ve got them, too. And I’ve hurt people.’’

This wasn’t the way these things usually went. Even murderers and rapists made excuses for themselves. Sally wasn’t even trying to soften her story.

He went to her and sat beside her on the couch. With his head bowed he asked, “Do you want to ask for absolution?”

“I do. Oh, yes, I do. I feel safe with you because you’re not like other men. You don’t want me for my body. You don’t think about sex. You don’t even see me, really, do you? You never did.”

Cyrus closed his eyes and moved his lips in prayer. Please God let him be granted the strength to resist temptation. It was a prayer that had kept him company through many difficult nights.

“Will you give me classes? Just me? I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’ll make it worth your while.”

He looked at her sharply and shook his head. “This isn’t about money, Sally. Get that out of your head. I’ll counsel you, but not for money. If you choose to give to the Church out of a need to give, that will be wonderful. What is between you and me and your conscience is another matter.”

Sniffing, she pulled herself to sit up and hugged her knees. “Thank you. We can meet as often as you have time. I’m goin’ to give this my whole attention. You can come here, or I can come to you and we’ll be completely alone together.”

“I’m not sure how long I’ll be in New Orleans.”

She burst into tears again and thrust her fingers into her hair. “I’m dying, Cyrus. My spirit is dying. Please, please—”

“I’ll do what I can,” he said hurriedly. “I’m sure I can spend some time with you twice a week while I’m in New Orleans anyway. Relax. You’ve done the right thing in reaching out.”

“Oh, thank you.” Letting her rich hair slip down again, she captured one of his hands and took it to her mouth. “Thank you, Cyrus.” She turned up his palm and pressed her parted lips there.

The door opened abruptly, and a silver-haired man peered into the room. He looked at Cyrus and Sally and shook his head. “I suppose I’m sorry to intrude. But beware of the sins of the flesh. The flesh is weak, and—”

“Thank you,” Cyrus said. “I’m a priest and this lady is in my counsel. Can I help you?”

The man entered the room and a woman came in with him. Her blond hair was combed into a smooth style that turned up sharply on the ends and stood out a long way from her head. She wore simple clothes but a lot of makeup. They came toward Cyrus and Sally with avid attention in their eyes.

“A Catholic priest?” the man asked.

Cyrus nodded.

“It’s not too late for you to become a Christian, son,” the woman said. “This is Mrs. Wilson Lamar, isn’t it. I know you from your picture in the papers.”

“I’m Sally Lamar.”

“I just knew it.” The woman smiled delightedly. “I’m Joan Reed. This is my husband, Walt. We came lookin’ for someone and walked right into your lovely party.”

Cyrus looked sideways at Sally and noted she appeared bemused. He decided to step in for her. “Pleased to meet you. Who are you lookin’ for?”

The couple looked significantly at each other. “Oh, you wouldn’t know him, I don’t suppose. We came because we were told everyone had been invited tonight, and since he’s important in these parts, we decided to take a chance.”

“And crash a private party,” Sally said, sounding less drunk.

“I’m going to have to ask you to leave. if you don’t, our bodyguard will help you.”

“Well, I never,” Joan Reed said. “Walt, will you listen to her? She sits there showin’ things meant only for her husband to a pagan priest, and she gets high and mighty with two humble servants of the Lord.”

“Hush, Joan,” Walt said. “The lady isn’t quite herself, I don’t think.”

“I’ll deal with this,” Cyrus said, standing up. “I’m sure if you tell me who you’re looking for, I may be able to help you.”

“We’re preachers. Simple teachers of the word. No airs or graces and no wants or desires to speak of except a bare livin’ to get by. We came to New Orleans to collect something that’s ours. Something we need. We told the people concerned, and they know where we’re stayin’, but they haven’t contacted us and things are gettin’ a mite thin, if you take my meanin’.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Cyrus said, still recovering from being called pagan. “I’ m sure Mr. Lamar would be sympathetic to your needs.”

Sally made a disgusted sound.

“We’ll find Mr. Lamar,” Joan Reed said primly. She stared at Sally and shook her head. “That poor man must be beside himself. An important man like him needs a wife who can be his right hand, not a harlot.”

Cyrus caught Sally by the hand and squeezed. “It’s okay,” he told her.

Walt Reed came farther into the room until Cyrus had to turn his head to see the man. “Ι think it’s a fine idea for you to find Wilson,” he told him. “The last I saw of him he...well, he was here, but I think he was joining my parents. Mr. and Mrs. Payne.”

“Walt!” Joan pointed at Cyrus. “Payne. Are you related to Celina Payne?”

“My sister.”

“Is she here?”

Cyrus didn’t feel good about any of this. “Celina isn’t here tonight.”

“Where is she?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, she isn’t in Royal Street. We already went there.”

“My sister is a very busy woman.”

“We know all about her,” Joan said. “We’ve been asking questions. But she’s not the one who’s got what belongs to us.”

Cyrus felt Sally move. She rested back on the pillow, flung her hands over her head, and raised her legs to prop them on the back of the couch.

Joan tutted and averted her eyes. Walt moved in closer, and his eyes threatened to leave his head.

Joan went to her husband and hooked an arm around one of his. “Come along, Mr. Reed. We’ve got to get to that man before he spends everything that should be ours.”

“What man?” Sally asked very clearly. “What should be yours?’’

“Jack Charbonnet.” Joan raised her chin. “We won’t be put off again. Errol would have been the first to say we saved his soul for him. He was grateful. He promised us he’d always take care of us. It’s time his will was read. We don’t like thinking that Charbonnet is probably findin’ ways to take Errol’s money before it can go to its rightful owners.”

Cyrus knew people like this existed, but he’d never actually been confronted by any. “Mr. Charbonnet isn’t here either,” he said. “But I know he’ll want to make sure everything’s exactly as it should be. And by the way, he is a very wealthy man in his own right.”

“From gambling money,” Joan said, her lip curled. “And other unsavory things, from what I’ve learned. His sort never has enough to make them happy.”

He wouldn’t argue, there was no point. “On Jack’s behalf, I suggest you contact him at his office in the Royal Street property. On Monday. He likes his weekends free.” Cyrus had no idea what Jack liked to do with his weekends, but on a hunch, he thought he’d try to head off distractions on this particular weekend. Jack and Celina needed uninterrupted opportunities to decide if they’d made a wise choice.

“Come on, Walt,” Joan said. “We don’t stay where we’re not wanted. The Lord said that we should brush the dust off our feet when we came up against people like you. Sinners who won’t see the light.”

“That’s right,” Sally said, and to Cyrus’s deep humiliation, she rocked from side to side, setting her voluptuous breasts swinging, swinging and showing the nipples and full contours. “We’re sinners who won’t see the light. Go look for some good people.”

Walt Reed watched her with hot eyes. He backed slowly away, staring at Sally until the instant his wife yanked him from the room.

“Well,” Sally said. “Now, I just wonder what that’s all about. Errol paying money to some holy rollers. Who’d have thought it? I’ll just bet there’s another story there. It’s too late to make you listen to me anymore tonight. But please talk to me tomorrow, Cyrus.”

“Well—”

“Don’t refuse me. I couldn’t bear it. I’ll get an address to you where we can meet and not be interrupted.”

“Well—”

“I need you.” Tears welled in her lovely eyes. “I didn’t know until tonight just how much I was going to need you. I don’t want to say too much, but I may be in a lot of trouble and getting out of it may mean...Well, enough of that for now. I’ll get in touch with you tomorrow.”

“Sally, I can’t be sure I’ll be able to make it.”

“Didn’t the shepherd go after the one sheep that was lost? I’m that one sheep.”

He wasn’t in the mood to discuss the parable of the missing sheep. “All right, Sally. All right. Let me know what time and I’ll be over. I do want you to include Wilson in this though. Not in our sessions, of course, but in your decisions regarding the Church. He’s your husband.”

She pouted, finally smiled, and said, “Oh, very well. If that’s the way it has to be. Now, run along and look after Bitsy. She’s been having a bad time. Neville’s been out of hand for some time. He drinks everything they make, you know.”

Cyrus stared at her. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say things like that in company. All my mother has are her illusions. Public talk along those lines would destroy her.”

“What would destroy her more would be for it to get out that Neville’s turned violent.”

“My stepfather?” His laugh sounded as forced as it felt. “He’s a passive man. Always has been.” For his mother’s sake, he must try to make sure that fiction was kept intact.

“He might have been once, but he’s forever getting belligerent with people now. Maybe he needs to see a doctor. Wilson’s been talking about not inviting him to functions for a while. He doesn’t want to go that far, because your folks have been so useful...so good to us.”

Cyrus stood up. “I’m sure they have been useful. I’ll gather some reading materials to give to you tomorrow.”

She stacked her hands under her head and smiled up at him. “That would be dandy. I’ll read every word.” The smile faded. “I’d do anythin’ to satisfy you, Cyrus.”

He stepped away, and felt a bolt in his belly and privates that would have sent him to his knees if he hadn’t locked them.

Little wonder Walt Reed had moved to find a different angle on Sally. Her skirt had risen high enough to show that she wore no panties.