someone, and his
name isn’t Netterville. Between you and me,” Jazz said. She dropped
her voice low enough that Mrs. Netterville craned her neck to
listen. “Well, she’s my friend true enough. But MiMi has a problem
sticking to one man longer than a minute. Know what I mean?”
Mrs. Netterville blinked at the sharp turn
of the conversation. “Well I...”
“You’ve been on your feet and stressed out.
Have a seat, ma’am. You want a glass of water? Kay can get you a
bottle.” Jazz pointed to one of the deep red leather chairs facing
Willa’s desk.
“What?” Willa whispered, but broke off when
Jazz shot her a warning look.
To both Willa and Kay’s surprise, Mrs.
Netterville sat down. “You must think I’m horrible, acting
so...”
“Ghetto? Nah, men can push you.” Jazz nodded
with a sympathetic expression.
“I’m just so upset at the way John has been
acting.”
“Look, ma’am. I’ll save you some time and
say it straight out. MiMi moved on to a guy with more money than
Mr. Netterville.” Jazz flipped a hand in the air. “Girl, MiMi can
flirt with ten men, and then take off with number eleven. Let me
ask you something. Has he been gone on weekends or overnight trips
lately?”
“No, but...” Mrs. Netterville’s eyebrows
pulled together in concentration.
“MiMi has been seeing this other guy for
long weekends. Now he’s single, but since he’s engaged to another
woman I won’t stir up mess by dropping his name. Anyway, she tells
me all this stuff. So I can promise you she’s just flirting with
your hubby. If I was you, I’d put the fear of God and a divorce
lawyer into him. Know what I mean?”
“Yes, I do,” Mrs. Netterville said softly
and nodded.
“Where did he meet MiMi anyway, girl?” Jazz
glanced at Kay. “You mind getting me a cup of coffee?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like a cup, too,”
Mrs. Netterville asked, much of the steam gone from her mood.
“Uh, I have a fresh pot right over here,”
Willa broke in. She headed to the long table on the wall near an
alcove and seating area of her office.
“I’ll do it. Danesha has everything under
control out front,” Kay said.
Kay’s gaze was glued to the scene playing
out. Before Willa could react she got busy with cups and filling
them. Willa pulled a third chair from the small conference table
nearby and sat down. She seemed on alert for another meltdown from
the volatile matron.
“So you were about to tell us where they
met,” Jazz prompted.
“There was a business mixer sponsored by the
Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. You know a chance for business
owners to network. Those things are dry and boring, or so I thought
before now. Apparently MiMi Landry made quite an impression. Oh I
know the whole story, and she did more than flirt,” Mrs.
Netterville said with a huff. “They’ve met for lunch at least twice
that I know about. So don’t try to tell me it was nothing. I’m no
fool.”
“Obviously we don’t take you for stupid,
ma’am. You’ve been with him long enough to know his tricks, I mean,
how he behaves,” Jazz added.
“Not recently. I suppose turning fifty has
him wanting to prove he’s still got it,” Mrs. Netterville replied
and bit her lower lip. Her society manners kicked in when Kay
offered her a cup. “Thank you, dear.”
“Appreciate you, girl.” Jazz took a cup,
sipped, and winked at Kay.
Willa waved away an offer of coffee from Kay
and faced the older woman. “Mrs. Netterville, I understand you’re
upset, but Jazz is right. You may be jumping the gun. Even two
lunches might just be business. MiMi has done consulting on the
side. She’s had experience with managing cash flow and property
control.”
Jazz coughed hard. She cleared her throat
loudly. “Goodness, I drank too fast and it went down the wrong
way.”
“Are you okay?” Mrs. Netterville handed Jazz
a napkin.
“Um-hum.” Jazz avoided Willa’s pointed
glance.
“Anyway, I’m sure you’d do better
name isn’t Netterville. Between you and me,” Jazz said. She dropped
her voice low enough that Mrs. Netterville craned her neck to
listen. “Well, she’s my friend true enough. But MiMi has a problem
sticking to one man longer than a minute. Know what I mean?”
Mrs. Netterville blinked at the sharp turn
of the conversation. “Well I...”
“You’ve been on your feet and stressed out.
Have a seat, ma’am. You want a glass of water? Kay can get you a
bottle.” Jazz pointed to one of the deep red leather chairs facing
Willa’s desk.
“What?” Willa whispered, but broke off when
Jazz shot her a warning look.
To both Willa and Kay’s surprise, Mrs.
Netterville sat down. “You must think I’m horrible, acting
so...”
“Ghetto? Nah, men can push you.” Jazz nodded
with a sympathetic expression.
“I’m just so upset at the way John has been
acting.”
“Look, ma’am. I’ll save you some time and
say it straight out. MiMi moved on to a guy with more money than
Mr. Netterville.” Jazz flipped a hand in the air. “Girl, MiMi can
flirt with ten men, and then take off with number eleven. Let me
ask you something. Has he been gone on weekends or overnight trips
lately?”
“No, but...” Mrs. Netterville’s eyebrows
pulled together in concentration.
“MiMi has been seeing this other guy for
long weekends. Now he’s single, but since he’s engaged to another
woman I won’t stir up mess by dropping his name. Anyway, she tells
me all this stuff. So I can promise you she’s just flirting with
your hubby. If I was you, I’d put the fear of God and a divorce
lawyer into him. Know what I mean?”
“Yes, I do,” Mrs. Netterville said softly
and nodded.
“Where did he meet MiMi anyway, girl?” Jazz
glanced at Kay. “You mind getting me a cup of coffee?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like a cup, too,”
Mrs. Netterville asked, much of the steam gone from her mood.
“Uh, I have a fresh pot right over here,”
Willa broke in. She headed to the long table on the wall near an
alcove and seating area of her office.
“I’ll do it. Danesha has everything under
control out front,” Kay said.
Kay’s gaze was glued to the scene playing
out. Before Willa could react she got busy with cups and filling
them. Willa pulled a third chair from the small conference table
nearby and sat down. She seemed on alert for another meltdown from
the volatile matron.
“So you were about to tell us where they
met,” Jazz prompted.
“There was a business mixer sponsored by the
Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. You know a chance for business
owners to network. Those things are dry and boring, or so I thought
before now. Apparently MiMi Landry made quite an impression. Oh I
know the whole story, and she did more than flirt,” Mrs.
Netterville said with a huff. “They’ve met for lunch at least twice
that I know about. So don’t try to tell me it was nothing. I’m no
fool.”
“Obviously we don’t take you for stupid,
ma’am. You’ve been with him long enough to know his tricks, I mean,
how he behaves,” Jazz added.
“Not recently. I suppose turning fifty has
him wanting to prove he’s still got it,” Mrs. Netterville replied
and bit her lower lip. Her society manners kicked in when Kay
offered her a cup. “Thank you, dear.”
“Appreciate you, girl.” Jazz took a cup,
sipped, and winked at Kay.
Willa waved away an offer of coffee from Kay
and faced the older woman. “Mrs. Netterville, I understand you’re
upset, but Jazz is right. You may be jumping the gun. Even two
lunches might just be business. MiMi has done consulting on the
side. She’s had experience with managing cash flow and property
control.”
Jazz coughed hard. She cleared her throat
loudly. “Goodness, I drank too fast and it went down the wrong
way.”
“Are you okay?” Mrs. Netterville handed Jazz
a napkin.
“Um-hum.” Jazz avoided Willa’s pointed
glance.
“Anyway, I’m sure you’d do better
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