Page 65 of Between Desire and Denial
Her eyes scanned the block and then lit up. “Or Jameson can help.”
Jameson sat on his porch swing next door, like he always did, reading to Franny. He heard his name and looked up. “Happy to help with whatever.” He winked at me.
Lucille started to cross the street while Dimitri grumbled something that sounded a lot like, “I’m sure he would be happy to help.” His hand tightened around mine before he let it go. Then, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and if I didn’t know any better, I would have guessed Dimitri was jealous and trying to stake his claim.
“What are you two up to other than your normal daily walk?” Lucille asked as she got closer, wiping dirt from her garden apron.
It was good to hear she’d become accustomed to us walking. We’d made this our normal route because we’d strategically wanted to pass most of the board members’ houses. Now I wondered if everyone on that board was a part of the Diamond Syndicate. It included Lucille and Earl, Jameson, Jameson’s parents who lived a block down, my parents, and Esme’s dad.
I sighed as I looked over at Dimitri’s condo building in the distance. From everything that had been added, I couldn’t fault any of it. There was security, a beautiful new building, and a fresh retail space that was lush with flowers, new roofs, and updated interiors.
He’d produced value. But if he brought in companies that were linked to enemies of the Diamond Syndicate, it didn’t matter.
“Just talking over me picking up a few hours at the spa,” I informed her.
“Oh! That would be wonderful. I’d love to have you do my hair. And how’s your article coming?”
“Almost done,” I said even though I wasn’t. I contemplated my conversation with Esme instead, wondering how embedded she was in this secret society.
Jameson asked, with what seemed like too much interest, “What article?”
Lucille waved him off. “Don’t worry, Jameson. You’ll see when it comes out. You know how I like my magazine to have surprise articles.”
“We shouldn’t have too many surprises, though, Lucille,” he said, his voice holding a bit of warning before he continued, “By the way, you guys coming to the grill out on Friday?”
I’d seen it on the weekly community calendar and remembered we’d been invited. Dimitri was going out of town though the very next day. “Oh, probably not. Dimitri—” I started just as Dimitri said, “Yep.”
“Won’t you be working the next day?” I whispered to him.
“Doesn’t mean I can’t go out with my future wife the night before.”
My heart thumped against my rib cage at his loving stare. I smiled sweetly, trying to cull my reaction as I turned to Jameson. “We’ll be there.” I nodded. “It’s an enchanted forest theme, right?”
“Melly!” He waved at the woman who was coming out of her house. “You putting on some extravagant show at that grill out? Enchanted theme?”
Melly held on to her gardening tool like she was just out to weed the flower bed but pranced over in the tightest white jean shorts and cowboy boots. “Oh, you know it, Jameson. You planning a good costume?”
He shook his head, but her eyes were now laser focused on Dimitri. “Dimitri, please tell me you’re coming. I know you’ve never been, and I’d love to show you how we do it here in Paradise Grove.”
She blatantly ignored me.
Lucille was on to her, just like I was, though. “Melly, I’m sure Olive will show him when she attendswithher future husband.”
Melly’s free hand went to her hip. “Of course. I know that, Lucille.” She glared at the older woman before changing thesubject. “By the way, where’s Earl? Haven’t seen him around lately,” Melly threw out, and that’s when I saw Lucille shrink a bit, like she didn’t want to discuss Earl at all. He had a temper, and growing up, we heard the fights, but we never knew much else about him. He was a good man according to Lucille, and he’d been a fine officer before he retired.
“Melly, don’t pry,” Jameson scolded her.
Lucille nodded a slight thank you to him before she touched my shoulder. “Let me know your hours when you start working, Olive Bee. And send me your article soon. We’re printing the magazine late next month,” she grumbled and then stalked off.
“She’s losing it, I swear. How she even gets that magazine done is beyond me,” Melly whispered to us. Even if I wanted to gossip, Lucille wasn’t one I would talk about.
“Lucille’s always had her wits about her,” I retorted, but Melly had already shifted her focus to Dimitri.
“Dimitri, I’m so, so, so excited for those offices to open and newcomers to start moving in. We need something more around here obviously.”
“I think they’ll do well,” Dimitri informed her. “So well, in fact, I’m doing research on another community we’re looking at investing in.”
“Getting bored of this town already?” Jameson quipped.
