Heart of Gold Read online

  “Yes.”

  All the adults offered her thanks, and a relieved Zoey left.

  C H A P T E R

  2

  By late morning, Bernadine was finally in the house alone. After all the Crystal upheaval, she welcomed the solitude. Parts of her were angry, others disappointed, and others wanted to fall to the floor and weep. The signs had been there. In fact, as the summer waned, she’d sensed the storm on the horizon. Crystal had been despondent over her unrequited crush on Diego July and waxing nostalgic about her old life on the streets. Although Bernadine assured herself at the time that Crystal had too much to look forward to and would get over herself eventually, she’d been terribly wrong. And now, here she stood on her deck wondering if she’d ever see her child again. Thank God for Zoey, however. The information she provided on the license plate enabled the sheriff’s office to track down the driver. As a result they’d learned that, one, Crystal had duped the boy into believing that Bernadine sanctioned the flight, and two, he’d dropped her off by the 183 South ramp. Sheriff Dalton’s next task was to show Crystal’s picture around at the local truck stops in the hope of finding someone who might have seen her or given her a ride. He also had a few law enforcement connections in the Dallas area, and he promised to e-mail her picture to them as well.

  As had become her habit since this madness began last night, she took out her phone to check for messages. None of her texts to her daughter were being answered and all the calls had gone straight to voice mail. Why, Crystal? she wanted to ask. Why choose to run from such a blessed life? Bernadine took out the note she’d found taped to the front door last night and read it for what seemed like the hundredth time.

  I have to go, otherwise I’m going to explode. Hope you’ll forgive me one day.

  Love you,

  Crys

  Sighing, Bernadine put the note back into her shirt pocket and prayed the nightmare might end soon.

  When her phone rang, she startled. Hoping it was Crystal, she quickly viewed the caller ID and was crestfallen to see that it was her sister, Diane.

  “Hey, Di. How are you?”

  “Doing good. I’m at the airport. Can you send someone to pick me up?”

  Bernadine froze. “What airport?”

  “I think it’s called Hays?”

  Bernadine mentally pleaded. Please lord, not today!

  “Are you there, Bernie?”

  “Yeah. I’m here.”

  “How long will it take you to get here?”

  Bernadine sighed. “I’ll send a car for you. It’ll take about an hour.”

  “An hour?”

  “An hour. Are you on a layover?”

  “No. Harmon and I are having some work done on the house, so I thought I’d come stay with you. Shouldn’t be more than a week or two.”

  Bernadine felt a headache settling in. “Di, this isn’t a good time.”

  “Don’t be silly, just send the car.” And she hung up.

  Bernadine dropped into a chair. Head in her hands, she voiced an irritated and frustrated “Dammit!” then put in a call to her nephew, Harmon Jr., Diane’s oldest son. “Why is your mother in Kansas?”

  He chuckled. “Hello to you too, Aunt Dina. Is that where she is?”

  “Yes,” Bernadine snarled. Her sister was one of her least favorite people in the world.

  “Well, it seems Dad’s finally had enough of her minute-by-minute criticisms. He’s divorcing her.”

  “What!”

  “Yep. Served her the papers a few days ago.”

  “But why come here?”

  “Probably no place else to go. She can’t stay with me because she and Joan haven’t gotten along since the day they met. Remember the drama at our wedding?”

  The wedding took place seven years ago. When the preacher asked whether anyone had a reason the bride and groom shouldn’t marry, Diane stood up and declared Joan too low-class to marry her son. It took half the church to restrain Joan’s mother so she wouldn’t leap over the pew and whip Diane’s sneering behind. As a result, Diane and her son hadn’t spoken for two years. “What about your brother Marlon?”

  “He and his partner, Anthony, offered to take her in, but she said she had no intentions of living in an F-word household.”

  “Oh, good lord.”

  “I know. And since we all know my sister Monique is at the top of Mom’s persona non grata list for marrying outside the race, you’re it, Auntie.”

  “I’m so lucky,” Bernadine declared sarcastically. “Okay. I suppose I don’t have much choice. She is my sister.”

  “And remember, no good deed goes unpunished.”

  She laughed for the first time that day. “Anything else I need to know?”

  “She and Dad are broke. He declared bankruptcy six months ago, and they moved into a one-bedroom apartment. I think the close quarters is what sent him over the edge. That, and the fact that she wouldn’t stop spending. She called me yesterday, screaming that he’d canceled all her credit cards. I tried to explain to her that it went with being divorced, but of course she didn’t want to hear it.”

  Bernadine’s brother-in-law, Harmon Sr., was a good guy. He’d put up with his wife’s tantrums and selfish, over-the-top behavior for thirty years. It saddened her to hear about his financial struggles. “Does he still have his dental practice?”

  “Not sure. You know how closemouthed he can be, and with them being in Detroit and me in Austin, there’s no real way to tell. He keeps saying he’s fine, though.”

  She made a mental note to reach out to him just as soon as the Crystal situation was resolved—if it ever got resolved. “Anything else?”

  “Not that I can think of. You okay?”

  “Doing great,” she lied.

  “Good to know. Hope Mom doesn’t make you too crazy.”

  “Me, too. If she does, I’ll just bury her body where it can’t be found.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Love you a lot. Later.”

  “Bye.” After ending the call, Bernadine exhaled audibly in response to the continuing madness that had become her life. First Crystal, and now Diane. She had no idea what she’d done to be so deserving, but she needed it to stop.

  She put in a call to her driver, Nathan, and asked him to make the airport run. A bit over two hours later the shiny black town car pulled up smoothly to the curb. She watched through the screen door as Nathan hustled around to let Diane out of the car. Her sister stepped out, swathed in scarves and wearing skinny black jeans and spike-heeled black leather boots. The expensive black handbag hanging from her shoulder looked large enough to hold a bowling ball, and her wrists were lined with gold bangles. She’d always had a trim figure, but there was trim and there was anorexic. Bernadine hadn’t seen her since divorcing Leo five years ago, and Diane was skinny in a way reminiscent of aging women with old money bent upon reclaiming their youth. She was in her fifties now, and it was not a good look.

  As usual, Diane was being short-tempered, giving Nathan grief for taking too much time wrestling not one, not two, but five pieces of green designer luggage from the trunk. His lips were set tightly in irritation. Bernadine stepped outside. “Hello, Di.”

  She turned. “Oh, hello, Bernie.”

  Bernadine hated being addressed that way, something her sister was well aware of but it hadn’t made a difference when they were growing up, and apparently nothing had changed.

  “Be careful with that bag. That’s real leather,” she railed at Nathan, who’d just set the last of her suitcases on the walk. “Be glad you don’t work for me.”

  And Nathan, bless his heart replied, “I am, ma’am. Believe me.”

  The stunned look on Diane’s face made Bernadine chuckle softly. He’d just earned himself a bonus, but she doubted all the money in the world would be enough to offset the mental distress he’d undoubtedly suffered during the trip.

  While Diane’s eyes spit flames, Nathan silently carried the safari’s worth of bags up the steps. “
Where do you want these, Ms. Brown?”

  “Just put them inside the door, Nathan, please.”

  “She’s not a nice lady,” he said in a soft voice.

  “I know, and I’m sorry.”

  “Yelled at me for driving too fast and then too slow. Every half mile she was complaining about something.” When he brought in the last bag, he asked, “Can you find somebody else to drive her back to Hays, please? I know it’s my job, but—”

  Bernadine nodded. “I will certainly try.”

  “Thanks. Do you need me anymore today?”

  “I don’t think so. Roni’s supposed to be in sometime this evening, but her text said she’d already made arrangements for the ride home.”

  “Okay, then I’ll be going.”

  He passed Diane on the steps, acting as if she were invisible, got into the car, and drove off.

  On the porch, Diane gave Bernadine a quick faux hug and an equally faux kiss on the cheek. “He should be fired for incompetence. So good to see you.”

  “Same here,” Bernadine lied.

  Diane moved past her and into the house. Before following, Bernadine took a moment to draw in a few calming breaths in an effort to convince herself that the visit would go well even though she knew it was a lie.

  Inside she found Diane staring critically around at the living room. “Bernie, I don’t like the way you have this room laid out.”

  “Then it’s a good thing you don’t live here.”

  “No, I’m serious. That blue chair would look much better over there, where you have that end table. And that gray lamp doesn’t go with anything.”

  “Thanks for your opinion.”

  But instead of leaving well enough alone, Diane dropped her handbag on the sofa, walked over to the end table, and leaned over to unplug the offending lamp.

  “Leave it be, Diane,” Bernadine gritted out.

  Diane stopped in mid reach and slowly straightened. “I’m just trying to help.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t need it.”

  “Well, okay then,” she replied, looking wounded. She took a seat on the sofa.

  Bernadine blew out a breath. And so it begins. She’d always wanted a sisterly relationship with Diane, but it never worked out that way. Although Bernadine had refused to deal with the reality while growing up, she could now admit that her mother had favored Diane over both Bernadine and her now late sister Cecily. Diane had been the pretty one, the head cheerleader, the one with the Sweet Sixteen party. Had it not been for her father’s tender loving care, Bernadine would’ve gone through her formative years feeling like an unwanted changeling left on the doorstep. When her mother complained about the difficulties inherent in shopping for her overweight eldest daughter (who just so happened to look exactly like her), or allowed Diane to make snide remarks about Bernadine’s size and dark skin, her dad Emery would stick his head in her bedroom door and say, “Always remember two things, Dina—you’re pretty, and you’re smart. The grass outside’s got more brains than your mother and sister combined.”

  “In spite of the bad layout of your house, it’s rather nice,” Diane said, breaking into Bernadine’s reverie.

  “Thanks. I think so, too.” Bernadine took a seat in the blue armchair. “So, what brings you here again?”

  Diane waved off the remark. “Harmon and I are having an addition put on the house. A solarium.”

  “Ah.”

  “So I thought I’d come visit you, since I haven’t seen you since the divorce. How is Leo, by the way?”

  “No idea.”

  “Really?”

  “Why would I keep tabs on a man I divorced?”

  Diane shrugged. “I don’t know—maybe for sentimental reasons. All that money, I’d be trying to get him back.”

  “I don’t want him back, Diane. I caught the man screwing his secretary in his office when he was supposed to be meeting me for lunch—on my birthday.”

  “It’s Diana now, remember?”

  “Oh, right. I forgot.” In high school, she’d decided to rename herself Diana, much as Diane Ross of Motown’s Supremes had. Well, so much for small talk. “Are you hungry?”

  “Famished.”

  “Okay, let’s go get some food. My treat.”

  “I should hope so, since you’re the hostess. Do you have someone to take my bags to the guest room?”

  “No.”

  “No servants?”

  “No.”

  “Didn’t you get a fortune from Leo?”

  “Yes, but why would I need servants?”

  “Because you’re rich now, Bernadine, and rich women always have them. Good grief, who’s advising you?”

  Bernadine knew from the moment her sister called that this visit wasn’t going to go well, and it was already on its way straight to hell. “The guest room is down that hallway. We can move you in when we get back.”

  Diane replied with an impatient, “Fine. Where’s your powder room?”

  Bernadine gave her directions, and while Diane was gone, she picked up her keys and purse. She also prayed for strength.

  On their walk out to the garage, Diane’s steps slowed upon seeing Bernadine’s Baby. “We’re going to lunch in a truck?”

  “Yep. Get in.”

  “Where’s your driver?”

  “Home by now.” Bernadine made herself comfortable behind the steering wheel.

  A huffing Diane settled into the passenger seat and slammed the door. Smiling inwardly, Bernadine started the engine, backed down the driveway, and headed her beautiful blue Baby toward town.

  On the short drive, Diane said only, “Why in the world are you living way out here in the middle of nowhere?”

  “I like it.”

  “With all your money, you should be living in Paris or some other upscale place.”

  “I have an apartment there, another in Madrid, and a time-share in Maui.”

  Diane eyed Bernadine with surprise.

  Silence ruled for the rest of the ride.

  As was usual on Saturday afternoon, the Dog and Cow’s parking lot was packed.

  “The Dog and Cow?” her sister asked, eyeing the sign dubiously. “What kind of name is that?”

  “Long story. I’ll explain later.”

  Inside, the place was bustling. The jukebox was blasting “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge, and there was a long line of people waiting for tables.

  Diane took in the surroundings and, to Bernadine’s amazement, smiled. “This is nice, Bernie. Love the music.”

  “And the food is as good as the atmosphere.”

  Rocky walked up and asked Bernadine, “Heard anything yet?”

  She shook her head. “No.” Thoughts of the missing Crystal returned, bringing with them a renewed sense of worry and melancholy.

  “Okay. Hang in there. Should be able to seat you in a few minutes.”

  “Thanks, Rock.”

  As she drifted away, Diane asked, “Who’s that?”

  “Rocky Dancer. She’s the manager.”

  “Pretty woman. What was she asking you about?”

  Mal walked up and for that Bernadine was thankful. She had no desire to share what was going on with Crystal with her sister. “Hey, sweet thing.”

  “Hey yourself,” Diane replied before Bernadine could respond.

  Mal paused. He eyed Diane.

  Bernadine plastered a fake smile on her face. “Mal, this is my sister, Diane. Di, Malachi July. He’s the owner here.”

  “Hello, Malachi,” Diane purred, sticking out a hand and eyeing him like a decadent piece of chocolate cake she couldn’t wait to enjoy. “Name’s Diana. Such a pleasure to meet you.”

  His features neutral, he shook her hand. “Same here.”

  When he attempted to withdraw his hand, she held on and purred again, “Mal, do me a big favor and get us a table so we don’t have to wait. I’m really, really hungry.”

  His eyes met Bernadine’s, and she shook her head. “We’ll wait our turn like
everyone else.”

  “Thanks, baby doll.” He rewarded her with a kiss on the cheek and whispered in her ear, “You never told me crazy ran in your family.” Stepping back, he said, “Shouldn’t be long.”

  Diane’s hungry eyes followed him through the crowd. “Wow. I’d move here in a New York minute if I had him to look at all day. Is he married?”

  “No.”

  “Divorced?”

  “No. He’s never been married.”

  “Oh, lord. Please don’t tell me he’s gay.”

  “He isn’t.”

  “Good.”

  Bernadine rolled her eyes. She held off on revealing that she and Mal were an item. It would never cross Diane’s mind that fat old Bernadine would be hooked up with one of the finest men in the county.

  They were finally shown to a table, and after settling in, their waiter, seventeen-year-old Eli James, came over with glasses of water on a tray. He set the water down and handed them menus. “Hi, Ms. Brown. Any news on Crystal?”

  “Not yet.”

  “God. How can she be this stupid?”

  “Now, Eli.”

  “She is, Ms. Brown, and everybody in town knows it. We’ll be lining up to kick her dumb behind when she gets back.”

  Amused by his fervor but needing to change the subject before Diane got too interested in the conversation, Bernadine did the introductions. “Di, this is Eli James. Eli, my sister, Ms. Willis. Eli’s dad is the town’s schoolteacher.”

  “Hello, Eli.”

  “Hi, ma’am. You ever been to Henry Adams before?”

  “No. Who’s Crystal?”

  “Ms. Brown’s daughter. She ran away from home last night. Are you two ready to place your orders?”

  Diane gave him a smile. “Let me check out the menu for a minute.”

  He nodded and moved off. The smug triumph on Diane’s face warned Bernadine of the impending attack. Sure enough, her sister glanced up from the menu and asked, “Crystal’s the girl you adopted, right? And she ran away?”

  Bernadine nodded tightly.

  “I’m so sorry. You must feel like a terrible mother.”

  Bernadine turned her head to the booth side window and focused on the view of the street so she wouldn’t reach across the table and snatch her sister by the throat.