Читать книгу Leesa's Story: Book Three of the Lane Trilogy - Vicki Inc. Andree - Страница 9

Leesa couldn’t get away from Kayla.

“Come on, girl. When you gonna loosen up? We been doin’ this all week, and you still not talking to me?”

When will this woman leave me alone? What do I have to do to make it clear I don’t want her so-called pain killers? Leesa stabbed the white piece of paper into the grass with her stake. “I’m here to work out my community service. I don’t want any trouble.” She glanced around to see Joe handing out plastic bags from the back of the van.

He caught her eye and yelled, “What are you two talking about over there? Get to work, or I’ll write you up.”

Leesa searched the ground for more trash as Kayla moved away. If that woman gets me into trouble, I might have to be here next week, too. Cook said that Aaron told her next week I could be lucky and pull office work at the rescue mission. Leesa wiped the sweat off her forehead. I don’t want the woman to be an enemy. She could beat me into a puddle in a matter of seconds. If I ever get off this crew, I hope I never see her again.

Joe motioned the women to come to the van. “We’re quitting early. You have a class on safe driving for the rest of the afternoon. Everyone get in the van. We’re going to the courthouse for your class.”

Leesa looked forward to the air conditioning. As the sweat dried, she felt dirty. If she could just wash up, she would feel better. But that’s not going to happen.

Thirty minutes later, they pulled up to the courthouse. Officers met the van and escorted them to the fourth floor classroom. Leesa looked at the floor all the way, afraid she might see someone she knew. Her hair stuck to her scalp. She felt grit all over her, and she could smell herself. Disgusting. I’m disgusting. I just have to get through this afternoon, and hopefully Aaron got me a better community service job.

The hot and sweaty group of workers walked into a room already filled with people who looked clean and smelled good. Obviously they didn’t get the cleanup job. She looked around the room for an inconspicuous place to sit. Officers led them to the front row, indicating their seats: front and center.

Officer Johnson looked to be in his late forties. At five foot ten, he had gray hair and mustache with a scar across his chin. “You’re here for mandatory driving instruction. Today you’ll watch a forty-five minute video and then take a test. If you pass the test, you will have fulfilled your required classroom time. However, if you fail the test, you will come back until you pass. Everyone understand?”

He pressed the ‘pause’ button on the remote and strode with a definite swagger to the back of the room. “All right, now watch. No distractions, or we’ll pull you out of class for the day and you will have to return.”

“Now watch the screen.” Officer Johnson pushed the ‘play’ button.

Leesa leaned forward. I’m going to pass that test. I am not coming back here. She concentrated on the screen. Kayla, sitting next to her, brushed their arms together. Leesa ignored it. It happened again, and Leesa glanced over.

Kayla opened her hand, showing a large red capsule. Leesa’s eyes widened. Kayla raised her eyebrows as if to question if Leesa wanted it. Leesa frowned and mouthed, “No.”

Kayla closed her hand again. Leesa didn’t move, terrified that a guard might have seen. She sneaked another look at Kayla, who snickered.

Leesa returned her attention to the screen until the credits finally rolled. I’ve got to get away from this woman. If I take it, maybe she’ll leave me alone. No, I can’t—not here. They might be watching.

Officer Johnson passed out the test and pencils. Everyone concentrated on taking the test. She felt confident, as she saw the questions looked easy. Relieved, she relaxed.

Kayla dropped a red capsule on Leesa’s test paper.

Leesa snatched it before the officer could see it. Oh, no! What am I going to do with this? How did she get it in here? She stared at her test. I dare not look up. I’m through, but I don’t want to look up. She dropped the capsule in her pocket.

Five minutes later, Officer Johnson stood in the front of the room. “Pass your papers forward. Everyone sit quietly until your name is called.” He and two other officers began checking papers. The other two continued checking while Officer Johnson stood with a few tests in his hand.

“I will call your name. Come up and get your exam. Return to your seat until everyone has their exam.”

He began calling names. The other two officers finished checking exams and gave them to Officer Johnson. He called everyone’s name except Leesa’s. Then he handed her the exam. He had written a note across the top. “You should be using an alias. You passed.” She attempted to keep her joy hidden and immediately folded the sheet. As quick as she was, she knew Kayla had seen.

Officers escorted them outside, where they met Joe. “We’re done for today. See you all Monday.”

The rest of the crew left and Leesa took her time getting to the limo so no one would see her. She sensed someone behind her and saw Kayla following her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Kayla patted her on the back. “I’m trying to make a friend. What’s with you? You don’t want to be my friend, Leesa?”

Oh great. She knows my name.

Kayla put her hand on Leesa’s back. “Miss Leesa, you took my pill. I guess you know what that means.”

Leesa shuddered and felt in her pocket for the pill. “Here you can have it. I didn’t want it in the first place.”

Kayla removed her hand and stepped into Leesa’s way. “Well, you took it. I don’t give refunds.”

The woman wants money. Good grief. How much do you pay someone for a pill you don’t want and from someone you never want to see again?

Kayla shook her head. “It’s all right. I’ll see you later. But just in case I don’t, here’s my number.” She held out a scrap of paper.

Leesa took the paper and tried to end the conversation on a positive note. “Thanks, Kayla. Tell me how much you want for the pill. I’ll pay for it.”

“I knew you would.”

***

Leesa called for Cook as she entered the house. “Did you talk to the attorney?”

Cook came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “He said he had good news and you should call him as soon as you got home. He gave me his cell number.”

Leesa snatched it out of Cook’s hand and ran upstairs. She sat at her home office desk and breathlessly punched in the numbers.

He answered on the third ring. “Aaron Stern.”

Does he not have caller ID? “This is Leesa Lane.”

Mr. Stern cleared his throat. “Leesa, I have good news for you. You got a good report from the trash pickup crew officer. You passed the driver’s test. The judge granted me a favor. You can switch to an inside job.”

Leesa fell back into her chair. “Oh, thank heaven. It has been pure hell. I’m sore all over, and working with those people is just awful.”

Mr. Stern continued, “You got high marks for cooperation and attitude.”

Leesa sat back up, rubbing her back. “Okay. Where do I go next?”

Mr. Stern’s voice softened. “Leesa, you don’t have to do forty hours a week. I know it was my first recommendation, but I think you’re pushing yourself too hard. You can do twenty a week. Trying to do this in forty-hour chunks isn’t necessary.”

Easy for you to say. You’re not the one with this hanging over your head. “I have nothing better to do, and I want to get it out of the way.”

“All right. Monday morning, you check in with the Los Angeles criminal records department. Your job will be filing and anything else they ask you to do. It’s hard work.”

“It can’t be worse than what I’ve been doing. At least it will be air-conditioned. It will be air-conditioned, won’t it?”

Mr. Stern’s voice brightened. “It’s air-conditioned. And I have more good news. If you keep up the good reports, you can get a better placement than filing. So keep up the good work.”

She hung up, headed to her bedroom, and threw herself on the white bedspread. “Oh, I hurt all over.”

A nice hot bath—that’s what I need.

She got up to run a bath and noticed smudges of dirt on the bedspread. “I’m filthy, I’m hurting, and I’m tired. But I am so glad I don’t have to go back to the road cleanup crew.”

She took a long soak, then went down to the main kitchen to raid the refrigerator. Cook had already gone to her quarters across the patio, and Leesa sat alone with her Dagwood sandwich and a bag of chips in front of the Olympic-sized pool.

I wonder what Lyza’s doing? As angry as I am about Father’s will, I still miss her. She’s up to her neck in L. L. Lane Unlimited business. I bet she’s loving being back in the spotlight. She always had to be the center of attention. Well, if she really ever wants me to come back, she can call me. She has my cell number.

Leesa looked longingly at the heated pool. “I am so sore.” She dangled her feet in the water. “Feels good.” Next she sat on the steps going down into the water, soaking her sweat pants. “Oh, I don’t care.” She leaned back into the warm water and floated across the pool, enjoying the water.

Her pants got heavy, and she pulled them off. Then her blouse billowed in the waves and she pulled it off. Finally, she was comfortable in her panties and bra. She began swimming slow laps around the pool.

The water felt so clean. Leesa never wanted to be dirty again. She never wanted to pick up trash along the highway while people drove by so fast they kicked up papers, dirt, and trash all around her.

I’m never going to do this again. I lost my temper. I can’t do that. Next they’ll put me in some kind of anger management classes. Like I need anger management. If I did need it, I’d get it somewhere else.

She shuddered as she remembered the crew. And that Kayla, she scares me. I don’t want her for a friend. And I sure don’t want her as an enemy. I hope I never see that woman again. Leesa closed her eyes and did the backstroke back to the patio.

She climbed out of the pool and went upstairs.

Putting on her pajamas, she looked out the window. It was still light. I need sleep. Thank heaven tomorrow’s Saturday and I can sleep in.

Leesa lay there a long time, and then got up to pull the blinds. The room darkened, but she still couldn’t sleep.

After lying there almost forty-five minutes, she got up to get a drink. She passed her dresser and noticed the red capsule she had placed there when she emptied her pockets earlier.

***

Lyza spent the weekend loving on baby Levi and David. She cooked dinner Saturday night and invited the neighbor, Suzanne, to join them. Lyza had lived with Suzanne for a short time before she and David married, and Lyza considered her a dear friend.

Suzanne finished a piece of lemon pie. “Everyone missed you at women’s Bible study this week.”

Lyza cut another piece for David. “I missed them, too. I’m going to figure out how to get away and meet with you. I haven’t figured that out yet. I thought also about an evening study. You know, when the men are having theirs.”

David spoke up. “The only problem with that is that the men meet separately so the children will be with their mothers. Then when the mothers meet, the children will be with their fathers.”

“Oh, of course. I’m out of it tonight. Guess I’m still thinking about the office.”

Suzanne looked at Lyza. “You know we don’t gossip at Bible study, but something came up that I thought you should know about.”

“What’s that?” David’s eyes widened.

Suzanne took a sip of her coffee. “Someone said you would probably move since you’re going back to work.”

“Oh, Suzanne, it’s not like that. I mean, we’ve had one short discussion.” Lyza glanced at David. “But nothing’s been decided for sure. I don’t plan to be at the office that much after I get things to the point I feel they need to be. However, there is the security issue.” David shot her a warning look, and she realized she was saying too much. “We really haven’t decided anything at this point.”

Suzanne pushed her empty pie plate away. “What would happen to the church if you moved?”

David held up his hand. “Look, Suzanne. Nothing’s going to happen to the church. As for right now, we’re not going anywhere. Besides, if and when that happened, I could commute.”

Suzanne crossed her arms. “Well, we need you here. Having you next door to the church is what everyone wants. That’s why we built the parsonage.”

Lyza poured more coffee for Suzanne. “It’s not like we want to move. We love it here. Don’t let anybody start rumors. David isn’t leaving the congregation.”

Suzanne added cream to her coffee. “I hope not. We don’t know what we’d do if either of you left.”

The phone rang, and David checked the caller ID. “It’s Cook.”

Lyza stood. “Sorry, Suzanne. I should probably take this.”

She took the phone into David’s office. “Hello, Cook. What’s happening with you?”

“I just called to check in with you. Has Leesa called?”

Lyza pressed her ear to the phone. Why is Cook speaking so quietly? “No, did she say she was going to call?”

“Well, I told her you wanted to talk to her about coming back to work on the Kramer’s Island project. She seemed interested, so I thought she would call you.”

Oh, I get it. Leesa’s there and Cook doesn’t want her to hear. It’s all right. I didn’t expect her to call right away. “No, nothing.”

Cook continued, “I think she wants you to call her. She’s done with the work on the highway. They’re going to reassign her to an office next week. I thought it might be a good time for you to talk.”

Lyza brightened. “Sure, Cook. You are such a good woman. Thank you. I’ll call her now.”

***

Leesa sat on the patio, reading the morning paper. She couldn’t help but smile when she read that Bingo and His Amazing Rock Band would be performing for the President of the United States at the White House. Her cell phone rang. She checked the caller ID and answered flatly. “Hi, Lyza. What’s up?”

“Leesa. How are you?”

She sounds pleasant. Leesa growled. “You don’t want to know.”

“Leesa, I don’t care what’s happened. I care about you. Are you’re doing all right?”

Yeah, you care about me, like a papa alligator cares about his babies. Leesa shot back, “I’m doing fine. How’s going back to work?”

Lyza said slowly, “It’s been difficult, but I feel I have no other choice.”

Oh, it’s been difficult to take over what I built up. Leesa threw the newspaper to the patio floor. “Well, I feel like I got stabbed in the back. Father told me months ago to take over for him, that the business would be mine when he passed.”

“I’m sorry he told you that and then changed his mind. And I’m not going to tell you that I understand it, because I don’t.”

Leesa felt exhausted. I don’t need this conversation. “What do you want? Why did you call?”

“Leesa, I want us to be sisters again. I want you to come back to work.”

Pain stabbed Leesa’s back. “As what? As your slave for that sniveling little kid of yours?”

Lyza paused. “No, nothing like that. I’d like you to meet Levi. I’d like you to come have dinner with us. I’d like you to come back to work.”

Who does she think she is? Leesa hardened her tone. “Just like that. I’m supposed to change and melt to your charms, forget everything, and come back to work for you.”

“I don’t want to argue, but let me remind you, when Father disowned me, you didn’t even say good-bye.”

Leesa rubbed her back. “Like I had a choice! You know Father. Mother didn’t have a chance, either.”

Lyza’s voice softened. “I know, and I’m not pointing a finger. I’m just saying it’s time to get our family back together. We don’t have much family anymore, and I want you back.”

Leesa held the phone quietly for a moment. Lyza’s changed. Does she still have what it takes to run Lane Unlimited? Maybe she does need me. “Since you put it that way, I guess you’re the only family I have left. But Lyza, Father couldn’t take it that you turned Christian. Are you still Christian?”

Lyza said, “I’ll always be Christian, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t still sisters. Come back to work. I’ll do whatever it takes to get us back on solid ground.”

Leesa’s voice softened. “I’m not promising anything.”

Lyza asked, “Did Cook talk to you? I mean, did she tell you about Kramer’s Island?”

Leesa’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of her project. “Kramer’s Island seems a century ago. I miss it.”

“I want you to have it, Leesa.”

What?! “Can you even do that? I mean, it’s not yours. It belongs to Levi.”

Lyza assured her, “Yes, but it’s in his best interest for you to have it. You created it, you designed it, and you worked your tail off to make it a success. It’s losing money right now, but I know you can turn that around and make it better than ever. I think we should do a slow turnover so it will be back in the black before we finalize the deal. I was thinking five years.”

Leesa swallowed. For Kramer’s Island, I’ll give it a shot. “Make it three, and we have a deal.”

Lyza sounded hopeful. “Then you’re coming back to work?”

“My schedule is a little fuzzy right now. I’m sure you know about my community service.”

“Come in when you can. I’m looking forward to seeing you and working together again.”

Leesa rubbed her back again. “During the next few weeks I’ll be coming up with ideas on how to turn Kramer’s Island around.”