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“A bunch of men was killed ’cause maybe not enough of those centralizers was there or somet’ing.”
“I’ve read about that, Tee Jolie. It’s public knowledge. You shouldn’t worry because you know about this.”
“The man I’m wit’ does bidness sometimes with dangerous people.”
“Maybe you should get away from him.”
“We’re gonna be married. I’m gonna have his baby.”
I fixed my gaze on the glass of Dr Pepper and ice that sat on the nightstand.
“You want some more?” she asked.
“Yes, but I can hold it by myself.”
“Except I see the pain in your face when you move,” she said. She lifted the glass and straw to
my mouth. “They hurt you real bad, huh, Mr. Dave?”
“They shot me up proper,” I replied.
“They shot your friend Mr. Clete, too?”
“They smacked both of us around. But we left every one of them on the ground. They’re going to be dead for a long time.”
“I’m glad,” she said.
Outside the window, I could hear the rain and wind sweeping through the trees, scattering leaves from the oaks and needles from the slash pines across the roof.
“I always had my music and the piece of land my father left me and my sister and my mama,” she said. “I sang wit’ BonSoir, Catin. I was queen of the Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge. I t’ink back on that, and it’s like it was ten years ago instead of two. A lot can change in a short time, cain’t it? My mama died. Now it’s just me and my li’l sister, Blue, and my granddaddy back in St. Martinville.”
“You’re a great musician, and you have a wonderful voice. You’re a beautiful person, Tee Jolie.”
“When you talk like that, it don’t make me feel good, no. It makes me sad.”
“Why?”
“He says I can have an abortion if I want.”
“That’s his offer to you?”
“He ain’t got his divorce yet. He ain’t a bad man. You know him.”
“Don’t tell me his name,” I said.
“How come?”
Because I might want to put a bullet between his eyes, I thought. “It’s not my business,” I said. “Did you really give me this iPod?”
“You just saw me.”
“I can’t trust what I see and hear these days. I truly want to believe you’re real. The iPod is too expensive a gift.”
“Not for me. He gives me plenty of money.”
“My wallet is in the nightstand drawer.”
“I got to go, Mr. Dave.”
