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Just after noon, the crowd significantly died down and Tex turned to me.
“Let’s go, Loopy Loo. I got a plan to get your dad’s friend talking.” He turned to Ally. “We’ll take the ’stang. You’re drivin’.”
I gave him a look.
“Does this plan involve your shotgun?” I asked.
“Nope,” he said and I felt some relief. Then he went on, “At least Plan A doesn’t.”
Uh-oh.
“What about Plan B?” I pressed.
He started walking toward the door. “Let’s just hope Plan A works.”
Wonderful.
We all got into Ally’s brand-new Mustang convertible—Indy, Tex, Ally and me—and rolled out to Lakewood. Ally parked outside Bear’s house and we barely cleared the Mustang when Bear appeared at the door, turned and carefully closed it. He met us halfway down the walk.
“I haven’t seen your dad,” Bear said by way of greeting.
Not good.
“Bear…” I started but then the door opened and Lavonne appeared.
Lavonne dyed her bobbed hair an ultra-fake-looking black. Her roots were steel-gray, she was two inches shorter than me and at least thirty pounds lighter, if not more. She was petite, wiry and had a two pack-a-day smoker’s voice.
“What’s goin’ on out here?” she demanded to know then, “Jet! Ohmigod! Look at your hair. It looks great!”
She rushed forward, always a bundle of energy, and gave me a tight hug.
“It’s been too long,” she said and then her pleasure at seeing me started to dissolve as she looked around, took in Indy, Ally and especially Tex. Everyone stared at Tex. Tex was a sight to see.
Then her gaze settled on Bear.
“What’s goin’ on?” she asked again, reading the situation like only a mother, or the wife of Bear, would.
“Nothin’,” Bear muttered.
“I’m lookin’ for Dad,” I said at the same time.
Lavonne looked at me. “Your dad was here just this morning. Hasn’t he been to see you?”
I looked at Indy. Indy looked at Ally. Ally looked at Tex. Tex looked at me.
“What’s goin’ on?” Lavonne asked for the third time.
“Can we come inside?” I asked.
Lavonne’s mouth tightened, she turned and we all followed her inside.
The inside of Lavonne and Bear’s house could not have been more different from the outside. Lavonne had strict rules about what was a woman’s domain and what was a man’s. The man tended the yard, garbage and car. The woman tended the house, food and laundry.
Lavonne’s living room was neat and tidy and overly decorated in hearts. There were bent twig hearts on the walls tucked with dried flowers, heart wreaths, little painted wooden hearts, heart toss pillows on the couch, heart frames filled with pictures of her kids.
I did a round of introductions. Bear sat on the sofa. Indy and Ally took armchairs and I stayed standing. Tex positioned himself close to me, like a guard. Lavonne stood by Bear and lit a cigarette.
Everyone listened to my latest tale of woe.
