Julianna and Sable chuckled. Valinda did, too. She enjoyed the brothers’ banter.
“Drake, get a chair and sit,” Julianna said. “Archer, you go and do whatever it is you do here.”
Archer cut his sibling a mock dirty look. “Ladies, your meals are on me. The bear pays for his own.”
Drake set a chair between his mother and Valinda, and shot back, “You’re so kind.”
Archer kissed his mother’s cheek and departed.
Valinda wondered ifbearwas Drake’s nickname. His size certainly rivalled one.
After Drake gave his order to the waiter, his mother asked, “So, how did things go with the authorities?”
“Not well.” And he told them of his unsuccessful quest to get justice for Erma’s son. “Allie can’t testify because of her race.” Val knew that although the practice was considered illegal, many areas of the country continued to abide by it, even in the North.
Drake continued, “And I was so furious with Merritt’s refusal to bring charges, I’ve quit the Bureau.”
Julianna appeared stricken. “Oh no.”
He nodded. “It was either that or not be able to live with myself. I’ll volunteer my time elsewhere.”
Sable said, “I can always use your help with the food distributions.”
“Okay. Let me know what day you need me. The Republicans’ offices mirror many of the services the Bureau provides in terms of relief efforts, so I’ll help out there as well.”
Seeing how frustrated and unhappy he appeared tugged at Val’s own feelings.
His mother asked, “How’s Erma faring?”
“I drove Erma to her sister’s place yesterday. Told her to take as much time away as she needed. I’ll be talking to Rai about how to proceed next.”
Julianna looked very concerned. For a moment, she searched his face silently before asking, “You’ll be careful?”
“Always, Mama. Don’t worry.”
Valinda had no idea what was being referenced but noted the serious set of Sable’s features, too. She sensed she was being left out of something important, but was too polite to stick her nose into a matter where it didn’t belong.
Drake’s meal arrived and in spite of his brother’s warning, he appeared to have ordered everything the kitchen had to offer. There was a large steak, three pieces of fried catfish, collards, plantains, a large bowl of rice, and half of a still-warm and fragrant baguette.
His mother chuckled, and he looked over innocently. “Yes?”
“I’m always amazed at the amount of food you put away, my son.”
“I’m still a growing boy, Mama. And I worked up quite an appetite earlier tearing down the barn we built for Old Man Kirk.”
“Why’d you tear it down?”
“He didn’t want to pay the agreed-upon price, so rather than let him keep the barn, I used a sledgehammer to express my displeasure. Took me over an hour to turn it into rubble, but he’ll think twice before trying to cheat anyone else again.”
“Good for you,” Sable said with a laugh.
Valinda was impressed. Most people would’ve met the man in court or simply taken the incorrect amount and angrily walked away. He hadn’t done either, and the hellion in her applauded him for the novel solution.
“How’s the search for a new classroom going?” he asked her.
“Not well.” And she relayed the problem the Sisters were facing along with the disappointing decision they’d made.
“Those Creoles need to be horsewhipped. Forcing the Sisters into a corner that way is unfair.”