False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [114]
“When is Daddy bwinging the candy man to our house?” Carter hugged Georgie and looked up at her with those deep blue eyes that reminded her of her own.
She stroked his thick strawberry-blond hair with her fingers. “Any minute, sweetie. Daddy had to drive to the Haven House to pick him up. That’s not far from the courthouse. You know where that is.”
Carter gave a nod.
“But I think it’s time we called the candy man by his real name.”
“What is it?”
“His name is Noah Washington. I think maybe Mister Washington is a little long. Why don’t you just call him Mister Noah?”
“Mister Noah?” Carter smiled with his eyes. “Is he bwinging us animal cwackers?”
Vanessa chuckled at her son’s developing sense of humor.
There was a knock on the door, and then it opened. “It’s just us,” Ethan said.
Ethan showed Noah around the apartment, then took him into the living room and seated him in the most comfortable chair and brought him a glass of raspberry tea.
“This place is somethin’,” Noah said. “Kinda nice bein’ able to go outside on that big gallery and enjoy watchin’ the people on the street.”
“It is for now,” Vanessa said. “After the renovation is done, we’ll move into Langley Manor and operate it as a bed-and-breakfast.”
“That’s what Ethan said on the way over here. Sounds like you have big plans for that place.”
“We do,” Vanessa said. “We’ll have to make some modifications now that we know about the two tunnels. We want to preserve them.”
“Tell us a little about you.” Ethan put his arm around Vanessa. “We’re so grateful you helped Vanessa and Zoe and Pierce escape from Cowen. We’d like to know you better.”
“Not much to tell. I lived in New Awlins all my life. My folks have passed away now, and my brothers live in Detroit. Made my livin’ as a landscaper. I built a clientele and eventually had a crew of six workin’ for me. Married a beautiful woman named Rachellyn, who was a nurse at Children’s Hospital. We didn’t have kids for a long time, but the good Lord finally blessed us with two daughters born a year apart—Tasha and Teena.” Noah smiled at Carter. “We sure did enjoy those girls.”
“Where’s your family now?” Vanessa felt Ethan nudge her with his elbow. “I’m sorry. Maybe that was too direct. It’s just that I feel a connection since both our families once lived in Langley Manor and worked together on the Underground Railroad. I find that intriguing.”
“So do I. Josiah Langley was a fine man. None finer. From all G. G. told me, I’d be honored to shake his hand. But let me answer your question.” Noah laced his fingers together. “I lost Rachellyn and the girls after Katrina. We lived in the ninth ward. Flood waters took ’em before rescuers could get to us. The house is abandoned. I didn’t have flood insurance.”
“I am so sorry, Noah.” Vanessa hated that her words sounded rote. What else could she say?
“Me too,” he said. “My girls were fifteen and sixteen. I’ve missed out on their teen years and can’t seem to get my groove back. Most of my clients never came back after Katrina. My crew either. I’m just too tired to start over. The experience has me whipped.”
“Couldn’t you get help from the government?”
Noah shrugged. “Some. But I’m just kinda lost, if you know what I’m sayin’. I know I gotta pull myself up. But it’s been hard. Rachellyn would be ashamed if she could see me bummin’ it like this. I used to have more clients than I could get to.”
“What kind of gardening did you do?” Ethan said.
“You name it, I did it. Landscaping. Maintenance. I did a lot of commercial lawns. Loved it. I’m happiest when my hands is in the dirt.”
“Any ideas on what we could do at Langley Manor?”
“It wouldn’t be hard for you to make those grounds a show place. You just need to trim the live oaks and let more light in. Put in blossom trees—dogwoods, magnolias, crepe myrtles. Some azaleas. Bougainvilleas. A rock garden in the middle of the front lawn would look mighty nice, especially with a waterfall. You’d need Saint Augustine grass that can handle the shade. It depends on your budget. But that place could spruce up real nice.”
Vanessa squeezed