Chapter 3-Home Coming

Sheriff Renee sat twirling a pencil between his fingers. It had been a quiet rainy Monday morning; the Friday and Saturday drunks had sobered up and gone back to work. Confessions had been made to the priest on Sunday and forgiveness granted... all was right with the world. But it wasn't in Renee's world. He had dealt with newsmen all the past week regarding the body found in the bayou. The 'Houma Daily" news ran it first , then the New Orleans press got the story and it made front page. He knew it would all die down after a little while. It wasn't the first time a body had been found in a bayou. Renee was a very patient man. He would wait.

Meanwhile, his nightmares had returned. He'd had them the first six months that his friend Gene had been killed, but they stopped as abruptly as they began. That is until last night. He woke with cold sweats and yelling "call an ambulance". Renee leaned back in his office chair and let his mind remember the dream. The dream always started out pleasant with him back in Shreveport. He thought it strange how he could remember so many details. It always ended with Gene lying in that back alley bleeding to death. Rene on the cold blacktop holding the bloody mess the 357 Magnum had burned into Gene's skull. Blood pooling onto the filth covering the ground, sweat rolling off Renee's face, and him sick with shame and guilt. He promised Gene when they were kids that he would never let him down. He failed him.

Rene lit a cigarette and watched the smoke swirl up toward the tin ceiling of his office. "Damn Gene, I am sorry man. It should have been me." Renee stubbed out his Lucky Strike.

**********
Evangeline is coming home soon from New York. I've got to get my shit together. I'm going to tell her that two months is too long to stay away. I'm lonely without her. I need her body close to me at night.

Just at that moment, Evangeline came bursting through the door. She wore a beautiful stylish dark blue suit with three buttons down the front and patent leather shoes to match. She was the picture of perfection. Renee found himself speechless. He stood up quickly.
"Well, hello, darlin' I'm sorry if I surprised you. Your boy out there at the front desk told me he'd tell you I was here...but of course I wasn't going to wait on him." Evangeline flicked her hand quickly across her long chestnut bangs, rolled her green eyes back and smiled coyly. "Don't you just love my new hairstyle? It's called a Peek-a-Boo, just like Veronica Lake wore in her last movie."

The thought flashed through Renee's mind, she has a lot of gall, that man she's calling a boy is at least fifty-two years old. "I...I didn't expect you for another few weeks. What happened?"
Renee ran over to give her a big welcome home hug and kiss, but Evangeline brushed him off by side stepping him and flopping herself down in the only other chair in the room. "Is this that old chair that used to be in my daddy's office? Why! I can't believe you don't care anymore about appearances than to keep this old thing. The leather is just about worn out."

Renee walked over to the weathered brown chair that he happened to love and kissed Evangeline full on the lips. "I'm so glad to see you. I really missed you. I'm glad you came home early."

"Oh, darlin' you will smear my lipstick." Evangeline took her compact out and looked at herself briefly then put it back into her large matching purse. "You just can't believe what a wonderful time I had in New York," she began to rattle on. "But it was beginning to bore me. All Daddy's friends are so old, and all they want to talk about is this silly war."

Renee didn't hear much of what she said as he sat back down behind his desk. "I'm glad you had fun. I missed you."

"I'll tell you all about my trip when we get home, right now, I'm starving. Daddy dropped me off; he was going to the bank. He told me to tell you to take me home. I wonder what Maybelle will be cooking for supper? I hate riding in that old police car of yours, but I guess that's the only way I'm going to get home. I'm exhausted. Can we go now?"

"Yes, I'll put things away and let Deputy Pierre know I'll be taking the afternoon off."

The drive home was uneventful. Evangeline continued to rattle on about the war and how it had affected the styles and how she just could not understand this dire need to ration everything by the government.
"Why, did you know that the government is asking us to give up our nylon stockings for the War Effort? I saw signs everywhere: 'Mend and Make Do.' Evangeline gave a loud audible huff.
"What do they expect us to do? Mend and Make Do, well, I never! And I tell you dear; all the ladies in New York were dressed so fine. Why, I felt like a country mouse. I had Daddy march right to midtown with me and we bought a proper wardrobe for the city. We were invited to several parties at Senators' and Congressmen's homes. It was just delightful to mix with real gentry for a while," Evangeline droned on. "I just didn't know my daddy knew so many important people."

"That's great babe, I'm glad you had fun," Renee replied.

"Ohooo, there's our beautiful home." Evangeline squealed just as they rounded the bend in Bayou Road. Standing before them was an enormous red brick plantation home built in 1787 in the French Colonial style with six white Doric columns. Large old oaks with their limbs reaching almost to the ground surrounded the front of the property. In back two old charred wood structures; the remaining traces of what had once been slave cabins back when the Duhon Plantation had been one of the richest sugar plantations in Louisiana. Mr. Duhon liked to brag that this plantation had been in his family since before the Civil War. He especially loved to tell the story of what he called the 'Battle of Houma'. He would tell it to anyone who would listen about the four Union soldiers in route to Houma from New Orleans in a wagon in 1862. They were caught by the Houma 'guard 'and two killed and the other two severely wounded. He would then swear and tell how the Union Army swooped down on Houma with four hundred troops and began a wholesale arrest of residents. They burned the home of Doctor Jennings and two other houses were torn down; the Negroes were set free. The part he liked to tell the best was how they tried to burn his plantation, too, but it didn't burn down completely. All their livestock was ran off and they had to survive like the Native Houma Indians and the Creole people...off the land. After the war, they restored the fine old home and the Duhon family fared well in the new Union economy buying up land and raising sugar cane and cotton.

Renee just shook his head. This wasn't their home. He would have never left the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Department in Shreveport if Evangeline had not worn him down with her relentless crying and pleading about her daddy needed her since her mother had died last year. She was Mr. Duhon's only child. Renee knew she was spoiled but he could not say 'no' to her.

Later that night after a fine supper of Crawfish Etouffee and Tarte a la Bouillie, Renee and Evangeline retired to their forest green and pink bedroom. Maybelle had put fresh air dried scented sheets on their big bed. Pink rose bouquets lavished in Wedgewood crystal vases on both bedside tables. A rose had been placed on Evangeline's' pillow. A bottle of imported red wine chilled on the desk with stemmed crystal glasses. Renee smiled and secretly thanked Maybelle for being so thoughtful. As Renee bathed and got himself ready for bed, Evie sat at the dressing table and removed her makeup.

Renee appeared in the steamy bathroom door wearing only his pajama bottoms. His dark chest hair formed little ringlets from the moist bathroom air and his cheeks flushed from excitement. Walking over to Evangeline he stooped down and kissed the back of her neck. "Oh Evie, I missed you so much."

"Sweetie, not now...I'm just filthy from my trip. Let me freshen up." Evie rose from the dressing table and headed for the bathroom . "My goodness, dear, you left this bathroom a steamy mess. I'll just be a little while."

One hour later Renee still waited anxiously for Evangeline to finish her bath. He could hear the water splashing in the tub and visualized her white smooth silky skin and the warm water splashing across her shoulders and breast. It had been a long time since they had been together.

Evangeline entered the bedroom dressed in a pink silk dressing gown of floral design. Her long flowing chestnut hair gleamed in the faint glow of the antique bedside table lamp.

"Evie you are so beautiful," Renee's voice was husky as he handed her a glass of wine.
"Why, thank you dear," Evie chirped. She took the wine and took a long sip. "Hmm, this is good."
Renee walked up closer and ran his fingers through Evies' silken hair. Then he leaned in to kiss her. Hmmm, you smell so good."

"Renee, you feel damp. Go dry off some more," Evie scowled. She poured herself another drink and sat down again at the dressing table to comb her hair as he went back into the bathroom.

He came out of the bathroom and tossed the fluffy pink towel across to a chair, she was still brushing her hair. He crawled under the satin quilt. "Hmm, this feels good,"smiling playfully. "Evie, come see how much I've missed you."

"Oh, Cher, I am so exhausted tonight. Would you mind terribly if we just go to sleep," Evangeline whined.

"Yes, I would mind. I need you and want you tonight."

"Well okay...if you're going to be a cad about IT," Evangeline plopped into bed beside Renee and lay there straight as a board with both feet together.

Renee gave her a sad look and rolled over. "I'll see you in the morning. I love you Evie."
*****
Morning came early for Renee. He had tossed and turned most of the night and once gotten up and sat in the green brocade wingback chair by the open windows. The cool damp breeze blew the sheer curtains out toward the room and the smoke from his cigarette made hypnotizing twirls up and out the windows. He could smell the musty smell of the swamp, the fields, and distant wood smoke. Fall was his favorite time of year. He had not thought that he would like living in Houma but had found it to be peaceful and a friendly place. A place he could live the rest of his life and raise a family. He had grown up poor with loving Christian parents in West Monroe. His daddy and two brothers were all involved in law enforcement. All six of his sisters had children and loving husbands. He hoped someday he and Evangeline would be as happy as his parents and have at least five children. He had a peculiar feeling that something was troubling Evangeline. It began not too long after Thanksgiving the year of his graduation from the West Monroe Police Academy. Class of '40; he was so proud on that day. He finally accomplished his dream of becoming a police officer like his daddy and uncles. He thought that whatever was bothering Evangeline would work itself out. Heaven knows he had tried to get her to talk to him.

Renee was awake and staring at Evangeline when she suddenly yawned and opened her eyes.

"Were you staring at me? I must be a mess." Evangeline reached up to smooth her hair. "I need some coffee this morning," Evangeline cooed.

"Evie, you know I love you so much. I sat up last night thinking about all that's happened since Gene got killed and our move to Houma. You know I wasn't too keen on coming here. I'm still not too fond of living here with your daddy. I know...I know...don't give me that look. I don't want to start an argument this morning. I just want to tell you that I like it here and hope we can start a family soon."

"Oh, Renee, are you going to start that again?" Evangeline frowned. "I'm too hungry and I need coffee before I can think about such things. Besides that, babies will ruin my figure and they are a lot of trouble. I hope you're not expecting me to become your breeding cow."

"Evie, my mother had nine kids and I know for certain that my daddy never thought of her in any way but as a loving mother and wife," Renee countered.
"Yes, but just look how she took care of all you brats and then died about the time the last one of you was grown. She spent her life raising kids. I don't want that kind of life..."
"Damn you Evie, my mother loved being a mother. I don't even want you to mention her name. You lied to me. You told me when we first met that you loved and wanted children." Renee got up from the bed and began putting on his pants.

"Who are you to call me a liar? You're the liar!" Evangeline screamed.

"What the hell do you mean?" Renee came back in a low voice.

"I mean, when I met you at 'Ole Miss' you were going to law school. I thought you were going to be a lawyer...not some damn policeman."

"Evie, you knew good and well I planned to do a couple of years of law and then take the exams at the West Monroe Police Academy. I never lied to you."
"Yes, you did...you did." Evangeline began crying. "I never thought you were serious that you would trade becoming a lawyer for a low paying cop. Why, your whole family is dirt poor. Why, wouldn't you want to better yourself? The only reason you went to police academy was because of Gene. Wherever he went...you were close behind him. Don't you know he just used you? Why, I guess you'd be over somewhere fighting right now if it had been left up to Gene. You followed him down to the Navy recruitment center right on his heels," Evangeline sneered.
"Evie, you know damn well when the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor I was the first on our block to try to sign up. You are right about one thing...if they hadn't turned me down with a heart murmur; I would be there right now fighting instead of here arguing with you."

"Well, sometimes I wish you were!"

"Why were you so jealous of Gene?"

"Because you loved him and spent all your spare time with him!"

"He's dead, Evie. Yes, I did love him... like one of my brothers. But, I didn't love him more than I love you. All I have ever wanted to be is a cop. I want to make you happy, too. I'll always take care of you and love you. You don't have to worry about finances or anything."
"No, I sure don't... my daddy has the money to support me like I need."

"There's more to life than money. I make enough to take care of you. We could move into our own house any time and start our family."

"Right! You go back to that same old crap again. Well, I don't want to move into some clapboard bungalow and live the little wifely life. I want to travel, dress in the latest styles, and have parties. Can you give me that?"

"No, I'm not as rich or powerful as your daddy. But I can promise you I will do everything in my power to give you what you need. Evie, twenty-five is not too young to start a family. You can't be your daddy's little girl forever, you're my wife." Renee continued getting dressed.

"Don't even talk about my Daddy!" Evangeline threw a pillow at Renee. "If you thought all I wanted was to be a wife and mother when you married me, well, you were sadly mistaken." Evangeline walked into the bathroom and began brushing her hair. She dropped the brush and bent over to pick it up."

When she straightened up, Renee was standing over her and reached out to touch her arm. "Please, I don't want to fight with you."

"Oh baby, I didn't mean I would never have children. I just don't want them now when I'm still so young," Evangeline cooed.

Renee took her in his arms and began kissing her neck, "I'm sorry, Evie, I love you."

"Let's not talk about it anymore, I'm starving, we'll have Maybelle fix us a wonderful breakfast and you will feel better, dear," Evangeline urged. "Then maybe we can take a little drive to Baton Rouge and see a movie. I hear 'Citizen Kane' is supposed to be playing. It has that Orson Wells guy in it. You know the one that made that crazy radio show not too long ago about the aliens...you know 'War of the Worlds'. Wouldn't that be lovely?"