The Weed Lady

By Shea Embry

Jesi's obsession with a woman she doesn't know takes over her life. She alienates everyone she loves until realizing that if she didn't make a change she would lose them all forever. Her solution is found after a couple glasses of Jack Daniels and her decision will change the lives of all of them, Jesi, Nicole, Rachael, Jules, George, and the wo

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atmosphere Press
• Release date: Apr 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781637528617

Book preview

Chapter 1

Wearing an oversized black T-shirt and sweatpants, Jesi poured her coffee and stood in front of the large picture window. The sun highlighted her tightly cut, muscular arms. Her dark wavy hair, still messy from a night’s sleep, was tucked behind her ears and her bangs drooped across her forehead. A hint of Jack Daniels lingered in her mouth.

Before she could even savor her first sip of coffee, she noticed a bag of trash in the yard near the curb and felt angry. When the bag moved, she nearly spit out the hot coffee. Instead, Jesi swallowed, immediately regretting her choice as the coffee burned all the way down her throat.

When the bag moved two feet to the right, Jesi realized it was a bag lady, not a bag of trash. It was a woman crouched down with her face less than a foot from the grass.

The sun had poked through to the lawn. The newly laid sod glistened with raindrops hanging onto their last moments of existence before their eventual evaporation.

Without taking her eyes off the woman, Jesi swept her bangs aside and yelled, Nicole, are you up? Come down here. 

Jesi grinned as Nicole squeaked out a response. I’m awake, but I think that last bourbon soaked up all the moisture out of my mouth. I need some water.

Jesi glanced back over her shoulder in time to see Nicole holding both hands on the railing and taking one step at a time. Nicole's deep red, curly hair was matted on the back of her head, pushing the mass of it forward. It appeared to Jesi as if Nicole had teased her hair into a large, bright red afro. She held in a giggle as she watched Nicole pull her black Ralph Lauren pajamas out of her crotch.

When Jesi turned her attention back to the woman in the yard, a giggle rose up inside her at the sight of Nicole as well as the woman in the yard. It all seemed a little comical.

What are you laughing at? It better not be me, Nicole said, mumbling.

Jesi couldn’t take her eyes off the woman in the yard. Her laughter billowed up. Come here. You have to see this.

Nicole gulped down an entire glass of water and filled her cup with coffee, cream, and sugar.

Standing side-by-side, Jesi and Nicole watched in silence for a moment. Who is that? Nicole asked.

I don’t know.

What’s she doing? Nicole still had not taken a sip of her coffee.

I don’t know. But I think she’s pulling weeds, Jesi’s giggle returned.

How long has she been there?

Jesi was aware that Nicole was not giggling. Now her giggle turned to laughter. I don’t know. Jesi watched as Nicole shook her head and turned back toward the kitchen.

God, I can’t handle anything new right now, not with this hangover, Nicole said. Please make it go away. Nicole took in three long breaths and held her stomach. I’m fixing breakfast.

Jesi knew her hangover was at least equal to Nicole’s. The distraction that held her attention away from how she felt and on the woman in the yard was perfectly acceptable since it took her mind off her headache. She watched the woman focus on one weed at a time, sometimes twisting and pulling, sometimes pulling straight up, and other times using both hands to gather, twist, and turn. All the weeds were placed in a pocket in the front of the woman’s worn apron. Jesi was confused when she noticed that the woman was frowning and had tears streaming down her face. Why would this woman, so filled with emotion, be in their front yard, pulling weeds?

Jesi decided she wouldn’t say anything about seeing the woman’s tears because anything out of the norm usually stressed Nicole. With the hangover, Jesi knew everything needed to stay calm.

As Jesi stood drinking her coffee and watching the woman in the yard, the house filled with the aroma of bacon and eggs. Come on, Nicole yelled from the kitchen, breakfast is ready. Let’s eat on the back deck. I don’t want to see what’s going on in the front yard.

Jesi wiped away a tear as she turned from watching the woman. She didn’t understand why she was filled with such sadness at the sight of the woman’s tears.

Their 1940s home was nothing like the architect had intended. After Nicole and Jesi purchased the home, their friend Rachael designed and renovated the interior in a style that was more like an open loft than a single-family home. Walls that had once separated the entry, dining room, and kitchen were gone. Instead, the open floor plan created a view from the front door that extended through the dining room and kitchen to overlook the formally manicured backyard.

Last night’s storm had pushed the chairs on the back deck aside and left a thin sheet of water on the marble table. After Nicole wiped the water away, Jesi slid the tan wicker chairs in place and covered them with large beach towels. Just as they were finishing breakfast, Jesi’s cell phone rang. I have to get that, she said. It’s Rachael. We’re going to play racquetball later.

As Jesi ran to the kitchen to grab the phone, she glanced out the front window again. The woman was still there, pulling weeds.

Without looking to see who was calling, she said, Hey, Rachael.

But the voice on the other end was not Rachael and its tone was harsh.

Jesi, did you know there is a woman in your front yard? It was George, their neighbor, who had moved onto the street just before they did.

Jesi rolled her eyes and mouthed to Nicole, It’s fucking George. In an equally harsh monotone, Jesi replied, Yes, George, I do know there’s a woman in our yard. Jesi watched Nicole’s face frown as her conversation with George continued. She couldn’t help but think that the tension would be worsening Nicole’s hangover. Nicole motioned to Jesi to hang up the phone. Instead of hanging up, Jesi decided to challenge him. So, what about it, George?

George’s voice was sarcastic and pushy. She looks like a bag lady, and our neighborhood does not—

Listen George, New Orleans has a pie lady, a bead lady, and a duck lady. Us here in Atlanta, we have a weed lady. And there is no rule that says we can’t have a weed lady. Jesi noticed she’d raised her voice and had a sharp tone. She wished George a good day and hung up.

When she turned to Nicole, the frown had faded. Nicole had transformed to a full-on belly laugh. We have a weed lady, and George hates it?

Still wound up, Jesi ignored the laughter. She found no humor in the circumstance. Will you make the weed lady a plate of food? Jesi saw that Nicole was going to object so she put on the charm. Please, please, please. It’ll really make George mad, and you know how happy that will make me.

Jesi knew if she pleaded, Nicole would not be able to resist her. So, it was not a surprise when Nicole shook her head and smiled as she squeaked out a muffled word of agreement and headed toward the kitchen. Jesi picked up the dishes and followed behind her.

She’s gone, Nicole said, nodding toward the window. The sun was really beating down now. Our weed lady’s gone.

Jesi carefully placed the dirty dishes on the white marble counter and rushed to the living room window. No weed lady. She opened the front door and stepped onto the front porch into a puddle of water. The splash soaked the hem of her sweatpants. The weed lady was nowhere, vanished. Fuck. I bet George did that. I’m calling him. He had no right.

Just as Jesi picked up her phone it rang. Without looking to see who was calling, she yelled, Damnit George, did you tell our weed lady to leave?

From the phone came a loud, high-pitched laughter. Rachael. What has George done now? Rachael’s laughter was loud enough to put a wide smile on Nicole’s face. Jesi, on the other hand, was still not seeing even an ounce of humor in the situation.

George called and put his nose in our business again, Jesi said. It’s none of his fucking business if we have a weed lady. Jesi’s seriousness was apparently too much for Nicole or Rachael, neither of whom could hold back laughter. When their laughter wouldn’t stop, Jesi lightened up and joined in.

Jesi, I’m coming over, Rachael yelled through the phone. Make sure y’all are dressed.

In a few short minutes, Rachael ran through the gate that separated their backyards and walked through the open back door. What the hell, Jesi? Did you say you have a weed lady? Like a reefer lady?

Jesi grinned at the sight of Rachael wearing bright yellow clogs and a short white robe that failed to cover her tattoos. Rachael held a tall, lime green coffee mug.

Nicole pushed her fluffy red hair back from her face. She said a weed lady, like pulling weeds.

After Jesi and Nicole gave a full account, Rachael placed her coffee cup on the counter and headed toward the front door. Come on y’all, show me where she was pulling weeds.

Jesi rushed ahead of Rachael to the door. I’ll show you.

The three of them stood side-by-side, observing about one hundred square feet of grass that clearly had no weeds. Nicole and Jesi were in their pajamas, and Rachael only wore her white robe. A sarcastic voice carried from across the street. So, your weed lady didn’t stay long. George, with his brindle-colored cairn terrier mix, Zippy.

Before Jesi could launch a verbal assault on George, she felt Nicole’s arms wrap around her, with obvious intentional restraint. Jesi watched the wide-eyed exchange of looks between Nicole and Rachael as if they were conspiring against her. Rachael turned to George. Hey George, she said. The weed lady’s at my house now. We share her. I could ask if she’d work for you. Rachael wrinkled her nose as she looked back across the street at George’s yard. But I’m pretty sure her schedule is full.

George huffed as he pulled on the rhinestone-studded pink leash and continued down the hill. As soon as he was out of earshot, Jesi leaned into Rachael. Oh, that was good. I think it really pissed him off.

Nicole focused them back on the yard. She did a good job. I guess it didn’t hurt anything.

What did she look like? Rachael asked.

Jesi’s blood was still boiling as she motioned them back into the house. George and Zippy were walking back up the hill. The sky was turning dark with rain clouds. Jesi still felt confused by her tears at seeing the pain in their new weed lady’s face. She decided she would keep that part of it a secret. The deep sadness she had felt as she had watched the weed lady was strangely familiar.

We couldn’t see her face, Jesi whispered. She had on a raincoat and apron. She filled up her pockets with weeds. I think she should’ve thrown them in George’s yard.

All three women tucked their heads down, trying to hide their laughter.

As Nicole closed the front door, Jesi hid behind the living room drapes and peeked outside to see George standing over the newly weeded patch of grass. She couldn’t help but think that she had just scored a victory over George and wondered if they would ever see the weed lady again. She hoped so.

Suddenly, she became aware that Nicole and Rachael were watching her. Rachael broke the silence. Hey, let’s all get together this evening for meditation, Rachael said. I think we could all use it.

Nicole agreed. Sounds good, but no bourbon.

With her gaze frozen on the front window, Jesi responded quietly. I’m in. But she thought, who is that woman, and why is she so sad? Why was she in our yard? I should have followed her. It had started to sprinkle.

When Jesi turned from the window, she saw Rachael winking at Nicole as she walked toward the back door to go home. Great, I’ll bring wine instead of bourbon, Rachael said.

A second later, Rachael rushed back to call into the house. Jesi, I’ll pick you up in an hour. Get ready to lose at racquetball. And I want my house shoes back.

Jesi grinned as she looked down at her feet, which were covered in pink feathers. She was glad Rachael had no line of sight to her feet. Rachael had walked home barefoot and intoxicated the night before, leaving her house shoes. Jesi had slipped them on to see if they fit just before she saw the weed lady in the front yard. Jesi yelled out the back to Rachael, You get ready to lose! And I’ll return your house shoes… when I find them.

Chapter 2

Other than the gate opening, Rachael’s backyard was completely private. Evergreen trees and bushes filled the area next to the fence that separated her yard from her neighbor’s. A top-of-the-line security system had been installed when she and Jake, her then-husband, moved in a few years earlier. The system included sensors surrounding her backyard. As a rock star, Jake’s inflated sense of importance meant that he was certain people would try to get to him by jumping the fence. Rachael had never had the heart to tell Jake that no one ever tried to jump the fence to see him. Yet now that they were divorced, the sense of security was a helpful part of Rachael’s getting used to living alone. Knowing that the security system would alert her in the event of an intruder, she felt more comfortable spending time in the pool and the garden. She felt much more secure in the months when it was warm enough to be outside without wearing clothing—the beauty of complete privacy.

When evening fell, Rachael gathered three bottles of wine and a smudge stick made of violet and sage. She walked to the back of her yard, past the pool and cabana to Jesi and Nicole’s. The pathway through the gate that separated their yards was lined with rosemary and basil. A bronze plaque read, Aunt Mary Opal’s Garden… just our little secret. Rachael hesitated, staring at the plaque and the garden that surrounded it.

At the threshold of Jesi and Nicole’s back door, Rachael didn’t bother knocking. I’m here, she called out as she walked into the kitchen. Three wine glasses were set out on the bar along with a bowl of jalapeño cheese straws and a batch of homemade pimento cheese and crackers. Both had been Aunt Mary Opal’s signature appetizers and had become the usual snack for their evenings of meditation, as well as drinking. Rachael poured a French red wine into each of the three glasses as she scarfed down a huge bite of the pimento cheese. Just as Nicole came down the stairs, the heat from the pepper took Rachael’s breath away. What the hell y’all? Did you use serrano instead of jalapeño?

I know, Nicole said, squeamishly giggling, I put my finger in my eye after I cut it and thought it was going to send me to the hospital. Despite the heat, Nicole dipped a cracker into the cheese and cringed as she bit down. When she did, her face turned almost as red as her hair.

Jesi entered the room wearing a long red cape, jogging with her hands above her head. She was singing out the victory tune to the movie Rocky. Jesi knew it would get an emotional response from Rachael. As she ran through the dining room, she heard Rachael’s voice, Oh no, you did not beat me that bad.

Jesi responded with her usual confidence. Oh yes I did. A win is a win. And just for that, I get to choose the subject for meditation tonight. Jesi reveled in the look of shock and disbelief on Rachael’s face. Then she took one final victory lap through the dining room, kitchen and back into the living room. Only then did Jesi remove the red cape and drape it over the sofa.

Okay, you Sicilian Stallone, what’s tonight’s meditation subject? Rachael said.

The gateleg dining room table had been moved to the side and was covered in white candles, leaving the large round rug open for head-to-head meditation. Nicole lit the candles and Rachael pulled out the smudge stick, lighting it just long enough to assure that the smoke would stream upward. As Jesi described her subject for meditation, Rachael moved around the house spreading the smoke as a way to clear out any negative energy. Jesi watched as Rachael sent negative spirits away and called in spirits for the future. She listened as Rachael repeated the words, love, joy, prosperity, health. The smoke wasn’t enough for the smoke alarm to be tripped but Nicole fanned the smoke away when it was close to the alarm.

So, here’s the deal. I know George pisses me off and y’all probably get tired of me ranting about it, Jesi began.

At that, Nicole sarcastically responded, Ya think?

Okay, okay, Jesi held both hands out as if to calm down the sarcasm. I just feel like something happened this morning. Like some kind of energy. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like our weed lady is supposed to be something important.

Jesi was keenly aware of the tension rising in Nicole as well as in Rachael. After a brief moment of silence, Jesi continued. You both know what I’m talking about. You felt it too, so don’t act like you didn’t. Jesi motioned toward the candles and the sage. Nicole, when is the last time you lit candles, and Rachael, when is the last time you burned sage for our head-to-head? A long time ago. Jesi knew she was right but still stayed silent, waiting on Nicole or Rachael to say something.

Nicole spoke first. Yeah, but what do you think it is? I felt like we had been dropped into the crazies or something. And I don’t need anyone’s drama in my life right now, not even George’s. Nicole shook her head, then rolled her eyes.

Rachael shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. It felt a little like Aunt Mary Opal was pulling some kind of stunt. I kind of liked it.

Exactly, Jesi enthusiastically confirmed. I felt like maybe she’s trying to tell us something. So that brings us to tonight’s subject. Jesi jumped up from the floor and ran past the living room to her office and returned with her arms full, bearing a Ouija Board, another wine glass and a white wig that looked just like Aunt Mary Opal’s hair after she had it backcombed.

Two gasps filled the silent room followed by loud laughter from Rachael and Nicole. Surprised at the response, Jesi yelled out as the laughter increased, Fuck y’all. I’m being serious here.

Nicole held her hand up