Shelton Family Saga

Chapter 17

Nicholas Andros, Esq
March 1975

"How can I help you," the pudgy red headed woman sitting behind the desk at the front entrance politely asked as she tried to hurry and inconspicuously close the desk drawer that held the chocolate candy bar she'd been nibbling on.

"I'm here to see Mr. Andros ."

"Is he expecting you?"

"No, but I'm quite sure that he would be willing to see me."

"He doesn't see people without an appointment."

"Oh, just tell him that Mrs. Hoochie is here to see him."

"Mrs. Hoochie?" the receptionist asked with a noticeably puzzled look on her face.

"Yes, that is correct. And, make sure you get it right," Averie snapped. "That's Mrs. Hoochie," she repeated.

The receptionist pushed a button on the phone and buzzed another line. A man's voice answered and she picked up the receiver, taking it off speakerphone. "Mr. Andros there's a lady here to see you." There was a pause. "No sir, she doesn't have an appointment." Another pause. "Yes sir, I tried telling her that, but she said to let you know her names...." the receptionist stuttered, "um, Mrs....er Mrs. Hoochie." This time there was no pause. "Yes sir, I'll send her right back." Once inside his office, Averie plopped herself down in the most comfortable looking chair she saw without waiting to be offered a seat. She looked the man behind the desk dead in his eyes with the smuggest look on her face as she callously spoke, "You know I know, don't you?"

Nicholas hadn't grown up knowing the woman that was sitting in his office, but he had been forewarned of her existence, as well as her position. Without hesitation he fired back, "And what is it that you THINK you know?"

"Don't fucking jive me Noochie," she jeered back abrasively  as if she had been knowing him all her life. "I know you did some shit for Hoochie involving my baby" she continued.

Calmly Nicholas replied, "I really don't know what you mean."

"Okay," Averie said flatly, "let me spell it out for you. Either you spill the real deal to me about the little shit ugly baby being passed off as mine, or I will have your ass disbarred for fraud. You DO remember 1963 when you had your daddy give Hoochie a get out of jail free card, don't you? When you had daddy dearest impersonate a legal official back when Hoochie and Hollywood went to jail, right?"

"Actually I don't recall...."

"STOP IT NOOCHIE! STOP IT RIGHT FUCKING NOW! Just tell me the truth damnit." She began to dab at her eyes to wipe away the fake tears that were pretty much nonexistent. "It's bad enough, Hoochie and I aren't together anymore, but my new husband really doesn't like for anyone to get me upset."Averie couldn't wait to play this card. It was her Ace in the hole. She knew of the prior history involving Hoochie and Noochie during their teenage years. She continued the little game with, "He has a very short fuse and YOU...CAN'T...PLAY...WITH...HIM."

"Well if you're not with Hoochie anymore, I do believe our time here is up," he nonchalantly blew her off, wishing she would leave.

"Okay, have it your way Noochie. I'll let you explain it to my new husband for yourself."

"Not that it matters, but who is your new husband," Nicholas sighed.

Averie grabbed her purse and stood up. With an even bigger smirk she let her eyes roam over him until they met his impatient stare before jovially belting out, "Big Star" and gallantly turned to leave.

"WAIT!" Nicholas pleaded. "Just hold on a minute. I thought he was in prison? For a very long time?"

"He was."

"Have a seat, Averie. I'll tell you everything you want to know, but you have got to promise me you'll never mention my name again."

"Cross my heart," Averie said licking her lips with the most devilish grin on her face.

Noochie proceeded to give her the details of how he and Hoochie doctored the birth certificate and where the baby really came from. He told her how he'd been fresh out of law school in 1972 when Hoochie came to him calling in his favor from all those years he had protected Noochie from getting his ass kicked. He told her how in the Summer of 1973, he drew up the paperwork to change the date on the birth certificate; and that the baby really  is Hoochie's baby. She's the baby he had with Big Star's cousin that Hoochie didn't want her to know about. Clutching the strand of faux pearls that drooped from around her neck, Averie was totally flabbergasted by Noochie's confession. But, what he didn't share with her was the most pertinent thing his childhood friend had taught him back in 1962. That thing Hoochie taught him at fifteen years old was the hand is quicker than the eye; and, as fast as you can slip a lick to cover your hit, the eye is slow as the lie to conceal the bribe. Unfortunately, Averie wasn't aware of that thing and armed with her newfound information regarding a stolen baby and doctored birth certificate, she bitterly left Noochie's office never to return.