Bayou Christmas (Cypress Cove #2) - Suzanne Jenkins Page 0,55
Danny off at school. Be right over.
When they’d heard about the accident, everything that they’d been obsessing about in their personal lives—lost jobs, crazy boyfriends, unfortunate baby daddies—faded into the background. Now there was one focus and that was on Maggie.
On her way up to Annie’s apartment, Kelly stopped in at the hardware store first in case Steve had heard from Justin. Her father, Alfonso, was recording figures into a ledger when she walked in.
“Did you hear from Justin? Or did Val or anyone hear anything? I’m going nuts.”
“You just missed Gus. He came in to tell us that Maggie is going bonkers already, worrying about the rescue. Steve is going to pick up Val Amotte right now, and they’ll be on-site when the trailer is delivered today. I bet that’s what she was worried about.”
“Should I go over?” Kelly asked.
“Honey, I was just going to ask if you and Annie can watch the store while I go. I should at least be there when they load the trailers.”
“I can, sure, Dad. I’ll run up and get Annie right now. I was going for coffee anyway.”
Annie was thrilled at the chance to be productive. They entered the store together, and Alfonso left for the property.
“This is my worst nightmare,” Kelly said. “I mean besides the fact that someone I care about was almost killed, if I had to start from square one with the rescue. Maggie even said it was like it was too good to be true.”
“Did she really? I’m telling you, that girl is a witch.”
“Will you help me set up the trailer once it’s in place? She wants the lounge area a certain way, but we still need pens and cordoned-off areas. The animals can’t be loose all the time, as nice as it sounds. It would be chaos.”
“Of course I’ll help you.”
“Knock, knock.”
They looked up to see Amber Greely with Brulee on a leash. The women ran over to the dog and made over her, getting a little weepy that she’d almost lost her mother.
“I feel the same way,” Amber said. “I was going to knock on Annie’s door, and then I saw you two in here. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” Kelly said. “We’re holding down the fort so my dad can supervise the trailer move today. Everything is falling into place for the rescue. Justin called Gus and told him Maggie wants to keep moving forward. She’s not about to let a little boat accident ruin her plans.”
Amber’s phone beeped. “It’s Dave,” she said, smiling. She walked out onto the sidewalk to take the call, and they heard her concerned conversation and then a little laugh.
“Dave?” Kelly asked.
“You know, Dave Chastain?”
“Oh shit!” Kelly hissed. “Dave! And Amber! How the hell could I forget?”
“Here she comes.”
“Anyway, I just wanted to offer my help at the rescue. Dr. LeBlanc is helping Doc Chastain at the clinic this week while Justin stays in New Orleans with Maggie, so I’d just get in the way. I’ll be at LeBlanc’s, mucking out stalls and cleaning cages. And please take my cell number. I’m serious, I really want to help.”
“I didn’t know Ted was helping out at Chastain’s,” Kelly snapped, frowning. “I live with the guy. You’d think he would have told me.”
“Oh, no, no, no, no, it just came up. Everything has happened in the past hour.”
“Thank you, Amber. I was wondering what the hell was going on.”
“Everything that has happened in the last week is showing me that I’m not as rigid as I’ve thought myself to be,” Amber said. “We all just have to roll with the punches.”
“It’s the only way,” Annie said, watching Amber bend over to kiss Brulee on the head.
Was this the same Amber who, on horseback, spied on Justin and Maggie having sex on the dock the first night they were together? Or the Amber who broke into Bayou Cottage right after Maggie had moved in, ransacking the place, stealing Maggie’s electronics? She’d apologized, but it appeared she found another way to make amends. Emotions increasing, Annie knew it was just being pregnant and all the stress of the last twenty-four hours that made her want to kiss Amber. She held back from doing anything she might regret later.
It was time for Amber to get over to the LeBlanc Clinic, so she said goodbye and walked out the door with Brulee.
“Now there are some strange bedfellows,” Annie said, a little jealous. “I wonder how she came to have Brulee.”
“Maybe Justin asked