the girl was a year or two younger.
Word had gotten to Calista that Rod had been seen with this girl, and Calista followed them, and sure enough, he was meeting her behind the post office, a popular spot for lovers. Then a few years later, Calista was away at college in Mississippi, and her sister told her Rodney was hanging out with Babette French, Lola’s sister.
Rubbing her forehead, that should have been the end because Rodney said he was in love with Babette. But she didn’t want a fisherman. Her father was a fisherman, and she was done with that life.
Babette eventually married an older, wealthy man from Shreveport and lived in Cypress Cove in a beautiful home with two grown children. Babette was among Lola’s biggest critics.
Evidently, Rodney went from Babette to Lola a few years after Alphé had married her. Lola was pregnant with fourteen-year-old Angela at that time. Pris was now ten. Calista did the math.
Maybe she needed to talk to Alphé. He was always the levelheaded one of the family. But she’d wait until Sunday. Chances were he hadn’t seen his mail yet.
At eleven that night, the fireworks display began, but Maggie and Justin were eager to get home, the fireworks not reason to stay there another minute. With Justin safely buckled in the passenger seat of his truck, Maggie began the trek down the sandy trail to Bayou Cottage. His head lolled back against the headrest, but he had a smile on his face, self-satisfied after a night of pure fun with the woman he loved. When she asked for the truck keys, he didn’t argue with her, handing them over gladly.
“I would be happy to stay longer,” she said.
“Naw, we have doggo to get home to. She’s probably thinking we abandoned her.”
“Ha! Poor Brulee. I’ll take her with me to the rescue to toilet everyone. Kelly and Ted were going to go at eight to let them out, but I’m sure they’d like to go again.”
“Did you have fun tonight?” Justin asked, his eyes closed.
“I had a ball,” she said. “I can’t wait for Fat Tuesday now.”
“Me too,” he said, reaching for her hand.
“I’d better keep both hands on the wheel,” she said.
“Pull over so I can make love to you,” he groaned.
“We’re almost home. I’ll ravage you if you can wait,” she replied.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
By the time they got to the gate, he had passed out, so she got out and unlocked it, pushing it open. She drove through and got out, closing and locking it again, the worry that it would be the one time she didn’t make the effort that they’d have trouble. When she pulled up to the cottage, Justin was snoring, so she left him, climbed out of the truck again, and went to let Brulee out to pee.
“Come on, girl, I’m sorry you’ve been alone all night. Let’s go to the rescue.”
She slipped off her heels and slid her stockinged feet into her wellingtons. After leashing up Brulee, she grabbed a flashlight and hiked to the rescue. But the lights were on, and Kelly’s van was there. The dogs were in the yard, toileting.
“Girl, you should have stayed to party,” Maggie said. “I’m sorry I didn’t say something to you earlier. I know you were here at eight.”
“It’s fine, Mags, we’ll take the back roads home and be there in a jiffy.”
“Where’s Ted?” she asked, looking around.
“He’s sleeping in the van, passed out cold,” she said. “Where’s Justin?”
“Sleeping in his truck,” she answered, snickering.
After helping Kelly get the dogs back inside, Maggie said goodnight. “I’ll come over in the morning so you don’t have to rush back.”
“Thank you. I’ll be here at ten at the latest, then.”
Hiking back to the cottage, Maggie looked out over the cove with the moon shining upon it, a lone boat anchored out on the still water, either fishing or watching the fireworks. Movement on the porch caught her eye, and she saw Justin waiting for her.
“Sorry about that. You shouldn’t walk there alone.”
“It’s fine. I had Brulee. Kelly was there anyway, with Ted sleeping in the back of the van.”
He met her at the steps. “Were you serious about letting me make love to you?”
“Justin, of course.”
She took his hand and let him guide her into the cottage, watching as he locked the door while she took Brulee’s harness off. He pushed her ahead on the stairs.
“I want to see your ass move in the dress,” he said, and she exaggerated a little bump