“It don’t take much in the way of detective work to see what kind of tree you fell out of,” Tucker answered.
“Okay, boys”—Belinda raised her voice a little—“you can have a pissin’ contest if you want, but not in my office. You’re here to sign papers, transfer deeds and money, and then leave. After that, if you want to bloody the streets with your fightin’, then that’s your business.”
Reuben set his jaw, finished signing the papers, and shoved them across the desk to Belinda.
“Tucker, you sign where the red tabs are located while I tally up my commission so Reuben can write me a check,” she said.
Tucker hoped that she tacked on a few extra dollars for stupidity. He signed all the places and then handed her the check he’d brought—already filled out with the amount they had agreed on. He stood up and settled his cowboy hat on his head. “Am I done?”
“Yes, you are. I’ll take it all to the courthouse and file it for you. You can pick up copies of everything next week,” she answered.
Tucker turned toward Reuben. “I want to thank you for selling me your half of the Magnolia Inn. Jolene and I intend to make a booming business out of it, and I’m glad to be half owner. Maybe someday you’ll book a room with us for a weekend so you can see what you missed out on.” He flashed his brightest fake smile.
“Don’t hold your breath. I hate that place. Always did and always will. The only good thing is now I’ve got payment for all those miserable weeks my mother made me spend in that mosquito-infested swamp,” Reuben said.
“To each his own.” Tucker tipped his hat at Belinda. “Be seein’ you around.” Then he looked down at Reuben, who was still seated. “But the truth is, I imagine Jolene will be glad not to see you around, after the way you treated her when she was a child.”
“That was rude,” Reuben muttered as Tucker left the room.
Tucker chuckled and kept going.
Jolene poked her head in the door of the Tipsy Gator. “You busy?”
Dotty looked up and waved from behind the cash register. “Not as much as I will be tonight. What brings you out today?”
“Tucker’s signing the papers, and I’m not even ready to see Reuben walk down the sidewalk. So, with a free half an hour, I thought I’d check in to see if you’ve got the tax forms ready for me to sign,” she said.
Dotty pulled a couple of sheets from under the bar. “Got them right here. Take about two minutes to fill out, and then we’re good to go. We’ll be busy tonight. You know, if I’d had a dozen girls with your looks and pretty eyes, I could’ve gone into the escort business and retired ten years ago.”
Jolene cracked up. “Yeah, right. Aunt Sugar would have sent you away to a convent if you’d even let the idea float through your mind.”
“Ain’t it the truth? I’m glad you’re goin’ to help me tonight so I don’t have to wear my little short legs out runnin’ up and down this bar,” Dotty laughed with her.
“So we’re going to be really busy, huh?” Jolene filled out the papers and gave them back.
“Oh, honey.” Dotty smiled. “To start with it’s the first weekend of the month. And then folks have had all the family stuff they can stand from the holidays. Everyone is ready to get out and kick up their heels a little. I don’t mind busy. I just hope we have happy drunks and not mean ones.”
“The happy ones tip better, so I’m with you. I should be going. Just wanted to stop by and check in with you,” Jolene said.
“So how’s the work coming along out at the inn?” Dotty asked before Jolene could slide off the barstool.
“Great, but it looks like crap. We’ve got the furniture stacked up in the hallway. The carpet is torn out, and we’re going to the lumberyard in a little while to get stuff to start building walls for a bathroom and closet.” Jolene started toward the door. “You should come out and see it before and after.”
“I’ll be there Sunday, remember.” Dotty put the paperwork away and hopped up to sit on the counter. “You are welcome here at the Gator anytime. You don’t have to wait until the nights that you’re scheduled to work to stop by here. It gets kind of lonely sometimes