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 during the days. That’s why I spend time at the antique shops with Flossie and Lucy pretty often. If I’m not here, you can find me there.”
“Thank you, and the same goes for you coming out to the inn. See you later.” Jolene waved over her shoulder as she left.
She got into her truck and listened to the local country music station as she drove to town. She kept the engine running when she parked in front of the lawyer’s office. Expecting Tucker to slide into the passenger seat, she was surprised to see Flossie.
Jolene turned the radio off. “Well, good mornin’.”
“Tucker is in there right now finalizin’ the deal,” Flossie said. “I been watchin’ from the window of my shop. Reuben got here first. I thought you might wait in the shop. Where’d you go?”
“Down to fill out tax papers and talk to Dotty about bar stuff. Tonight is my first night. I don’t expect it’ll be much different than the Twisted Rope,” Jolene answered.
“I owe you an apology,” Flossie said.
“About what?”
“I should’ve bought half of the Magnolia Inn. I put in a bid, but I was too late. Belinda had already given Tucker twenty-four hours to make up his mind. I should’ve upped his bid by a few thousand. If I hadn’t been so stubborn, we could be partners and my money would be invested in something pretty nice,” Flossie sighed.
Jolene was pretty sure that if Flossie had purchased half the property, she’d still be working with Tucker, since he was the best carpenter in the area, so there didn’t seem to be much difference in the situation.
Flossie went on, “I never did like Reuben. He was rude to Sugar more times than I can count on my fingers and toes. And then for him to sell out as soon as the papers were signed last week made me furious. Not that I wanted you to have to deal with him every day. Hell, no! But I didn’t want him to make a penny more on the sale than Tucker offered.”
Jolene reached across the console and patted Flossie on the shoulder. “No hard feelin’s here. Who would you have hired to do the remodeling?”
“Tucker, if I could get him. He’s the best,” Flossie answered.
“So I’d still deal with him every day. It is what it is, Flossie. Don’t punish yourself.” Jolene smiled.
Flossie laid a hand on Jolene’s arm and squeezed it gently. “You’re so much like Sugar that you should’ve been her daughter instead of her niece. Got to go now. There’s a customer goin’ into the store, and I’m runnin’ it alone today.”
“Why?” Jolene asked.
“Janie, my part-time help, has that stomach bug that’s goin’ around. She’ll be back tomorrow,” Flossie replied as she got out of the truck.
Tucker was behind her before Flossie could slam the door. “It’s not often that a pretty lady opens the door for a ragged old cowboy like me, so I thank you for making my day.”
Flossie flashed a bright smile toward him. “You are definitely a charmer. Jolene would do well to keep a close eye on you. We’ll be out to check on things Sunday afternoon. We’ll bring dinner for everyone with us and be there after church.”
“Thank you. We’ll look forward to it,” Jolene said.
Flossie darted across the street.
Tucker crawled into the passenger seat and fastened his seat belt. “I guess that means I have to get over my hangover by noon on Sunday?”
“Yes, it does. And . . . like I said before, I won’t abide drunks.”
“Reason?” he asked.
“Mother and boyfriend, and we’ll leave it at that,” she said.
“I’ve never asked for help with my problem, and it won’t affect you.”
“See that it doesn’t,” she said.
She wanted to know what had happened in Dixie Realty, but after that little exchange, she kept her mouth shut.
The detective in Tucker wanted to ask more questions about her life with an addicted mother, but if she wanted to talk about her past, she would. He’d listen when and if she ever did. If not, then that was her business—just like drinking was his. Saturday night had been his and Melanie’s date night, and he’d always worked at making it special. He still had all the memories of those wonderful dates. She deserved that much and more for putting up with him and his demanding job. Drinking didn’t always erase the memories, but it did soften the edges and the pain of her being gone.
“Did you have a long wait?” he asked when the silence became uncomfortable.
“What?” She frowned.
“At the lawyer’s office. You said you had an errand to run. I’m asking if you had a long wait for me to finish up.”
She shook her head. “Sorry. My mind was miles away. No, I was only there a couple of minutes, and Flossie kept me company.”
“You don’t have to go with me. Drop me off at the inn and I’ll go on in my truck.” After seeing Reuben, he wanted to wrap Jolene up in his
arms and tell her that he’d protect her.
Are you stupid? Jolene has been taking care of herself for years. She doesn’t need your protection. She needs your support and friendship. Melanie’s voice was loud and clear in his head.
“Partnership,” he muttered.
“What was that?” Jolene asked.
“Nothing. I was just thinking of my first partner,” he answered.
“Are you ashamed to be seen with a woman driving you?” she asked.
“It makes me uncomfortable,” he admitted. “My first partner on the force drove me crazy. She wouldn’t use the cruise control and she talked nonstop, using her hands to tell a story—both of them, most of the time, and driving with her knee. My next partner and I made a deal—if he’d let me drive, I’d pay for our first cup of coffee every morning. I’d as soon be behind the wheel as sitting in the passenger seat.”
She pulled off on the side of the road. “Then you drive.”
“Are you serious?”
“We’re partners, aren’t we? So you’re afraid of spiders, and you like to drive. I hate mice with a passion, a rat will send me into cardiac arrest, and I enjoy sitting in the passenger seat. It’s no big deal. Partners take care of each other,” she said.
“Sounds good to me.” Tucker got out and walked around the truck and let Jolene slide over. He adjusted the seat and pulled out onto the highway. “And I got to tell you, I got the same feeling about Reuben that you did. He was so nervous, I thought he might pass out right there. I bet he was bullied, and he did those mean things to you so he’d have some power and feel less insecure. I kind of felt sorry for him until he badmouthed you and your mother.”
Jolene nodded. “He sure knows how to ruin any sympathy, doesn’t he?”
“Oh, yeah.” Tucker pulled into the last remaining parking spot in front of the lumberyard. He would have been a gentleman and opened the door for Jolene, but she was halfway to the building before he could undo his seat belt. When he made it inside, she was nowhere to be seen.
“That cute little blonde that just asked about the bathroom fixtures with you?” Billy Joe asked. The salesman pointed toward the back of the store.
“Yep, that’s her.” Tucker nodded. “I’ve got a big list. Think y’all could make a delivery to Jefferson today? Actually, it’s pretty close to the county line, not in town.”
“Sure thing. We’ve been slow all week. What are you doin’?”
“Remodeling the old Magnolia Inn. I bought half interest,” Tucker answered.
He’d thought that he’d feel something like happiness or maybe even elation when he was the owner, but it was just another day. He wondered, as he handed the long list off to Billy Joe, what kind of emotions Jolene had that moment. Now they were bound up in this partnership until one of them got tired of it. Was she happy to have the money to bring the inn into the modern world and keep its charm at the same time? She could have said something—anything—but she hadn’t.
“Hey, what do I need to do now?” she asked as she walked up behind him.
“Go look at all the bathtubs and shower units.” His hand brushed against her shoulder when he pointed, and there was definitely a spark. Not a big, overpowering one, but it was there and it worried him. “Basically, that’s all we have to pick out today. The rest of the list is already in Billy Joe’s hands.”
“Who?”
“He works here. I do a lot of business with all of the employees,” he answered.
When they reached the display, she stopped and crossed her arms over her chest. “There’s not a lot of difference, is there? This one is the cheapest.”
“And there’s a reason it’s the least expensive. We’d be replacing it in a year if we have a lot of guests. They’re lined up by price. Keep going all the way to the end and feel the difference with your hands. Check the thickness of the wallboard and, more importantly, check the warranty. Think about how often you want to tear out walls and replace the unit,” he said.
Buying fixtures is like getting into a relationship. Melanie’s voice popped into his head. You need to be sure that the one you get has a fifty-year warranty and won’t fall apart with use.
We had that kind of relationship, darlin’. He stood perfectly still, hoping that she’d say something else, but she didn’t.
“This is going to involve a lot of plumbing,” Jolene said.
“Before we get done, we’ll probably have the whole house refitted. And maybe most of the electrical wiring redone.” He was a little aggravated that Jolene had broken the magic by speaking. It might be weeks before Melanie said anything else. And what did she mean by that comment about relationships? What they’d had couldn’t be compared to bathtubs and showers—not by any stretch of the word.
What we had, with “had” being the key here. There was her voice again. I keep telling you to let me go and move on, Tucker.
“I can’t,” he said out loud.
“Can’t what?” Jolene frowned. “Who are you arguing with?”
“Myself, I guess,” he muttered and quickly changed the subject. “Move on to the last one in the line. That’s the one I’d pick. It’s got a lifetime warranty and . . .”
She laid a hand on his arm. “Okay, partner, if you’re sure.”
“I’m not real fond of redoing bathrooms. Putting in a new one isn’t so tough, but trying to redo one in such a tiny space is a bitch.”
“Well . . .” She dragged out the word. “Then you can pick out this stuff and I’ll work on the antiques and pretty things.”
“I can agree with that, but I would like to see what you pick out before you buy it,” he said. “It’s not that I don’t trust you to choose gorgeous things, but I want to be sure the pieces will fit where we want to use them.”
“Deal.” She stuck out her hand.
There was another bit of chemistry when he took her small hand into his, and he didn’t like it one bit. He couldn’t be unfaithful to Melanie again—he’d felt guilty as hell the few times he’d had one-night stands in the past couple of years. They hadn’t done a damn thing to ease the pain, anyway. He certainly hadn’t felt anything for those women. So why was he feeling sparks now?
Chapter Seven
Give a bunch of stir-crazy folks some loud country music, a few beers, a pool table, and maybe let them do some two-stepping or line dancing, and they’re happy. By the looks of the parking lot that Friday night, there was going to be a full house at the Gator.
When Jolene rapped on the door, Dotty opened it immediately. “I thought you might be here soon. We’ve got a few minutes until opening. Want a root beer while we wait?”
“Yes, ma’am, with a shot of vanilla. But why wait?” Jolene tied an apron around her slim waist and tucked a towel in her hip pocket. “I’ll get it. Since there’ll be two of us tonight, which end do you want me to work?”
“I can see you’ve worked with more than one bartender.” Dotty twisted the cap from a bottle of icy-cold root beer and gave it a shot of vanilla.
“You haven’t?” Jolene took a long gulp.
“Couple of times, but it never worked out. We got in each other’s way too much. I’ve held down the place with only my ever-changing bouncers since my Bruce died.”
Jolene hopped up on a barstool beside Dotty. “We split the bar down the middle. I’ll take one end, and we stay out of the other’s way, unless one of us gets a rush and the other one hasn’t got a customer. That way we don’t get confused about who we’ve served. Do you run tickets or is it cash when ordered?”
“Cash,” Dotty said.
“How do we do the register?” Jolene asked. “I used a code at the Twisted Rope. The journey tape let the owner know at the end of the night how many drinks were served and how much tip money belonged to each of us.”
“Well, in this establishment I’m going to trust you, chère. We sell. We get paid. We put it in the register and make change if we need to. Tips go in our pocket and we don’t take time to count the
m until the night is done,” Dotty told her.
“That’s a lot of trust. I could rob you blind,” Jolene said.
“But you won’t or I’ll tattle to your aunt Sugar.” Dotty smiled.
“You are a tough one, Miz Dotty.”
“Had to be with this job. I’m going to open the door now. You get the far end, and I’ll work this one. Get ready for the first rush.”
“Thank you.” Jolene hugged Dotty. “For not letting Flossie and Lucy talk you into firin’ me.”
“Us Cajuns got to stick together.” Dotty hopped down off the counter and crossed the wood floor.
She was right about the first rush. Thank goodness most everyone started off the night with bottles of beer or pitchers. A half an hour had gone by before someone even asked for a Jack and Coke. It was after that when Flossie perched on a barstool on Jolene’s end of the bar and asked for a strawberry daiquiri.
“What in the devil are you doin’ here? After the fit you and Lucy threw about me working here, I’m surprised that you even set foot in the Gator.” Jolene made the drink and put it on the bar.
Flossie handed her a bill. “Havin’ a daiquiri. Listenin’ to a little music and . . .” She leaned across the bar and crooked her finger for Jolene to come closer. “Makin’ sure that Lucy ain’t here. Some old gray-haired guy came today and flirted with her. Said he was comin’ to the bar to do a little dancin’ tonight.”
“And if she is? Isn’t that her business?” Dotty joined them from the other end.
“Hell, no! It’s my business.” Flossie sipped her daiquiri and gave her a thumbs-up sign. “If she’s on her hallelujah wagon, then we have to go to different churches with her every week—Wednesday night, Friday night, and every other event. I’m the one that catches the flak, since you have to run this bar. If Lucy’s not on the wagon, then we only have to go once a week.”
Dotty patted Jolene on the shoulder. “And when she’s on her wagon, I have to get up early on Sunday, because some of them churches have two services and she wants to go to the early one,” Dotty said. “You know she won’t come to the Gator, Flossie, because she knows what I’d say. She’s probably down at the Southern Comfort.”
The Magnolia Inn Page 8