Bayou Summons

by Missy Sue Hanson

  “Are you two slacking over here?” Cayden asked.

  Sophie looked at Lurleene. “Well, speak of the devil and there he is.”

  Cayden laughed as Lurleene mockingly glowered at her. Marking Summer’s presence with a nod, she said, “That isn’t funny, Sophie Bella.”

  “Don’t you call me by my full name, you old goat!” Sophie smacked Lurleene on the arm.

  Not missing a moment of the conversation, Summer chimed in, “It was kind of funny, Lurleene. I’m pregnant, not a sniveling idiot, you know.” She giggled as Lurleene made a face to mock her, putting her hand behind her back and waddling. “Devil jokes won’t upset me, you two, but being sarcastic about how fat I am might push me over the edge.”

  Cayden groaned, “You are not fat.” He turned to each of the women, seriousness in his face. “I’m still working on getting her back into shorts, please don’t make this any harder on me,” he begged.

  The women looked at each other, blankly. Giving up, he sighed, ran his hand through his hair. “How’s it going over here, besides the usual bickering?”

  Lurleene had stopped her pregnancy walk and was back to serving up caramel apples and cider. “It’s going good, boss.”

  “Thank you for helping out tonight, ladies.”

  Sophie cracked a huge smile. “Well, what would we do at this early an hour anyway? The fun doesn’t start until much later.” She winked at him.

  “So it does.” He put his arm around his wife and maneuvered her through the line, much like guiding a capsized ship. “We’ll see you then!” he called over his shoulder.

  The two women continued to bicker as they offered up Harvest delights. Sophie set a cup of cider in a hand she instantly recognized. “Girl, what are you doing?” Sophie asked with one hand on her hip. Summer gave an annoyed stomp with her sandaled foot. “Have you digressed to childhood, then? Is that what this fit is about?”

  “You know what it’s about.” Summer was clearly agitated and uncomfortable as she struggled to keep her big belly away from the pitcher of cider, afraid she might knock it over. “Is it a boy or girl?” Summer’s gaze darted around the street. “Hurry, before Cayden finds me!”

  “You just never learn, do you?” Sophie clucked her tongue.

  “Okay, fine.” Summer crossed her arms over her chest, though they sat closer to her chin. “Can you tell me…” she leaned in, whispered, “…about the powers? Which ones will it have? Mine, Cayden’s or both?”

  “You better get your big behind out of my line before you have not only me on your ass, but all these thirsty people as well.” Sophie pointed to the line that had grown three times in size.

  Summer turned, but instead of seeing the line, she saw Cayden, moving swift. Too late, he had already zeroed in. No time for escape. “I thought you had to go to the bathroom,” he said as he came to stand beside her.

  Summer fluttered lashes up at him. “I do, I did….I….was just saying goodbye again.”

  Cayden looked at Sophie and Lurleene. In unison, they both cocked a brow and shrugged.

  “You scared me, I was afraid….” He trailed off as he noticed how many people would hear what he was about to say.

  Summer pressed her belly to his. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “I know you didn’t. I guess I just need to calm down, be a little less protective.” He bent his head down, nipped at her bottom lip. The people in line sighed in gratitude as the couple moved to the side and out of the way. After kissing another time, they walked away again, hand in hand, Summer waddling alongside.

  Lurleene looked at her next customer and said, “Now, if that ain’t enough to make you sick, I don’t know what is.” The crowd laughed at once, understanding immediately what she was referring to.

  Sophie pursed her lips after the laughter died down. “That girl just does not know when to quit.”

  Lurleene observed the magical couple melt into the crowd. “No, she doesn’t which is why she saved the world.”

  Sophie bit her tongue as she realized Lurleene was right. “No amount of anything will ever repay that girl for what she’s done. And to think, nobody even knows.”

  Lurleene sat in her chair, poured herself a cup of the hot spiced cider. “We know. And I have a pretty good idea that her payment will come in full in this life. I’m sure her reward has already begun.”