The Settlement

by Ali Spooner

“I know that, but which would you prefer?”

  She surprised them by selecting an off-white base with blue, green, and gray flecks. “This would pull out the blue of the tables and still add additional color,” she said.

  “That’s a great choice and it looks beautiful when it’s down,” Johnny said, returning from measuring the bathrooms. “I have leftovers from a previous job that I would love to get out of my storage, so we don’t have to buy as much.”

  “That’s decided then,” Emma said.

  Johnny continued figuring the construction costs while Emma, Meagan, and Cadin selected the rest of the equipment. Toni finished in the kitchen and called out goodnight as she left out the back door.

  Cadin busied herself adding up the equipment costs as Johnny finished the quote for construction. “What will it cost to close down for three days?” Cadin asked.

  “Oh my, I hadn’t thought about that,” Emma said. She estimated the daily take and Cadin multiplied by three and added it into the costs.

  Cadin was surprised the equipment costs came in lower than she expected, and she waited for Johnny to finish his totals. Emma and Meagan looked on nervously.

  Johnny finally turned his quote sheet over to show Cadin and she combined the two figures, for a total of sixty-three thousand dollars.

  “That includes an extra five thousand in case we run into problems with plumbing or have to change materials for some reason so it could be lower,” he said.

  “That’s a lot of money,” Emma said, disappointment evident in her voice.

  Cadin pushed back slightly from the table and looked at Emma. “Now is the time for us to talk business.” She took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I would like to offer to finance the remodeling for you. I have a few requirements that must be met, but first I have to tell you a story.”

  Emma, Meagan, and Johnny sat patiently while she told them about Missy’s death and the foundation. Both Meagan and Emma had tears in their eyes when she finished, and Johnny found it difficult to hide his emotions as well.

  “The most important requirement for me is the name of the diner. Would you object to calling it Missy’s Place?” Cadin asked.

  “Not at all, I think given the circumstances and your generous offer, that’s the least we could do for you,” Emma said.

  Meagan surprised her with a request. “Could we get a picture of Missy to hang up by the register?”

  Cadin felt her heart choking off her throat. Meagan had asked for something she hadn’t given any consideration to, and she loved the idea. She nodded her head in agreement. “That’s a great idea,” she said when she could finally speak. “There is one final piece we need to discuss,” Cadin said. “You will need to hire someone to replace Meagan next fall.”

  Meagan looked at her mother completely puzzled. Emma shrugged her shoulders. “Why is that necessary?” she finally asked Cadin.

  “Because,” Cadin said as she pulled the paper from her back pocket, “you will be moving out.”

  Meagan just chuckled. “Yeah right, where am I going?” she joked.

  Cadin unfolded the paper she placed in front of Meagan. “You’ll be going to Baton Rouge to attend LSU.”

  “What?” Meagan screamed and jumped out of her seat, knocking over the chair she had been sitting on.

  “The foundation will be purchasing a prepaid college plan for you as soon as I can ride to Baton Rouge. I will also match what you can save this year for living expenses.”

  “No way, you have to be joking,” Meagan said.

  Cadin shook her head. “No, I’m not. Missy would love the fact that she could help you become a schoolteacher,” Cadin said.

  Both Meagan and her mother broke into tears, leaving Johnny and Cadin speechless.

  Cadin busied herself by looking over the numbers they had developed while Meagan and Emma regained control. When they had both wiped away their tears and sat looking at her, Cadin turned to Johnny. “How much do you need to get started?”

  “Fifteen will buy the supplies and take care of the demolition.”

  She pulled out her checkbook and wrote the check, tore it off, and handed it to him. She then looked at Emma. “When do you want to get started?”

  She stared at Cadin for a few seconds as reality sank into her brain. “This is really happening.”

  “Yes, it is,” she answered. “I assume you will need to post a sign on the door that the diner will be closing for a few days.”

  Emma nodded. “Yes. I’ll do that tomorrow. Can we order the equipment tomorrow?”

  Johnny spoke up. “I told Cadin that I’d have some of my boys go down to New Orleans to pick up the order to expedite it without the huge shipping costs.”

  “Thank you Johnny, and thank you Cadin.”

  Johnny nodded as Cadin said, “You’re welcome.” She looked at Johnny then back to Emma. “Is there anything else we need to cover tonight?”

  “Not from my end. I’ll call my crew and get them set up to start the demolition Friday, if that’s good for you Emma.”

  Still in a bit of shock, Emma looked up at him. “Yes, Friday will be fine. I’ll post the notice in the morning.”

  “I’ll pull the permits and order the supplies we need tomorrow. Just let me know when and where to send the crew for the equipment.”

  “What’s a good time to come in to place the order with you?” she asked Emma.

  “The breakfast rush is usually over by nine.”

  “I’ll see you at eight then for breakfast,” Cadin said, standing. “I think we’ve got a good plan.” Saying good night she walked out the front door. Out on the sidewalk, she looked through the front window to see the three of them watching her, mouths slightly agape as she walked by. She lifted her hand to wave goodbye and felt her smile growing as she reached her bike.

  Cadin rode the short distance to the hotel and entered her room. She undressed and prepared for bed. Sliding onto the cool sheets, Cadin fell asleep feeling totally at peace for the first time in a long time.

  Chapter Seven

  Cadin took a long, relaxing shower before dressing and riding to the diner for a late breakfast. As she rode through the small town, she noted the location of a major bank and a branch of her cellular carrier. She pulled into the latter and went inside to purchase a simple to use cell phone, adding it to her account. She would send it to Terri for Lexie to keep in touch with her in the next day or so.

  †

  She smiled as she reached the front door and read the sign announcing the closure for remodeling. There was a couple eating breakfast when Cadin walked inside. Emma looked up to see her enter and her face beamed with excitement.

  “Good morning.”

  “A great morning indeed, I hope you slept well,” Emma said.

  “Like a rock.”

  “What can I get you for breakfast?” Emma said as she poured a fresh cup of coffee and placed it in front of Cadin.

  Cadin thought for a second then said, “Two eggs, over easy, bacon, hash browns, and rye toast, a glass of apple juice if you have it too, please.”

  “Coming right up then,” Emma said and relayed the order to Toni who had volunteered to come in and help while Emma planned for the remodel.

  “How has your morning been?”

  “Busy, and filled with a million questions about why the diner will be closed. Everyone is excited about the remodeling.”

  “That’s good. People will be eager to see how the new place looks when we’re done.”

  “I want you to know, Meagan barely slept last night. She is so excited to be going off to LSU. I can’t thank you enough for that.”

  “Such eagerness to teach should not go untapped,” Cadin said.

  The couple finished their meal and walked to the cash register to pay. Emma thanked them for their business and then walked back to the window to retrieve Cadin’s breakfast. She placed the platter of food in front of Cadin. “Would you mind if I start calling in the order while you e
at?”

  “Heaven’s no, go ahead. Be sure and get a total and ask if they need a certified check,” Cadin said as she seasoned her breakfast.

  Emma pulled a phone from under the counter and placed it next to Cadin then got the list they had developed the previous night. She placed the paper on the counter and looked at Cadin.

  “Go ahead,” Cadin encouraged her, then took a bite of the food.

  Emma let out a deep breath, opened a line on the speakerphone and dialed the number. Minutes later, she was busy making their order and speaking to the representative about arrangements for taking delivery of the equipment.

  “Would you mind if I put you on hold to make sure we have everything in stock and total the order for you?” the woman asked.

  “No problem,” Emma said and took the opportunity to retrieve a pot of coffee to freshen up their cups.

  “Thanks,” Cadin whispered.

  “You’re welcome,” Emma whispered back with a giggle.

  “Thank you for holding, Ms. Lewis,” the woman said when she returned to the line. “We have everything in stock for you and several of the items are on sale. If you’re ready to finalize the order, we will have everything ready for pickup Friday morning.”

  Emma looked at Cadin who nodded to her. “Go ahead and place the order,” she said.

  The woman finished getting contact information and then gave Emma a revised total, which was almost five thousand less than what they had calculated. When Emma ended the call, she looked up to a smiling Cadin.

  “That was much better than we anticipated.”

  “Yes, it was, so how about some fresh paint and some new dishes?” Cadin said.

  “Dishes we can get locally and I’m sure Johnny can recommend a painter.”

  “I’ll leave those two tasks for you to arrange then,” Cadin said. “Make me a copy of the total, the name of the company and I’ll get a check from the bank.”

  Emma took out her order pad and wrote down the information Cadin needed.

  “I will also need personal information for Meagan. I plan on riding to Baton Rouge tomorrow to get her plan finalized.”

  “What will you need?”

  “Her full name, date of birth, social security number, addresses, and contact information. If I need anything else, I’ll give you a call.”

  Emma jotted down the information as requested.

  “Has Meagan applied to LSU for admission?”

  “No, until last night she didn’t think it was possible.”

  Cadin remained silent for a few minutes. “Is there a rental car company in town?”

  “Yes, you can access them from your hotel,” Emma said.

  “Would you mind if Meagan played hooky from school tomorrow and went to Baton Rouge with me?”

  “That’s fine with me as long as she doesn’t have any tests tomorrow. She should be here around four after practice tonight.”

  “I guess I should ask if you’d mind if I help her get her application arranged. We can wait until the work starts if you want to go with us.”

  “I would like that,” Emma said. “Could we go Friday when they start the demolition?”

  “I like that idea better. I’ll make the arrangements with the university,” Cadin said.

  “Thank you. I know that day will be a big step for Meagan and I really should be there.”

  “You are absolutely right.”

  “So what are you going to do the rest of today?”

  “I’m going to go to the bank to take care of the check, and I thought I’d go for a ride to see some of the countryside.”

  “Will you stop in for lunch?”

  Cadin grinned. “Just try keeping me away from here during mealtime.”

  “Well, I guess we need to make some alternative plans for the weekend then. How about having dinner at our place Saturday night?”

  “How can I say no to that?” Cadin finished her glass of juice.

  “Is there anything else I can get you?”

  “Just the check,” Cadin said as she pulled out some cash.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. You won’t pay for another meal here again,” Emma said, placing her hands on her hips.

  “Thanks. I guess I’ll see you for lunch.”

  Cadin walked out to her bike and rode to the bank. Twenty minutes later she emerged from the bank with the certified check and climbed back on her bike to head out of town. Traffic was light as she drove west toward bayou country. The moss-draped oaks gave way to cypress, buried to their knobby knees in the murky water as she rode through the bayous. She made several stops to take pictures of the majestic views, and when she stopped on a bridge, Cadin sat quietly on the concrete wall to watch and listen to the creatures of the swamp. A crane waded through the water with his awkward stride. Cadin watched as he submerged his head, lifting it seconds later, beak filled with a small fish, frog, or crawfish that quickly disappeared down his throat. Her camera captured several frames of his hunt, her grin growing behind the lens until a loud splash caught her attention. She swung the camera around to the direction of the sound and gasped when the lens found a large alligator swimming in the direction of the crane.

  The crane, sensing he was in imminent danger, took flight when the alligator was ten feet away and flew to a branch out of the reptile’s reach. “That was close,” she spoke aloud as she watched the alligator turn and lazily make his way back to sun himself on the bank.

  Cadin rode several miles down the highway until she saw a rusted sign advertising an alligator farm and airboat rides. She slowed when she reached the turnoff and grinned to herself. “That’s too good of a combination to turn down.” She followed the signs deeper into the bayou and breathed a sigh of relief when several small buildings came into view. She pulled her bike to a halt and cut the engine.

  “I thought I heard a motorbike,” a voice called from the side of one of the buildings.

  Cadin watched as a small-framed man appeared and offered her a broad smile. “I can’t say when I’ve seen such a pretty lady riding a motorbike,” he said, obviously flirting.

  “Your farm and airboat ride were too tempting to resist,” she told him.

  “Come with me then, young lady,” he said. “My name’s Rupert Finley, friends just call me Rupe.”

  “I’m Cadin,” she told him as she followed him around the building. “What do you do with the gators you raise?”

  Rupe grinned at her. “Most of them I sell to Fish and Wildlife to replenish lakes and bayous that get fished out. Others I sell to local meat vendors for the meat and hides.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten alligator,” she remarked.

  “You should try some while you’re visiting the area, it can be quite tasty, and no, before you ask, it doesn’t taste like chicken,” he said with a chuckle.

  “How did you know I was going to ask?” Cadin teased him.

  “It’s one of the most common questions I get asked by visitors.” He grinned, revealing several missing teeth.

  They walked down a wooden trail. “These pens hold some of the older critters that I keep for breeding.”

  Cadin peered into the “pens,” which were nothing more than wire barriers separating sections of the swamp. Each pen held gators of similar size, and growing in length the further they walked down the path. “How do you keep them fed? I bet they can consume a great deal of food.”

  “The design allows fish and other small creatures to enter the pens. Also, I get outdated meats from local grocery stores and the county brings out the roadkill they scoop up from the roads.”

  She grimaced at the mention of roadkill. “That has to be a shitty job,” she said.

  “Not glamorous by any means, but necessary. Thankfully it’s handled on a regular basis. You sure don’t want to roll up on a gator feasting on a dead coon in the middle of the highway, especially on that motorbike of yours.”

  “You have a very good point there,” she agreed. “I hadn’t thoug
ht of it in that light.”

  “I also have several young boys who like to hunt for nutria,” he said. “They’re not much for eating, but they are plentiful in the swamps.”

  “What is nutria?”

  “We call them swamp rats. They were brought into the area hundreds of years ago, bred for their pelts, but today they’re only seen as a nuisance. Many of them escaped captivity and unchecked, they soon overpopulated the area.” He chuckled. “They breed like rabbits, and love to raid crawfish traps, so fishermen pay local kids to hunt them down to prevent depleting the crawfish in the area.”

  “So the fishermen pay the kids for killing them, and then the kids bring them to you, and you pay them for the meat?”

  “You got it, missy. The gators get fed, the crawfish are safe, and the teenagers have some jingle in their pockets.”

  “That’s very smart.”

  “That’s the way of the bayou.”

  At the end of the path were numerous fiberglass containers. Croaking sounds could be heard from twenty feet away, as they approached.

  “Those are the babies,” he said when she looked at him. “Once they are hatched, I have to get them away from the male gators or else they will end up as a snack. So I round up as many as I can, and they live here until they are big enough to be released into a larger pen.”

  Cadin looked over the edge of the nearest containers. Each one held babies of different sizes from six inches long to several feet. “They look harmless at this size.”

  “Don’t be fooled, those teeth can already do major damage,” he warned.

  She looked up from the containers to follow his movement as he walked to an airboat.

  “I was just about to go out and check some traps for lunch, if you want to ride. Isn’t exactly a tour, but you’ll see plenty of gators.”

  “I’d love it,” Cadin said. “What are you trapping for lunch?”

  “Hopefully some crawfish. If I don’t have any in the traps, I can always check my float lines for some catfish. I always keep a fish or two on the lines.”

  “The swamp provides a lot for you doesn’t it?”

  “It’s been my way of life since I was a young man. It provides my income and generally feeds me. I keep some burger patties in the freezer, in case of emergencies.”