Sweet Southern Comfort

by Candice Poarch

  “I’ll drive Courtney there, thank you.”

  His gaze jerked up. “Courtney?”

  “Yes.”

  “The one who thinks she owns Rainshadow and half of my alpacas?”

  Melanie chuckled uneasily. “That’s the one.”

  “Figures.”

  The heavy dose of sarcasm piqued her anger and her eyes narrowed.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Ready to order?” the young waitress asked, totally ignorant of the tension. Pencil hovering above her pad, she let out an impatient sigh when they didn’t respond immediately.

  “I’ll take the pork-chop special,” Melanie said, still glaring at Monroe.

  “All gone,” the woman said.

  Melanie tore her gaze to the waitress. “How can you be out of the special already?”

  “Look around you. All the hotels up and down 95 are already full and the college kids have crashed here. Figure half of ’em’ll sleep in the parking lot tonight. Brian already asked me if I’ll work till two in case they want sodas or a sandwich later on. That crazy man’s leaving a serving window open all night. Like he can’t stand missing out on a couple of dollars.”

  “I’ll take the chicken,” Melanie said. Maybe she’d open at six tomorrow morning just in case someone needed reading material for their trip. The young waitress might not understand the importance of raking every dime she could, but Melanie did.

  The woman’s gaze jerked to Monroe. “And you, sir?”

  “The flounder.”

  When the waitress walked away, Melanie returned to the conversation as if it had never paused. “What is it now? You don’t want Courtney riding your horse or playing with the alpacas? You don’t want her on your land?”

  “I don’t care. They seem to like her as much as she likes them. Besides, nobody else can ride Rainshadow,” he said.

  “That’s understandable. Courtney helped nurse her back to health. Rainshadow was mistreated by her previous owner, but she gets nothing but love from my daughter.”

  “I know. If it’s one thing I can’t stand is someone mistreating defenseless animals. If you don’t like them, stay away from them.”

  “Well bring out the band. Finally, we agree on something.”

  Monroe leaned back in his seat, carefully studying her. He didn’t know whether he wanted to strangle her or kiss her. “That sharp tongue ever get you in trouble?”

  “Not yet.”

  There was definitely something intriguing about a woman who spoke her mind and didn’t expect a man to read it. He would always know where he stood with this sharp-tongued witch. If only, he thought. If only he could trust her.

  He couldn’t help the spark of interest that swept through him. The red top with the deep V she was wearing did amazing things to his imagination. It didn’t help that she looked striking in red.

  “Mrs. Eudora said you’d recently sold your engineering company.”

  The loss still stabbed his heart. He nodded.

  “Did you enjoy your work?”

  “Very much.”

  “In that case, why did you sell?” Melanie couldn’t envision selling her shop willingly. She loved it too much.

  “I was one of four partners. The other three wanted to sell. I didn’t.” He shrugged. “I was outvoted.”

  “I’m sorry.” She reached across the table and patted his hand. “I know how it feels to lose something important, something you love. When you love your job, the work is more than getting through the dreaded eight hours to pay the mortgage or rent.”

  Monroe hadn’t expected her empathy. The heat from her hand warmed him to his soul.

  Lately, he’d felt as alone as a man could get. People thought because he’d made millions off the deal he should be satisfied. They didn’t understand that the company was more than money. You got millions, people would say. Go sit on the beach or something. What do you have to be upset about?

  She understood. For the first time, he studied Melanie, really studied her. Looked beyond the mayor’s remarks. She would know, he thought, because her store was her life, the same way his company had been his.

  Maybe that was the problem. He’d been closer to his job than he’d been to his wife.

  Oh, crap. Where had that come from? Melanie was too distracting. Got him thinking foolish thoughts.

  But sitting with Melanie was starting to feel good. He could quickly get used to this.

  If it was real.

  “With the success of your business, any company will jump to snap you up,” she said, yanking him out of his thoughts. Her cell phone rang and she excused herself to answer it.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  After several Oh, nos and Um-hums, she pressed the off button.

  “Uncle Milton and Elmore are at it again,” she said.

  “What happened?”

  “One of Elmore’s boars got out again. I asked Elmore to let the boar use one of the used-up sows instead of sending her off to the slaughter. You see, they use the boars to determine if a sow’s in heat. The boar gets stirred up. Being a man, he should understand you can’t have a boar to get nature working and then not let him complete the act. How would you feel? They’re animals. They have needs. You can’t treat them like inanimate objects and expect things to run smoothly.”

  Melanie motioned for the waitress and Monroe’s fork clattered to the table as a wave of passion surged through him. She hadn’t actually said that to him, had she?

  Trying to restrain the raging desire shooting through him, Monroe cleared his throat. “I’ll take you to the farm.”

  “No, no. Finish your dinner. Your presence will only add fuel to the fire. They’re already tense because they’re worried you’ll sell the plaza. No telling what will happen if I show up with you.”

  “Just go, then. I’ll take care of the bill.”

  Melanie started to dig into her purse.

  “I’ve got it,” Monroe assured her.

  For a moment she sat indecisive, but the busy waitress would take forever getting to them. Melanie left, but the subtle scent of her perfume lingered, enticing him.

  It was a long time after she disappeared before Monroe resumed his meal.

  As Monroe entered the house, the phone was ringing. He dropped the keys on the counter and retrieved the portable. His heart froze when he heard a familiar voice. Eric Parker. One of his old partners. The old friends hadn’t spoken since the hostile buyout.

  “Have you forgiven me yet?” Eric asked cautiously.

  “Sure.” Monroe swallowed his anger. He still felt the betrayal deep in his gut.

  “Look. I didn’t want to sell out, but after Aaron seduced your wife, we knew that if we kept the company, we’d eventually fold. How could you work together after that kind of betrayal? We couldn’t afford to buy him out. The company was worth millions but we were still cash poor. Besides, Aaron wouldn’t have sold his share to any of us. He was beyond angry.”

  Monroe’s hand tightened around the phone, and he wished it was Aaron’s neck. “Why did you call?”

  “Because I don’t want to remain your enemy.”

  “We’re not enemies.” No. They weren’t anything any longer.

  “You treat me like one. I loved that company as much as you did. It hurt like hell to sell. You know good friends are hard to come by. I think I hate that even more. But after you attacked Aaron, I thought you were going to punch his lights out.”

  “It’s yesterday’s news,” Monroe said. He didn’t want to talk about it. “How are Veronica and Sam?”

  “Great. Sam asks about you all the time.”

  Monroe softened. “I miss the little bugger. How’s he doing in soccer?” Sam was his godchild, and Monroe missed having the kid around. He and Dorian… He forced the memory away.

  “He’s a champ. He’s the star goalie now.”

  “Tell him to watch those fingers.”

  Eric chuckled, then a tense silence emerg
ed. “I saw Aaron the other day.” In the silence, he said, “Dorian just had a baby. A little boy.”

  Monroe stumbled to a seat. He closed his eyes briefly. A baby. The baby he’d wanted.

  “You still there?”

  Monroe couldn’t speak, but could only concentrate on inhaling and exhaling. He cleared his throat. “Yeah.”

  “I’m sorry, man. I know this is a blow. But I didn’t want you to just run into them. They’re coming to visit her parents soon.”

  “Look. I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.” Monroe pressed the Off button, but he couldn’t move. Rage poured through him like a speeding freight train. A baby. Gasping to gulp a lungful of breath, he ached as if someone had punched him in the gut. Damn them. Damn them.

  Dorian had destroyed most of the things he’d valued. His friendships, his company, his marriage. He couldn’t forget.

  Between desire for Melanie and anger at his ex-wife, Monroe didn’t sleep well. He got up cranky and his temper didn’t improve by the time he went to pick up Melanie and her daughter for the Blessing on the Lake.

  He sipped on his coffee and observed them at the shop while he waited.

  “May I get some help, please?” An older woman dressed in a short-sleeved pantsuit stood in front of him.

  For a moment he thought she was indicating a salesperson, but she was looking directly at him. He wasn’t wearing a name tag.

  “May I help you?” he asked.

  “I’m looking for a new Christian book. You all sell them, don’t you?”

  “I’m sure they do.” Courtney had just finished helping a customer. Everyone else was still occupied. But she appeared to know the layout. He beckoned her over.

  “Hi, Mr. Bedford.” She was as perky as someone on a perpetual caffeine high.

  “Do you know where the Christian section is?” he asked.

  “Over there.”

  He saw the sign four aisles over. “Could you please show this customer the way?”

  “Sure.” She graced the woman with a bright smile. “Follow me, ma’am.”

  The woman followed, visibly admiring Courtney’s manners.

  Fifteen minutes later, they were on their way to the marina.

  Boats tooting their horns lined the lake. Colorful banners flapped in the wind. Every type of food was available. From ham salad to sandwiches to barbecue and seafood. Children ran around yelling and waving pinwheels, and stepping on flowers. A woman on the beautification committee busily scolded them. It seemed every inhabitant of Summer Lake and even more tourists were in attendance. What began as a ceremony to ask for divine protection for those who risked their lives harvesting the lake, quickly blossomed into a popular weekend event.

  The vessels lined up to parade past more than a thousand spectators. Three local reverends blessed each decorated boat as they passed before them. A panel of judges including the mayor, the senator, Melanie and the school superintendent rated the decorations.

  The crowd was forced to suffer through several speeches. The mayor’s was the longest.

  Melanie was in her element talking to the minister, members of the city council and hordes of other people. But Monroe always felt out of place around crowds—people in general. He preferred time in the lab alone in the middle of the night when he could work undisturbed.

  After the Blessing on the Lake ceremony was completed, Monroe was more than ready to leave. He, Melanie and Courtney hopped in the car and headed toward the rehabilitation center.

  “I can’t wait to see Mrs. Eudora. I’ve got a million things to tell her.” Courtney was charged up like a battery in the back seat.

  “I’m sure you do,” Melanie said.

  “I took pictures for her. I wish we could develop them first.”

  “We’ll take them to her on your next visit,” Melanie assured her. “If you have film left, you can take some of her, too.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that. You can take pictures of both of us.”

  It was a good thing Courtney talked nonstop because the atmosphere between Monroe and Melanie was tense. He was glad to finally escape the intimate confines of the car.

  Courtney was brimming with so much energy she skipped in front of them as they made their way to his grandmother’s room.

  When she was far enough away, Monroe said, “Please don’t mention the sale to Eudora. I don’t want her to worry.”

  “Do you think I’m stupid? I’m not the mayor.”

  Now he’d ticked her off, but she hid it when she entered the room.

  Eudora was sitting on a chair beside the bed, a closed book on her lap. She wore a long blue nightgown covered by her robe. She was gazing into space, but she immediately brightened when she saw them.

  “It’s been forever since I saw you,” Courtney said, dashing across the room. Wrapping her arms around the older woman and hugging her close seemed as natural as breathing.

  “Come here, little one,” Eudora said. “Tell me what you’ve been up to.”

  “I’m getting new riding boots. I saw a pair that was to die for last week.”

  Eudora looked the girl over. “You look like you’ve grown a couple inches.”

  “You just haven’t seen me in like forever.”

  Melanie put a vase of flowers on a table while the two talked.

  “I brought you a gift.” Courtney handed her a box and sat on the edge of the bed. “And I didn’t pay for it out of my allowance. I made my own money to pay for it.”

  “I’m so proud of you.” Eudora slowly unwrapped the small box and opened it to reveal a cross on a gold chain.

  It was anybody’s guess whether it was real or if it had come out of the five-and-dime, but Eudora exclaimed over it as if it were platinum.

  “It’s beautiful. Just beautiful. Come give me a hug.”

  Courtney went eagerly into her arms again, and Monroe couldn’t help thinking that Courtney was the great-granddaughter her natural grandchildren had not provided Eudora. Courtney attached the chain around Eudora’s neck and the two huddled together laughing and talking.

  “It’s time you took jumping lessons. Have you thought of signing her up, Melanie?”

  “No.”

  “It will be easy enough for you to set up a riding rink, Monroe. Courtney should be competing.”

  “No, Mrs. Eudora. Courtney has enough activities, between 4-H and soccer.”

  She said it as if she’d go to the ends of the earth before she’d ask a thing of him, Monroe noticed.

  “I might not play soccer anymore. Our coach got a new job and he has to drive a long way to work. He can’t make it back in time for practice.”

  While they visited, Melanie straightened the covers and tables. Unobtrusively, she set a book and a small package on the night table. But Monroe took notice. She might be covered from neck to toes, but the pantsuit didn’t hide the shape of her luscious curves. Instead of watching his grandmother, he found himself following the outline of Melanie’s rounded breasts and gently curved hips, imagining those legs wrapped around his waist.

  To get his mind off Melanie, he focused again on his grandmother. He felt like an outsider looking in. It was obvious the women spent lots of time together, and they genuinely adored each other.

  Since her family had been absent, Eudora had adopted another. Monroe had never seen her happier. Guilt slapped him. He’d been so wrapped up in his own concerns for the last two years that he hadn’t spent enough time with her.

  “What’s going on in town, Melanie?” Mrs. Eudora asked.

  “We had the Blessing on the Lake ceremony today. Reverend Jones asked about you. You were really missed. But I assured him you’ll be there next year.”

  The older woman grunted.

  “The summer people are opening their cottages,” Melanie continued. “And the stores are packed with college kids.”

  “And the feud?”

  “The same. Nothing’s changed there.”

  “Somebody needs to butt tho
se men’s heads together,” Eudora said.

  “I agree.” Melanie finally sat beside Eudora and gathered her hand in hers. “You’re looking better.”

  “I’m doing so-so.”

  “Are you following the doctor’s orders? You can be stubborn.”

  “I’m ready to go home,” Eudora said as if Melanie could make it happen.

  “In time.”

  “I don’t know if they have my medication right. I’ve been feeling peaked.”

  Melanie glared at Monroe. “Have you spoken to her doctor? How often do you talk to him?”

  Monroe tossed a glance at his grandmother. She hadn’t said a word about not feeling well. To him or the doctor. “I see him every day.”

  “I know they want you to walk more. Let me see how well you’re doing.”

  “I do have to go to the restroom.” Eudora started to stand and flopped back in the seat.

  Melanie hopped up. “Let me help you.”

  Just the other night, Eudora had nearly taken his head off for trying to help her and had scooted across the floor on her own.

  Melanie helped her out of the seat and Eudora moved in halting steps the way she had before her improvements. Melanie frowned after her.

  When Eudora closed the door, Melanie said, “Monroe, you may need to speak to the therapist. She’s not doing as well as I expected. Actually she’s worse.”

  His grandmother was a con artist. All this time, he’d thought Melanie was conning her. Perhaps they were conning each other. But it didn’t prove Melanie wasn’t stealing from her.

  They visited for an hour before Monroe took the ladies to dinner and then home. Night had fallen. He escorted them to the door and Courtney disappeared to the back of the house, leaving Melanie and him in the family room.

  “We missed Eudora,” Melanie said. “Thank you for letting us see her.”

  “Seeing you helped.”

  “So many people want to visit her. She’s well-respected and loved here.”

  “I’ll speak to her doctor,” Monroe said. He was going to have a talk with his grandmother about her acting.

  “Please, talk to her therapist. She should be doing better by now.”

  “She’s faking it. She can walk better. She’d take my head off if I helped her, yet, she acts helpless around you.”