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2 weeks later
The bayou’s gentle waves lapped against the boat as Carter steered us closer to a boat slip at Wayward Waters.
Gertie sat with her hands folded in her lap, the excitement of an unfolding surprise making her giddy. Ida Belle, on the other hand, wasn’t happy about being blindfolded.
“I’m not big on secrets,” she deadpanned.
“Sure you are,” Walter said, helping her off the boat.
“Gertie, give Carter your hand,” I said, helping her to her feet.
“This is so exciting,” she said.
I waved at Gomer and mouthed, “Don’t say anything yet.”
He nodded in understanding.
It took some time, but Walter and I helped Gertie and Ida Belle ashore while Carter secured the boat.
Minutes later, Walter and I removed the blindfolds and everyone chanted, “Surprise!”
“Oh my goodness!” Gertie clapped her hands and looked up at the Wasteland Steakhouse billboard. “It’s open!”
“Almost,” Gomer stated proudly. “I’ll still need you and Ida Belle to help with the menus.”
“When are you planning to reopen as a restaurant?” I asked, already impressed by the noticeable changes at the dock. For starters, no one fell in between the planks and lost a shoe.
“Halloween. We’re doing a haunted house,” he said, grinning at Gloria. “My daughter had the idea.”
“Your daughter is pretty and smart,” Gertie said, giving Gloria a hug. “And your dad doesn’t need our help with menu planning. What would you like to serve?”
“Lucille,” she admitted. “But I promised I’d watch out for her.”
We all stopped talking.
“You promised who?” I asked, careful not to act too alarmed.
Gloria twisted her T-shirt until the hem formed a knot. “Elle asked me to go and feed her every day.”
“That’s a big responsibility,” Ida Belle said, shooting Carter an inquisitive look as if to ask if that was even safe.
I didn’t think so, but it wasn’t up to me.
“We’ll manage,” Gomer said, beaming at Gloria. “She and Elle were friends, you know.”
“Sure,” I said.
“Well, next time you talk to her, tell her I asked about her,” Gertie said.
I couldn’t ask for the same consideration. Director Morrow and I had recently discussed the possibility that I could now be on a mobster’s radar. A ten million dollar bounty made criminals pay attention.
“Who? Elle or Lucille?” Gloria smiled at Gertie, but then her smile dimmed. “I can let Lucille know you asked about her, but I won’t be talking to Elle again.”
“Oh honey, I’m so sorry to hear that,” Gertie said.
“It’s for the best. Elle said she was glad to be home with her dad and that everything happened for a reason. She says she’s exactly where she wants to be.”
And I could relate to Elle, somewhat anyway. I was exactly where I wanted to be, too. The only difference was that she was running with a killer and I was running away from one.
With any luck, we’d both survive and live to tell about it. With my friends surrounding me, I felt confident in my chances, but Elle didn’t have a support system. She’d made her decision. As unfair as it seemed, all decisions defined us, even if we made them at a young age.
“You coming?” Carter asked, holding out his hand and pulling me from my thoughts. “Gomer said he’d give us the grand tour.”
“Wait for me,” I said, catching up to them.
“Always,” he said, shooting me a wink. “You’re worth waiting for.”
“The best things always are,” I said, meaning something else entirely.
I’d waited my entire life for a life like this, for a sense of family and home. With everything we’d experienced in the last few months, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
“So what are you planning to name this steakhouse?”
“Got a quarter?” Gomer asked, stuffing his hands in his pocket. “It’ll cost you.”