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At the store, they’d bought a fancy coffee pot with coffee pods and cream and sugar for his coffee.
“I’ll have it when I get back. I’ll be gone half an hour,” he said, kissing her.
The boat rocked as he climbed the steps and opened the hatch to the outside. When he stepped off the bow onto the dock, he gave it a little extra push to tease her, and he heard Katrina laughing.
The memory of the night would stay with him until he saw her again. Although they didn’t do it, they got to know each other well. It was a wonderful start. His truck smelled of her perfume, a light floral scent that went right to his crotch. Smiling, he started the engine carefully, knowing that some of the men who fished had families who lived on the boats with them, and he didn’t want to wake them up so early on a school day.
He drove down Main Street and turned right on Second. His house looked so forlorn, it broke his heart to think of his kids there without him, but he knew it was a knee-jerk reaction. He’d get used to it, and so would they.
Using his key, he went inside. The couch was empty. First, he went into Angela and Pris’s room. Angela purposely left the door open so he would feel free to come in to her to say good morning and goodbye.
“How was it, Daddy?” she mumbled.
“It was great. You come when you want. I have the bunk beds all made up, and the shower works.”
“That’s all I need, then,” she said, hugging him.
“I’ll stop by tonight,” he said.
He kissed Pris but didn’t wake her.
“Say hi to Prissy for me, sweetheart.”
“I will, Daddy.”
He repeated the scene in Rumor and Noel’s room.
“Love you, Daddy,” Noel said.
“You have a good day in school now, and I’ll see you all tonight.”
“I’ll need help with math homework,” he said.
“I’ll be ready,” Alphé said.
He left the house and was careful again not to give the accelerator too much gas. Pulling into the church parking lot, he had so much to give thanks for that morning. Luck was coming his way, with those four wonderful children and a beautiful girlfriend. It was all he needed. The past was past, and he wasn’t going to allow it to interfere with the present.
Memories of his beloved brother filled his heart that morning, and he said a special prayer for Rod’s wife, Calista, and their two kids. Maybe because Justin had asked about Rod, Alphé felt an urgency about it that he couldn’t rationalize.
After saying the rosary, the need to light additional candles hit, and he quickly did so, dropping money into the locked offering box at the side of the votive stand. The simple gestures were satisfying and soothed his angst that hopefully was banished.
But it wasn’t, and now that he’d moved out of the house he had once shared with Lola, his extended family would feel free to share their insights formerly kept secret.
Chapter 5
One of the two bodies in Maggie’s bed, intermingled within the sheets, tried to disengage without disturbing the other.
“Don’t leave,” Maggie muttered, reaching out for his hand.
“I have to get to work,” Justin said, kissing her cheek. “Stay in bed.”
“I plan on it.”
He went into the bathroom, and through the walls, she heard the squeak of the shower faucet turning on, the buzz of his electric toothbrush while the water heated up. The sounds of morning. Absent through the open windows was the familiar braying of wild horses grazing in the yard. They must be staying away after the rude party intruded on their space. Justin’s horse, Stormy, was in a portable paddock in the backyard. Brulee’s ears perked up, but she soon lay back down, and Maggie fell back to sleep.
After showering and dressing, Justin tiptoed out of the bathroom. With her back to the door, Justin watched the rhythmic movement of Maggie’s breathing. He wouldn’t wake her up. Ruffling Brulee’s fur, he whispered, “Come out with me, girl. Time to pee.”
Brulee stretched, lying on her side, but soon stood up and followed him down the stairs. After stopping for a messy drink of water, she followed Justin out on the porch.
