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“Where was Alphé when this was happening?” Calista asked.

“Out to sea. Rodney wasn’t always on the boat with them.”

“I didn’t know that,” Calista said. “I thought when he left the house, he was going down to the dock to get on the boat with the rest of them.”

“Well, it’s why Alphé got the boat. He would have even if Rod had lived. Rod didn’t want the boat, never did, Calista.”

“Wow, where the hell was I?” Calista asked, dumbfounded. “I thought he was on that boat around the clock, like the rest of them.”

“No. He was selling fish, and now it appears he was hanging around Lola, too,” Mae said. “He was their fishmonger. He got paid above what the fishermen were paid.”

“I knew that, but I guess I thought it meant he was still fishing. Anyway, I wanted you to know I got the letter. I guess the only other person who needs to know is Alphé.”

“He’s the only other,” Mae said, a tinge of sadness in her voice. “Poor Alphé. He’s always been too good for the world.”

“Why was Rodney your favorite, then?” Calista asked, appalled.

Mae’s unconditional protection of Rodney had caused a few problems in their marriage. Rodney could do no wrong.

“Because Rodney was my baby,” Mae said without missing a beat. “I have to go, Calista. A line of customers are walking up my path.”

“Goodnight, Mae.”

After she hung up, sitting in the window holding her phone in her hands, Calista tried to remember what had been happening in her marriage ten years ago that would make her immune to Rod’s infidelity. Trustworthiness had been an issue because he’d cheated on her long before they were married, with a young girl who was in Cypress Cove on vacation with her family. They were all teens, Calista and Rodney seniors in high school, and the girl was a year or two younger.

Word had gotten to Calista that Rod had been seen with this girl, and Calista followed them, and sure enough, he was meeting her behind the post office, a popular spot for lovers. Then a few years later, Calista was away at college in Mississippi, and her sister told her Rodney was hanging out with Babette French, Lola’s sister.

Rubbing her forehead, that should have been the end because Rodney said he was in love with Babette. But she didn’t want a fisherman. Her father was a fisherman, and she was done with that life.

Babette eventually married an older, wealthy man from Shreveport and lived in Cypress Cove in a beautiful home with two grown children. Babette was among Lola’s biggest critics.

Evidently, Rodney went from Babette to Lola a few years after Alphé had married her. Lola was pregnant with fourteen-year-old Angela at that time. Pris was now ten. Calista did the math.

Maybe she needed to talk to Alphé. He was always the levelheaded one of the family. But she’d wait until Sunday. Chances were he hadn’t seen his mail yet.

At eleven that night, the fireworks display began, but Maggie and Justin were eager to get home, the fireworks not reason to stay there another minute. With Justin safely buckled in the passenger seat of his truck, Maggie began the trek down the sandy trail to Bayou Cottage. His head lolled back against the headrest, but he had a smile on his face, self-satisfied after a night of pure fun with the woman he loved. When she asked for the truck keys, he didn’t argue with her, handing them over gladly.

“I would be happy to stay longer,” she said.

“Naw, we have doggo to get home to. She’s probably thinking we abandoned her.”

“Ha! Poor Brulee. I’ll take her with me to the rescue to toilet everyone. Kelly and Ted were going to go at eight to let them out, but I’m sure they’d like to go again.”

“Did you have fun tonight?” Justin asked, his eyes closed.

“I had a ball,” she said. “I can’t wait for Fat Tuesday now.”

“Me too,” he said, reaching for her hand.

“I’d better keep both hands on the wheel,” she said.

“Pull over so I can make love to you,” he groaned.

“We’re almost home. I’ll ravage you if you can wait,” she replied.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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