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“Lola was just lucky she got to stay home all these years. It gave her plenty of time to screw around behind my back.”

“I’m so sorry,” Katrina said, giving him space to complain. She hoped he wasn’t going to harp on it forever, however. “I’d better let you go. I’m meeting my Realtor to sign papers at noon.”

“I’ll see you in a while,” he replied. “And then we can plan for your house! Fixing it up will be my Lenten hobby.”

“What are you giving up for Lent?” she asked.

“Sleeping on the couch,” he said, snorting. “Seriously, the only thing I can think of that I can give up is coffee.”

“Oh, awful,” she cried. “Does God expect that?”

“I don’t think so, but it’s something that I could do with less of right now.”

“I’ll feel guilty when I drink it in front of you,” she said, grimacing at the phone.

But he laughed out loud, and the sound was so wonderful to her that she relaxed. “Maybe that’s what you had in mind,” she replied, teasing.

“Come by the house after your meeting,” he said. “We’ll drink it together.”

“Okay, see you soon, Alphé.”

“I love you, Katrina.”

“And I love you.”

Smiling at the phone, she ended the call. Her life had gotten so simple in the past year, that she could make an earthshattering decision to move to the bayou and fall in love and not have anyone to account to. It was a little discombobulating. She dialed Maggie’s number then, hoping she wasn’t interrupting anything with Justin.

“Are you alive?” she asked when Maggie answered.

“I am. I just got in from toileting the rescue dogs. Justin, on the other hand, was a little pale this morning. Lent is coming in the nick of time.”

“Either Lent or stop having parties.”

“I know, I feel like I’m contributing,” Maggie said, laughing. “Are you signing papers today?”

“I am. And I called a mover to pack up my place and ship everything here. I don’t care if they ship the garbage. I never want to go back there again.”

“It’s the same way I felt,” Maggie said. “My mother was furious with me because I gave away every stick of furniture I had purchased for my place in Jacksonville. It was all new and high end. And this stuff is all faded slipcover, mouse-chewed, but I love it.”

“I loved your place in Jacksonville! It was fabulous. But I love your cottage, too. Anyway, I have news.”

She told Maggie all about Alphé’s discovery and Lola’s departure.

“Wow, so much has changed in a week. Especially for you, Kat. How do you feel about everything?”

“I’m good. I’m at peace. I love Alphé after one week. I’ll never look back. I’m so excited about my little house. It’s close enough to him, but not so close that I’ll be too convenient. That must sound terrible.”

“Katrina, I’m out in the middle of nowhere so I won’t be too convenient. Trust me, I get it.”

They talked for a while longer. “Do you want to go for a boat ride? I’ll meet you at the dock later this afternoon.”

“Perfect,” Katrina said. “Drop a text when you’re headed over.”

After refilling her coffee cup, Maggie went back out on the porch. A wave of regret passed over her, the persistent need to keep Justin at arm’s length. He was going to sign the papers for the year’s lease on the apartment near the clinic. Suddenly, she knew it would be a mistake for him to move. She didn’t want to see him less, and having his own place would most certainly lead to that.

Brulee’s ears perked up, and they heard a horse whinny. Stretching to look down the trail, she didn’t see any of their wild boarders, so she got up and walked to the other end of the porch. Relief washed over her when she saw Justin on his horse, Spooky, sliding out of the saddle to unlock the gate. He saw her and waved, and she waved back, excitement that he’d come back so soon washing away all her doubts.

He got back on the horse and was at the porch in thirty seconds.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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