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“My mom never got married.”
They turned to quiet Penelope, surprised and a little confused that she’d spoken. “Isn’t Frank your dad?” Angela asked.
“No. He’s just a random guy who hangs out with my mom because she’s wealthy. And he’s not the first.”
Choosing to stay quiet through this confession, Katrina started the car and pulled away from the curb.
“Who’s your dad?” Angela asked.
“I really don’t know. It hasn’t come up yet.”
“Wait. You never asked your mom?” Angela asked.
“No. I don’t have that kind of relationship with her. I like hanging out at your house because everything is out in the open. Your mom didn’t hide that she was unhappy.”
“Didn’t you think it was weird when my dad started sleeping on the couch?”
“Not really,” Penelope admitted. “Everything sort of flowed naturally.”
No one said anything for a bit. “It’s because of my dad,” Angela said. “He put us before anything. That’s why I want Katrina to be with us. You make him so happy.”
“Daddy is happy,” Pris said. “It’s because he loves Katrina.”
“Aw! I think he’s happy because he has you kids. You guys make me happy, too.”
They got back to Alphé’s house, and she pulled her car behind his truck. He could take the Porsche to church in the morning.
“Okay, back to reality,” Katrina said. “I’ll be so glad when I can move into my little house. I’m having the attic remodeled to make two bedrooms and a bathroom for you kids.”
“Wow! We’ll get to stay at Katrina’s house!” Pris said, grabbing her hand.
Alphé waited with the door open. “At last. The other half of my family.”
***
“If this were a real boat, we could stay here all night and sleep,” Maggie mumbled, curled up next to Justin. They’d made love, intense, satisfying love. But it was finished for now, and reality struck.
“Are you getting cold?” he asked.
“Freezing. But I want to lie here a little longer.”
They were naked, lying on seat cushions Maggie had placed on the floor. She glanced at Justin on his back, his penis lying on his thigh. There was something so vulnerable about him, open to the elements like he was; she suddenly felt anxious.
“We’d better get dressed.”
“Okay, just waiting on you to give the okay.”
“Ha, well, yes, it’s time to get back to the cottage and Brulee. All of this fresh air has knocked me out.”
They dressed, back-to-back, and he helped her jump up to the dock. Reluctantly ending the night, they gathered the things on the dock, joined hands, and walked back to Bayou Cottage, the lights on inside shining out into the pitch-black surroundings, just moonlight as a guide.
Brulee waited on the other side of the door. “I’ll take her,” Maggie said. “I want to see if Raven comes back. Could you shut that light off?”
“Okay. I’ll wait inside,” Justin said, switching the porch light off, getting the feeling she wanted to be alone out there. He’d give her the space she’d asked for earlier.
After leashing Brulee up, she led her down into her yard and waited by the fence. Yellow eyes shone in the darkness, most standing in the trees, but a few sitting on the grass in the yard.
“Raven,” Maggie whispered, making a clicking sound with her tongue. “Come here, please.”
