AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Great. I think I’m low on cornmeal.”
I gave him a thumbs-up and headed up the hill to where I’d parked. I laid my towel across the seat to avoid any possible fish contamination from my stinky self. Within seconds of pulling onto the street, my sister called. “Y’all went fishing on a Monday?”
“Are you surprised by that?” I rolled the window down halfway because I refused to turn on the AC and get the smell sucked into my car’s air filter.
“I’m surprised he took you fishing is all. I’m having a hard time picturing it. Tanner doesn’t often take Jake fishing. It’s his alone time thing he does when he’s stressed.”
I would only share a little about that. “He is stressed right now, but I think he took me fishing to de-stress me more than him. I was pacing and it might have gotten on his nerves.”
“Why are y’all so stressed? Has something happened?” Leah suddenly sounded suspicious.
“Can’t really talk about it right now. He’s the one having to deal with some stuff.” It wasn’t my place to discuss the lawsuit and Carson’s shenanigans.
“Uh-huh. Something that’s gotyoupacing enough that he took you fishing on a Monday?”
“I’d hoped you were calling to tell me that y’all are coming to eat fish with us tonight at the trailer. I’m headed home to shower and get more stuff for dinner.”
“We’re coming, all right. What can I bring?”
“Hmm. Dessert? ButnotJell-O salad. Nobody likes that but you and Momma. Maybe get something up in town if you can.”
“Everybody loves Jell-O salad but you. Anyway, I just picked up some mini peach cobbler Bundt cakes from Sheri’s on Washington Street. I saw she had them on special on her Facebook page. I’ve been craving peach cobbler lately.”
“Sounds like a winner. Wait, why are you craving peach cobbler? Are you pregnant?”
Leah laughed at that. “No. Of course not. Wait. I don’t think so. No, of course not. I like peach cobbler is all.”
“Well, bring it with you. But you might want to check into whether you’re pregnant.” Pregnancy for Leah was a sensitive subject, as she’d had a miscarriage several years ago, well before she and Jake had gotten back together for good. “Leah?” She’d gone silent. “Are you still there?”
“I’m here. I’m pretty sure I’m not pregnant.”
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
I invited Nana to our impromptu fish fry as soon as I arrived at her house.
“Darlin,’ y’all go on and have a nice evening. I’ve got a couple programs I’m planning to watch on the Netflix tonight.” But of course, by the time I’d showered and was ready to leave, she sent me on my way with a homemade jar of tartar sauce and a fresh lettuce and tomato salad with chopped red onions and crumbled feta cheese. She was a magic food lady.
CHAPTER TEN
Tanner had clearlytaken a shower while I’d been gone. His hair was still damp, and he smelled like soap and deodorant as he helped me carry things from my car. I’d noticed that about him in the office, that he wasn’t a cologne wearer, but he always smelled good.
He’d gotten some sun today, same as me. At some point this afternoon, he’d taken off his shirt in the boat, with my permission. So, I assume, he’d gotten plenty of sun on his back and torso. His lean, muscular torso. Taking off shirts is what guys did out in the boat, so it wasn’t unexpected. But, dang, he was getting under my skin, and I swear he didn’t have a clue.
I could smell the seasonings and spices as the hot oil did its magic, crisping the cornmeal crust. Frying fish was a rite of passage around here. Everybody did it. We all had a big fry pot that doubled as a crawfish pot setup and a tank of liquid butane so that the messy cooking could be done outdoors. He’d made hush puppies and french fries.
“Do you think Nana would share her tartar sauce recipe?” Tanner asked as we all sat together eating at the picnic table outside.
“Nana doesn’t believe in keeping secret family recipes, so sure she will,” Leah answered. “But I’ll let you know that hers is always better.”
“Are you accusing your sainted grandmother of leaving out an ingredient or two when she shares her recipes?” Jake placed his hand over his heart as if the shock might kill him.
We all laughed at that idea. “I can’t say she would do it on purpose, but since she doesn’t actually use written recipes, the retelling of them might lose something in translation.”
A shadow fell over the group. “Well, well, looks like I wasn’t on the guest list.”
In our laughter, we hadn’t noticed Carson’s approach. His arrival was the proverbial wet blanket on the evening, as all laughter ended abruptly like the sudden scratching on a vinyl record when the music is interrupted. Tanner stood from his seat at the end of the table, towering over the older man. “What are you doing here?”
“I didn’t hear from you, so I decided to stop by and make sure you got my message.” Carson’s smile was as dead eyed as the fish heads in the bucket that sat waiting to be disposed of some twenty feet away.
