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“Zumba.”
“Yeah, zumber. Latin dancing for exercise? Jeez, what will they think of next? Polka golf or two-step boxing? I saw a show on how women are doing roller derby for exercise. And one woman took up pole dancing like hoochie girl just to lose weight. I tell ya, what’s wrong with the world?”
“Now, now, Don. Let that kind of thing go. Flora has always liked different things.”
Her father leveled his eyes at her mother and gave her the look. He always gave Phylis the look when they talked about Flora being different. Her father was convinced Flora was a lesbian, which both amused and aggravated Addy. Like choosing not to marry and have kids automatically put you playing for the other team. He’d never understood Flora’s unrequited love for Mr. Millard O’Boyle—thought the whole thing was a beard for liking other women.
“Flora’s not gay, Dad. And if she were, what would that matter?”
“Harrumph, I’m Catholic,” Don said, glancing away and refusing to discuss the issue.
“Okay, honey, we need to be off to the doctor’s office.” Phylis knew how to head off an argument. “The parking is horrible at that place, and your father refuses to park the Cadillac in the sun so we go round and round that parking garage.”
“Like I want the sun to fade the paint? I paid over fifty thousand dollars for that thing, and it’s gotta last till I’m in the grave.”
Phylis rolled her eyes and pulled Addy into a quick hug, patting her on the bottom like a four-year-old. “Be good, sweet girl, and don’t mess around with that Texas man too much. You need you a good New Orleans boy. I want some grandchildren from you one day.”
…and the clock ticked.
Yeah, that was mentioned every time she saw her mother. What was with mothers? They all wanted babies to bounce on their knees. And Phylis already had seven grandchildren. Besides Phylis should have already figured out warning her away from Lucas only made her want to run toward him.
Same ol’ Addy. Rebellious streak a mile wide and doubly deep.
Her dad engulfed her with a hug and kiss on each cheek. “Don’t forget to remind Flora about Monday. East Jefferson Security. Ten o’clock. On second thought maybe I better make it for the afternoon.”
“Whatever you want, Dad.” Addy sighed.
Her parents finally made their way to the door, only after hugging Shelia and her dad sneaking three pieces of candy from the candy jar that still sat by the register just the way Millard O’Boyle had left it thirty-six years ago when he’d sold the store to Flora.
“Whew,” Addy said, breathing a deep sigh. “My parents wear me out.”
“They love you.”
“Well, yeah, but they’re always trying to manage me the way they’ve done all my life.”
“So tell the security guy to get lost… though I do believe your father is right. It would be comforting to press that button every night and know you have one more layer of protection. I know mine gives me comfort.”
“If you say so, but we both know from experience a determined man can get around security systems, gated neighborhoods, and even safe houses. How many tales have we heard of failed security?”
“Too many to name, but I’ll stick by feeling a little bit easier when I put my head on my pillow.”
Addy didn’t say anything else, just moved to her station and focused on losing herself in her work for the next few hours. She didn’t want to think about Robbie and the way the thought of him roaming the streets, hers in particular, made her stomach curdle. Fear was a powerful motivator, and it was damn near impossible to subdue when allowed to rear its head within her.
“I won’t be a victim,” she said out loud after several minutes of dwelling on alarms and things outside of her control.
What had she said to Michael?Control what you can control.
So what could she control?
Not her feelings for her Texas cowboy.
At that moment, her inner rebel ripped through the barrier she’d erected long ago and claimed Addy. Lucas wasn’t forever, but he might give her something she needed in her life—an opportunity to feel normal with a man who turned her on and flipped everything sideways.
Addy needed Lucas… if only for a weekend.
Excitement and happiness over the upcoming “date” welled up in the empty places fear tried to inhabit. This weekend was hers to laugh, smile, and feel good about being desirable to Lucas. Monday would come with alarms, parole hearings, and the possibility of Lucas leaving, but tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday belonged to her.
She was in control of that at the very least.
