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Authors: Laydin Michaels
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provisions.”
Griffith was excited about the prospect of spending the day with
Adi. She’s starting to
trust me. I’ve just got to make sure that trust isn’t misplaced.
“Great. I really appreciate you giving me the tour.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
“Okay, on that note, I’m going to call it a night.”
“What, you aren’t going to help with the dishes?” Bertie said.
“Umm…”
“Aw, I’m just pulling your leg. It’s Adi’s turn to help Jose. You
and me, we can just slip on out.” She grabbed Griffith’s hand and led her out
the back door to the parking lot.
“Which rattle trap is yours?”
“I don’t think you can see it from here. I parked on the other
side of Adi’s truck.”
“Well. All right then. I’m in that Impala, there, so I’ll say
good night.”
“Good night, Bertie. Be careful getting home.”
“You too. Oh, before you go, I just want to say you sure have a good
way about you. I was all kinds of worried about how Dink was going to react
having a stranger in her business, but you calm her down. I’ve seen more smiles
on that girl today than I have in a month of Sundays. Be sure you don’t mess
that up, now. You go spooking her with too many questions and she’s going pull
herself all in like a big old turtle. Don’t you let that happen, you hear?”
“I hear you. I’ll be careful.”
“Good, see that you are.”
“Night, Bertie.”
“Good night.”
Chapter Five
Fool.
What made me go and invite her canoeing? She’s a reporter, for heaven’s sake.
Idiot. Adi punched the seat next to her in frustration. I’m never going to be a normal
person. I’ll always be tied to J.B. He killed me long ago and I’m still just
figuring that out. She’d helped Jose close up and headed to her car
about an hour after Bertie and Griffith left. She’d had nothing but regret over
her casual invitation to Griff. The knot in her belly was tighter than a
Baptist’s purse at happy hour. I
need to call her and tell her I’m sick or something. I can’t do this. She kicked herself, realizing the only thing she knew about contacting Griffith
was the hotel she was staying in.
Should I
just drive over there and start knocking on doors? No, that’s crazy. I just
have to suck it up and get through tomorrow. I’ll be okay. I just need to
forget about who she is and enjoy being on the bayou. If I just have fun, I can
keep her questions away. The thought of being on the bayou with
Griffith was pretty appealing, all in all. She liked her, enjoyed spending time
with her. Heck, when their hands had touched tonight, it was like she’d put her
hand on a live wire. The electric feeling that washed through her had been all
she thought about until now. I’d
like to touch more of her. Knowing Griffith might feel the same way
was distracting. That’s how the invitation had slipped out. She kept imagining
what it would be like to be floating on the quiet waters with Griffith in the
boat ahead of her. She’d be able to watch the wind play across Griff’s tangle
of soft golden curls, the subtle play of muscles in her arms and back as she
rowed.
I’ll be
able to imagine all sorts of things. But it’s not my imagination that she’s a
danger to me. She could destroy me with the slip of a pen. And the fantasies I
create in my mind around her could destroy me in this community if I ever acted
on them. I have to protect myself, my life. I have to do whatever it takes to
stay hidden.
She tried to shake off her fear and relax about the canoe trip,
but it was harder than she thought. Bertie was asleep in her chair when she got
home, but the creak of the door hinge had her sitting up and looking around.
“Hey, Dinky. How you doing?”
“Aw, Bertie. I don’t know how I’m doing. I’m getting myself in
all kinds of trouble with my big mouth.”
“Honey, you got a nice mouth. Not too big, not too small. Just
right, in fact. What’s worrying at you? You look like a dog circling a
Griffith was excited about the prospect of spending the day with
Adi. She’s starting to
trust me. I’ve just got to make sure that trust isn’t misplaced.
“Great. I really appreciate you giving me the tour.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
“Okay, on that note, I’m going to call it a night.”
“What, you aren’t going to help with the dishes?” Bertie said.
“Umm…”
“Aw, I’m just pulling your leg. It’s Adi’s turn to help Jose. You
and me, we can just slip on out.” She grabbed Griffith’s hand and led her out
the back door to the parking lot.
“Which rattle trap is yours?”
“I don’t think you can see it from here. I parked on the other
side of Adi’s truck.”
“Well. All right then. I’m in that Impala, there, so I’ll say
good night.”
“Good night, Bertie. Be careful getting home.”
“You too. Oh, before you go, I just want to say you sure have a good
way about you. I was all kinds of worried about how Dink was going to react
having a stranger in her business, but you calm her down. I’ve seen more smiles
on that girl today than I have in a month of Sundays. Be sure you don’t mess
that up, now. You go spooking her with too many questions and she’s going pull
herself all in like a big old turtle. Don’t you let that happen, you hear?”
“I hear you. I’ll be careful.”
“Good, see that you are.”
“Night, Bertie.”
“Good night.”
Chapter Five
Fool.
What made me go and invite her canoeing? She’s a reporter, for heaven’s sake.
Idiot. Adi punched the seat next to her in frustration. I’m never going to be a normal
person. I’ll always be tied to J.B. He killed me long ago and I’m still just
figuring that out. She’d helped Jose close up and headed to her car
about an hour after Bertie and Griffith left. She’d had nothing but regret over
her casual invitation to Griff. The knot in her belly was tighter than a
Baptist’s purse at happy hour. I
need to call her and tell her I’m sick or something. I can’t do this. She kicked herself, realizing the only thing she knew about contacting Griffith
was the hotel she was staying in.
Should I
just drive over there and start knocking on doors? No, that’s crazy. I just
have to suck it up and get through tomorrow. I’ll be okay. I just need to
forget about who she is and enjoy being on the bayou. If I just have fun, I can
keep her questions away. The thought of being on the bayou with
Griffith was pretty appealing, all in all. She liked her, enjoyed spending time
with her. Heck, when their hands had touched tonight, it was like she’d put her
hand on a live wire. The electric feeling that washed through her had been all
she thought about until now. I’d
like to touch more of her. Knowing Griffith might feel the same way
was distracting. That’s how the invitation had slipped out. She kept imagining
what it would be like to be floating on the quiet waters with Griffith in the
boat ahead of her. She’d be able to watch the wind play across Griff’s tangle
of soft golden curls, the subtle play of muscles in her arms and back as she
rowed.
I’ll be
able to imagine all sorts of things. But it’s not my imagination that she’s a
danger to me. She could destroy me with the slip of a pen. And the fantasies I
create in my mind around her could destroy me in this community if I ever acted
on them. I have to protect myself, my life. I have to do whatever it takes to
stay hidden.
She tried to shake off her fear and relax about the canoe trip,
but it was harder than she thought. Bertie was asleep in her chair when she got
home, but the creak of the door hinge had her sitting up and looking around.
“Hey, Dinky. How you doing?”
“Aw, Bertie. I don’t know how I’m doing. I’m getting myself in
all kinds of trouble with my big mouth.”
“Honey, you got a nice mouth. Not too big, not too small. Just
right, in fact. What’s worrying at you? You look like a dog circling a
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