Read Online Southern Hearts by Katie P. Moore - Free Book Online

like Lani, she’s a sweet girl. I’ll make a couple of turkey and roast beef sandwiches. Two each. Hopefully that will hold you.” Marney went on, “I think she deserves to have some fun in her life after everything that’s happened. I think a hike and a picnic is just what she needs.”
    What she needs? Marney’s statement made me think of our conversation in the car, how it had taken a hairpin turn and how Lani had dodged my questions. The topic seemed like a heavy one. Whatever it was, clearly it had made her uneasy; perhaps I hadn’t asked the right questions or hadn’t pursued the answers with enough interest.
    “I think she deserves it too,” I said. I didn’t want to show my hand and let Marney know that I had no idea what had gone on with Lani.

    We headed toward Lake Charles, along the southern portion of Louisiana near the border of Texas, passing through several parishes with an array of ethnicity and culture. The people represented a kaleidoscope stretched from impoverished to wealthy and everything in the middle, one where English and French meshed. The smell of sea salt blanketed the air, which was balmy and thick, and the land was a tapestry of intertwining beach and prairie.
    “This is a beautiful spot. It’s amazing that places that seem so untouched still exist.”
    “I love it here.”
    We walked leisurely over the carved path of dirt that zigzagged as far as I could see, weaving and turning back on itself, up and over grass-covered knolls until Lake Calcasieu came into view. Dried weeds and tall palms fanned out over us, rustling into a hum as the gulf breeze blew inland.
    Lani put her hand into mine as we walked. The gesture made me a bit uncomfortable. I wanted to pull away, but I thought such a hasty retreat from her affection would likely hurt her feelings. Instead, I held her hand limply within mine, finally breaking free to unfold the throw that had been balled up in my backpack and spread it over the warm ground.
    Lani knelt on the tassels along the blanket’s edge, raking her fingers through the tight, snarled hair just above her ears as if knowing that after the tiring hike it would be mussed and out of place.
    “It’s a bit hard to believe that you haven’t seen more of the state.” I unpacked some plastic cups from the basket and opened a can of soda that was only mildly warm.
    “Yeah, it’s hard to think that I was born in such a beautiful place but never had the opportunity to admire it.” She tipped the rim of her cup onto her dried lips, holding it there and then taking a sip. “But my mother was born here too and I doubt she has stopped to notice just how lovely it really is.”
    We looked out over the sparkling azure of the lake’s surface. It glistened like coins in a fountain as the sunlight danced over the plethora of whitecaps.
    I unwrapped a sandwich and placed it in the center of one of the napkins that I put down in front of her.
    “Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you had made even one different choice?” Lani took a bite of her sandwich and then set it back down.
    “I wish I would have made a lot of different choices. But then, sometimes I think that if I had, I wouldn’t have the knowledge I have or be as strong as I am.” I took two quick chomps out of my sandwich, then peered into the middle to see what kind it was.
    “All I need is one choice back, and my whole life could be a complete reverse of what it is now.”
    “What one thing would you change?” I took a swig of soda, coughing as tiny bread crumbs sucked down into my lungs. “Maybe I’m prying. I seem to have been doing that a lot lately, and believe me, it is uncharacteristic.”
    “I don’t mind, it’s part of my life and the things I have done, all the stuff I have experienced. I’m not proud of some of them, but I’m not embarrassed either. After all, I know my mother or yours will get around to telling you sooner or later anyway.” She pushed back until