The Pepper In The Gumbo: A Cane River Romance

by Hathaway, Mary Jane

  Alice managed a smile. It was if Bix thought she was going to be mad that he was out fishing with Paul. Well, she wasn’t happy. Paul was obviously focused on damage control. But she hadn’t told Bix anything about Paul buying her building. Now she wished she had. “I’m glad. I know how much you love fishing.” Just like he loved reading. Two things Paul had done for Bix that she couldn’t. He was good at finding a person’s weak spot.

  Andy came up behind them. “Hi, Alice.” He sounded cautious, as if she might bite his head off.

  Alice smiled sweetly at him. “Hey, Andy. How’ve you been? Probably nice to have the place to yourself.”

  He frowned, looking from her to Paul and back again.

  “I mean, since Paul’s staying with Holly.” That woman was a terror. She and Paul fit well together. Crazy and crazy made a good team.

  “Oh, no.” Paul shifted his feet. “She’s not… I didn’t invite her here.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t. But girlfriends have a habit of showing up at the worst times.” Alice turned to Bix. “I’m going to go lock up. I’m glad you had a good afternoon.”

  Bix tipped his hat up on his head. “See ya tomorrow.” He seemed amused. It was probably pretty funny from the outside. But from Alice’s perspective, love triangles were rotten no matter which angle you occupied.

  Seconds later she was safely in her store and all her anger slowly evaporated. Even though Paul had schemed and lied, seeing him still made her heart feel as if it was stuck in a vise.

  ***

  “Don’t say anything,” Paul muttered as Alice walked back into By the Book.

  “Bust-ed,” Andy said, drawing the word out in a long whisper.

  “I heard Louis talking down at The Red Hen this morning. Your girlfriend has made quite a stir in town. Alice is right to be jealous,” Bix said.

  “No, Holly and I aren’t―” Paul started.

  “Oh, I figured that. I ain’t seen you two together and when a man’s in love with a woman, he ends up in her general vicinity whether he wants to be or not.” Bix winked.

  Paul stared down at his shoes. He’d done his best to get out of town for a while and it wasn’t his fault she’d run out to see what happened to Bix. But he couldn’t argue there was some truth to Bix’s statement. He had found himself talking to Alice over and over in the past few weeks, and usually directly after deciding he should stay away.

  Paul sighed. They’d managed to get through a whole afternoon of fishing without approaching the topic of Alice and her misunderstanding.

  Bix went on. “Now, sir. Alice just has the wrong end of the stick. As soon as she comes around, you’ll see how sweet she can be,”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think it should be this hard.”

  Andy put his hands in his pockets and leaned against the green Caddy. The expression on his face said it all. Nothing good came from a start like this. No matter how much Paul wanted it to be otherwise.

  “You know Ruby is my second wife? My first one passed away ten years ago. Took me a long time to get over her,” Bix said.

  Paul nodded that he understood, but inside he was thinking that nothing Bix could say would touch what was happening in Paul’s life.

  “What you probably don’t know, is that my Ruby is my first wife’s sister.”

  “Whoa,” Andy said quietly.

  “Yep. We had thirty years of Thanksgiving dinners all together, with her husband and my wife. He was a good buddy of mine, too, God rest his soul.” Bix sighed, brown eyes misting over for a moment. “You can imagine the ruckus that got kicked up when we announced we was fixin’ to get married. Her kids worried she’d lost her marbles and my son was convinced she’d seduced me. It was a right mess.”

  Paul couldn’t hold back a laugh. He’d thought Bix was going to tell him some story about being late on a first date. The smile faded from his face. “But you knew you wanted to be together. We can’t even get to that point.”

  Bix clapped a hand to his shoulder. “Don’t give up, son. I’ve known Alice a long time. There’s not another woman like her. People like Alice, we say they put the pepper in the gumbo. Life just ain’t the same without them. Whatever you have to do to untangle this mess, she’s worth it.” He walked to the Caddy, opened the door, handed Andy a bucket full of fish, and got behind the wheel. Andy jumped away from the car as he started driving, tires squealing alongside the curb until the end of the block.

  They stood there, watching him go. Andy spoke first. “Well, that was pretty powerful stuff. Too bad you never take advice.”

  Paul shot him a look. “Come on. We’ve got fish to fry.”

  It was true, Bix’s words had touched him, making him rethink what he saw as a hopeless case. The pepper in the gumbo. He hadn’t noticed his life needed anything until she came along, but now he couldn’t imagine it without her. The thought of going back to New York City and his old life seemed bland and cold.

  But there was one problem with smoothing things over. Alice was the one who was going to have to eat crow. And she didn’t seem like the type of woman to do that more than once.

  ***

  Alice opened her eyes, then closed them again. Friday morning had never looked so bleak. She lay still, listening to the low thump of bass music from down the block. The grand opening of ScreenStop would be going on all day, culminating in a release party at midnight for the newest game. Alice sat up, prying her eyes back open. She’d kicked her quilt onto the floor in her sleep. Mrs. Gaskell and Rochester were curled at the end of the bed. “Don’t let Jane Eyre see you,” she said, and scratched them both behind the ears.

  A long, hot shower did nothing to improve her mood. She leaned into the spray, wishing she could turn back the clock. She hadn’t seen Paul since Tuesday when he’d pulled up in Bix’s green Cadillac. Mr. Crocket still hadn’t faxed her any papers, which just solidified every terrible doubt she had. And soon, Paul would be gone back to New York City and she’d have to fight him long distance. Alice turned around, letting the searing hot water pound against the base of her neck and shoulders. Paul was leaving and the phrase ‘mixed emotions’ couldn’t even begin to describe what was going on inside of her.

  She shut off the water and grabbed a towel. A few minutes later, she realized she’d been standing in front of her closet without even seeing her clothes. Snap out of it, she muttered to herself. You’re a stuck duck in a dry pond and no use moping about it. Nothing she could do would reverse what had already happened.

  She threw on a pair of black slacks and a green silk top. Breakfast didn’t appeal, so she headed downstairs, peeking out into the hallway to make sure it was empty. Down in the store, she fed the kitties, counting paws and tails, giving each one an extra pat of love. Not Darcy, of course. As she dumped coffee grounds into the machine, she heard the sound of the fax machine starting up.

  Her stomach lurched. The store Mr. Perrault had lovingly maintained― the building that had been home to her since she was a teenager― was going to be in someone else’s hands. Now was the moment it would all be confirmed.

  Alice walked toward the machine, her legs numb and her pulse pounding in her ears. Papers spewed from the slot. She watched them, sourness in the back of her throat. When the machine went still, she forced herself to reach out a hand and pull the stack from the tray. It was almost too hot to touch. Her fingers trembled as she flipped the pages over.

  Scanning the words, Alice’s eyes went wide. The price Paul had paid Norma was three times the price of the building. She shook her head. He must have known that if he offered her the same money, and let her pay off Norma Green, she would have refused. She wouldn’t have sold for any price.

  The second page contained so much legalese she had to read it three times. Jurisdiction remains with the current owner, Alice Millicent Augustine, as stated on the property title. The plaintiff, Norma Greene, agrees that she has no further claim to the property…

  Alice sat down on the stool behind the coun
ter, reading the paper one more time. Paul had been telling the truth. Her face felt tight with unshed tears. Her first urge was to run upstairs and throw herself in his arms, begging him for forgiveness. But there were some slights that were too large for a simple apology. Accusing someone of stealing your home was one of them.

  Darcy jumped down from his spot and stalked across the floor toward the counter. Alice watched him, her body numb, mind turning in on itself, over and over again. She couldn’t grasp how she had been so wrong, so many times. Darcy came around the counter and sat in front of her, green eyes steady.

  “What’s wrong with me, Darcy?” Alice whispered, her voice choked with tears. “How can I receive so many good things, and turn them into ashes? Why do I push everybody away?”

  Darcy stepped toward her and rubbed his head against her leg.

  “I was just trying to do the right thing. I wanted Charlie to be proud of her culture. I wanted the kids of Cane River to keep reading. I feel like I ruined everything.” Her breath hitched on the last word and she raised a hand to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye. “But the harder I held on, the faster everything slipped away.”

  She reached down and picked up Darcy, cuddling him close. “When you realized you were wrong, you paid off Wickham and saved Lydia’s reputation. But there’s no beau geste for me, is there?”

  She buried her face in Darcy’s fur. She used to be so sure of everything. Her way was right, everyone else’s was wrong. It was simple, really. Until one man walked into her life and she realized that might not really be the case. And between that meeting and the realization was a whole lot of bad behavior on her part.

  She’d been petty, jealous, and small-minded. Mr. Perrault would never have treated Paul that way, even though he felt technology was a dangerous tool that was more likely to be abused than to make the world better. Alice had let her personal opinions stand in the way of seeing him as a person.

  The little brass bell at the door jingled. Darcy wiggled out of her arms and Alice let him drop to the ground. She quickly wiped her eyes and turned to greet the new customer.

  Charlie stood there, hands in her pockets. She was dressed in her usual T-shirt, jeans and red Converse. Her black T-shirt had the ScreenStop seraph in bright red, and her blond hair was dyed blue at the ends. “Hey, Miss Alice.”

  Alice came around the counter and walked toward her. They’d never been the hugging type but she was so glad to see Charlie, she didn’t even ask. She gathered her close and squeezed her tight. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you, too” Charlie said, her voice soft. “I’m sorry what I said to you.”

  Alice pulled back. “No, you were right. I’ve been a real…”

  “McJudgy-pants jerkwad?”

  “Um, okay.” Alice laughed. “Not the words I would have used, but I suppose that will work.”

  “Because that’s what I feel like I’ve been, too,” Charlie said, gaze down. “I really put this whole store opening before anything else. You’ve been my friend for a long time and I was gonna quit just so I could get discounts on games.” She looked up. “My mom said that was pretty rude and I didn’t think she was right. But I had some time to think about it.”

  Alice hugged her tight. “I’m so glad you came in.”

  Charlie smiled. “When I heard someone found your rings, I wanted to tell you I was happy for you.”

  She felt the air stop in her lungs. “What?”

  “The scavenger hunt. Someone found your rings and they won the big prize.”

  Alice stepped back. “I don’t understand.”

  “I told you. The day I left, remember?”

  “No, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Charlie stared at her for a second, then shook her head. “Wow. I thought you and Paul were really close. Maybe it was supposed to be a surprise. Or maybe he just didn’t want to get your hopes up. But that’s why everybody’s been crawling up and down the board walk. Of course, the guy who found it had a metal detector. That made it easier. But all they knew was it was a necklace with two gold rings somewhere between here and city hall.”

  Alice looked over Charlie’s shoulder toward the sidewalk. There were plenty of strange people walking around. A man with a leather facemask and a studded breastplate held hands with a woman in a long, purple dress. Two women passed by wearing tiny shorts and knee high boots, their leather corsets laced up tight. But none of them were searching through the grass anymore on their hands and knees.

  “What was the prize?” Alice’s voice sounded muffled to her own ears.

  “Early access to the newest game, some bonus equipment and a map to where all the rare-spawn items are.” Charlie went on when she saw Alice’s expression. “Like flying dragons and special gear and… It’s hard to explain. People go crazy looking for that stuff. And if you have it, you’re totally famous. Everybody wants to know where you found it. You can’t buy them. You just have to play and hope you get lucky.”

  You can’t buy them. The words echoed in Alice’s heart. She’d accused Paul of trying to buy everyone around him, of using his money to make people like him. He could have offered a reward for her rings, but instead he used what he knew would bring more attention.

  “Are you going to the opening?” Alice asked.

  “Sure,” she said. “I think everybody is. Well, except you, probably. I’ve been working on my costume all week.”

  Alice swallowed hard. “What if I wanted to go? Would you help me fix up a costume?”

  Charlie’s eyes went wide and then she laughed out loud. “I sure would, Miss Alice, but we better get started right away.”

  “Let me just lock up,” Alice said, moving toward the front door.

  “Right in the middle of a Friday?”

  She flipped the welcome sign and turned the lock on the front door. “It’s the ScreenStop grand opening. I don’t think I should miss it.”

  Alice barely heard Charlie’s chatter as she rushed to the stairs, hoping there was something in Alice’s closet they could use. She followed behind, thinking of how she was acting on faith that Paul would even want to see her.

  She used to roll her eyes when people would say they received some kind of divine message from God. She was a believer, no doubt about that, but she thought people sometimes looked for signs where there weren’t any. But maybe it was like that famous quote and you “knew it when you saw it.” Well, Alice knew it. She got it. These past weeks had shined a light on the dark places in her soul. And as selfish and petty as she’d been, there was only one thing to do: ask forgiveness and vow to do better.

  Whatever happened between her and Paul tonight, Alice knew she had a chance to change for the better. And that was something money couldn’t buy.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Technology is the knack of so arranging the world that we

  don’t have to experience it.—Max Frisch

  The bass thump of the techno music seemed to be burrowing deep into Paul’s brain. He massaged one temple and tried to smile as he passed a group of screaming gamers lined up at the door. “Mr. Olivier! Mr. Olivier! Paul!” He reached out and shook a few hands, feeling the unnerving tug of many hands grabbing him closer.

  Andy played bad cop and pulled him toward the door, not sparing a glance for the disappointed fans who waved posters and games.

  “Popular as ever,” Andy said as they got through the front door.

  Paul shrugged. He’d never loved this part of the opening. He liked a party, but much smaller and a lot less noise. “Everything’s on schedule. Jared Darren flew in a few hours ago. He should walk on to perform right at midnight. We’ll open the doors in ten minutes.”

  They’d been at the store all day, meeting with performers and directing the setup of the stage and displays. They had a great team in place, plus the two they’d flown in from Houston. But both he and Andy liked to be hands-on before the openings. If you want it done right, do it yourself they said. Usual
ly the excitement was like a quadruple espresso shot, keeping him awake through the night.

  Andy put a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s get this done and then we’ll get out of here. Straight to the jet.”

  Paul nodded. “Sounds good to me.” The words didn’t set well and his stomach twisted with the lie. No part of that sounded good, but he didn’t really have any reason to stay in Natchitoches. He’d teased Andy about spending a month on the river and making a Southern boy out of him, but he couldn’t imagine running into Alice again and again. He didn’t want to go back to New York City and live as if he’d never met her, never fallen in love with her, but he didn’t have a lot of choice.

  ***

  “Alice?”

  She turned at the sound of her name and saw Mrs. Olivier walking down the sidewalk. Paul’s mother gave her a long look, then turned to Charlie. “You must be Aalyea, the dragon queen.”

  Charlie flipped her blond braid over her shoulder and beamed. “Yes! It took me all week to sew this dress.” The shimmery silver gown crossed in front and then tied around the back, the skirt falling straight to the ground. Alice thought she looked more like a Greek goddess than a dragon queen, but then again, she’d never seen either one.

  “And who are you cosplaying, Alice?”

  She cleared her throat. “Elizabeth Barrett Browning.” She smoothed down the brown folds of her gown and straightened her lace cuffs. Charlie had borrowed a black velvet coat with lots of small, brass buttons from a friend who’d been the Headless Horseman one Halloween. It was snug on her, but over the brown dress, she did look quite a bit like a nineteenth century poetess. It took a while to get the hairdo right, parted in the middle, combed flat, and falling in ringlets. It wasn’t particularly flattering, but Alice thought it had to be better than an orc costume.

  Charlie rolled her eyes. “I tried to explain to her that you’re supposed to dress like someone from the game, some character.”

  Mrs. Olivia looked at Alice for a long time, the smile that touched her lips growing wider and wider. “Do you have plans for tonight, Alice?”