"We're not twins. We're just lucky streak girls who are bestest friends. This is our other friend. His name is Chuck," Lizzy said.
Everett winked at Griffin. "I see. Well, I woulda thought them girls belonged to you and that boy was her kid. Funny how kittens don't always look like the momma cat, ain't it?"
Julie didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
It really didn't matter which one she did. The truth was out.
Chapter 7
THE ROOM WHERE THEY HELD THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING was packed. Griffin sat behind an eight-foot table with four other men. Each one had a folder in front of him. Mamie, Julie, and Annie had barely squeezed into the crowded room when the meeting was called to order and the first order of business concerning a winter festival was opened.
Clarice pushed her way through the crowd to the little podium set up at the end of the table. She was in her glory with a captive audience. She flipped open a notebook and looked around at the faces for thirty seconds before she began. The head she-coon had come loaded for bear, dressed for the occasion in a black pantsuit and with her hair freshly done. Two diamond rings on each hand and glittering studs in her ear lobes, along with gold fingernails on her pinky fingers, let everyone know that she was Saint Jo's rich and famous. Anyone worth their salt would sit up and listen when she spoke.
Julie ignored her and stole sideways glances toward Griffin. He was freshly shaven with a tiny little dried blood patch on his neck. She had the insane desire to reach out and touch it.
Clarice ranted and raved and reiterated all the reasons why she would not support a festival. Then she called for a vote.
Griffin looked up. He'd tried to keep his eyes downcast so that he wouldn't look at Julie. He'd known the minute she came into the room and in order to keep his mind on the meeting, he couldn't afford to look at her. "Just a minute. You had your say. It's only fair the other side gets their say now. We want this to be fair, Clarice."
She gave him a go-to-hell look. "I thought you was on my side, Griffin Luckadeau. Your grandmother and I were best friends. You're going against your family because of that schoolteacher's word that that kid belongs to your brother."
Julie inhaled deeply. Jefferson, Texas, had an under current of disapproval concerning the possibility that one of their teachers had committed adultery against the most powerful man in the county, but no one had embarrassed her like Clarice. Leave it to the small-town big shot to make her life miserable.
"I'm sayin' that this is a council meeting, not a mud- throwing contest. Folks want to throw stones they'd best be lookin' to see if they're livin' in glass houses. Ain't that right, Clarice?" Griffin wished he could haul Julie out of there and protect her.
"Don't you sass me, boy. I won't have it."
"Okay, then let's do this proper and by the books. Mamie, I think it's your turn," Griffin said.
Mamie gave a prepared ten-minute speech. She would have liked to have a place to show a PowerPoint presentation so everyone could see what the festival in other towns looked like, what kind of revenue it brought the city, etc., but there wasn't room.
"The agenda is open now for anyone else to speak. Five minutes. Anyone?" Griffin was about to put it to the vote when Alvera rushed through the door.
"I'm late. Had a cow down and had to pull a calf but I'm here and yes, Griffin, I want to talk. You say I've got five minutes? Hit the watch and tell me when my time is up." She talked as she made her way to the podium. A dark stain dotted her chambray shirt and what was on her boots didn't appear to be mud.
"I'm lookin' at a bunch of you old timers. Remember back when this square was a boomin' place? Remember when we used to go to town on Saturday night and if we wasn't early we had to park a block away? Remember when us kids played on the lawn in the square and our mothers talked recipes and how to get grass stains out of our clothes and our fathers talked about cows and crops? The stores all stayed open on Saturday night until eight o'clock and in the summer time we could buy a snow cone if we had a nickel. Now them was the good old days. I ain't sayin' this one festival will bring it all back in one year but these kids that's willin' to put in the work and try to build Saint Jo back up is just tryin' to make it look like it did back then. So before you go shootin' 'em down, think on it and give 'em a chance. Is my time up, Griffin?"
He checked his watch. "You got another minute."
"Good. Then I'll use it talk to the older folks in the room. That would be Clarice and Everett and y'all that are about our age. We won't be here in fifty years but these kids will be. Let 'em do their best to make things better and I'll guaran-damn-tee you that they'll leave an example for the next generation after them to do the same. To hell with the porta-potties and the police force. I'll write a check myself for the extra money to support Mamie's idea," she said.
"Time's up now," Griffin said.
The issue went to the vote. Three councilmen were for the festival. Two, one of which was Griffin, were against it. The people in the room voted next. It was marginal but still the pro-vote outnumbered the con-vote.
"Mamie, are you going to spearhead this like you do the Fourth of July?" Griffin asked.
"I'm willing to take it on. Julie says she'll help," she said.
"Then I guess it's your baby. It's going to be a lot of work to get it ready for this season. You sure you don't want to wait until next year to kick it off?"
"I'm sure," Mamie said.
"Okay, then it's on to the next item on the agenda. Those of you who came for the festival controversy can go now or else stay for the rest of the meeting."
The place cleared out quickly with only a handful of people left behind.
"Did we win, Momma?" Annie asked.
"I think we did, but when you consider the work ahead, maybe we didn't," Mamie answered for Julie.
"No one told me Griffin was a councilman," Julie said.
"What was that woman talkin' about? She said your kid so that's me isn't it, Momma, what did she mean when she said something about Griffin's brother?"
Julie sighed. "We'll talk about it later. Mamie, you got time for a Dairy Queen sundae before we all go home?"
"Honey, I've always got time for ice cream. My little fat cells threaten to go on strike if I don't have at least a cone of vanilla once a day," Mamie laughed.
Alvera caught them in the parking lot. "That was more fun than I've had since the time me and Clarice got into it over the damn Thanksgiving turkey wishbone. We decided to play poker for it and when I won she threw a bitch fit that lasted a whole year. God, I'm hopin' she don't speak to me for two years over tonight. You kids need a donation, you call me first. I'll be glad to help out."
"Thanks for everything, Alvera," Julie said.
Alvera grabbed both Julie and Mamie in a three-way hug. "Thanks hell. I want a hug. I thought I did a fine job up there bringin' 'em around to our way of thinkin'. Can you think up something else to make her mad? I'll stand with you. 'Tween the three of us we might make her blood pressure go up so high she'll have to go to one of them spas and stay a year or two."
"Ooooh, she don't want to go to no spawn. That's what that mean woman said about Lizzy. That she was a spawn. Is that a dirty word, Momma?" Annie asked.
Alvera's laughter rang up the streets. "I like that kid. She'll be sure to make some changes in this place when her time comes. I'm goin' home now and see about my new baby calf. Y'all have a nice night. Mine is wonderful just knowin' that Clarice can't even bite her fingernail 'cause it's gold."
"She's a piece of work," Julie said when Alvera was in her truck and on her way home.
"A good piece. See you at the Dairy Queen," she said as they parted ways and went to their own vehicles.
They were still sitting in the booth having peanut buster parfaits when Griffin walked through the doors.
"Griff, come and sit with us," Mamie yelled.
Julie could have strangled her new friend, right there in the Dairy Queen in the dining room with everyo
ne who wanted to watch having a ringside seat.
He ordered an ice cream cone and a cup of coffee and joined them.
"Clarice is gunning for you," he said.
"Which one of us?" Mamie asked.
"Both of you. I wouldn't want her mad at me, I'm here to tell you." He propped one leg over the other and accidentally touched Julie's thigh, setting it on fire.
She chewed the inside of the bottom of her lip. Maybe she ought to put herself in a position to go to bed with him just so she could get over the attraction. Hell no! Fighting fire with fire would just give her twice the opportunity to get burned.
"Clarice is more growl than bite," Mamie said.
"She's ninety percent bluff and ten percent mean. But I wouldn't want to test her, Mamie. That ten percent would make a Texas rattler look like a fishin' worm." He licked his ice cream.
That innocent gesture made Julie's insides go to mush. The whole thing with the Luckadeaus living in Saint Jo wasn't fair and she fully well intended to take up the matter with God when she got home. He could have at least thrown a wrench in her plans or maybe shown her a Luckadeau before she moved to Saint Jo. It was all His fault. He could have done something about it.
"So you going to be all right with the festival?" Mamie asked.
"Have to be. Still don't think you should have another one. Still think you're going to be sorry as hell, but it's your baby, like I said. Raise it or let it die crib death. I don't give a damn. Just don't ask me to help in any way. I do my duty on the Fourth of July. Julie, could I have a word with you in private?"
Julie's gaze went from the last bite of her sundae to his face. Did she hear him right? Did he really just ask for a private word with her? Was it showdown time? Did she need to load her six guns and put on her stomping boots?
"What for?" she asked.
"I'd rather discuss it outside, please."
"Of course. Mamie?" Julie asked flatly.
"I'll sit right here while Annie finishes her ice cream," Mamie said.
She walked side by side with him to the door. He opened it and stepped aside and then she followed him out to the bed of his truck. At least he didn't reach out and cup his hand over her elbow. She didn't think she could stand for him to touch her many more times without it driving her completely loco.
"What's so important?" she asked.
"It's confidential. We got a problem, me and you."
"I told you before I'm not here to collect anything for Annie. She's a Donavan and always will be." Julie's tone was one of exasperation.
"I believe you. I do. At first, I didn't, but I do now. The problem hasn't got anything to do with us but with our girls," he said.
"Please don't say that Lizzy can't come back to play at our house. I know it looks horrid on the outside and I'm meanin' to paint it, but with teaching and canning for Mamie, I haven't had time."
"God Bless! I'm not that kind of person. I don't care if the place is painted or not. Lizzy loves Annie and the both of them love Chuck and he's our problem," Griffin said.
"What did he do?" Julie asked.
"Nothing, far as I know. Are you aware that this whole past month our girls have been taking extra food for him?"
"I don't mind. He's just a little boy and he was so skinny. I think I can see him filling out a little bit. Boys are so hungry at that age and he doesn't like the lunchroom food, especially on fish stick days," Julie said.
"That's because fish sticks were the only food his momma bought for him. They're easy to make in the microwave and he ate them so much he threw them up." Griffin looked out into the night air.
"How'd you know that? And since you do know it, why are you upset about our girls feeding him?"
Griffin squirmed. "It's confidential, like I said. Lizzy and Annie are best friends. I don't want to hinder that and yet… oh, hell. I know and I'm not supposed to know and what I do is going to affect us."
"Spit it out, Griffin. What in the hell is going on?"
"I'm friends with the men on the police force. Tonight they are going to raid the Chesters' trailer. His father and mother are cooking meth in it as well as in their car and their shed. They're going to jail, probably for a very long time. Chuck is going to foster care."
"Oh, no!" Julie exhaled and forgot to suck in more air. Her lungs hurt before she remembered.
"There's three or four people in Saint Jo who run foster care homes. They're all full, but Marita and Carl have been foster care parents before, so they're licensed. What do you think of him living at the ranch?"
"You'd do that?" Julie asked.
He nodded. "I called Marita and she said she didn't want the full-time responsibility of a child but she wouldn't mind watching him with Lizzy. She'd be the actual foster parent but I'd be his caretaker, so to speak."
"I think it's wonderful."
Griffin propped an arm on the back of the truck. "Okay, here's the thing. When Lizzy comes to play at your house, which is most Saturday afternoons now, is Chuck going to be welcome to come along, too?"
"Of course, he is! They'll be delighted that their other friend can join them. I'd take him in myself but I'm not qualified. I'll keep him and Lizzy any time. Overnight. Anytime you want time," she said.
"Okay, then I'll make some calls. I just wanted to run this by you before I did. Lizzy hasn't ever been happier."
"Neither has Annie," she said.
"Well, then, good night," he said and paused.
The moment was pregnant with tension and for a moment his eyes went dreamy and half closed as if he were about to lean down and kiss her. She got ready for it, but he turned his head and started around the truck.
Damn, damn, damn, she swore silently. She'd been ready for his lips to touch hers and more than ready to give back as good as she got. Why did he stop right then? Folks talked about women being a tease; well, Griffin Luckadeau was one that night.
She slapped her leg as he drove away, inhaled several times to get the raw desire under control, and headed back into the Dairy Queen. Next time, by damn, she'd kiss him.
Chapter 8
THE GAZEBO IN THE CENTER OF SAINT JO'S TOWN SQUARE was decorated in red and green. Christmas music was broadcast over loudspeakers and the square was filled with vendors of every kind. People milled about buying food, sitting on the square in their lawn chairs, or getting their Christmas shopping done in advance. There was a chill in the morning air, but nothing that a light jacket wouldn't take care of. Deborah and Luke Donavan looked at mirror art, carved wooden items, and so many other things that Deborah could scarcely remember them all.
"Ribbons for her hair," she finally said. "That's what I'll buy today. Ribbons and fancy things for Annie's hair. Red and green ones, so she'll have them for the Christmas play at church."
Luke pulled out his wallet to pay for her purchases. "You've missed them terribly haven't you?"
"Yes, I have. I wonder when they'll get here?" She was as excited as a little child on Christmas morning. Watching Julie take Annie to the car that last day was almost more than she could endure. If it hadn't been for the trip to the holy land to look forward to and plan, she was sure she would have lost her mind.
"Any time. It's five minutes until ten now and Julie said they'd meet us in Molly's at ten. You don't think we hurt her feelings by staying in the hotel, do you?"
"She remembers how loud you snore," Deborah said. "Besides, it was an experience I wouldn't have missed. Who would have thought there'd be such a quaint little hotel right here on this square? There's Annie! Oh, look at her, Luke. She's grown so much." Deborah was almost giddy. She'd never gone three months without seeing her daughter or her granddaughter before. She opened up her arms and started toward Annie.
She grasped her heart. "Oh! Oh! Oh! Do something, Luke. Call the police. Do something."
Luke shoved his wallet back in his pocket and grabbed her. "Deborah, are you all right?"
Deborah was as pale as yesterday's ashes and pointing across the sq
uare. "Call the police. That man in the baseball hat just grabbed Annie from behind and put her in his truck with a little red-haired boy. Look, they're driving away now. That man just kidnapped our granddaughter."
"Grammy, Grammy, over here," Annie's voice yelled from behind her.
The little dark-haired girl barreled into her grand father's arms and reached for her grandmother to join them in a three-way hug. Julie stood back for a moment before entering in on the embrace.
Getting Lucky Page 12
