Bitter Root

by Laydin Michaels

  Griffith nodded. Not so bad, for being shot. A few days in the hospital, therapy. Now, if I can just keep Adi by my side…“Thank you, Doctor.”

  “No problem. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll leave my contact information with the nurse. For now, know you’ll see me again at morning rounds.”

  “Thanks.”

  When the doctor left, Adi kissed the top of her hand. “I’m so glad you’re going to be okay. I was scared I was going to lose you.”

  “I’m glad too. Mostly, I’m glad to see you sitting there, to know that you’re okay and still here.”

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else. T is outside. He wants you to know he’s praying for you.”

  Griffith laughed. “Good thing. I need a few prayers. What about J.B.? Are you safe here?”

  “Mike and his guys were here for a long time. The guy who shot you is out of surgery now and they’re waiting to talk to him. Mike’s sure they can get him to finger J.B. for this. He told me I’m not likely in danger at this point. They’re thinking that J.B. arranged the hit, but made sure he was far from the location to give himself an alibi. He doesn’t think J.B. had any idea we involved the authorities, or he would have arranged a kidnapping or something. He’s given me clearance to leave as long as I update him on my location. Basically, they’re taking this on full force and we get to go on with our lives.”

  “And what is your life going to be? Now that this is done? Will you go back to New Iberia?”

  “I don’t know. For now, I’m staying here. I have an apartment and enough to live on while you heal.”

  “While I heal? You’re making your decisions based on me?”

  “Yes, if that’s okay.”

  “Of course it’s okay. It’s more than okay. I was afraid you wouldn’t want anything to do with me after all of the drama.”

  “I’m not sure of much right now. I don’t know what’s going to happen today or tomorrow, but the one thing I’m sure of? How I feel when I’m with you. I want to give us a chance. Are you good with that?”

  Griffith felt like the sky had opened up and sunshine was pouring into her soul. “Yeah, I’m good with that.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  The canoe slid silently through the still water of Lake Fausse Pointe. Adi dug deeper, watching Griffith in the boat ahead of her. She was paddling well now, her physical therapy was really making a difference. The cool air and sunshine were the perfect accent to the day.

  “There, there it is. Do you see her?” She pointed at the weathered old cypress to the left of the boat.

  “I do. It’s so beautiful. Bertie would like it here, I’m sure. It’s just like you told me.”

  Adi felt warmth wrap around her with Griffith’s words. Bertie would like it here. She’d love seeing us together too.

  “Can you see the face? In the tree bark?”

  “Yes, I see her. Are we going to let her go here or right by the tree?”

  “By the tree. I’ll get us as close as possible.” She took the craft right to the base of the grand ole lady.

  “Now?”

  “Yeah, here, let me help.” Adi stowed the paddle and reached out to help steady the lotus shaped paper flower that held Bertie. Together they set it gently on the water’s surface and watched as it slowly sank. It was done. Bertie was at rest.

  “She’d have been so proud of you.”

  “She’d be proud of us, you mean. I’m so glad we decided to stay in New Iberia for a while.”

  “Me too. I’m glad you’ve arranged for Jose to rent the house when we go to LA so we always have a place to call home.”

  They’d stayed in New Orleans during Griffith’s recovery, then decided to return to New Iberia and help T stabilize things at the Boiling Pot. Now that Jose was confident in the kitchen, Griffith was excited to take Adi to LA and introduce her to a whole different world.

  Adi was excited too, but worried a little about how Griffith’s friends and family would accept her. They’d done a lot of talking about the differences in their worlds, and there were things she couldn’t imagine. Griff would have to travel for her journalism work, eventually, and they’d floated the idea of Adi opening up a little Cajun eatery in LA, but for now, it was enough they had the time to experience new things together. Deep down, she knew she’d be okay anywhere, because she had Griffith.

  They would have to return to Louisiana next spring when the trial of J.B Nerbass was scheduled to begin. Griff had already written a major article that was receiving all kinds of attention, and she’d finish it after the trial. It would be rough to relive all of the things he’d done, but she was relieved he was behind bars and would likely stay there for most of his life. She’d do her damnedest to make sure of it.

  “Look at that,” Griffith said, bringing her back to the moment.

  A stately eagle soared across the lake toward them and settled in the highest branches of Bertie’s rest.

  “That was perfect. And this is perfect. I love you, Griffith.”

  Griffith turned and smiled at her with tears in her eyes. “And I love you.”

  “Let’s go home. T’s bringing beer and Jose’s bringing crawfish. We should get the water going.”

  “Okay, love. Let’s go home.”

  Home. Adi liked the sound of that.

  About the Author

  Laydin Michaels is a native Houstonian with deep Louisiana roots. She finds joy and happiness in the loving arms of her wife, MJ. Her life is also enriched by her son, CJ, and her four fur children. Her love of the written word started very early. She has been a voracious reader all her life.

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  Table of Contents

  Synopsis

  By the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  About the Author

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