Bayou Justice. Robin Caroll

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      “You’re doing the right thing, no matter what Grandfather and Mom think.”

      “I know. I just hate to disappoint either of them.” He dropped onto the porch swing adjacent to her wheelchair. “He wants this so badly for me.”

      “It’s not what you want. It goes against everything you believe in.”

      “And Mom…”

      Felicia smiled. “Oh, she’ll moan and grumble, only because she’s scared of him.” She touched the back of his hand, caressing reassurance into his very being. “He isn’t going to kick us out like Mom thinks he will.”

      “What if he does?” His gaze rested on her sweet face.

      So sweet, so gentle—so unfair cerebral palsy had attacked her frail body. At only twenty-eight years old, she was confined to a wheelchair, one leg too weak for her to even walk across the room. Would Grandfather kick them out of the house if Luc didn’t abide by his wishes? That could never happen—Felicia needed the stability of their home and the care their grandfather’s money provided.

      “Stop worrying so much, you.” She gave his hand a final squeeze before dropping her own back in her lap. “He’s threatened Mom with that for years now, yet he’s never given us the boot. He’s all talk.”

      “I wish I could be as sure. This just might be what calls his bluff.”

      Felicia flashed her full-tooth smile. “With all his ranting and raving over me and Frank, he still didn’t follow through on his threats. We’ll be fine.” She stared out into the yard. “When did he say he would be here?”

      “He told Mom he was on his way when he called about ten minutes ago.”

      His cell phone rang, the chords to “Dixie” playing loud and clear. He snapped if off his belt, flipped it open and pressed it to his ear. “Hello.”

      “Luc.”

      Just his name—that’s all it took for his heart to stutter. Her sultry voice always did make his pulse race. His memory slammed the image of her curly black hair, dark eyes with specks of green dancing around the irises, and tanned face to the forefront of his mind. Her strong French heritage had blessed her appearance, that much was certain.

      He swallowed back the emotions clogging his throat. “CoCo.”

      “Your grandfather just left here.” Her breathing came across the line as ragged, hitching.

      “What was he doing at your place?” Luc shook his head at Felicia’s inquiring stare. What could the old man be up to now?

      “Serving us an eviction notice.” His ex-fiancée’s voice quivered. He recognized that trait—she barely had control over her emotions.

      “An eviction notice? What’re you talking about?” Luc stood and paced again.

      “Just what I said. He hand-delivered an eviction notice to Grandmere today, right before I got home from work.”

      His gut clenched. Work. Her work. He gritted his teeth. The memory of yet another reason they broke up slammed into his mind.

      “Luc, are you listening?”

      “Yeah. I just don’t understand.”

      “Neither do I.” Her throaty sigh over the line tightened the knot holding his stomach hostage. “I wanted you to know what he’s up to, and to tell you that I have a meeting with an attorney first thing in the morning.”

      Lawyers, already? What exactly had his grandfather done? He ran a hand over his hair. “I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding.”

      “I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but I’m not going to battle him without legal counsel.”

      No, CoCo wouldn’t back down from any fight. He knew that all too well. Her personality wouldn’t let her roll over and play dead.

      “So, why are you calling me?”

      “I don’t really know.” Her voice changed, moving into the confrontational tone he also recognized. “I thought you should be aware. I’m not going to lie down and take your grandfather’s bullying. I intend to fight him with everything I can.”

      “Curses, cunjas and hexes, CoCo?” He could have bitten off his tongue for letting that slip out. The pain was still raw, even after two years of not being together.

      She snorted. “Some things never change. I made a mistake in calling you, Luc. You’re too much like the old man to see reason.”

      Ouch, that stung. “I’m sor—”

      “Consider yourself warned. My family will fight you Trahans.”

      The disconnecting click cut loud in his ear. He held it a minute longer, not wanting to believe she’d hung up on him. Even when he’d ended their relationship and walked away, he’d never hung up on her.

      Lord, why can’t I control my tongue?

      “Was that CoCo?”

      He placed the phone back on his belt clip and stared at his sister. “Yeah.”

      She practically bounced in her chair. “What did she want?” Hope of his and CoCo’s reconciliation glimmered in her eyes.

      He hated to disappoint her, but any hope of that had just gone down like the setting sun. Just as it had when his father had died and he’d realized he couldn’t marry CoCo LeBlanc. “To let me know Grandfather served her with an eviction notice.”

      Felicia’s eyes, already round, grew as large as Confederate coins. “What? When?”

      “Just now, apparently.”

      She covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, no. What’s Grandfather thinking?”

      A rumble on the road caused them both to stare down the driveway. Sure enough, their grandfather’s Caddy sped along the dirt road.

      “I don’t know. I’m guessing we’re about to find out.”

      Grandfather slammed the door of his precious car, ran a hand over his thinning hair and then strode up the stairs. A smile danced on his face, a rare sight. “Luc, Felicia.” He gave them a brief nod, not breaking stride as he headed for the door.

      Lord, I don’t know what to say. I can’t antagonize him, yet I can’t help him either without knowing what’s going on.

      “Grandfather,” Luc began, staring down at the porch. His grandfather’s shoes didn’t even have a coat of dust covering them. Dirt ran in fear from Beau Trahan.

      “Yes?” His grandfather glanced over his shoulder. “What is it, boy?”

      “I just got a call from CoCo LeBlanc. Want to tell me what’s going on?”

      Chuckling, Grandfather let his hand fall СКАЧАТЬ