In Shining Whatever (Three Magic Words Trilogy #2)(49)

"But he's going to a hotel," Kate whispered.

"You didn't have a bit of trouble finding the Ridge, did you? Why do you have qualms now? Can you not talk in a hotel room again?"

"I want it to be right between us," Kate said.

"Well, it'll never get to that point with you in the house talkin' to me and Corrine out there in the yard, right?" Fancy said.

"Okay, I'll do what I can. I'll call you tomorrow," Kate said.

"You better. I'm already biting my nails," Fancy said.

Kate flipped the phone shut and went back out in the yard. "Bye and thanks for listening to me"

Hart wasn't at the table with Maw Maw, so she figured he'd gone back to the bayou to pout some more. Not willing and not ready to talk yet, she danced a couple of times with Zac to music from a CD player. Then the band went back to the corner and the real music started. She looked around for Bubba. If she was going to have the name, she'd have the game. She'd show Hart Ducaine that he wasn't the only man in the world and she didn't have to put up with his pouting.

Min nette grabbed her arm and startled her. "Where you been, there? Where's that good-lookin' Texan? Y'all had a fight, yes?"

"I was in the house and I don't know where Hart is, and yes we had a fight."

"He hug up too close to Corrine?"

"No, he passed that test as well as Claud did, I'm sure. We just had an argument because he got mad over the test. I think he's really upset because he thinks I'm rubbing my family in his face. It's complicated," Kate said.

"Sounds like it. We're just family, and we like him."

"Like I said, complicated in the biggest way."

Claud wrapped both arms around Minnette from behind. "Come and dance with me, chere ."

Minnette turned around and put her arms around his neck. and they began to sway to the waltz Zac was coaxing out of his fiddle.

Kate went to the table where Maw Maw was having Corrine's famous cheesecake for dessert and asked if she'd seen Hart or Bubba.

"They left together," Maw Maw said.

"Did he know who Bubba was?" Kate asked, wide-eyed.

"Don't reckon he did. I introduced them myself, but I reckon I called Bubba by his given name. Never did like nicknames. Call a kid by what you named him. And that boy is Jedidiah Boudreaux in my books," Maw-Maw-said.

"Dear Jesus, what have you done?" Kate asked.

"Me? Didn't do nothin' I wouldn't do again, so I ain't done no sin. You was mean to your man, so Jedidiah done took him out on his boat to show him about shrimpin'," Maw Maw said.

"Why would he do a fool thing like that?" Kate said.

"Guess because Hart wants to learn about it 'fore he goes home tomorrow mornin'. Shame he couldn't stay the whole week. He promised to take us to dinner, and I had my heart set on something from down at Victor's. Y'all had any of that cheesecake down there? Why, it's almost, but not quite, as good as Corrine's. That woman is going to catch her a man one of these days and fatten him plumb up on cheesecake." Maw Maw turned to her friends and ignored Kate.

Kate had no idea which way Bubba would be taking his boats out, so all she could do was wait the one thing she didn't do well. If patience was indeed a virtue necessary for admittance into heaven, Kate was going to have to give her ticket to Minnette or her mother.

She walked to the bayou, but even the children had been called back to the yard after dark settled in. She sat down at the edge of the water and wondered how things could get so messed up in twenty-four hours. They'd fished there in the peaceful surroundings just the night before, and now Hart was out on some stupid boat with Bubba, no doubt getting sloppy drunk.

"Hey chere, what are you doin' down here?" Zac asked, so close to her that she jumped.

"Party over?" she asked.

"Breaking up. Kids are cranky. Mommas are tired. Daddies have to work tomorrow. Good party, though. Good food. Your Maw Maw, she does know how to make a good cochon de lait. Come and let me hold you. You look sad"

"You are engaged."

"What does that have to do with us?"

"Everything," Kate said.

He reached over and touched her bare arm, but nothing happened. Not even a tingle like she got when Hart just accidentally-brushed against her skin.

"Come home with me, chere. I'll chase away the blues," he whispered.

She shook her head. "I won't be the cheating hussy in your life. You want to cheat, you go find someone else."

"Remember that I offered. Here's a Coke. Corrine said you were down here pouting and asked me to bring it to you. She said she can tell when a man has a wandering eye, and your Texan, mail, he did have one."

Kate took the Coke. "Corrine just thinks she knows Hart. If she wants to see a wandering eye, she needs to look into yours"

"You know how to stab a man in the heart " Zac pretended to plunge an imaginary knife into his own chest. "This Hart man is a fool to let you out of his sight. I'm leaving. You drink your Coke and pout all night if you want to, yes?"

She set her jaw and didn't say another word to him.

Rotten men!

All of them. She tilted the can back and guzzled half the soda before she came up for air and let go with a loud, unladylike burp.