Trouble in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #1)(49)

“Since the funeral, much to my dismay,” Maryse said.

Luc looked at Helena, then back at Maryse and smiled. “No wonder you’ve been so bitchy. What the hell did you do to earn being haunted by your dead mother-in-law?”

Maryse bristled at his words. “First of all, I didn’t do anything to make her show up. She just did, and now my life is pure misery. Second of all, I’ve always been bitchy to rude, pushy people. Helena has nothing to do with that.”

“Man, that’s bad karma in a way I’ve never seen before.”

Maryse shot him a dirty look, and Luc wisely decided to lead off from that line of conversation. “So the storage closet story?” he asked.

Helena hooted and dissolved in laughter, sinking down the wall and onto the floor in a heap. “I tried to tell her that doctor was a loser and a cad, but would she listen? No way.”

“And you would know a cad, right?” Maryse shot back. “Especially since you married one and had the nerve to continue that genetic defect into the next generation. You should have at least done the world a favor and had Hank neutered when he hit puberty. That way we’d be sure the scourge on humanity couldn’t continue.”

Helena clamped her mouth shut and looked a bit sheepish.

Luc laughed and gave Helena a once over. “So what’s with the pink suit?”

“Do you think it was mine?” Helena shouted, an indignant look on her face. “Last I checked, the morgue didn’t ask the dead to pick out their wardrobe.”

“Maybe it was one of Harold’s floozies,” Maryse suggested and took a good look at Helena. Something was different. It took her a second to realize that instead of the uncomfortable twenty-year-old pumps she used to wear, Helena’s feet were now decked out in a brand new pair of Nike running shoes. Maryse stared at the shoes in amazement. “Helena, how did you change your shoes?”

Helena huffed. “Don’t you think if I knew, I would have changed the whole outfit? Damn it, I was walking to the hospital and thinking a pair of running shoes would really come in handy. Next thing I knew, that’s what I was wearing. As soon as I figure out how I did it, this pink monstrosity is gone.”

Before Maryse could reply, Dr. Breaux entered the room, giving Luc a curious look.

Figuring that was his cue, Luc nodded to the doctor and said to Maryse, “I’ll wait for you in the lobby.” Then he left the room with Helena trailing behind him, yapping away as only Helena could yap. Maryse let out a sigh of relief. Maybe Helena would start hounding Luc and give her a break.

Thirty minutes later, Dr. Breaux pronounced her fit for anything that didn’t encompass fast movement, eye strain, stress, or aggravation. Given her life at the moment, Maryse figured the only way to avoid that was death. Which would apparently fit right in with someone’s plan.

At the front desk, she signed the papers for yet another insurance claim and turned to find Luc standing alone in the lobby. She glanced around but didn’t see hide nor hair of Helena. She studied Luc for a moment. If he’d figured out a way to get rid of Helena, he might be worth keeping around. The lesser of two evils. Luc motioned to the front door, and she followed him out of the hospital with a clear view of the back end of his Levi’s. Definitely the better looking of the two.

Maryse figured Luc would drive her straight to the hotel, but instead he parked in front of Johnny’s Bar.

“You need to eat something,” he said. “You have to take pain meds and probably haven’t eaten today, have you?”

Maryse thought back to the odd phone call from the bank that had started her day. Good God, was that really only this morning? If every day was as long as this one, staying alive for another four days was going to age her a hundred years. She was definitely going to have to get a better moisturizer.

Luc was staring at her, and it took Maryse a moment to realize she had worked through everything in her own mind but hadn’t answered his question. “Sorry. I had to think about it for a minute, but you’re right, I haven’t eaten yet today.”

Luc gave her a sympathetic nod. “Then let’s get some food in you. Besides, you and I have to talk.” And after delivering that cryptic phrase, Luc headed into the bar before Maryse could even formulate a question.

They sat at the table in the corner—the private one that Maryse and Sabine preferred. They’d barely gotten seated before Johnny appeared at their table, wiping old grease off his hands with a dirty dishcloth, the worry on his face clear as day.

“Maryse!” He studied the cuts on her head and arms. “Are you all right? I was cleaning the grease traps and heard that blast all the way back in the kitchen. I thought for sure you were a goner until Mildred called and said you were on your way to the hospital.” He scanned her again, an anxious look on his face. “So, you’re okay? Nothing serious?”

Maryse smiled up at her father’s friend. “I’m fine, Johnny. Just a raging headache and some cuts, but nothing life threatening.”

Johnny looked a little apprehensive but nodded. “What happened?”

Maryse shook her head. “I have no idea. I was just pulling up to the cabin when it exploded. Good thing I wasn’t any closer.”

“Jesus, Maryse.” Johnny tugged his blue jeans back up around his waist and took in a deep breath. “I saw the fire department head that way. Are they going to investigate?”