The Pepper in the Gumbo (Men of Cane River #1)(77)

“I know you think you’re doin’ the right thing, but I don’t see how fightin’ Paul makes sense,” Bix said. “City hall did what you wanted but nobody’s happy. Charlie said she wasn’t gonna work here anymore if you stopped the construction.”

Alice froze. “She said that?”

“Yep, these kids take their technology very seriously. She feels like you’re keeping the city in the Dark Ages.”

“And where did you hear that it was approved? I just got the phone call.”

“Everybody knows.” He shrugged. “Small town, sha.”

“I just don’t think it belongs here. Is that so bad? They didn’t follow the zoning bylaws and nobody even got to vote.” She heard the frustration in her own voice.

“I know. But it’s done now. The store will bring in a lot of business to the boardwalk.” Bix held up his e-reader. “I don’t see how selling these is so different than what we do.”

“That’s not what the store is about,” Alice said. “It’s games and gadgets and… junk that people don’t need. We’re becoming a nation of mindless screen-gazers. Nobody ever talks to each other anymore. It’s all Facebook and Twitter and email.”

“I would try to change your mind, but I don’t think a thing I say will convince you otherwise. Once you’re set on somethin’, you follow it all the way to the very bitter end,” Bix said. “And that’s not always a bad thing, Miss Alice. Lots of folks can’t stay a course to save their lives. You’re stubborn, and I like that about you. I just hope you’re ready for gettin’ your way.” When she stayed silent Bix reached down for the bright-eyed tabby that had come to wind a path around his ankles. “Come on Miss Elizabeth, we’ve got sorting to do.” He put her over one shoulder and turned for the back room.

Alice plopped into her desk chair and stared at Van Winkle’s sleeping body. She needed to forget about Paul and his store for a minute and do some work. Flipping open the laptop a little more forcefully than necessary, she gritted her teeth as it connected to the Internet.

She checked her email first and felt a smile touch her lips. BWK had written her even though he didn’t seem interested in being friends in person.

Dear Alice,

I’ve taken the liberty of contacting Mr. Crocket. Please forgive me if I’ve overstepped the boundaries of friendship but I don’t believe anyone should be forced to share shelf space, especially with greedy, neglectful nieces.

Your BWK

P.S.

We walked too straight for Fortune’s end,

We loved too true to keep a friend;

At least we’re tired, my heart and I.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning



Alice read the note twice, three times. He hadn’t said ‘your friend’, just ‘your’. She couldn’t understand how BWK knew Mr. Crocket or how he could have contacted him. The verse was a sad post script, and her stomach rolled every time she read it.

She clicked the reply button and typed out a quick response.



Dear BWK,

I don’t understand. I know I’ll have to call Mr. Crocket to get all of the details but let me say that I would rather battle this horrid niece for years than lose your friendship.

That verse sounds suspiciously like a goodbye.

Your friend always,

Alice



Alice stood up and paced the floor, returning to refresh her inbox several times. There was no response. She felt tears prick her eyes. She hadn’t known him very long, but he was a friend, and she had very few friends.

Sitting back down in her chair, she took a deep breath and dialed Mr. Crocket’s number.

“Yep, Miss Augustine, I was expecting your call.” He sounded extremely cheerful.

“I’m not sure exactly what happened here. Could you give me the details?”

There was a short silence. “It appears you have a wealthy benefactor. He wishes to remain anonymous but he’s compensated my client for the oversight in the will.”

Alice choked back a response about how it was clearly no oversight. “Compensated? What does that mean?”

“I’m not at liberty to give a figure but your friend has offered a sum of money, and we have accepted, that she feels accurately satisfied her suit.”

She couldn’t respond. She slowly replaced the receiver in the cradle and stared around the store. BWK had paid of Norma Green and the store was completely hers, as it had always been.

Alice knew she should take a few minutes, or a few hours, before she responded. Instead, she pulled up her email and started to type.

Dear BWK,

I understand now. When one party is so completely in the debt of another, can a friendship survive? It’s true, you ‘loved too true to keep a friend’ but I’ll always be grateful.

I’m sad. I can’t help it. I will miss our conversations.

I keep thinking of those George Meredith lines:

Not until the fire is dying in the grate

Look we for any kinship in the stars.



Thank you.

Your Alice

P.S. I’m sending The Duke’s Secret today. I look forward to seeing it on the site.



Alice sat back and wiped a hand across her eyes. It was silly. She hadn’t even known him that long. She stared up at the ceiling, thinking of how fast life changed. One day someone is trying to wrest your treasure away, the next someone is giving it back. Along with the news about the injunction, it was a probably the best day she’d had in weeks.