The Pepper in the Gumbo (Men of Cane River #1)(92)

The little brass bell at the door jingled. Darcy wiggled out of her arms and Alice let him drop to the ground. She quickly wiped her eyes and turned to greet the new customer.

Charlie stood there, hands in her pockets. She was dressed in her usual T-shirt, jeans and red Converse. Her black T-shirt had the ScreenStop seraph in bright red, and her blond hair was dyed blue at the ends. “Hey, Miss Alice.”

Alice came around the counter and walked toward her. They’d never been the hugging type but she was so glad to see Charlie, she didn’t even ask. She gathered her close and squeezed her tight. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too” Charlie said, her voice soft. “I’m sorry what I said to you.”

Alice pulled back. “No, you were right. I’ve been a real…”

“McJudgy-pants jerkwad?”

“Um, okay.” Alice laughed. “Not the words I would have used, but I suppose that will work.”

“Because that’s what I feel like I’ve been, too,” Charlie said, gaze down. “I really put this whole store opening before anything else. You’ve been my friend for a long time and I was gonna quit just so I could get discounts on games.” She looked up. “My mom said that was pretty rude and I didn’t think she was right. But I had some time to think about it.”

Alice hugged her tight. “I’m so glad you came in.”

Charlie smiled. “When I heard someone found your rings, I wanted to tell you I was happy for you.”

She felt the air stop in her lungs. “What?”

“The scavenger hunt. Someone found your rings and they won the big prize.”

Alice stepped back. “I don’t understand.”

“I told you. The day I left, remember?”

“No, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Charlie stared at her for a second, then shook her head. “Wow. I thought you and Paul were really close. Maybe it was supposed to be a surprise. Or maybe he just didn’t want to get your hopes up. But that’s why everybody’s been crawling up and down the board walk. Of course, the guy who found it had a metal detector. That made it easier. But all they knew was it was a necklace with two gold rings somewhere between here and city hall.”

Alice looked over Charlie’s shoulder toward the sidewalk. There were plenty of strange people walking around. A man with a leather facemask and a studded breastplate held hands with a woman in a long, purple dress. Two women passed by wearing tiny shorts and knee high boots, their leather corsets laced up tight. But none of them were searching through the grass anymore on their hands and knees.

“What was the prize?” Alice’s voice sounded muffled to her own ears.

“Early access to the newest game, some bonus equipment and a map to where all the rare-spawn items are.” Charlie went on when she saw Alice’s expression. “Like flying dragons and special gear and… It’s hard to explain. People go crazy looking for that stuff. And if you have it, you’re totally famous. Everybody wants to know where you found it. You can’t buy them. You just have to play and hope you get lucky.”

You can’t buy them. The words echoed in Alice’s heart. She’d accused Paul of trying to buy everyone around him, of using his money to make people like him. He could have offered a reward for her rings, but instead he used what he knew would bring more attention.

“Are you going to the opening?” Alice asked.

“Sure,” she said. “I think everybody is. Well, except you, probably. I’ve been working on my costume all week.”

Alice swallowed hard. “What if I wanted to go? Would you help me fix up a costume?”

Charlie’s eyes went wide and then she laughed out loud. “I sure would, Miss Alice, but we better get started right away.”

“Let me just lock up,” Alice said, moving toward the front door.

“Right in the middle of a Friday?”

She flipped the welcome sign and turned the lock on the front door. “It’s the ScreenStop grand opening. I don’t think I should miss it.”

Alice barely heard Charlie’s chatter as she rushed to the stairs, hoping there was something in Alice’s closet they could use. She followed behind, thinking of how she was acting on faith that Paul would even want to see her.

She used to roll her eyes when people would say they received some kind of divine message from God. She was a believer, no doubt about that, but she thought people sometimes looked for signs where there weren’t any. But maybe it was like that famous quote and you “knew it when you saw it.” Well, Alice knew it. She got it. These past weeks had shined a light on the dark places in her soul. And as selfish and petty as she’d been, there was only one thing to do: ask forgiveness and vow to do better.

Whatever happened between her and Paul tonight, Alice knew she had a chance to change for the better. And that was something money couldn’t buy.





Chapter Twenty-Seven


Technology is the knack of so arranging the world that we

don’t have to experience it.—Max Frisch





The bass thump of the techno music seemed to be burrowing deep into Paul’s brain. He massaged one temple and tried to smile as he passed a group of screaming gamers lined up at the door. “Mr. Olivier! Mr. Olivier! Paul!” He reached out and shook a few hands, feeling the unnerving tug of many hands grabbing him closer.