Cajun Fried Felony (Miss Fortune Mystery 15) - Page 100

“Well, I’m g
oing to let you ladies get back to it,” Whiskey said. “Goes without saying that you’ve got free drinks for life at the bar. Anytime you want. Just stop in.”
After Whiskey left, Gertie looked at Ida Belle and me, her expression animated. “I might take him up on that work thing. I made two hundred bucks last night and even got a phone number.”
“Who gave you his phone number?” Ida Belle asked.
“Some cute guy sitting by the dartboards,” Gertie said. “I might just give him a call.”
“Let me see that number,” Ida Belle said.
Gertie reached into her purse and pulled out a bar napkin with a number written on it. I leaned over and took a look.
“That’s the number to the bar,” I said.
Ida Belle laughed.
“Well, crap,” Gertie said. “I guess that means I’ll have to go find him myself. I don’t suppose—”
“No!”
We both answered at once.
Ida Belle wagged her finger at Gertie. “You and I don’t have enough lives left to hang out at the Swamp Bar. Besides, you have fishing and that ridiculous bird to occupy your time.”
“And working for me,” I said. “I bet solving this case gets us some clients.”
Ida Belle frowned. “The question is, with Whiskey giving out the accolades, what kind of clients will they be?”
“The kind that aren’t boring?” Gertie suggested. “Are you sure we can’t bartend just one last time…I have this naughty elf costume.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
My house was hopping with activity the next day. I’d insisted on hosting my very first Thanksgiving in Sinful but had made it clear that while tables, chairs, and drinks were on me, everyone else needed to cover the cooking thing. For the first time in my life, I had a houseful of people and was loving every minute of it. Carter was there, of course, and his mother, Emmaline, her boyfriend, Carlos, Ida Belle, Gertie, Ally, and Walter.
There was enough food to feed all of Sinful for a week but I had every intention of putting a major dent in it. The fried turkey alone had my mouth watering as Carter and Walter supervised the frying in the backyard. Since the day was so pleasant and sunny, I’d forgone formal dining inside and opted for folding tables and chairs outside. Everyone seemed pleased with the arrangement.
I leaned over the fryer, taking in the awesome smell of the turkey cooking, and Carter grinned. “Just you wait,” he said.
“I saw Sheriff Lee at the store yesterday,” Walter said. “He finally took my advice and saw a dentist about his dentures. Ordered a pile of steaks.”
“Thank God,” Carter said. “If he was on soft foods for Thanksgiving, I was afraid I was going to have to shoot him. He’s been on a tear for over a week now. Even threatened to arrest Celia for crossing the street while glaring. Deputy Breaux and I have been covering double shifts because we didn’t want him on the clock.”
I smiled. Another mystery solved.
It took a bit of assembly, but finally, our Thanksgiving meal was ready for consumption. We all took our seats at the table and I asked Walter to sit at the head. Before we dug in, I stood and looked at everyone.
“Before we launch into this incredible feast, I just want to tell you all that being here with you, like this, is something I never pictured for myself. After my mother died, all semblance of family went with her. People tried, of course, but staging an event with others isn’t the same as gathering with those you truly care about. I never thought I’d have this. Didn’t even know I wanted it, to be honest. But now that I’m here, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. Or anyone else I’d rather share my life with. Thank you all for making me a part of your family.”
As I sat, Carter reached over and squeezed my hand. There was a good bit of sniffling and Ally had tears in her eyes, but everyone was so happy that it made my heart clench.
“Praise the Lord and pass the turkey,” Walter said, breaking the silence.
Everyone laughed and reached for dishes. We all talked and ate, several different conversations going on at once. The food was incredible, especially the fried turkey. Everyone had been right. I would never eat turkey any other way again.
No one mentioned Venus, Melanie, or Jeff, and I was glad. There would be plenty of time to talk about the bad things that happened. Today was a celebration of everything that was good. Everything that we were thankful for, and for the first time in my life, I had a very long list. Good community, great friends, an interesting and challenging profession, and a boyfriend who made my heart flutter.
When the last fork had been placed on an empty plate and the last chair had been pushed back for more breathing room, the sun was just starting to set over the bayou. Walter cleared his throat and rose.