Guilt made his stomach sour. He had promised those things the last time they’d talked. Sure, he’d had the time, just not the drive or desire.
“Have you even contacted a real estate agent?” Lacy asked.
He could lie and say he had. “No.”
“I’m going to call Remy and ask for references. Then I’m setting up an appointment for you right now.”
“I can do that,” he said. “You’re on your way to a ball game.”
She sighed. “Fine. I don’t have time right now, but I will call Remy tomorrow and ask him if you’ve made an appointment with a realtor. So, don’t blow me off this time. I have your boss on speed dial.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He chuckled. “Look, I don’t want to keep you, and I’m meeting the team at the Crawdad Hole.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re getting out, as well. While you’re out, find a pretty girl to dance with.”
“I don’t dance,” he said.
“Then it’s about time you learned,” Lacy said. “Women like to dance. Learn how to do it. And find you a nice young lady to love. You deserve to be happy.”
“Take care of yourself, Lacy, and give Tyler a hug from Uncle Simon.”
“Will do,” she said. “And Simon…?”
“Yeah, Lacy?”
“Do you still have Johnny’s lucky rabbit’s foot?”
Simon’s hand slipped into his pocket to feel the soft fur of the rabbit’s foot. “I do.”
“Good. Keep it with you,” Lacy said. “It’ll bring you luck.”
“What if I don’t believe in luck?”
Lacy tsked. “More’s the shame. Luck is like magic and love. You have to believe in it for it to happen to you. Johnny believed, and he found me.”
He didn’t remind her that Johnny had had his rabbit foot on him when he’d died. Where had that luck been when he’d needed it?
“Be open, Simon,” Lacy said softly. “Believe.”
Simon ended that call with Lacy’s words echoing in his head, along with the residual daydream of Johnny insisting he keep the lucky rabbit’s foot.
He’d kept his promise, but he didn’t feel any luckier for it.
Believe...
Chapter 2
“What time are you off?” Gisele called out.
“Ten,” Holly answered as she passed out drinks to the table filled with her cousin and her lady friends. “But maybe later, if this place stays as full as it is. I can’t leave Danny to handle all this by herself.”
“Ah, but we want you to join us. This is girls’ night out.”
Holly gave Gisele a crooked smile. “And I’d love to be a part of it, but I’ve been on this job for less than two weeks. As nice as Rene is, I can’t expect him to let me take the night off when they need all the help they can get.”
“Want me to encourage the guys to leave so there are fewer customers to serve?” Ouida Mae, the high school science teacher, asked. “I’m sure if I told Valentin we need to thin the herd, he’d go along with it and get his buddies to comply.”
“A few less men would be nice, but that would cut into Rene’s profits and my tips.” Holly set a beer in front of Ouida Mae. “But thanks for the offer. Besides, this girls’ night out was in honor of Principal Ashcraft. It’s her fortieth birthday. She needs all the love.”
