Bernie was a butthead. One of Dean Sullivan’s meat-headed minions.
Then again, Cash had a short temper and sometimes seemed to golookingfor fights, so…
Setting me away from him, Cash formally presented me with the flowers. Then he cleared his throat and made sure his expression was appropriately somber. “Magnolia May Carter, would you do me the honor of having dinner with me tonight?”
My heart, aged fifteen full years, pulled a total Grinch move and grew three sizes.
“Now, I don’t know.” I tapped my bottom lip. “I was thinking I’d be busy washing my hair and painting my toenails.”
“Come on, Maggie.” He looked desperate. “I’ve waitedforeverfor you to—”
I didn’t let him finish. Just squealed and jumped back into his arms.
“What’s all this ruckus out here?” Aunt Bea called from the veranda. “And where are your shoes, young lady?”
I let go of Cash like he was a hot potato and stood demurely by his side, peeking through my lashes at Aunt Bea as she held up a hand to shade her eyes from the glare of the morning sun. Vee wandered out to stand beside her. When she saw me and Cash, her brow wrinkled.
Cash cleared his throat. “Miss Bea, with your permission, I’d like to take Maggie out to dinner in the French Quarter tonight.”
“Where do you plan to take her?” Aunt Bea asked.
“I was thinking the Pelican Club.”
Aunt Bea’s immaculately plucked eyebrows arched. “Pretty fancy.”
“I want to do it up right, ma’am.”
That brought a smile to her face. Vee on the other hand? She shook her head and trudged back inside the house.
“Her curfew is eleven p.m. Mr. Armstrong.” Aunt Bea’s tone brooked no argument.
In typical teenage fashion, I argued. “What? But Vee’s curfew is midnight and—”
“And your curfew will be midnight once you turn sixteen,” she interrupted. “Until then, it’s eleven.”
I crossed my arms…or as close as I could come with the biggest, sweetest, prettiest bouquet the good Lordeversaw filling my hands.
“Yes, Miss Bea.” Cash nodded solemnly. “I’ll have her back by eleven.”
“Finally!” I threw my arms around Cash’s neck after Aunt Bea disappeared inside the house. “A real date! And at the Pelican Club! I’ll wear that blue dress you like. And you should wear that button-down shirt with the pinstripes. Oh my Lord! I’m babbling, aren’t I? Cash, I’m just so happy. Happy birthday to me!”
He laughed and rubbed a hand down my back. Chills followed in the wake of his palm.
For the first time, I noticed Luc in Smurf’s driver’s seat. He grinned and gave me a thumbs-up, mouthing,Happy birthday, Maggie May.
Knowing now that he was holding a torch for me back then puts a whole new spin on what he did that day, driving Cash to my house so that we could officially become boyfriend and girlfriend.
Oh, Luc…
“You all alone this morning, honey?” The waitress stops by to check on me, pulling me from my reverie. She’s seventy if she’s a day, with curly gray hair that pokes out from her paper hat and a smiling, round face. She reminds me of Auntie June.
“I’m not supposed to be,” I tell her. Her nametag identifies her as Bernice. “Two more should be coming, but they’re late.”
She looks outside. The rain is sheeting off the roof, creating waterfalls that run into the street and disappear down the gutters. “Weather probably has them running behind schedule. I wouldn’t let it get your gussie up just yet,” she says reassuringly.
“I’m sure you’re right,” I agree, even though a worm of apprehension wriggles through my chest.
“You want me to hold off on the beignets until they arrive?” she asks. “Or are you hungry now?”
