Axel hoped he didn’t regret keeping quiet about this venture.
Chapter Thirteen
Lucy watched Axel interact with his aunt and loved him more with each passing moment. This situation was so difficult. But she’d told him she didn’t want Francine to suffer and she meant it. Still, it was harder than she’d anticipated.
She shook off her distress, quietly excused herself and climbed into Axel’s truck while he finished asking his aunt about her limited-edition cup plans. She grabbedJust Die Alreadyand started reading about the exciting adventures of Dirk Crusher.
Lucy had reached the second chapter by the time Axel climbed into the truck and started it up, but didn’t put it in gear.
“That woman is on a collision course with disaster.”
“I like her,” Lucy said.
“I like her, too. But she is seriously living on the edge.”
Lucy giggled. “I hope her limited-edition cup idea raises lots of money for her old folks’ home.”Whatever that is.
“That old folks’ home is likely the richest entity in the state of Arkansas, heckfire, maybe even richer than any business in all of the fifty states. But she keeps funneling her efforts there.”
“Does she live there?”
“Not yet. Or if she does, it’s only part-time because she wants to. Aunt Dixie has her own house down the street from my brother Cam’s old place in town.”
“Seems like fundraising for it makes her happy.”
“Being contrary makes her happy,” Axel muttered, but Lucy didn’t miss the affection in his tone.
“Where to now?”
Axel stopped, turned his head as if just noticing she was in the cab with him. A slow smile shaped his lovely mouth. “Where would you like to go, Lucy?”
Several places popped into her head, including the swimming hole. “Driver’s choice,” she said, then added, “As long as it’s a public place or where other people will be because I don’t trust myself alone with you for too long.”
He turned away and stared out the front window. “You and me both.”
“Your sister and Francine are probably still at the bridal place trying on dresses. I won’t be missed for another hour or so at least.”
“I don’t think we should go to the swimming hole.”
“No. Not a good idea. But maybe there is another pretty place with water and trees to look at.”
Axel nodded. “I know a place.”
“Where?”
“One of my brothers has a cabin on a lake. It’s really pretty there. In fact, do you remember a girl named Ria from Alpha-Prime?”
Lucy perked up. “Do you mean Alexandria Latham Borne? I heard she’d made Alienn her home.”
“Yeah, except now it’s Ria Grey. She married my brother.”
“I do remember her. She came to a few parties at our home. She’s very nice. She used to be rather daring. Is she still? My mother didn’t approve of her, of course, which made me like her all the more.”
“My understanding is that she’s still daring, but she’s also a good sister-in-law. How come your mother didn’t approve of her?”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “It was probably Ria’s mother who bothered her. She was pretty transparent about seeking a rich husband for her daughter after her husband died and left them in rather dire financial circumstances. My mother was rather mean about it, calling Ria’s mother a rank rambler. I thought Ria was fun.”
