“Yes, I’m alone.”Well, unless you count the kitten.
“Did you drive home with a delicious bounty hunter in your SUV?” Lucy asked, sounding rather breathless, clearly caught up in the titillating intrigue. “Were there anycarnal activities?”
Francine sucked in a deep breath, balking at confirming Roberta’s gossip-filled dialogue with strangers at the local supermarket.
“I take it by your silence the answer to my questions would be a resounding yes.”
“Okay. I drove home with him. So what? I’m of age. I have been dismissed from my family by our parents. It’s not like I have a reputation to sully. What does it matter what I do, or who I do it with?”
“I just want you to be happy, Francine. Tell me all. Is he wonderful? Did you kiss him? Was it amazing? Does he make your toes curl?”
Francine loved Lucy so much. She sighed dreamily. “Heiswonderful. I did kiss him. It was amazing and, yes, my toes curled a couple of times last night.”
“Ooh. I’m so happy for you, Fancy. When do I get to meet him? Maybe we could double date.”
“I’m not sure, but I do have some good news.”
“What is it?”
“He agreed to take me to Pru’s wedding on Ichor-Delta.”
“Really? How? I mean, how can he take you there without our parents reacting badly again?”
“Raphael’s last name is Boudreaux. He said he’d pretend a royal connection so Mother and Father won’t kick me out like last time. By the time they find out he’s not really a royal Boudreaux, we’ll be long gone.”
“Wow. That’s awesome. I can’t wait to go. I was dreading the idea of leaving you behind. Now we can go together, and I can look forward to the trip.”
“Me, too. We’ll arrive right as the ceremony starts and probably leave midway through the reception, just in case Mother and Father do feel inclined to cause trouble, but I don’t care. I’ll get to see the wedding and part of the reception. That’s all I wanted anyway.”
“I’m so glad, Francine. I’m super happy you found someone.”
“Well, don’t get too attached to the idea. We’ve only known each other one day. I do like him and, as I mentioned, his kisses make my toes curl.”
“Mew. Mew.”
Lucy asked, “What’s that noise?”
“My new kitten, Angel.” Francine scratched under the kitten’s chin and she started purring.
“Huh. I’m glad you told me about the bounty hunter before the cat. I might have thought you were on the wrong path in life.”
“Wrong path?”
“You know, where you become the crazy cat lady of Alienn, Arkansas.”
“Very funny.”
Her sister hung up with a joyful and giggly goodbye. Francine fell back against the pillow, smiling at her goofy sister. Angel snuggled up to her, purring sweetly. Francine drifted into a light sleep, wondering if she should do anything about Roberta and her gossipy ways. Whatcouldshe do?
Francine didn’t dream about Raphael.
An hour later, she’d risen, showered, dressed and started looking for something to eat when there was a knock on her door.
Peeking out the front window, she saw Raphael on the porch, a paper sack in one hand.
She pulled open the door with a bright smile. “Hi.”
He grinned back. “Hello. Have you eaten lunch yet?”
