He nodded. “Depends on how many charters there are and what the weather’s like, but anywhere from two to five times a week.”
“Isn’t that a lot for someone your age?”
He laughed. “Maybe. But I like the work and the money’s decent.”
Glenda leaned in again. “He keeps saying he’s going to retire, but I think he loves it too much.”
Frankie put her hands on the table. “Have you always carried that picture?”
Buck looked at her. “Always. It even went to prison with me. Glenda had it restored and blown up bigger for me a few Christmases ago, so I have one in the living room, too.”
Frankie’s face was inscrutable. “How long were you in prison?”
Glenda shifted uncomfortably, but Buck didn’t hesitate. “I was sentenced to twelve years, but I got paroled after eight. I’m not proud of what happened. I was young and gullible and…” He shook his head. “Seems like a lifetime ago.”
“What do you mean gullible?” Frankie asked. “You hinted in your email that there was more to it than what Sharlene had told us.”
He sighed, nodding. “Sharlene said there wouldn’t be guns. Just the threat of them on the notes.”
Harper’s mouth came open. “Sharlenesaid that?”
He took a quick sip of water and cleared his throat. “The plan was hers. Hers and her brother’s.” His eyes narrowed. “Let me guess—she told you she knew nothing about it and had been forced into being the driver?”
Harper nodded. “That’s exactly what she said.”
He frowned. “She stuck to that story in court, too. As someone who was there, I can tell you that’s not the truth. She was a big part of it. But that’s behind me now and I’ve learned to forgive. And move on.”
Glenda put her hand over top of his. “A man’s past doesn’t define him. I hope you girls know that. Buck is a good man. A good husband. He’s a deacon at church. I won’t have youthinking what happened then has any bearing on who he is now, other than he learned his lesson and changed his ways.”
Harper smiled. “I don’t doubt that one bit, Glenda.”
The server returned to take their orders. Harper and Glenda chose the salad bar. Frankie, Willa, and Buck all had the lunch special, which was the Fisherman’s Fry, a basket of fried shrimp, clams, and grouper nuggets with French fries and coleslaw.
As the server left, Harper and Glenda got up at the same time. Harper smiled at her. “Salad bar?”
Glenda nodded. “Yep.”
They walked together, saying nothing until they’d gotten plates. Harper let the older woman go ahead of her. “How long have you and Buck been married?”
“Nearly thirty years.” Glenda added lettuce to her plate. “He told me about his past on the second date. About you girls, too. He wanted me to know all of that. To know that who he’d been and who he was were very different.” Glenda looked at Harper. “I hope you and your sister can give him a chance.”
Harper nodded. “I am definitely ready to do that.”
It was Frankie she wasn’t so sure about.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Frankie studied the man across the table from her, trying to reconcile him with her shadowy memories, but they were too faint and too fleeting.
“You look deep in thought, Frankie,” Buck said. “Is there something you want to ask me? You can, you know. Whatever you want. I’m not here to keep anything from you. I mean that. I’m an open book.”
“I appreciate that.” She thought about what she really wanted to know. About what was really bothering her. “Did you do anything to try to stop the state from taking us?”
Willa glanced at her, as if that was too harsh of a question. Frankie didn’t think it was. It was an honest question. One she really wanted an answer to.
He stared at the table before taking a breath and raising his gaze to her. “I tried a few things. My parents were older and didn’t want a lot to do with me at that time, which I don’t blame them for. But they petitioned the court on you and your sister’s behalf. Sharlene did everything she could to prevent that. She told the court that my parents were abusive and that she feared for any child in their care.”
“What?” Frankie felt sick.
