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“Oh no, I’ll be just fine. I just need to watch my pennies right now. Besides, I hope to sell a lot of things at the fall festival next week, and hopefully that will put me right as rain.”

Nola painted on small logs and fallen bark and rocks, creating beautiful works of art. She sold many of them online and had recently worked out a deal with Angelique to sell some of her creations at Mystique’s Magic.

“Now, I know what’s going on in Angelique and Dominique’s lives, but you and I haven’t touched base recently. You’ve always been the quieter one, but I know still water runs deep, so tell me what’s been going on with you,” Nola said.

“You’re now looking at the new manager of All That Jazz,” Monique said with pride.

“Oh, honey, that’s wonderful. I know how much you wanted it.” Nola reached out and pulled her into a big hug. It felt familiar and almost as good as being hugged by her mother. “Your mother would be so proud of you.”

“Thanks,” Monique replied, thankful that the words hadn’t pulled forth the ever-present sorrow that could engulf her at any time.

“Now, tell me what’s going on between you and the very handsome Jacque,” Nola went on. “You’re spending quite a lot of time with him. I would think by now he has enough donated books to start a library.”

Monique laughed. “We are getting a lot of donations, but there are a lot of men and women in the swamp eager to participate in the literacy program.”

“It’s an admirable thing he’s doing,” Nola said.

“Yes, it is.”

“You like him,” Nola replied with a gleam in her eyes.

“Oh, Nola, I do like him very much, and I don’t know why,” Monique confessed. “I still don’t know a lot about him, but he just draws me in.”

“Just be careful with your heart, honey,” Nola said. “Don’t rush things and don’t give your heart away until you’re very sure of what you’re doing.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m in no danger of giving my heart away any time soon,” Monique said with a laugh. “I just like him, that’s all.” She wasn’t about to share with Nola her desire for Jacque to take her in his arms and kiss her until she was mindless with passion.

The two women visited for a few minutes longer, and then the conversation halted when a couple of shoppers came in. Nola said a quick goodbye and left while Monique tended to the customers.

It was nearing closing time when Jackson Scott, the district attorney, came into the shop. It wasn’t that unusual for the tall, good-looking middle-aged bachelor to come in to buy something for his latest honey.

“Ah, Monique, my dear,” he greeted her with a wide smile. “I’m so glad you’re the one working. You always steer me in the right direction when I’m buying something.”

“Thank you, Mr. Scott. I’m always happy to help you.” She kept a pleasant smile on her face even though she’d always found the DA to be rather slimy.

While he was handsome with blond hair, brilliant blue eyes and chiseled features, he thought he was all that and a bag of chips. However, Monique knew that in truth he was a serial dater who initially love-bombed the women he took out and then quickly cooled off and moved on to another woman, leaving broken hearts in his wake.

“I’m looking for something nice for Ali Sanders. Do you know her?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I do,” Monique replied.

“She works at the laundromat and is a sweet, very attractive blonde. We’ve just started dating, so I don’t want to spend too much money, but I want to get her something nice,” he explained.

“How about a pretty silk scarf?” Monique suggested. “We have some really nice ones here, and I think any woman would like one.”

“That might work,” he replied and followed Monique to the table where the scarves were displayed.

As he picked through them, Monique suddenly realized that darkness had fallen outside, and she was alone with one of the men who was on her suspect list.

It gave her some comfort that on the shelf next to her purse at the register, her knife was open and ready to use. The knife was sharp enough to gut a man if necessary, although she hoped it would never come to that.

“This is pretty,” he said as he picked up a hot pink and bright yellow one. “Yeah, I’ll take it. Could you wrap it up real nice?”

“Of course,” she replied.

“Aside from working here, what have you been up to lately?” he asked.

“I’ve been helping Jacque LeBlanc.” As she wrapped the scarf box with pretty pink paper, she explained about getting donations of books for the people in the swamp.