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  Charlotte opened the door and smiled. “Good morning.”

  Louis was a stocky man with a receding hairline of steel-gray hair. He kept himself fit, and from the first time she’d met him several years earlier, she had thought that he was an attractive man for his age. Too bad he could be such a pain in the butt at times, especially when he was in one of his male chauvinistic moods.

  “Good morning to you too,” he said with a curt nod of his head.

  Charlotte’s smile faded when she noticed the small suitcase sitting on the porch beside him. “You going somewhere?” She motioned toward the suitcase.

  Louis nodded. “Yeah, some unexpected business. Just an overnighter in Houston,” he hastened to add. “I’ll be back in plenty of time to fire up the grill on the Fourth. One of the guys got sick, and they needed someone to fill in for tonight and tomorrow morning.”

  Charlotte pulled the door open wider. “Want to come inside? I think I still have some coffee in the pot.”

  Louis shook his head. “Wish I could, but I can’t. I’m running late as it is.” He reached inside his pants pocket. “I just wanted to give you this before I leave.” He pulled out a money clip and removed four twenty-dollar bills. “My share of the groceries for the Fourth shindig.”

  Charlotte shook her head and held up a hand in protest. “Uh-uh, that’s way too much. All we’re having is hot dogs and hamburgers. Besides, most of the folks coming are my relatives.”

  “It’s not too much,” he insisted, “so take it.” He reached out, and with a firm grip, grabbed hold of her wrist.

  Charlotte automatically closed her hand into a fist.

  “Don’t be stubborn.” He gently pried her fingers open, placed the money in her palm, and then closed her fingers around the money. Still holding her hand with both of his, he said, “Counting my bunch and yours, we’re going to be feeding fifteen people. We will need soft drinks, paper goods, charcoal, and I’m sure there’s some other stuff I haven’t even thought of. Besides, this whole thing was my idea to begin with.” He gently squeezed her hand. “Okay?”

  After a moment, Charlotte nodded. “Okay.”

  “Good.” He released her hand. Then from his shirt pocket he pulled out a piece of paper. “I made out a list of stuff. If you don’t mind, could you pick these things up when you go grocery shopping? I’d planned to do it myself, but then Joe called.”

  Though Charlotte had never met Joe Sharp, she knew who he was. Joe owned Lagniappe Security, the company that employed Louis.

  Curious, Charlotte glanced down at the list. A slow grin twitched at her lips.

  “What?” Louis demanded.

  Charlotte laughed. “Except for the badminton set, I made a list that includes most of what your list includes.”

  Louis shrugged. “Great minds think alike. As for the badminton set, I figured Amy and Davy would have fun with that. And if I get back in time, I’m going to pick up one of those small kiddy pools for the little ones to splash in.”

  Charlotte didn’t want to burst his bubble of enthusiasm, but she knew for a fact that his granddaughter, Amy, who was twelve, and her nephew’s stepson, Davy, who was eight, would much rather play one of their many video games. Still, miracles happened, and who knows, maybe the two kids would enjoy the badminton set. It would certainly be different from what they were used to doing. “That’s really thoughtful of you, Louis.”

  Louis suddenly shifted his eyes downwards and a tinge of red stained his cheeks. Charlotte’s mouth curved into an unconscious smile. Would wonders ever cease? Usually gruff and serious, Louis was actually embarrassed by her compliment. Go figure.

  A moment later he cleared his throat and said, “Got to run, but I should be back tomorrow afternoon.”

  Charlotte was about to tell him bye when he suddenly bent down and kissed her. The kiss was just a quick peck on the lips, but it caught her completely off-guard. Stunned and tongue-tied, she could only stand there and watch him as he turned and hurried down the steps. By the time she found her voice, he was halfway to his car. “What in the world was that all about?” she murmured as he backed his car out of the driveway.

  As if Louis had heard her, he glanced her way, winked, and with a two-fingered wave, he drove off.

  The Fourth of July lived up to the weather forecaster’s predictions: sunny and hot. Charlotte stepped over to the stove to check on the chili for the hot dogs. “I can’t believe it’s just noon, and the temperature gauge has already climbed to ninety-eight degrees.”

  Charlotte’s daughter-in-law, Carol, nodded. “At least Louis had the good sense to put up that canopy for shade. And those fans he set up help. By the way, I love your new haircut.”

  “Thanks.” Charlotte smiled, pleased that Carol had noticed. Thankfully, Valerie had been able to work her into the schedule late on Friday afternoon. “I thought I was due for a change—too much gray.” She laughed. Up until she’d hit sixty, the gray had blended in with her honey-blond hair, but after sixty, it seemed like almost overnight there was more gray than blond.

  “The shorter style really flatters you—makes you look ten years younger.”

  Charlotte laughed again. “Younger is good, and it’s certainly easier to fix.”

  Suddenly, a high-pitched shriek exploded from the backyard, and Charlotte froze.

  “That’s just Samantha,” Carol quickly reassured her. “That’s her ‘I didn’t get what I wanted’ scream. Either Hank or Judith will take care of her.”

  With a sigh of relief, Charlotte resumed stirring the chili for the hot dogs. It never ceased to amaze her how early kids learned how to get what they want. The twins, Samantha and Samuel, weren’t even a year old yet and already they could wrap the adults around their little fingers like pretzels.

  “So, when do you start the movie job?” Carol asked.

  “Day after tomorrow.”

  “Aren’t you nervous? I know I would be.”

  “No, not so much nervous.” Charlotte rapped the spoon on the side of the boiler and placed it in the sink. After turning off the burner beneath the pot of chili, she put a lid on it. “I guess, more than anything, I’m a bit anxious. To tell the truth, though, I haven’t had a lot of time to think about it.” She walked over to the table to prepare a tray of buns and condiments for the hamburgers and hot dogs.

  Carol grinned. “Unlike your son, I think it’s sooo exciting. Sure you don’t need someone to fill in for you on one of those days?”

  “Then Hank would really throw a fit.”

  Carol giggled. “Well, we just wouldn’t tell him.” When Charlotte jerked her head around to stare at her daughter-in-law, Carol giggled again. “Just kidding, Charlotte. Just kidding.”

  Charlotte grinned, and then turned her attention back to the task at hand. She was almost finished when the sound of children’s laughter reached her ears. Smiling, she glanced out of the back window, and a warm feeling of love and contentment spread to the center of her being. All of her family and Louis’s son and his family had been able to come. She’d also invited Dale and a former employee and friend, Cherè Warner, who was in town. Except for Carol, who had offered to help her bring some food outside, they were all right there in her own backyard.

  Family and good friends. Her family and her good friends. Life couldn’t get much better. She was truly blessed.

  And what about Louis? Which category does he fit?

  Charlotte closed her eyes for a moment. Where on earth did that come from? What about him? she answered the silent voice in her head. He’s a good friend, a really good friend.

  Just a good friend?

  Well, he’s not family, so what else would he be?

  What else, indeed? And what about that kiss?

  Ignoring the nagging voice in her head and the memory of the kiss, Charlotte opened her eyes and loaded up the tray to transport the food to the picnic table.

  True to his word, Louis had returned from his overnight assignment in plenty of time to “fir
e up the grill” as well as purchase the small wading pool for the little ones.

  Again, Charlotte glanced out of the window and smiled. While the twins splashed in the pool, Davy and Amy, much to her surprise, seemed to be really having fun playing badminton.

  At that moment, Davy swung his racket and missed. Like a streak of lightning, Danielle, Daniel and Nadia’s four-year old, swooped in behind him and scooped up the shuttlecock off the ground. When Davy held out his hand for it, Danielle shook her head and said something that Charlotte couldn’t hear.

  Just behind Charlotte, Carol laughed. “Guess that’s one way to try and force them to play with her.”

  “Yeah, poor little thing. She thinks she’s too old to play with the twins, but Davy and Amy think she’s too young to play with them.”

  “Maybe they’ll take pity on her.”

  “Humph! I doubt that. But—” Charlotte picked up the tray and headed toward the back door. “Maybe I can distract her—get her to take pity on the twins,” she said over her shoulder. “The twins crawl around after her like little lapdogs.”

  “If anyone can, you can,” Carol quipped. “Do you want me to bring that pot of chili?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Later that night when Louis parked the car in the driveway, Charlotte opened the door and walked slowly to the porch. In the distance she could still hear the sounds of fireworks popping, and though the night air wasn’t exactly cool, it was cooler than the afternoon had been.

  She paused at the bottom of the steps and looked up into the sky. “That’s strange,” she murmured. “I’ve never seen that many stars out in a long time. And they all seem to be centered right over our neighborhood.”

  Though Louis chuckled, he didn’t comment.

  “By the way, thanks for the ride home,” she told him. Though she’d ridden to the levee with Hank and his family to watch the fireworks, Louis had offered to take her home to save Hank an unnecessary trip.

  “You’re welcome. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted,” Louis said as he followed her up the steps onto the porch. “But it’s a good exhaustion,” he added.

  “I feel the same way.” Charlotte headed for her front door. “All in all, it was worth it. And the fireworks this year were fantastic. I have to say that, except for the heat, this day was about as perfect as they come.” She unlocked the door.

  “Yeah, well, don’t forget the mosquitoes.”

  “Speaking of the bloodthirsty critters, either step inside or say good night.” When he stepped inside, Charlotte quickly closed the door. With a grin she turned to face Louis. “Funny, I didn’t hear anyone else complaining.”

  Louis laughed. “That’s because the little ones didn’t stay still long enough for a mosquito to land, and their parents were too busy chasing them to notice.”

  “And because their parents had the good sense to spray them good with mosquito repellent before we left,” Charlotte pointed out.

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Go ahead. I know you’re dying to say I told you so.”

  Charlotte shrugged. “If the shoe fits. I did warn you to spray yourself down. And speaking of mosquito bites, if you’ve got some of that green rubbing alcohol, using it on the bites will help with the itching. Either that or some Benadryl cream.”

  “Well, unlike some people I know, I don’t happen to keep that kind of stuff on hand, so guess I’ll just suffer.”

  Charlotte laughed. “Is that a hint?” Without waiting for his reply, she said, “Hang on a minute, and I’ll be right back.”

  Within a couple of minutes, she returned and handed him a bottle of green rubbing alcohol.

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. And, Louis, thank you for helping make this such a great day.”

  Louis simply nodded. “Couldn’t have done it without you.” Then, without an ounce of warning, he suddenly wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, again. As before, she was stunned. But unlike the brief peck he’d given her on Thursday, this kiss was a full-blown one. Surprisingly, his lips were much softer than she’d expected. Then, just as she’d made up her mind to enjoy it, Louis ended it. With a knowing smile, he released her, opened the door, and then carefully pulled it closed behind him.

  For long moments Charlotte stared at the closed door. Dormant feelings within stirred, feelings that she’d long thought were gone forever with the death of her son’s father in Vietnam, so long ago. Hank Senior had been her first love, and though other men had come along, none had stirred her emotions quite like Louis.

  With a shake of her head, Charlotte threw the dead bolt, then turned away and walked to the bedroom.

  Something was going on with Louis, and just thinking about it made her all jittery inside. She could come right out and ask him, but ask him what? How on earth did a person even phrase that kind of question? Besides, knowing Louis, he would only tell her what was on his mind when he was good and ready.

  Chapter 2

  Monday was predicted by the weather forecasters to hit a three-figure heat index, but worrying about the heat was the least of Charlotte’s concerns as she drove toward Bitsy Duhè’s house. For one thing, she couldn’t stop thinking about Louis and wondering about his sudden need to kiss her at the drop of a hat. For another thing, she was more nervous about the job at Bitsy’s than she’d admitted to either herself or Carol.

  She still couldn’t believe that finally, after all these years, she was actually going to meet Hunter Lansky in person. Well, maybe not “meet” him exactly. In her experience, the maid was the last person anyone paid attention to. But just the thought of being in the same room or even the same house with him was exciting.

  Charlotte slowed her van to a crawl as she approached the block where Bitsy lived. “What now?” She narrowed her eyes against the morning sun to peer up ahead. She was only half a block from Bitsy’s house, and the entire width of the street was lined with barricades. As she inched the van closer to the barricades, she spotted a uniformed security guard headed her way. Tucked beneath his arm was a clipboard and he was motioning for her to turn around.

  Charlotte shook her head, pushed the automatic window button, and waited for him to approach her van.

  “Ma’am, you’ll have to turn around,” the young man told her. “Only approved personnel are allowed.”

  “I guess that would include me, then,” she told him, noting that the logo on his shirtsleeve was Lagniappe Security, the same logo she’d seen on Louis’s uniforms. “I’m supposed to be working on the movie set today.”

  “Name please and some ID.”

  “Name’s Charlotte LaRue.” She reached for her purse. A moment later, she showed the guard her driver’s license.

  The guard studied the license for a moment, and then scanned the list on his clipboard. With a nod, he said, “You’re clear.”

  “So where am I supposed to park?”

  “I’ll move the barricade, and you can park anywhere on that side of the street.” He motioned toward the right side. “Just don’t block any driveways.”

  When he turned to walk away, Charlotte said, “By the way, my neighbor works for Lagniappe too. Maybe you know him. His name is Louis Thibodeaux.”

  The man nodded. “Yeah, everyone knows Louis. We’re lucky to have him working for Lagniappe.”

  Once through the barricade, Charlotte drove slowly until she spotted an opening. After several maneuvers, she squeezed her van into the space, but just barely, with little room left at either end of the van.

  Once satisfied that she was close enough to the curb, she cut the engine and yanked the keys out of the ignition. “Good thing I can parallel-park.”

  After retrieving her supply carrier from the back of the van, she locked the doors and trudged up the street toward Bitsy’s house.

  As she approached the house, she slowed her steps. “Keystone Cops,” she murmured, her gaze taking in what appeared to be a myriad of people rushing to and fro. “Or Mardi Gras,” she added.<
br />
  Electrical lines were strung all over the front lawn. Men toted in cameras; others, carrying various pieces of equipment, emerged from a huge moving van.

  Charlotte searched through the crowd of faces and sighed. How on earth was she ever going to find the person she was supposed to report to, especially since Bitsy neglected to even give her the name of the person? Then, suddenly, she stopped; all she could do was gape at Bitsy’s house.

  “Oh, wow!” A soft gasp escaped her. Bitsy’s house, a very old, raised-cottage-style Greek Revival, had never looked quite so magnificent. The peeling paint had been scraped and a bright fresh coat applied. Even the landscape had been clipped and pruned to within an inch of its life. For a moment Charlotte fancied that this must have been the way the old house had looked when it was first built, more than 150 years ago.

  Still in awe of the exterior, Charlotte carefully picked her way through the people milling about as she climbed the steps up to the gallery. No one seemed to be paying any attention to her and the front door was wide open, so she kept going.

  Once inside, she was again struck with awe. Though Bitsy had some nice pieces of antique furniture, Charlotte had noticed lately that the furniture had begun to look a bit dingy and worn.

  Charlotte’s eyes grew wide as she glanced around. From what she could see, all of Bitsy’s stuff had been cleared out and had been replaced with gorgeous furnishings that looked brand-new, yet befit the era in which the house had been built.

  So where was Bitsy’s stuff? she wondered. The very stuff that she had been hired to watch over.

  “Hey, lady, who are you?”

  Charlotte pivoted around at the sound of the voice and found herself facing a rail-thin man who was just a little taller than her own five foot three and looked to be in his early-to-mid thirties.

  “Ah, I’m Charlotte—Charlotte LaRue—and I was hired to help keep things clean.”