Bayou Corruption by Robin Caroll Page A

throwing a warm glow into the sky. If she were anywhere but the bayou, she would’ve been impressed by the beauty and grace of nature. She’d always begun her day by checking out the window. Funny how she’d forgotten her ritual.
    â€œAl? You up?” CoCo hollered from the bottom of the stairs.
    Tightening the sash of her robe, Alyssa moved to the landing at the top of the staircase. “Yes.”
    â€œI thought we could have breakfast together before church.”
    Church? Oh, yes, right. CoCo attended the community church sitting outside Lagniappe town limits. She’d invited Alyssa to attend the last time Alyssa had visited. She hadn’t been able to then as she’d been anxious to head back to Shreveport. Today held no such timetable.
    â€œSure. Sounds like a plan.”
    â€œI’ll put the biscuits in the oven before I hop in the shower. Coffee’s ready whenever you are.”
    Alyssa dressed quickly, not sure what these hicks wore to worship services. After all, they’d never attended as girls. Why, the ceiling would fall if voodoo priestess Marie LeBlanc set foot inside a church. Alyssa chose a simple black skirt with a white silk blouse. After applying her makeup with a light hand, she checked her appearance in the mirror. Her hair had once been as long and wavy as CoCo’s. As dark, too.
    Determined to shed the spawn of a voodoo queen persona when she escaped the bayou, she’d embraced a drastic haircut and coloring job. Alyssa LeBlanc had recreated herself, inside and out. As she surveyed her reflection, a sense of pride filled her. She no longer resembled that mousy little girl, and she’d masterminded the conversion all by herself.
    â€œBacon’s on,” CoCo called out.
    How did the woman shower and dress in the time Alyssa took to put on her makeup?
    Alyssa entered the kitchen amid the mouth-watering smell of pepper bacon and chicory blend coffee. Her stomach rumbled in appreciation. CoCo stood at the stove dressed in a pair of khaki slacks and basic cotton T-shirt. Surely she wasn’t wearing that to church services?
    CoCo nodded as Alyssa poured a cup of coffee. “Sit down. It’s all done.”
    Not only had her sister showered and dressed, she’d also cooked breakfast. Alyssa swallowed back her prickliness, taking note of her own feelings of inadequacy. That’s what this was—that old sensation of never measuring up, plain and simple. The bayou brought out the worst in her. Always had.
    CoCo offered up a quick prayer over the food, then pulled back the kitchen curtains. “Looks like it’s going to be a glorious day.” The smile made her eyes glow.
    Alyssa didn’t reply. She sliced open the buttermilk biscuit and slipped a pat of butter inside the flaky layers. The amazing mix melted in her mouth. How come she couldn’t bake like this? Yet another screaming declaration of her inferiority. Now her nerves truly rankled.
    She cast her gaze to her sister’s attire again. “Are you wearing that to church?”
    â€œ Oui. Why?”
    â€œIsn’t it a bit, um, casual?” Alyssa bit a hunk off a slice of bacon to avoid adding any more censure to her tone. She chewed slowly, biding time.
    â€œ Boo, God doesn’t care what I wear.”
    â€œBut people do.”
    â€œAl, when are you going to get it that I don’t answer to others? None of us do. We simply have to please God, and I’m pretty certain what I put on my body matters not to Him.”
    â€œWhen are you going to understand that appearances are important?”
    â€œNot to me.”
    â€œIt matters to me.”
    Those words bounced around in her mind, settling in her chest. Appearances did matter. People judged how you looked and presented yourself. Alyssa had fought too hard to elevate herself to an acceptable level. She wouldn’t let anyone or anything knock her down.
    CoCo let out a heavy sigh. “If it