Tags:
Fiction,
Sex,
Adult,
Contemporary Romance,
Urban,
Louisiana,
Law Enforcement,
Novel,
small town,
maryland,
Rural,
wilderness,
Man Made Disaster,
Land Pollution,
Water Pollution,
Radioactivity Pollution,
Detective Mystery,
Suburban,
Christianity-Catholicism,
Science-Marine Biology,
Social Sciences-Geography,
Fishing-Fresh Water,
Fishing-Salt Water,
Boat Transportation,
2000-2010,
1960-1969
are you, Libba Jane?â
âIâm doing well. How about you?â
He nodded. âStaggerinâ blindly, as usual.â
âAre you back for good?â
âI think so.â His blue eyes were narrow, his mouth hard. âAnd you?â
âIâm not sure yet,â she said honestly. âI need a job and I have a daughter whoâs California-spoiled. Before I can make any permanent plans, Iâve got to convince her that Marshyhope Creek has potential.â
He whistled. âTimes sure have changed, havenât they? Can you imagine our parents asking us if it was okay to move?â
His criticism stung. âThat really doesnât apply. Moving wasnât even a possibility. Our families have lived here for generations.â
Russ hopped down to stand beside her. âDonât get your feathers ruffled, Libba Jane. Your motherâs family isnât from Marshyhope Creek and every one of your daddyâs brothers and sisters relocated elsewhere.â
She changed the subject. âI heard you were out West somewhere.â
He nodded. âThatâs right.â
âWhy did you come back?â
âYou do get right to the point, donât you? Same as always.â
âWhat did you expect?â
He stroked his chin, looked up at the sky and pretended to think about her question. âWell, the thing is, I donât know what to expect. There was a time when I knew you as well as I knew myself, or at least I thought I did. But thatâs long gone. So, as far as Iâm concerned, youâre a mystery to me, Libba Jane. When it comes to you, Iâm startinâ fresh.â
Libby swallowed. She deserved the sarcasm and the subtle tongue-lashing. There was nothing left to do but grovel. âI know itâs late to try to make amends, but Iâm sorry, Russ. I have no excuse for what I did to you. It was thoughtless and cruel. I hope youâll forgive me.â
He stared at her. âDid you practice that for long?â
Her lips twitched and then she laughed out loud. âI started when my daddy told me youâd come back to take over the business.â
âYouâre a terrible actress.â
âThank God for that. At least youâll know when Iâm telling the truth.â
He held out his hand and grinned. âApology accepted.â
She took it and smiled. âI heard youâre divorced. Iâm sorry.â
âThanks, but thatâs the best part. It was a mistake from the beginning except for Tess.â
âTess?â
âMy daughter,â he explained. âSheâs fifteen going on twenty.â
Libby groaned. âI know what you mean. Wait until you meet Chloe.â
Russ tested the name. âChloe. I like it. When will that be?â
âWhenever you like. Sheâs adrift right now because she doesnât know anyone her own age. Thatâll change when school starts.â
âCareful, Libba Jane,â he warned her. âYou sound like youâre settlinâ in.â
âTruthfully, Iâd like to. I never did care for California. Iâm glad to be home, but thatâs only the half of it. I need a job and I need to reach some kind of agreement with Chloe and her father.â
âWhat happened there?â he asked casually.
Libby shrugged. âLike you, I made a mistake. I was too young to know what I wanted.â
He studied her face. âYou look exactly the same.â
âThanks,â she said lightly.
âIt isnât a compliment, Libba. Some things just are.â He changed the subject. âIâm sorry about your mama.â
âThanks,â she said again. âSheâs much better than I expected.â She looked at her watch. âIâve got to be going. Nice talking to you, Russ.â
âIâll be seeinâ you around. Stop in any old time. Iâm back at Hennessey House. You know the way.â
She
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