Song of the Meadowlark (Intertwined Book 1) by Sherri Wilson Johnson Page A

level and stroked her cheek.
    “My mommy didn’t come back when she left.” A frown settled across Susie’s freckled face.
    “Come here. I promise you I’ll be back. You’ll already be in bed when I get home, but I’ll see you in the morning. In fact, if I’m not too tired, I’ll even come in and kiss you good night when I get back.” She brushed Susie’s golden hair out of her face.
    “You will?”
    “I promise. Now, come on. Walk me out.” Cora took Susie’s hand in hers. She gazed intently at the little tot. What had happened on the day Patricia died? Susie must have felt secure that her mother would return, and it scarred her when she didn’t.
    When Cora and Susie got downstairs, Clarice stood in the foyer with Matt and another young man. Matt was dressed in his jeans and dress shirt with a skinny tie and dress cowboy boots. Casual, yet still dressed to impress the ladies. His hair was perfect, and his skin glowed like he’d gone for a facial. Surely not. She gave a quick glance in his friend’s direction. He could have been Matt’s twin.
    “Good, Cora, you’re ready. Gosh, you look great. I mean it.” Clarice came over to Cora, grabbing her right hand with both of hers.
    “Thanks.”
    “This is Matt’s friend, Justin.” Clarice pointed with long fake nails the color of a red apple.
    “Hey. Nice to meet you.”
    “You too.” Justin smirked.
    “We’re going to ride with them, if you don’t mind. Mom feels better about us goin’ if we have escorts.” Clarice rolled her eyes, sweeping her lids with her long, fake lashes. “We can ditch them once we get there.” Clarice flashed all of her teeth.
    “That’s fine with me if we ride with them. Or, we could follow them in my car. That way, if we want to leave early, we can.”
    “Leave early? Are you crazy? No one leaves early, Cora.” Matt took her by the arm, and Clarice burst into laughter. “Let’s go paint the town.” He winked at her with his crystal blue eyes, shrugging his brows that she was sure he’d waxed. Quite the contrast from his rugged brother.
    Cora smiled at Susie and kissed her good-bye, hiding her apprehension. If only she hadn’t decided to accompany them, but too late, she had. Matt whisked her into his Jeep, and off they went.
    All the way to Wild Bill’s, Cora listened to Clarice flirt with Justin in the back seat. Were they dating? If so, why would Clarice want to separate from him at Wild Bill’s? Cora had a lot to learn about Clarice.
    When they arrived at Wild Bill’s, Cora waited a minute for her eyes to adjust to the darkness of the place. Laughter floated like sawdust in the air while people danced. The band played country music, and she couldn’t help but tap her toes. The bells and whistles of a pinball machine and the clacking of pool balls hitting each other as someone played a game rang out from the loft area. Giant ceiling fans blew air all around and cigarette smoke filled the bar. Boiled peanut shells covered the floor. The energy of the place put Cora in the mood for some adult time, but she could have done without the smoke and the alcohol. The bartender stirred a mixed drink and offered it to a customer. Cora looked away. Her past experience with alcohol churned her stomach. They found a table and sat down.
    “Well, what do you think?” Clarice put her mouth against Cora’s ear.
    Cora smelled Clarice’s spearmint gum. “It’s alive in here, that’s for sure. This place is huge. How big is it?”
    Matt rolled his eyes at his sister, and Clarice shrugged. “She wouldn’t know. It’s about 8,000 square feet. It’s made like a barn. The loft area up there is where you play pool and video games.” Matt nodded toward the loft.
    This place was like the pool hall she and Clark had frequented in their early days. A stabbing pain shot through her stomach. They had wasted so much time. “I’ve never seen a place like this...not even near the beach in Panama City.” People danced nearby