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“She’s going with me,” River replied quickly.
“She could always change her mind about that and go with me,” Gus said.
Mimi laughed. “I’ve already told River I’m going with him, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
“The early bird gets the worm,” River said smugly.
“Did you just call me a worm?” Mimi asked and then laughed as River sputtered a reply.
Then it was time for Danny to go to bed. While she took care of her son, the three men continued to visit with each other. As she tucked Danny into bed, she was grateful Johnny hadn’t shown up tonight. Maybe he’d just go about his own life and leave her alone. He had no place here. That would be best for both of them.
She kissed Danny good night, then went back to the living room and turned on the battery-operated lanterns around the room as evening shadows began to creep in.
River and Gus stayed until about nine o’clock. When they both got up to leave, she walked them out.
“See you later, Gramps,” Gus said.
“Me, too,” River said. “And I’ll be by here at about six thirty tomorrow night so we can get to the town meeting by seven.”
“Sounds perfect,” she replied. She stepped out on the front porch with them. “And you two stay safe going home.”
“Don’t you worry about us,” Gus said.
“I hope you have sweet dreams tonight,” River added. “Good night, Mimi.”
She watched as the two men went down the bridge and then disappeared into the darkness of the swamp. Both of their shanties were a bit of a distance away from hers. She always worried about them getting home safely, especially now with a vicious killer on the loose. She turned to go back into the shanty.
A dark figure stepped out of the shadows at the side of the house, and she nearly screamed. Thankfully she didn’t as she quickly realized who it was.
“Johnny,” she exclaimed in surprise. “What are you doing lurking around out here in the dark?”
“I was waiting for your friends to leave so you and I could have a private conversation,” he replied.
She could smell him…the scent of minty soap and the spicy cologne he’d always worn. The fragrance alone tumbled memories through her mind…unwanted memories of love and desire…unwanted thoughts that instantly put her on edge.
She hesitated a moment and then opened the door wide enough for him to enter. The devil had come calling, and she might as well get this over with, she thought. And hopefully after their conversation tonight, she would no longer have to see him again.
SHE LOOKED BEAUTIFUL. Wearing jeans and a hot pink sleeveless blouse and with her hair loose and flowing around her shoulders, Johnny couldn’t help the way his heart fluttered in his chest at the sight of her.
She followed him inside where he greeted Gramps. “Hi, Gramps. How are you doing this evening?”
“I’m doing just fine, but I think it’s getting to be my bedtime,” Gramps said and got out of his chair.
“There’s no need for you to hurry off,” Mimi said, and Johnny thought he heard a touch of desperation in her voice.
“It’s getting late, and the night belongs to you young folks,” Gramps replied. He looked at Mimi for a long moment, then said good night and disappeared into his bedroom.
Johnny turned back to Mimi. Her green eyes were luminous in the lantern’s light as she gestured for him to take a seat on the sofa. She sat in the recliner that Gramps had just vacated.
“I don’t know why you’re here,” she said tightly. “If it’s about my son, then I already gave you your answer in the store. You are not Danny’s father, so we really have nothing else to talk about.”
“If I’m not the boy’s father, then who is?” he asked.
Her cheeks flushed with color. “I… I don’t know who his father is. After you left me, I…uh…went through a period of promiscuity and slept with several men, and that’s when I wound up pregnant.”
Surprise winged through him at her words…words he definitely didn’t believe. He knew her heart and soul, and there was no way in hell she would crawl into bed with a man unless she was in love with him. She didn’t have a promiscuous bone in her body.
“Don’t you want to know who the father is?” he asked.
