Page 57 of Bayou Sunset

“Den, why ya no be getting out?” she demanded, her confusion growing as she observed the unwavering resolve in his eyes.

“Because you’re Romeo’s girl, and we look after our own,” he stated firmly, with an unshakable conviction that made her chesttighten.

Torn between gratitude and frustration, she turned to face the front, unable to hold back the torrent of emotions any longer. “Drive, Shelley,” she murmured, her voice barely holding steady as tears began to blur her vision. Casper’s words, though well-intentioned, felt like a cage around her heart. She knew she wasn’t Romeo’s girl, only a fleeting part of Steve’s chaotic world.

She felt the weight of her past as she stood on the brink of a new beginning. The memories of Bayou Junction, a town steeped in her history with Steve, haunted her every step. Her heart, heavy with the sorrows of what once was, ached to break free from the chains of nostalgia. With a deep breath, she resolved to leave everything behind and venture into a place untouched by his memory, where she could rebuild the fragments of her existence and embrace potential anew.

Chapter Thirty-Five

STRUGGLING WITH FRUSTRATION and pain, Romeo lay in the sterile, white hospital bed, his body twisted with discomfort and weariness. The fluorescent lights hummed softly above him, casting an artificial glare over the sheriff’s pale features. The sheriff, a grizzled man with a thick mustache and a notepad in hand, fired off a barrage of inane questions that grated on Romeo’s nerves. Devon, his loyal friend and one of his bosses, stood at the foot of the bed. Devon’s calm demeanor starkly contrasted with the chaos. He stepped in to redirect the sheriff’s questions occasionally, his composed voice soothing the tension in the room. Romeo’s interview experience shined through as he deftly navigated the conversation, ensuring he only revealed what was absolutely necessary.

Where the hell was Daisy Mae? He’d expected her by his side the entire time he was hospitalized, which was thankfully only overnight. Her absence was palpable, casting a shadow over the room.

He was brimming with anticipation of tracking down Daisy Mae and imploring her to join him in starting a new chapter of their lives together in Baltimore, leaving behind the comforts and memories of his quaint hometown. However, a bittersweet pang tugged at his heart at the thought of parting from his beloved parents. But where were his parents?

An unsettling concern gnawed at him—why hadn’t they come to visit him yet? As if his unspoken worries had materialized into words, Devon said reassuringly, “We just sent Grits after your parents. We didn’t want them to have to endure the agonizing wait in the hospital’s sterile, impersonal waiting room to see you.”

The gesture appeared thoughtful, yet perhaps over-the-top. His parents, undoubtedly, would prefer to stay by his side at thehospital, sharing those crucial moments with him. Suddenly, a realization struck him. Had his parents been there, they would have spent those precious minutes beside his hospital bed rather than Daisy Mae. Overwhelmed, his throat tightened almost to the point of choking as he managed to utter, “Merci,chèr.”

Once the sheriff had reached his limit, his patience threadbare, he turned to Devon with a steely gaze and demanded, “Now, where didDeyzee Mèget off to?”

Romeo's instincts flared as he snapped to attention. Daisy Mae had left the hospital? The implications spun in his mind, creating a vortex of worry. He flung off the covers in a swift, determined motion, ready to leave the sterile confines of the hospital bed and pursue the woman he cared for. Ever the vigilant agent, Devon intercepted him. “She just went to see her brothers at Duke’s,” he explained calmly. “To check on them and let them know she was okay.” He paused and met Romeo’s anxious gaze. “Casper is with her.”

Relief washed over Romeo. Knowing Casper was by her side gave him a sense of peace. He was reassured that she would return to him soon, before he departed, giving him the precious chance to persuade her to restart their journey together.

Before the sheriff departed, a tense silence hung in the air. Romeo’s curiosity and concern were evident as he inquired, “Da map? Did it be authentic?”

Sheriff Boudreaux, with a nonchalant demeanor, shrugged in response. “Antionne say so. He plans ta search once he has da permits. So, we be seeing,” he said, his voice conveying skepticism and cautious optimism. The room seemed to echo with the weight of their uncertainties as the sheriff stepped out into the hallway.

Once alone with Devon, he looked at him concernedly and asked, “I need to see her.”

Devon, his expression grave, shook his head gently. “Youneed to see your parents.” A myriad of emotions flickered across his face; he did need to see his parents. Images of their worried faces and his father’s past heart attack flooded his mind. They would be anxious beyond measure unless they could see that he was healing. He couldn’t bear the thought of causing them undue stress. Resolute, he took a deep breath and nodded. He’d reunite with Daisy Mae afterward. “Send them in when they be here,” he instructed, his voice steady but laden with unspoken concerns.

Straightening the covers meticulously, he waited anxiously for his parents to enter the brightly lit room. The relief he felt that Casper had left with Daisy Mae was palpable. His mind raced with thoughts—she might have gone to purchase her boat. What drove her away so abruptly? Could it truly have been to check on her brothers? She could have easily made a phone call. But JP had sustained a blow to the head; maybe that was why she needed to see him in person. Then again, modern technology offered video chats. Frustration gnawed at him; he yearned for her presence beside him in this trying moment.

His mother rushed into the room, her eyes wide with worry. His father followed her slowly, moved with hesitant steps, a deep furrow of concern etched into his brow. “Steve,” his mother said, her voice trembling slightly as she stepped beside his bed, casting a shadow over his pale form lying beneath the thin hospital sheets.

“Bonjour,MamauandPapa,” he said, his voice laced with unwavering confidence to alleviate the anxious expressions tugging at his parents’ faces.

His mother, her fingers shaking slightly, adjusted the covers on his bed with tender care. Meanwhile, his father moved to the opposite side, his face a mix of worry and relief. “How ya be?” his father inquired, his voice resonating with concern.

Steve managed a nod, offering a brief smile. “Bien,” heresponded, though the word was tinged with exhaustion. The doctor had cautioned him about the fragility of his stitches—they could quickly reopen, both on his side and his leg. He knew he’d have to rely on a cane for the foreseeable future, a constant reminder of his need to keep weight off his injured limb.

“I be sorry,” his father said with a weary voice, his eyes burdened with regret. “I got ya dragged into dis mess.”

“What on earth ya be talking about?” his mother asked, a puzzled look on her face.

“Papa asked me to keep an eye on Daisy Mae,” Romeo explained, his expression growing serious. “And he be right. She needed me and my organization to watch her six.”

With a puzzled expression, her mother tilted her head slightly and inquired, “Watch her six?”

Armor-clad in his professional demeanor, Romeo immersed himself deeply into his work mindset, temporarily shelving any thoughts of a vacation with his family. “I’m sorry,Mamau. It means watch her back.”

Comprehension dawned slowly as she nodded, attempting to appear as though she had grasped the meaning from the start. “Oh,” she echoed, her voice a blend of understanding and curiosity. Her eyes darted around, scanning the room with motherly concern. “Where she be? I expected her to be waiting. We needed to see if she be all right.”

“She be checking on herfrères,” he said, hoping that was true. She’d seemed distant the last time they were together, as if he’d left her behind while he ventured ahead. Then, a realization jolted through him; she might think he had no intention of bringing her along since he hadn’t even hinted at it.

His initial urge was to leap from the bed, driven by an urgent need to see her until he felt his parents in the room. “I need to get out of here,” he muttered, a sense of determination rising.

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