Page 88 of Cursed
As the sun disappeared, he shuddered, his face rigid, his eyes focused on the windshield.
As twilight descended over the bayou, she heard him make a muffled sound. When she turned to him, she saw tears trickling down his cheeks.
She pulled to the shoulder, slammed the car into park and reached for him. He came into her arms, and she held him, feeling his shoulders shake.
“I couldn’t … I … didn’t …”
“I know. I know,” she murmured as she held him, stroking his back, combing her fingers through his dark hair. “You couldn’t believe it until dark. But it’s all over now. It’s really all over.”
He fumbled in his pocket for a handkerchief and blew his nose. “I’m acting like a child.”
“No. You’re just being emotional. I’m glad that you can be. You were so rigid, so controlled.”
“I had to be.”
“I know.”
He clasped her tightly, kissed her.
She drove the rest of the way into town, slowing as she passed Yvonne’s house. The lights were off, and the curtains were closed.
“She’s in there,” Andre muttered.
“Or she’s not. But it doesn’t matter to us,” she said, knowing that was another truth he’d have to learn to accept.
Her next stop was the gas station, where it looked like the same group of guys were sitting on the bench out front. Pulling up next to the pump, she said to Andre, “Why don’t you top off the tank.”
“I’d be glad to,” he answered in a steady voice, getting out.
She kept her eyes on the men, then grinned as she saw them react to the presence of Andre Gascon in their midst—after dark.
Bubba came rushing over, then stopped short, watching Andre fill the tank.
“You’ve never been here at night,” he said, sounding like he expected a jaguar to materialize in front of him.
Andre shrugged as he deliberately continued pumping gas, then got out his wallet to pay. He looked calm, like this was just a routine trip into town. But she knew how much the moment meant to him.
He was grinning as he climbed back into the car.
“I guess that was fun,” she murmured.
“Like dropping water bombs out of the second-floor window at school.”
“Did you ever do that?”
“I was too well behaved.”
“Well, I did it. And got in big trouble.”
“I’ll bet.”
She drove to one of the restaurants on Main Street, a charming Cajun bistro that Janet had recommended.
Again, they drew stares as they entered. But Morgan had asked for a quiet table out back on the patio.
They ordered champagne, and when the waitress had left them alone again, Andre raised his glass. “There’s so much I want to say,” he said, emotion thickening his voice.
“Just tell me you can accept being happy,” she whispered.
