Page 51 of No Place Like Home
“There’s video evidence somewhere, if my mom bothered to save it.” Rosalyn snorted. “Trust me, it wasn’t pretty. I had horrible balance. I pirouetted right into another girl. I was the worst in the class.”
“So you quit because you weren’t the best?” He tilted his head.
“I didn’t think of it like that.” She rolled in her lip. “But yeah, I guess so. I was used to being good at school, and then one day that didn’t seem like enough anymore.”
Interesting. “You must have been immediately good at aerial, then?”
“It was a better fit.” She lifted one shoulder. “Maybe I was more motivated to fly.”
“Certainly seems that way.” Cade leaned back in his chair. “So we covered favorite music, career choices—what about faith? I don’t think you went to Magnolia Grace much growing up, huh?”
“On holidays, mostly.” Rosalyn nodded. “Sundays were about resting from whatever society events we had over the weekend. Most of my Sundays were spent practicing aerial or reading outside.”
“We didn’t go every week growing up either, though more often than not. I think my parents were going through the motions back then.” Cade shrugged. “You know, making appearances as a politician. But I sense in recent years their faith has become more genuine.”
Rosalyn hesitated. “I’m still trying to figure all that out. Lately I want to pray more but feel like I need to get my life in better order first.”
His chest warmed at her honesty. “I get it, trust me. But I don’t think that’s how that works, Ace.”
She raised her eyebrows.
He should be honest too. It was only fair. “I struggled for years to not equate God with my father—you know, needing to be capable, impress him. To represent my namesake well.” Cade swallowed. Should he tell her? Aw, might as well. “For example—I still haven’t told my dad I failed the Louisiana bar. He thinks I never took it, just changed career paths on my own.” He winced.
“You failed the bar?” Rosalyn’s eyes widened. “I’d have thought you’d pass that in your sleep.”
“My score was about as good as if I’d been asleep, that’s for sure.” He snorted. “I might try again one day, but…”
She nodded firmly. “You totally should.”
Or not. He shifted in his seat. “My point is, I’ve come a long way, and Istillstruggle with the whole ‘works’ thing. Pastor Dubois preaches on the topic a lot, which helps.”
“I should come to a service.” Rosalyn’s eyes softened. “That sounds nice.”
It did. Really nice.
“So, what’d you think?” A Cajun accent suddenly sounded over their table, shattering the moment.
Cade forced his gaze away from Rosalyn to the pot-bellied man with sun-darkened skin, a hair net, and a full-body length apron standing over them with a smile. “Think?”
“Of the frog legs, of course.” He clapped his hands together so big, Rosalyn jumped.
“Oh, I’m sorry ’bout that. Bruno Guidry.” He shook Cade’s hand, then Rosalyn’s. “Pleasure,sha.”
“Great place you got here.” Cade nodded, hoping Bruno wouldn’t see the unfinished frogs on their table. Then again, if he did, maybe he’d get the hint without Cade having to spell it out.
“Thank ya. Worked hard, for sure.” The burly man nodded once. “So what was the verdict?”
“Um.” Cade looked back at the plate still on the table, then at Rosalyn, who widened her eyes slightly in silent encouragement to tell him the truth. “They were…they were something, all right.”
“I knew it! What’d I tell you?” Bruno clamped a beefy hand on Cade’s shoulder and patted him twice. “Best in the state.”
“Can’t argue with that.” Because he’d never had any others, but…details.
Rosalyn glared at him.
“So I’m in, then?” Hope shone from Bruno’s eyes as he backed away a step, big fists clenched at his chest. “We can have a spot in Magnolia Days?”
How could Cade say no? If Bruno didn’t sell many frog legs, that wouldn’t be Cade’s fault. Of course, if he came, that meant taking up a spot another vendor wouldn’t be able to fill…
