Page 24 of Rett

Sara nodded at the young woman, smiling.

“Well, you know our offer,” she said, grinning.

“I know, and it’s very tempting. Wes has been very good to me, and I wouldn’t want to leave him in the lurch. He’s healing after the beating, but I can already see that he’s changed. I wouldn’t want him to have to keep the restaurant closed for too long.”

“Just think about it,” smiled Sara. Dylan came over to the two women, carrying slices of fresh hot bread.

“Come on, we need a break,” said Dylan. “Let’s have a seat out back and enjoy this gorgeous evening. The chickens are almost ready to pull, then we can start cutting them.”

Casey followed the two women to several beautifully carved picnic tables. They looked too beautiful to be called that, but that was the only word she could think of.

“How are you and Rett getting on?” asked Dylan.

“Beautifully,” she said with a little giggle. “I never thought I’d meet anyone like him, but he’s truly amazing. I guess I’m just a little worried about the speed at which everything is moving.” Both women nodded, giving a little chuckle.

“I’ll start,” said Sara, winking at Dylan. “You already know that I’m a chef, but I was a Chicago police officer first. My father was shot in the line of duty, and I just couldn’t do it anymore. So, I moved to D.C. to become a caterer, opening my own business.”

“Oh, I’ve always heard that’s really tough,” said Casey.

“Unbelievably tough, especially in a city like D.C. Nothing I was doing seemed to be working, and I was killing myself. Then, I was working this wedding and saw this incredibly handsome man across the room. I never thought he’d be interested in me. I mean, he was exceptionally tall, good-looking, oh wow, was he something else,” she smiled.

“A few weeks later, I catered a fundraising dinner, and there he was again. Only this time, someone tried to shoot a senator, whom I was quite fond of. I stepped in front of the bullet, and my angel was there to save me.” Casey just smiled at her.

“Wilson sat with me at the hospital during surgery and after, then insisted that I was coming home with him,” she laughed, shaking her head. “I’m telling you, Casey, I thought he lost his mind. But that man loved me like no one in my entire life has. No one. We would have gotten married almost immediately, but I wanted both of my brothers at the wedding, and they were off seeking vengeance.”

“Are they okay?” asked Casey.

“Yes,” she chuckled. “Mac is married to Rachelle, and they live right here on the property. Tobias married a woman in Chicago, and I couldn’t blast him out of there.”

“That’s lovely, though. You all got what you wanted.” Sara nodded, then looked at Dylan.

“I came here hoping for a job and safe space for me and my son,” said Dylan. “I was raped by someone I trusted, but I couldn’t let poor Joey grow up knowing that. So, I left. I came to New Orleans to find a job as a chef. I was working at a restaurant in one of the casinos, then got the offer here. Unfortunately, the man who raped me wanted these men, all of them. He kidnapped my son and used him to try and get information from me.”

“These men? You mean, he wanted to know who they were and where they were?” asked Casey.

“That’s exactly what he wanted, and the way he thought he’d get it was by taking my son. I almost cracked, Casey. Almost. But Gator, God, that man was something else. He immediately knew something was wrong, and he wouldn’t let up. I’m happy to say he not only saved me and Joey, he adopted him. I’ve been here ever since.”

“This place is like a magical fairy land where everyone lives happily ever after,” smiled Casey.

“Not everyone,” said Sara. “Skull, over there with Avery. He lost his first wife to a hit-and-run driver. Doug lost his first partner, Grip, when he tried to protect Montana. Tony, he died protecting Alexandra and Rachelle. On Ghost’s original team, he lost two men to gunfire as well. We strive for happily ever after, but it doesn’t always happen.”

“I don’t know, Sara. I’ve never seen so many happy, well-adjusted people in all my life. I’ve been here almost a week now and haven’t seen anyone argue or fight. No one is complaining. Everyone pulls their weight. It’s like the happiest damn family I’ve ever seen.”

“We can attribute most of that to Irene and Matthew,” said Dylan. “Any time I’m feeling out of sorts or in need of a pep talk, if it’s not one of them, it’s Ruby, Claudette, Jake, or one of the other seniors. I look around and see these magnificent trees, flowers, and plants, and think this must have been what the Garden of Eden felt like.”

“Let’s just hope no one bites the proverbial apple,” smirked Casey.

“Y’all gonna sit out here and gossip all night or help me with them damn chickens?” barked George. Sara jumped up, hugging the older man and kissing his weathered cheek. Dylan walked by, doing the same.

Casey stood, heading toward the kitchen, and George cleared his throat.

“You don’t pass old George without least givin’ me a little peck on the cheek,” he said, grinning at the young woman. She laughed, hugging his neck, and giving him a kiss. Chuckling, he patted her back, shaking his head.

“That’s better. Now get to cuttin’ them chickens.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

When the weather cooperates in Louisiana, you don’t stay inside. You’re outside, enjoying the sounds, the smells, all of it. Tonight was no different. With dinner done, the group went back out to the grove, lighting the bonfires. Casey and Rett curled up on one of the blankets from their cottage, listening to the laughter and stories around them.

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