Damn but she was jealous of her sister. Not because she wanted Remy. She didn’t understand her brother-in-law, but she wanted to feel that way about a man. About anything, really. She wanted to understand why Lisa lit up when Remy walked into a room, why there was a smile on her sister’s face, like she had a secret no one else knew.
“Try the jambalaya. I’ll make sure they give you the one they make at the tourist heat level. They make two big pots fresh every morning. One is for the locals. You do not want that one. It can clear your sinuses just by walking by that sucker,” her sister replied, sitting back in her chair. Lisa’s dark hair was up in a bun and she wore her uniform of jeans, sneakers, and a Guidry’s T-shirt. “You’re looking at me like you do when you don’t understand what I’m doing with my life.”
She winced. When Lisa had first gotten involved with Remy, she hadn’t been so sure it would work out. “I wasn’t thinking that. Not exactly.” She set the menu down. She’d had a salad for lunch and she’d skipped breakfast. This was her little sister’s restaurant. It was time to let her lead the way. “I was thinking about this place and how I never thought you would end up here. I never thought I would end up here. But you look happy and I was wondering how you got so happy.”
It wasn’t a question she would have asked before. Not even to herself.
Lisa leaned forward and reached for her hand. “Oh, sweetie, was it a rough day?”
“It wasn’t what I thought it would be. I managed to treat two elderly gentlemen who used the foulest language I’ve ever heard. Not at me. At each other.”
Lisa nodded. “I heard the great lawn mower battle happened this afternoon. Sheriff won’t let them drive cars anymore. Jimmy’s eyesight is very poor and he’s had enough accidents that no insurance will cover him, and Abe has both road rage and a deep need to rage at the machine by not paying his tickets. Now they go all over town on their lawn mowers. They can move surprisingly fast. Don’t mistake them for the scooter brigade. They’re trying to form their own MC. I don’t think they understand what an MC is. Abe and Jimmy gave you trouble?”
She’d seen the outcome of their speed. “They seemed to hate each other, but after I patched them up and was certain no one had a concussion, they were going to get a beer together. I told them they shouldn’t have a beer after I gave them anti-inflammatory meds, but they said something in French about bon temps and went to a bar anyway.”
“Laissez les bons temps rouler,” Lisa said with a smile. “Let the good times roll.”
“The good times could have drug interactions,” Lila pointed out. They hadn’t been interested in hearing about how alcohol could intensify the drugs’ effects on the central nervous system.
But they’d paid in cash. There was that.
“I don’t think Abe and Jimmy care much about that. Are they giving you a hard time? Not Abe and Jimmy. The rest of the town. Remy was surprised when Doc decided to go fishing this morning. He thought Doc was going to stay and oversee the first couple of weeks at least.”
“I don’t think he’s big into the protocols we’re supposed to follow.” It made her nervous. She followed the rules. Always. She’d played it safe.
Lisa waved the concern off. “I’m not worried about that. We’re a tiny town with one healthcare provider. We can skirt the rules a bit. No, I was worried that the townsfolk can be a little nervous around strangers.”
“Almost everyone canceled when they figured out Doc Hamet wasn’t there.” She hated admitting to her sister that she was failing. “I had a couple of minor emergencies, but all of my scheduled appointments canceled. I was supposed to have four appointments tomorrow, but we’ve got two cancellations, and I’m sure number three will do the same. Although Noelle LaVigne assures me she’s coming in.”
Her heart had nearly broken at the sight of that young woman in her wheelchair. She’d read the report about how she’d injured her spine. It had been a car accident, one in which she’d lost her mother and her ability to walk.
How hard had it been for the sheriff to make the transition to single dad? How difficult had it been for Noelle to go from normal teen to wheelchair bound in a heartbeat?
I would still prefer to keep my appointment. I have lady things to ask about.
How hard had it been to raise a teenage daughter for the manly sheriff? He was kind of a jerk, but she’d seen how much he loved his daughter.