Page 49 of Beau

She stared at the store for a moment, then sighed. “Fine. I’ll go in with you.”

“Thank you,” he said softly and got out.

CHAPTER 10

Aurelie walked with Beau into the Broussard Country Store.

They hadn’t gone three steps inside when a small child raced toward them, slammed into Beau’s legs, giggled and shouted over his shoulder, “Can’t catch me!”

“Yes, I can!” Another little boy rounded the end of a row of shelves containing an array of potato chips, nuts and candy.

“Alan, Jr!” A woman’s voice called out. “Stop right there!”

The trailing boy skidded to a stop and turned around. “But Bodie hit me with a shoe.”

“I don’t care what he hit you with. You know the rules. No running in the store. Bodie. Here. Now.”

The little boy who’d run into Beau slipped behind him.

Chrissy Broussard, the store owner’s wife, appeared at the end of the aisles. When she spotted the adults standing in the doorway, her eyes widened. “Oh. Sorry. Alan had to run some groceries to Widow Willie. She’s not feeling well enough to get out and do her own shopping. I’m managing the store and five hellions at once. Two of them escaped the back room where I have the one-eyed babysitter tuned into cartoons.”

Beau frowned.

Chrissy sighed. “One-eyed babysitter? Never heard it called that?” She shook her head. “Television.”

Beau chuckled. “You should call Gerard. I’m sure he’d come help.”

“I did. He and Bernie are in the middle of harvesting their melon patches. They’re short hands and couldn’t spare a minute. Besides, Alan said he’d only be fifteen minutes.” Chrissy checked the watch on her wrist. “And that was thirty minutes ago. I’m sure Willie is talking non-stop. She loves visitors and hasn’t gotten many since her daughter and son-in-law moved to Houston.” She looked up and forced a smile. “Who have you got with you?”

Beau turned. “Chrissy Broussard, this is Auri,” he said, shortening her name at the last second in case anyone came asking if Aurelie Anderson had been seen in town. “She’s a friend of mine.”

Chrissy held out her hand with a smile. “Auri, what a pretty name. Welcome to our little store.”

Aurelie shook Chrissy’s hand. “Nice to meet you. You have a lovely store. It’s very?—”

“Cluttered, disorganized, a zoo with children running down the aisles?” Chrissy gave a harried laugh.

“I was going to say quaint and kind of retro.” Aurelie looked around. “I like the old-fashioned feel.”

Chrissy smiled at Beau. “I like your friend.” She turned back to Aurelie. “I’m working on reorganizing products on the shelves, so it can be confusing trying to find things. Tell me what you want, and I’ll help you locate it.”

Aurelie glanced at Beau first, then faced Chrissy. “I could use some shampoo and conditioner.”

“Perfect. I just started stocking some of the name brands that are so popular.” She turned to the boy at her side. “Alan, Jr., take Bodie to the back room. You can all have a cookie if you’re nice. Just one. I don’t want you bouncing off the walls before bedtime.” She looped Aurelie’s hand around her elbow. “Come with me. I’ll get you fixed up.”

Bodie left his safe space behind Beau’s legs and hurried to follow his brother to the back of the store, where they’d enjoy a cookie before bed.

Beau’s gaze followed the two women as they headed for the health and beauty aisle. Keeping an eye on the door, he grabbed a cart and headed for the food and produce section, where he selected shrimp, chicken, smoked sausage, rice, a small package of flour, chicken broth, butter, salt, pepper and Cajun seasoning. In the produce department, he chose an onion, celery and carrots. All the ingredients he needed for gumbo the way his mother made it. He might not know how to cook many things, but gumbo was something he’d mastered as a teen. He picked up bananas, apples, grapes, crackers and cheese for snacks, a carton of eggs and a pound of bacon for breakfast. He added orange juice, coffee, creamer, a bottle of red wine and a loaf of bread to the cart and rolled it to the checkout counter.

Chrissy and Aurelie soon joined him with their arms full of shampoo, conditioner, a brush, curling iron, moisturizer and an assortment of makeup.

As Aurelie passed him, she murmured quietly, “I’ll pay you back.” She glanced at his cart and blinked. “Are you planning to feed an army?”

“Maybe.” Beau shrugged.

Chrissy chuckled. “Hungry?”

“It’s never good to shop for food when you’re hungry.”