Page 42 of Won't Back Down
“Supplies, yes. But if y’all can spare the time, we could use a hand getting the last of the hurricane shutters up. Flo thinks we can do it all ourselves, but she’s thinking with the brain of someone who isn’t vertically challenged. I’m capable of a lot of things, but lengthy reach isn’t one of them.”
My lips twitched. Mimi was 5’1” on a good day. Mama Flo was nearer to 5’10”. Ford’s height came from her. “Of course, we’ll follow you on out. Are you headed home now?”
“Sure am.”
“Meet you there.”
The village was so congested it took nearly twenty minutes to make it all the way to the lighthouse. I was glad we’d be able to bypass it on the way back to Sutter House. Mama Flo was at the top of a ladder when we pulled up, a drill in her hand.
I slid out of the truck. “Maybe you ought to let us help with that before you fall and break your neck. Ford would be mighty pissed if you did.”
“We prepped for hurricanes out here long before you were big enough to help.” In defiance, she drilled in the last screw on the hurricane shutter she was attaching.
“Nobody’s questioning your general badassery. You’d yell at me if I was up a ladder by myself with nobody home, too.”
She opened her mouth. Closed it again. “Well, you’ve got me there. I suppose, since you’re here, I could use a hand.”
Mimi humphed and muttered something that sounded an awful lot like, “Stubborn, pig-headed Amazon.”
Willa must’ve caught it too because she snorted a laugh before covering with a cough. “What can we do?”
Between the four of us, we made quick work of the last of the prep. The lighthouse itself didn’t need extra attention, so it was just finishing up all the windows on the cottage and helping them cart the outdoor furniture and grill inside.
When we were through, Mama Flo dusted off her hands. “I have to admit, that went quicker. Y’all come inside for a glass of tea and some cookies.”
“Would those be double chocolate chip?” I asked, hopeful.
Mimi grinned. “They would.”
“Twist my arm, why don’t you?”
The kitchen was a lot darker with the windows shuttered, but no less inviting. The two women bustled about, pouring tea, plating cookies. Because they waved us away, Willa and I sat at the table, taking the window seat. Roy lapped at the bowl of water they brought him, then found a cold spot to stretch out on the slate floor.
Willa propped her chin in her hands. “I’m a little surprised we haven’t heard from you since our party. I figured you’d want the update.”
“Oh, well, we wanted to let you two settle in,” Mama Flo admitted. “Not that the Universe got that message. Married one week. Hurricane the next. But how are things?”
“Well, I got served.”
Mama Flo paused, pitcher in hand. “So, they’re really going through with it?”
“Looks like. Roland has reported our marriage, and now we’re playing a waiting game. He said it could take days or weeks before we hear anything. Not gonna lie, the waiting is killing me. Everything moves so freaking slowly. I just want it settled and done, one way or another.”
Because I felt her tense up again, I slid my hand beneath her hair and began to knead at her nape. Her eyes closed, and she sighed, leaning back into the touch. I saw Mimi noticing from where she piled cookies on a platter and chose to ignore the satisfied nod. “My buddy’s getting started on backdating things, in case they come after her about the haste of our marriage. Everything’s lining up, exactly as we planned.”
The ladies joined us at the table, setting glasses of sweet tea in front of us.
Mama Flo sank into a chair on the opposite side. “Good. I don’t think anybody here is gonna question it. For what it’s worth, marriage looks good on you both.”
What the hell did that mean?
Willa apparently didn’t know what to do with that either. She sipped at her tea. “I’m about ready to get back to work on the Cypress Beach project.”
I assumed this was one of the grants she was writing. With everything else going on, her work had been the last thing on either of our minds.
Mama Flo waved a hand. “Honey, it’s okay. We have plenty of time. You’ve got bigger things to worry about just now.”
“I know, but things stalled out weeks ago, when Granddaddy died. Life won’t stay on hold forever, and either way, I’m ready to get back in the groove. It’ll be a good distraction from the rest.”