Page 2 of Believe
“No. No, I can’t afford something so frivolous. Besides, where on earth would I wear something so fine?”
“Church,” smiled Beau.
“Church? I don’t go to mass anymore. None of it matters any longer,” she said with her voice laced in sadness. “Just ring all this up, Beau.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said nodding at her. When her bags were filled and stacked neatly, carefully in her rolling cart she turned to leave.
“Miss Esta, I could take a break and drive you home if you like.”
“No. No, no,” she said shaking her head. “It’s alright. This is my time outside and as you said, the sun is shining.”
“Miss Esta, it’s chilly outside. I mean, it’s not freezin’ but it’s cold and that coat isn’t anything special.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said.
Beau wasn’t giving up. He walked toward the door, blocking her path. Esta stared up at the handsome young man. He was a distant cousin of the Robicheauxs but damn if he didn’t look just like them all.
“Miss Esta, it would make me feel better if you at least took my scarf,” he said wrapping it around her neck. At first she acted as if she would protest, then she just nodded at him. The warmth of the scarf on her neck was more welcomed than she cared to admit.
“Alright, alright. I don’t need to hear all your fussing.” He smiled at the older woman as he held the door for her. She turned and gave him a slight nod.
Beau watched her walking down River Road, hugging the edge to avoid traffic. He worried about her but he couldn’t force her to take what he’d offered.
“She’s a tough one to figure out,” said Matthew. Beau jumped, turning to laugh at Matthew.
“Uncle Matthew! You scared the dickens out of me,” he laughed. “She is a tough one. I try to offer help to her but she just won’t hear of it. I’m worried for her.”
“I am too,” said Matthew. “I’m worried for her well-being, her health, her mental state, and her soul. She’s given up and that’s never a good place to be.”
“What’s her story?”
“She’s had a rough life, Beau. Her husband was killed in Vietnam, leaving her with two little mouths to feed. She cleaned houses, offices, and anything to make money to keep her children fed and clothed. We tried to help but she refused.
“When the children got older, they went off to college on scholarship.”
“Scholarship? Would that be the Robicheaux scholarship?” he smirked.
“Maybe,” smiled Matthew. “When they graduated, every last one of them left their mother and headed up north. Most ungrateful children I’ve ever met in my life. They blamed their mother for not having what others had. That woman worked her back to the bone to give those children what they needed.”
“Sounds like those children need a talkin’ to Uncle Matthew,” frowned Beau. Matthew only nodded.
“Giving her that scarf was a sweet thing to do, Beau. I’m proud of you.”
“It was nothing. I just worry she’s going to freeze out there,” he said.
“I’ll keep an eye on her, don’t worry,” he smiled. “In fact, right now Irene is following her all the way home.”
“Can we do something for her? Can we help her, Uncle Matthew?”
“That’s the plan, Beau. That’s the plan.”
CHAPTER TWO
It only took the men a week to finish the cases for the Gray Wolf team, and the new Legacy team was ready to take over. When the briefing was done, they sat in the grove, drinking their coffee, watching as the younger men scrambled from one location to the next.
“I’m actually enjoying this view,” smiled Ghost.
“Same,” nodded Tailor. “I never thought I would, but this is fun watching them be overwhelmed for a while.”