Page 77 of Hope After Loss

“Thanks. I’ll text her that you’re coming. She’ll meet you at the west parking lot.”

I call Maxi to close my tab and hurry out to my truck and head to Coyote Lake.

When I pull into the parking lot, I see Anna sitting on the bumper of a Jeep. I flash my lights, and when she spots my truck, she comes over and hops in the passenger seat.

“Thanks for the ride,” she says as she pulls the seat belt over her chest.

“I take it, the date didn’t go well?” I ask.

“It wasn’t a date.”

“I bet he thought it was.”

“No, I was honest. The only reason I agreed is because the girls think I need to get out of the house and meet more people, and a low-country boil sounded fun.”

“But it wasn’t?”

“I didn’t realize it was going to take all night for the food to be ready. I’m cold and tired and starving,” she admits.

“And grumpy?” I add.

Her eyes snap to me. “I haven’t eaten since breakfast. It’s past nine o’clock. Who has dinner this late?”

“A bunch of single young people hanging out at the lake, drinking,” I say.

She sighs and slumps in the seat. “Great. I’m an old lady now.”

I chuckle. “Would the old lady like to pick up some takeout?” I ask.

“Yes,” she mumbles.

“What would she like?”

“Crab legs and shrimp and corn on the cob and baby potatoes.”

“How about we settle for a pizza tonight, and I’ll make you a low-country boil this weekend?”

She sits back up and crosses her arms over her chest and answers through pouted lips, “Promise we’ll eat before midnight?”

“Yes, ma’am. I promise to have the food on the table in a timely manner.”

“Can I bring Kaela?”

“Of course. Baby Duck is always welcome at her Wee-Wee’s house.”

A bark of laughter escapes her. “In that case, pizza will do tonight.”

I grab my cell phone and hit the number for Village Pizza and begin to order a large pie.

“Better make it two. I’m hungry, and I should feed Brandee,” she says.

I change the order to two pizza pies, and we make our way to Market Square before heading to her house.

“How was the trip?” she asks as she lifts the lid to the pizza box and snags a slice as we drive.

“It was good. I have a few new ideas to run by Rich in the morning. How was everything at the office?”

She shrugs. “Fine. Uneventful really.”