Page 43 of Meant for Me (Magnolia Bay #3)
SIX MONTHS LATER
L inc hadn’t been to jail in a really, really long time.
Couldn’t say he missed it.
Noah, perched next to Linc and Cade on the hard wooden bench inside the Magnolia Parish Jail, narrowed his eyes as he looked around the cramped holding cell. “This feels familiar.”
Down the hall, Sheriff Rubart paced, keys dangling from his belt. The lobby of the facility buzzed with eager voices.
Linc elbowed his friend. “Yeah, not sure a jail cell is a good look for a new mayor.”
“Guess I was sitting right here with my dad, what—a year ago?” Noah winced. “Gotta say, the company is infinitely better this time.”
“Happy to help.” Linc stood, grabbed for one of the overhead bars. Knocked out a strict pull-up.
“Oh, come on. Show off. Just because you can…” Cade leaned back against the wall, then seemed to think better of it as his pastel, dress-shirt-clad shoulders brushed the dirty surface. He winced. “Hey, when do you think they last cleaned in here?”
“Don’t ask,” Sheriff called from down the hall.
“Guess your favorite designers don’t make an appropriate ‘rot in jail all day’ line, huh?” Noah smirked.
“Don’t hate.” Cade brushed his hands on his creased slacks. “I’m a lawyer now, man. I have to dress the part.”
Linc grunted as he leaned one shoulder against the wall. “You looked the part way before you passed the bar and started practicing.”
“Hey, you gotta dress for the job you want, not the one you have.” Cade spread his hands wide. “At least I’m aware other materials exist besides flannel.”
Noah shot him a sideways look. “Guess your wardrobe explains why August Bowman was so eager to add you to his practice when you passed the bar, then.”
“Right. Had nothing to do with my test scores, reputation, hard work ethic…” Cade droned.
“Ethics, huh? How are those treating you while in jail?” Rosalyn approached from the other side of the bars and leaned in close, eyes light with humor. The giant engagement ring on her finger sparkled under the fluorescent lights.
Cade groaned. “Why do I get the feeling you’re the one paying the most money to keep me in here?”
“At least we’re not married yet. Otherwise it’d be your money too.” She winked. “Boys, is he complaining much? Or just worried about his clothes?”
“Both.” Noah and Linc answered at the same time.
Zoey and Amelia came up behind Rosalyn, wearing matching grins. Linc’s heart stammered a little at the sight of his wife, dark-haired and blue-eyed—and all his. Suddenly made him wish he’d gone for a few pushups after the pull-up.
Zoey gripped the bars with both hands, blinked up at him. Her purple top brought out her eyes, which she’d probably done on purpose to torture him. “This whole jail thing probably won’t help your bad-boy reputation, you know?”
“Very funny.” He joined her at the bars, wrapping his fingers around hers. “Did you pay to bail me out?” Been several hours. At this point, he just wanted to go home.
With her.
Zoey tossed back her hair, feigning nonchalance. “Actually, Amelia talked me into paying to keep you in. Just until after the Spring Fling this weekend.”
“ What ?”
She chuckled. “Kidding, kidding.”
“Come on, Dad. I really don’t want to fight you over my dress.” Amelia crossed her arms, cocked her hip—attitude as usual. Except now, there was a smile accompanying it, not to mention that title he’d never get sick of hearing. Dad . “I know you’re going to think it’s too short.”
“Because it probably is.” He narrowed his eyes. “You’re not going with a boy, are you?”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s just Michael.”
“Sounds like a boy.”
“It’s not like that. He’s my best friend.”
He glanced at Zoey. “Heard that one before.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let them keep you in here too long, even if it is for a good cause. I miss you.” Zoey rested her forehead against the barred door, a slow smile curving her lips. “Though I have the feeling you could probably bend these bars enough to get out, if you wanted.”
He pressed his forehead against hers. Inhaled the scent of powdered sugar and sunshine. Growled a little. “Don’t tempt me.”
Cade and Noah groaned. “Come on, guys, you’re not even newlyweds anymore.”
“If they’re not, then we’re not.” Elisa walked up next, hands planted on her hips. “Does that mean you don’t miss me , Noah Hebert?”
Noah hopped up like the bench was on fire, brushing off his flannel shirt. “Of course not, Mrs . Hebert.” They tried to kiss through the bars.
“Oh man. This is nauseating. I’m going to Chug a Mug.” Amelia held up both hands in surrender. Then she brightened. “Oh, wait. Almost forgot! The new cards came in.” She reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a Boiling Bayou business card.
Geez, a lot had happened in the two hours he’d been stuck in here. He took the card through the bars while she grabbed another one to show Elisa and Rosalyn.
“Amelia—you drew that?” Elisa’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s amazing.”
Rosalyn hugged her, her long blonde hair almost completely hiding Amelia’s face. “I’m so proud of you!”
“So are we.” Zoey beamed. “She’s going to start art classes this summer at the community college.”
Something a lot like pride welled in Linc’s throat as he studied the hand-drawn Boiling Bayou card.
He’d seen the design before they printed them, of course, but hadn’t viewed the final product yet.
Amelia had created a new logo of a crawfish reclining on a raft as it floated in the waves, sunglasses dangling in one claw.
It provided the perfect addition to the previously plain cards—along with Zoey’s name as co-owner and official photographer.
Maybe that was his favorite part.
“Turned out even better than I thought.” He tucked the card in his pocket, fought to swallow. Good grief, no one warned him that everything about having a daughter would make him emotional. “Good job, kid.”
Amelia twirled one strand of hair around her finger, smiled self-consciously. “You mean it?”
“Can’t reach the lamppost from here.” He narrowed his eyes again as an idea struck. “Bail me out and we’ll go see.”
“Nah. I really like this dress for the dance.” She snickered. “Want me to bring you back a latte, though?”
He sighed. “You know I only drink coffee.”
“That’s sooo boring.”
“What, my coffee isn’t hip enough for you?”
She wrinkled her nose. “No one says hip, Dad.”
“Fine. My coffee not bussin’ enough for you?”
Cade snorted from the bench.
Amelia blanched. “That’s it, I’m out.” Face twisted in horror, she started down the hall.
“Just remember who pays your cell phone bill,” Linc called after her, and she turned, laughing. He watched her practically sprint down the hall, mixed emotions churning his stomach. She was blossoming—which was good. So good.
But also growing up fast—which was good and painful.
Elisa followed his gaze, offered him a soft smile as she stepped closer to the cell door. “How’s her mom?”
He cleared his throat. “Been in rehab the past month.”
“Yeah, and if she sticks it out for the duration, the court will allow supervised visitation with Amelia,” Zoey added. “Then we go from there.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” Noah asked.
Linc shoved his hands in his pockets, blew out his breath. “Hope so.” Regardless, Amelia wouldn’t be leaving the Bay anytime soon. That much he knew for sure.
“Yoohoo!” Delia ambled up next, waving a fistful of bills. Clad in overalls, Farmer Branson ambled behind—as usual, these days. Rumor had it Delia even got him into the movie theater last week. “I paid for someone to stay longer and for someone to go free. Guess who is who?”
No telling. “This is the wackiest town fundraiser idea you’ve had yet,” Linc grumbled at Cade. But maybe he didn’t mind that much. It’d been kinda fun—not that he’d ever admit it to the guys.
Cade grimaced. “Yeah, I didn’t think I’d be the one in here when I dreamt up this one. I somehow ended up in the dunking tank last summer too.”
“Hey, I liked that one.” Rosalyn winked at him. “Think you’ll be out of here in time for our date tonight?”
“I better.” Cade stood, waved at Delia. “Mama D, I beg you.”
Delia stopped at the cell door and smiled at Cade. Her lipstick today was back to normal—apparently, she’d snagged her man and had no more use for burgundy or fuchsia. “You can go, honey. I’m sure your fiancée needs you.”
“What about me?” Noah asked, clutching the bars.
“Actually, your wife is busy.” Elisa tucked her hair behind her ears. “Me and Zoey are about to go whip up the weekly batch of beignets at the Magnolia Blossom.”
“I thought you only baked from the diner on Fridays?” Linc looked at his wife. Man, he’d never get sick of that phrase. His wife.
“Right. But we missed last week because of the engagement party, remember?” Zoey asked.
Rosalyn wiggled her glistening ring finger in reminder.
Ah, that’s right. That was the same night he and Zoey had stayed up late at the pond, night-swimming. He grinned. Probably why he didn’t remember the prior part of the evening.
“Then I had all those photos to edit.” Zoey continued. “Been busy since Anthony went back to school full time and I went from having no job to three.”
“I love that you’ve got a photography hustle now and are just baking on the side at Elisa’s.” Rosalyn touched Zoey’s arm. “Your photos are so great, I can’t decide if I want you to do my wedding pics or be a bridesmaid this summer.”
“Definitely both.” Zoey flexed one arm, which made Linc do a double-take. She’d been working on her pushups.
“Yeah, I’m catering it too, so we can figure it out.” Elisa laughed. “Double-duty bridesmaids it is.”
Madame Paulette swooped down the hall in a wave of patchouli, followed by a reluctant Captain Sanders, who wore his fire department uniform. “Linc, you’re being traded for Captain.”
“Finally.” He stepped back as Sheriff ambled over to open the door.
“This is really unfair.” Noah sighed. “I’m your fearless leader, for crying out loud.”’
Ha. “Probably why you’re raising the most money.”