Page 82 of Moonshine Lullabies

“Go on, then. I got your fishin’ gear.” I told him.

“Thanks, Mom,” he said, and I smiled and gave him a nod.

“You should have seen it,” I called out to my dad. “Tate caught himself a beautiful big Alligator Gar out the swamp out by ol’ Lenny’s place yesterday. Made himself up some mighty fine Gar cakes for the four of us out there and put on a fine dinner.”

“Is that right now?” my daddy asked, his interest piqued.

“Yeah,” Tate put down his gym bag and held out his hands and said, “It had to be this big!”

“He ain’t lyin’!” I said. “It was a mighty fine fish.”

“Well ain’t that just the Gaudet way?” my dad declared. “I’m proud t’ hear it, son!” He gave Tate a rowdy hug and palming the back of his head gave it a shake, pushing him past him toward the front door.

“Head on in there, boy. Your grandmamma’s been bakin’ cookies for ya, lookin’ forward to you comin’ back.”

“Cookies!” I cried. “Boy you are spoiled!” I declared.

My dad grinned and I had to smile. My mamma may be a lot of things rough around the edges, but one thing she had down pat was bein’ a home maker and her baking. She was the envy of the church come holiday time and the bake sales they put on.

“Where you want this stuff, Daddy?” I asked him holding up the tackle box and the couple of rods Tate’d brought with him.

“Oh, right here against the garage is fine for right now,” he said.

I gave a nod and set them there as J.P. made proper introductions for Col.

“It’s nice to meet you in an official capacity sir,” Collier said and I drifted over to put my arm around his waist and he didn’t hesitate to put an arm around my shoulders.

“Oh!” my dad’s eyebrows disappeared under the bill of his cap. “Y’all are like that, now, are yah?” he asked, and he looked at me with a strange look and gave a nod.

I blinked, and wondered what that was about, as I don’t think my daddy’d ever met a man that I was with without makin’ some kind of snide or off comment.

“It’s nice t’ meet ‘cha then, Collier,” he said. “Now is that yer name, or is that what the club calls yah?”

“Oh, the club, sir… I used to work the coal mines up there on the Tellico Planes in East Tennessee. My papaw didn’t much like it an’ so he got in touch with the son of an old buddy of his that was livin’ out here and I made my way down. Been here a fair few year now, an ain’t looked back much. Sorta kickin’ myself for not seein’ what was right in front of me by way of your daughter much sooner ‘n this.”

I looked over at Col who was lookin’ at me, his lips curving into a gentle smile, his blue eyes which were such a cool blue warm beyond reason.

“Well, heck, when you put it like that, come on in, son. I’d like to hear more,” my dad said and I swear I blanched while J.P. laughed next to me. I reached up a hand out of reflex and smacked my brother in the chest and he coughed.

My daddy looked at me and gave me a nod like he was impressed and held open the door for us to go on inside.

“Oh, I didn’t know we was havin’ a guest!” my momma called from the kitchen and I ignored her fussin’ in favor of the delicious smells coming from the platter of cookies on the counter. I went over and snatched one, sticking it in my mouth even after she smacked my hand and held one out to Col.

He took it, but he was focused on my mamma sayin’, “It’s a pleasure to meet you under better circumstances, ma’am.”

“Oh, I thought you looked familiar,” my mom, said. “Jessie-Lou, honey, set an extra place at the table for J.P.’s friend.”

“Actually, ma’am, I’m seeing your daughter,” Collier corrected gently and leave it to Mamma…

“Oh, an’ why would you wanna do a thing like that?” she asked and I turned from the cabinet, plate in hand, and scolded, “Mamma!”

“Actually, no, I’d like to answer that, honey,” he said to me and he done squared up with my mamma and I swear to you,he read her to filth!

“Your daughter is a fine woman, Mrs. Gaudet. A good mamma to her boy, and always thinkin’ of people other than herself. She works hard, is independent, and can take care of herself, but I hope the more we get on that she’ll realize she don’t have to do it all by herself no more an’ she’s got me to depend on if she needs to.”

I think I stood there catchin’ flies with my mouth. Tate was comin’ back from the bathroom or his room when he stauttinge, and was grinnin’ the fool havin’ heard what Col just said.

“Well, now,” my daddy said, nodding with approval. “Jessie, honey, I do believe you’ve finally brought a man home I can approve of.”

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