Page 2 of Paradise & Vodka
"But you aren't embarrassed by your roots."
"And you are?"
I shrugged slightly. "Not embarrassed, really. You and I are just so different. I bet your mom has never stepped foot into a Walmart before, and my parents go there weekly to buyeverythingfor the week."
His father was an attorney, and his mother a socialite. My dad was a mechanic, and Mom was Everleigh's pageant manager. I didn't like to talk bad about my parents—I loved them. I just really hoped Douglas didn't turn his nose up atanythingover the four days we were spending in Alabama.
"To be fair, I don't think my mother has ever shopped for groceries." He chortled.
After getting our bags, we got into the car we rented, and I gave Douglas the address of the bed and breakfast. The plan was to check into the room and then go to my parents' home for dinner. Mom was probably making fried catfish, cornbread, coleslaw, and fried green tomatoes. Dad had likely caught the catfish, and the tomatoes were no doubt from their garden. I'd forgotten to tell Douglas that most of the meals we would have with my folks would be fried, and when I remembered, I didn't tell him. He would find out soon enough, and then fate would take its course. I couldn't stop what was going to happen, so during the forty-five-minute drive, I decided to embrace it all. I was a southern girl, and Douglas was either going to love me for it or he wasn't.
My mood was better as we neared town until I saw the fire trucks.
The fire trucks in front of the bed and breakfast where we were staying.
The bed and breakfast that was on fire.
I was no longer nervous. Instead, I wanted to break down and cry.
The bed and breakfast didn't burn down completely, but there was enough damage that we couldn't stay there. I tried calling places in Mobile, but all the decent hotels were booked, and there was no way Douglas Alexander was going to stay at a motel, even if he told me he would.
I knew him better than that.
We sat in the rental car, my cell phone clenched in my hand. "I could ask my sister," I suggested, even though I really didn't want to. It wasn't because I didn't love my sister—I did. It was because she always got the boyfriends in high school—the boysIliked—and the less time she spent with Douglas, the better. I was already insecure about him dating big-boned me, so him spending time with myperfectsister made me nervous.
"That's probably better than sleeping in the car," Douglas replied. I looked over at him to see that he was smiling. I was so worked up, but the look on his face told me he really was okay with my roots.
"Yeah. Let me give her a call."
The phone rang twice before Everleigh answered. "Sister, sister. Are you here?"
"Yeah," I sighed. "But we have a situation."
"What kind of situation?"
"Well, the Magnolia Inn was on fire."
"Oh no!" she gasped.
"And now we have no place to stay."
"You can stay with Mom and Dad."
I snorted. "In our old room?"
"Yeah, push the twin beds together." She laughed.
"Right," I said, dragging out the word.
"I'm kidding. Do you want to stay here? You know I have an extra room."
"Yeah, can we? I don't want to put you out."
"Puh-lease. You're my older sister. Of course, you can stay here."
I rolled my eyes. I was older by three whole minutes. "Thank you. Can we come now?"
"Yep, and then we can go to Mom and Dad's together."
