Free Bring Your Own Poison by Jimmie Ruth Evans

ugly.”
    â€œYou gonna be okay?”
    â€œYeah,” Wanda Nell said. “Don’t you worry about me.” She might have a few bad dreams, but she would just have to deal with that.
    Melvin came back. “Y’all can go on home,” he said.
    â€œAre they going to close the restaurant for a few days?” Wanda Nell asked.
    Melvin shook his head. “Naw. They think they’ll have what they need tonight and tomorrow.” The restaurant was closed on Sundays. “Monday we can go back to business as usual.”
    â€œGood,” Wanda Nell said. “Okay, Ruby, come on and let’s get our stuff.” She headed to the back room for her purse.
    A few minutes later she and Ruby were out in the parking lot, getting into their cars. Wanda Nell had avoided looking at Elmer Lee and Bill Warren when she left. They and their men were still interviewing the partygoers and examining the back room for evidence. Melvin would probably have to stay there for another couple of hours at least until they finished. She was glad she didn’t have to stay.
    She was surprised when she glanced at her dashboard clock. It was only a few minutes shy of nine-thirty. It sure seemed later than that. She yawned as she backed out of the parking lot and headed for home.
    About ten minutes later she pulled her car into its covered parking space beside her double-wide trailer. T.J.’s pickup was parked nearby, and so was Jack’s car. Though she was really tired and ready for bed, Wanda Nell was glad Jack was here.
    The minute she opened the door to the trailer and stepped inside, Jack was waiting for her. She walked into his arms, and he wrapped her into a warm embrace. She rested her head against his shoulder, and he stroked her hair.
    â€œYou okay, honey?” he asked, his voice soft. “T.J. called me, so I thought I’d come over.”
    â€œI’m okay now,” she said, pulling back a little so she could look into his face.
    The light from a nearby lamp shone on his glasses, obscuring his eyes slightly. Wanda Nell could read the concern there, nevertheless.
    â€œI wanted to call you,” Jack said, “but I figured it would be impossible to talk to you.”
    â€œYeah,” Wanda Nell said. “So much was going on, I don’t even know if anybody would’ve heard the phone, much less answered it.”
    â€œCome on and sit down,” Jack said, leading her toward the couch.
    T.J. walked out of the kitchen into the living room. “Mama, are you okay? Can I get you something to drink?”
    â€œI’m fine, honey,” Wanda Nell said, stretching up to kiss her son’s cheek. “A glass of water sure would be nice.”
    T.J. gave her a quick hug. “Be right back with it.”
    Wanda Nell sat down on the couch next to Jack. He laid his arm across the back of the couch, and Wanda Nell snuggled up next to him. She closed her eyes for a moment and enjoyed the feeling of having the man she loved there with her.
    T.J. came back with her water and set it down on the coffee table in front of her. Wanda Nell heard the clink of the glass as it touched the ceramic coaster, and she opened her eyes. “Thank you.” She reached for the glass and drained most of the contents in one long swallow.
    â€œWant some more?” T.J. stood over her, staring down at her.
    â€œNo, that’s good,” Wanda Nell said as she set the glass down again. “Sit down, or I’ll get a crick in my neck looking up at you.”
    T.J. made himself comfortable in a nearby chair, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other. His highly polished cowboy boots shone in the lamplight.
    â€œAre those new?” Wanda Nell asked, gesturing toward his feet.
    â€œYeah,” T.J. said. “We did a little shopping when we were up in Memphis last weekend.” He grinned.
    Those boots looked expensive, but Wanda Nell didn’t say anything. T.J. and Tuck