Free South of Heaven by Ali Spooner

entered through the back door. He was at the kitchen sink, peeling the potatoes to cut into fries.
    “Hey, Dad, you need some help?”
    “Naw, honey, I’m good. Where’s Lindsey?”
    “Cleaning the shrimp for dinner. She didn’t need help either, so I’m going to take a long hot shower before dinner.”
    “Take your time. I’ve got everything under control here. We’ll eat at six if that’s good for you.”
    “Sounds perfect, Dad. Holler if you need me,” she replied, and left the kitchen.

    †

    Lindsey peeled and deveined the shrimp, then cleaned up the workspace before carrying a large bowl of shrimp to the house. She entered the kitchen where Kevin was placing the sliced potatoes in the refrigerator to chill before cooking.
    “Those look great,” he said when she handed him the bowl. “Why don’t you shower and relax until dinner’s ready at six?”
    “You sure you don’t need some help?”
    “No ma’am, I’ve got this.”
    “Okay then, I’ll see you at six.”

     
    Kevin continued to toil in the kitchen preparing their dinner. He heard the shower running upstairs, a grin plastered on his face. He was pleased at how well the two women were getting along. Even though she wouldn’t outright admit it, Kendra was enjoying the company of another woman in the house.
    He always thought he’d make a great grandfather, and held out hopes that Kendra would someday be a mother. When she finally admitted to him that she was attracted to women, he took her in his arms and reassured her that, as long as she was happy, it didn’t matter that she loved another woman. He would always support her decisions and hoped that she would find someone to share her life.
    His grin widened as he heard the water stop running upstairs. Lindsey would make a good partner . Too bad, she plans to return home at the end of the summer, but maybe they could at least become friends. Who am I kidding? I’m far too old to be playing matchmaker for my strong-willed daughter. He couldn’t stifle a chuckle as he placed a batch of fries in to cook.

    †

    The hot water worked wonders on her body, and Kendra found herself totally relaxed when she dried off and slipped into clean clothes. A glance at her clock let her know it was still early, so she did something uncharacteristic—she stretched out on the bed for an afternoon nap.
    Her thoughts drifted back to the comment Lindsey had made about her eyes. It was just a friendly flirtation, and she had reacted badly to her remark. Maybe she was overreacting, or had Lindsey gotten under her skin more than she had expected?

    †

    Lindsey dressed and stepped into the hallway. She walked quietly past Kendra’s closed door in case she was trying to nap. The shower had left her too wired to take a nap. She decided she would check to see if Kevin needed her help. She strolled into the kitchen as he was placing a batch of potatoes on to fry.
    Kevin looked up and shot her a grin. “Feel better?”
    “I most certainly smell better,” she laughed. “Is there anything I can help with?”
    “I’ve already set the table, but you can work on the fries if you’re looking for something to do. The oil for the shrimp should be ready if you’ll hand me the bowl from the fridge.”
    “Not a problem. I like to cook, and Dad says I find too much trouble to get into if I don’t stay busy.”
    “That sounds like something he would say. So how are things going on the boat? Is the crew treating you fairly?”
    “Oh yes, sir, they have been great to me. They are a lot of fun to work with, and Harvey has taught me so much already about running a crew.”
    “He’s a good man and a great friend. We’ve worked together forever it seems. I think Kendra sees him as a second Dad.”
    Lindsey dropped a basket of fries into the bubbling oil. “I can tell she has great respect for his opinion.”
    “There’s very little on a boat he hasn’t seen or done.” He dipped out the golden crisp shrimp. “You