Free Blue Autumn in the Bayou (Gumbo Love) by Ann Clay Page B

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    Autumn stood at the rear door and looked out at the garden draped by huge fig and pecan trees. Rows and rows of fresh vegetables hung on the vines , ready to be picked, in all shades and colors in the far right corner of the yard. She fought to control the nervous energy coursing through her veins. Her grandmother had hit a chord she couldn’t quite keep in tune with. She did all she could to guard her thoughts and somehow, Mer Drace got past it all.
    Mer Drace moved around the spacious kitchen. Pans and tops rattled. She stepped up on a little stool and pulled down a dish from the very top shelf of a cabinet. The bowl was Autumn’s favorite since she was a child. To make sure no one else used it, she stuck it on a shelf and only pulled it down when Autumn was home. Just as she stepped down off the stool, Tempest entered the kitchen.
    “Hi Maw maw,” he kissed her cheek. “Something smells great.”
    “I have your favorite too. You go wash up and it’ll be ready when you’re done.”
    “Yes ma’am.” He moved behind Autumn and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s good to have you home, darling.” He kissed her head and left to wash up.
    Autumn welcomed the love her brother showed her. He’d always been that way. As children , he’d been her protector. Even when he was too little to fight off the big guys who thought they could pull Autumn’s hair or touch her from behind. She closed her eyes to remember the time when their father showed up just as two guys were about to beat Tempest to a pulp.
    Gator , Autumn’s dad, was as tall as an oak tree, as strong as ox, and as ferocious as an alligator, hence the nickname that stuck with him. Just the sight of him made grown men run. Now Tempest was as tall and as wide as their father. He worked on one of the rigs and when he was inshore, he ran the ferry to and from the island, mostly for tours. While Tempest was offshore, their uncle took care of the ferry, which ran five to six times a day.
    “Come , child, Eat.” Her grandmother broke into her thoughts. Mer Drace didn’t say anything about the comment she’d made earlier. Tempest caught her up on the latest gossip. Some of it she’d already heard from Mona and Erica. They ate, talked, laughed, and then ate some more. 
    Autumn and Tempest ate until they couldn’t stand another bite. “Oh my God, I’m stuffed.” Autumn leaned back into her chair.
    “Well, I have to get back to the mainland. I’ll drop by home first. When should I tell momma you’re coming home?” he asked Autumn. Their mother, Maree, lived not very far from Mer Drace.
    Autumn paused a minute. “I’ll come by sometime tomorrow. I want to spend a little time with Mer Drace.” She stood and began to clear the table. Mer Drace didn’t have a phone in her house. She always said if anyone needed to talk to her , they needed to do it in person. Maree lost the battle time and time again, when she argued with her mother that having a phone would help in case she had an emergency. Nothing persuaded the old woman that a phone was necessary.
    Mer Drace looked up at Autumn before turning toward Tempest. “Tell that girl of mine that I still don’t have my dress she was supposed to finish. I want to look nice for mass on Friday. All the attention is going to be on me and my beautiful granddaughter.” She smiled and patted Tempest on the cheek.
    “Yes, Maw maw. Love you.” He kissed her and left the same way he’d come in.
    Autumn thought once more that she’d gotten a reprieve from Mer Drace’s early conversation. No sooner had Tempest closed the door behind him did the old lady move next to her. She placed her hand on Autumn’s arm, halting her from her dish-washing task. “Leave those be for now. You have much to tell me, little one.”
    * * * *
    Travis cursed under his breath and shifted from one side to the other as the tailor refitted his tux jacket.
    “I apologize, Mr. Brooks.” The man fumbled with the pins, trying not to