Joshua

You can use this card at any ATM or supermarket. It’s just like a regular bank card.” I hand the dark blue debit card to Rebecca.

“But it’s got a limit on it, right?”

“Yeah, and I was able to set up which stores will accept it. I added Wal-Mart, Target, all the grocery stores, Amazon…”

Her eyes squint and she laughs. “It’s like I’m your teenage daughter.”

Leaning closer, I lower my voice. “It’s just a security measure… in case you lose it or if, I don’t know. I know living on the street can create bad habits, certain weaknesses…”

“Oh, I know. I was only teasing.” She holds up a hand. “I’m aware of the potential issues in our arrangement here.”

I feel bad having to take these measures, but as our lawyer said, we can’t be naïve about this. We stroll from the kitchen into the now-furnished living room as we talk. The four girls are all on the couch together watching Jeopardy!

“The place looks really good.” I push my hands in my back pockets, looking over the space, the pictures on the walls, the way the girls seem to be getting along. “Sure you’ll be okay while I’m gone?”

“Yep! The girls have unpacked and are settling in well. Brittanie is getting ready to take the GED. Candi is job hunting. I’m filling out the paperwork to get Tess and Cindi enrolled in the public high school.”

“You settled in your room?”

“It’s great. The fact they were using it as a study makes it a little larger than the other rooms.”

“But you don’t have a real closet.”

“I’ve already planned to hit an antiques store. Looking for an armoire or some type of wardrobe.”

“Great, and you’ve got my number if you need anything.” It’s exactly how we envisioned it. “I shouldn’t be longer than a week. Maybe not even that long.” Hopefully…

Truth is, I have no idea what to expect when I get to New Orleans. I’m not even sure where Molly is staying—other than it’s near Mother’s, which I’ve learned is a restaurant on Poydras Street.

My phone vibrates. Dean has texted me.

I shake my head and tell the women goodbye. I can walk to the coffee shop from here. The house is in a good, central location for not needing a car, even though I have one, a really nice Acura, in fact. I rarely get it out of the garage.

Dean walks up to the coffee shop at the same time as me. He’s dressed in a maroon skinny suit, with pants that stop above his ankles and loafers with no socks.

“Look at us! We got here at the exact same time.”

“It’s a miracle.” I deadpan.

“Don’t be sarcastic.” He grabs my arm as we enter together.

I guess it should bother me that a guy is hanging off my arm, but it doesn’t. Dean has always been this way since we were kids. I don’t even notice anymore.

“I like this blazer. Where did you get it?” He slides a hand down my gray coat.

“I think it was Dad’s. I’ve had it forever.” I threw it on over a white tee and jeans.

“Oh! I talked to your dad this morning. Is he the most adorable thing or what? Did he tell you he wants to set up a profile on Mingle dot com?”

An unexpected wave of overprotectiveness moves through my chest. “Yeah, what did you say? We’re going to have to watch out for him.”

“I said we’d help him as soon as we got back.” Hazel eyes level on me, and my eyebrows rise.

“As soon as we get back?”

“You didn’t think you’d sneak off to New Orleans without me! Not when you’re making your great romantic gesture… and especially not after you dragged me out of there on a moment’s notice.”

This is getting a little too dramatic for my plans. “First, it’s not a big romantic gesture.”

“You’re going to reclaim the woman of your dreams, are you not?” He places a palm in the center of his chest.

“Order your coffee.”

Dean gets a skinny soy butterscotch decaf Frappuccino, and I just get an Americano to go, shaking my head at his order. While we wait for his beverage, I try to regain control of my trip south.

“I’m going to talk to her. I’m not going down there to make some big scene or scare her off… Or piss her off.”

“You can do what you want. I’m going down there to find that sexy hunk of man we left behind.” His drink arrives, and he does a little shoulder shimmy. “Musicians are so hot.”

We start walking in the direction of my warehouse apartment. “She doesn’t want Roland to know she’s there. They don’t get along.”

“I don’t see why her name ever has to come up. Or yours for that matter.”

Standing on the sidewalk in front of my place, I consider what he’s suggesting. “I had hoped you’d be here to keep an eye on the house for me.”

“You hired Rebecca for that.”

“What about Dad? He’s not completely out of the woods yet.”

“Your dad is doing so well, he’s horny.”

That makes me wince. Up until now, I hadn’t really thought through everything it would mean for my dad to start dating again.

“I think he’s more lonely.” It’s my attempt to hold back the truth.

“He’s horny. Let the man live.”

I only have one potential barrier left. “The pilot is expecting us to be there in just a few hours. I called him this morning. He’s already filed the flight plan.”

“How long are we staying?”

“I don’t know.” Looking down, I rub the back of my neck. “I don’t know if she’ll be angry. I don’t know if she’ll even see me.”

Dean puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “She’s going to think it’s romantic.”

“You don’t know her as well as I do.”

“So it could be a few days or it could be a week?”

I shrug. “Something like that.”

“Let’s go.”