Page 21 of Louisiana Protector

“Thank you,” she replied. “You clean up fairly well, too.”

He started the car and pulled away. “How was your day?” he asked.

“It was my day off, so it was a Danny day. I played cars, built towers, and then this afternoon we sat out on the porch for a little while, and I watched while he played with some of his superhero figurines. We ended playtime by building an awesome fort in his room out of pillows and blankets.”

“Sounds like it was the best kind of day,” he replied with a touch of wistfulness. He would have loved to be there building forts with her and Danny. He would have definitely enjoyed sitting on her front porch with Danny playing at their feet.

“Anytime it’s a Danny day, it’s the best kind of day,” she replied with a smile. “What about you? How was your day?”

“It was good. I met with my team at the gazebo site, and we spent most of the day measuring and doing some preliminary things to prepare for the real work to begin.”

“Tell me more about this gazebo,” she said.

He had the distinct feeling she was directing the conversation to keep it away from anything personal. He followed her lead, and for the next fifteen minutes or so he told her all about the beautiful structure that would eventually grace the town park.

By that time, they had arrived at the café. The Black Bog Café was a popular place with the people in town. It had a reputation for good, home-style food at reasonable prices. It took a minute for him to find a parking space in the lot behind the building. Once parked, he hurried out of his seat and around to the passenger side to open the door for Mimi. She got out, bringing with her that familiar floral spicy scent that had always driven him wild.

Together they walked around the building toward the front door. “At least the weather is much nicer this evening,” he said. There wasn’t a sign of the rainstorm that had moved through the night before. The sky was a brilliant blue, and the sun shone down warm rays with no clouds to impede it.

“I’ll take a beautiful evening like this any day of the week,” she replied.

Johnny opened the front door, and they stepped into the café. Wonderful scents eddied in the air. It was the smell of seafood and simmering meats, of cooking vegetables and sweet baked goods. The walls were all painted a pleasant light mint green with large framed photos of the town and the swamp.

He spied an open booth toward the back and took hold of Mimi’s elbow to guide her there. As they walked between the aisles to get to the booth, she was greeted by several people they passed.

It didn’t take long for a waitress to appear at the booth, a middle-aged woman with a nametag that read Megan. “Good evening,” she said as she handed them each a menu. “How are we doing?”

“We’re doing just fine,” Johnny replied.

“That’s good to hear. What can I get you two to drink?”

“I’d like a diet cola,” Mimi said.

“And I’d like a glass of sweet tea,” Johnny replied.

“I’ll get those out to you right away,” Megan said and then scurried off.

They both opened their menus. “I’ve only eaten breakfast here once since I’ve been back. I haven’t eaten dinner here since returning to town. Do you know what’s good?” Johnny asked.

“As far as I’m concerned, everything is good,” she replied.

While sitting across from her was a definite visual pleasure, he sensed tension radiating from her. Her gaze didn’t quite meet his, and her shoulders appeared stiff with anxiety. He knew he had his work cut out for him to cross such distance. Somehow he needed to slice through that tension so she would be open to hearing all that he wanted to tell her.

He was acutely aware that this might be the only time he’d have to plead his case and to make her realize the depth of his love for her. He would have preferred a different, more intimate setting, but he’d take what he could get. At least tonight he didn’t have to vie for her attention with her three male friends.

“Have you decided what you want?” he asked as he closed his menu.

She looked up at him. “I’m trying to decide between the Philly cheesesteak and the fish special. What about you?”

“I’m getting the chicken-fried steak,” he replied.

A hint of a smile lifted one corner of her full lips. “That’s what you always used to get when we came here to eat.”

He was oddly touched that she remembered that. “Yeah, I love the dish. Maybe I can help you make up your mind,” he continued. “You can have fish any night of the week at home. Why not order something different for a change tonight?”

When Megan returned with their drinks, Mimi chose the Philly cheesesteak.

“Back then, they didn’t have that on the menu,” he said once Megan had left.