Midnight Bayou

to have it trimmed before leaving Rome.
    The guys were going to rag on him about the little ponytail, which meant he’d have to keep it for a while, out of principle.
    He shrugged and, dipping his hands into the pockets of his worn jeans, began to walk, scanning the surroundings. Anna’s flowers, the rockers on the front porch, the woods that haunted the side of the house and where he’d run wild as a boy.
    The old dock swaying over the water, and the white sailing sloop moored to it.
    He stood looking out, his face, hollow-cheeked and tanned, turned toward the water.
    His lips, firm and full, began to curve. The weight he hadn’t realized was hanging from his heart began to lift.

    At the sound of a rustle in the woods, he turned, enough of the wary boy still in the man to make the move swift and defensive. Out of the trees shot a black bullet.
    “Witless!” His voice had both the ring of authority and easy humor. The combination had the dog skidding to a halt, all flopping ears and lolling tongue as it studied the man.
    “Come on, it hasn’t been that long.” He crouched, held out a hand. “Remember me?”
    Witless grinned the dopey grin that had named him, instantly flopped down and rolled to expose his belly for a rub.
    “There you go. That’s the way.”
    There had always been a dog for this house. Always a boat at the dock, a rocker on the porch and a dog in the yard.
    “Yeah, you remember me.” As he stroked Witless, he looked over to the far end of the yard where Anna had planted a hydrangea over the grave of his own dog. The loyal and much-loved Foolish.
    “I’m Seth,” he murmured. “I’ve been away too long.”
    He caught the sound of an engine, the sassy squeal of tires from a turn taken just a hair faster than the law allowed. Even as he straightened, the dog leaped up, streaked away toward the front of the house.
    Wanting to savor the moment, Seth followed more slowly. He listened to the car door slam, then to the lift and lilt of her voice as she spoke to the dog.
    Then he just looked at her, Anna Spinelli Quinn, with the curling mass of dark hair windblown from the drive, her arms full of the bags she’d hefted out of the car.
    His grin spread as she tried to ward off the desperate affection from the dog.
    “How many times do we have to go over this one, simple rule?” she demanded. “You do not jump on people, especially me. Especially me when I’m wearing a suit.”

    “Great suit,” Seth called out. “Better legs.”
    Her head whipped up, those deep brown eyes widened and showed him the shock, the pleasure, the welcome all in one glance.
    “Oh my God!” Heedless of the contents, she tossed the bags through the open car door. And ran.
    He caught her, lifted her six inches off the ground and spun her around before setting her on her feet again. Still he didn’t let go. Instead, he just buried his face in her hair.
    “Hi.”
    “Seth. Seth.” She clung, ignoring the dog that leaped and yipped and did his best to shove his muzzle between them. “I can’t believe it. You’re here.”
    “Don’t cry.”
    “Just a little. I have to look at you.” She had his face framed in her hands as she eased back. So handsome, she thought. So grown-up. “Look at all this,” she murmured and brushed a hand at his hair.
    “I meant to get some of it whacked off.”
    “I like it.” Tears still trickled even as she grinned. “Very bohemian. You look wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.”
    “You’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
    “Oh boy.” She sniffled, shook her head. “That’s no way to get me to stop all this.” She swiped at tears. “When did you get here? I thought you were in Rome.”
    “I was. I wanted to be here.”
    “If you’d called, we would’ve met you.”
    “I wanted to surprise you.” He walked to the car to pull the bags out for her. “Cam at the boatyard?”
    “Should be. Here, I’ll get those. You need to get your things.”
    “I’ll get them later. Where’s Kevin and Jake?”
    She started up the walk with him, glanced at her watch as she thought about her sons. “What day is this? My mind’s still spinning.”

    “Thursday.”
    “Ah, Kevin has rehearsal, school play, and Jake’s got softball practice. Kevin’s got his driver’s license, God help us, and is scooping up his brother on his way home.” She unlocked the front door. “They should be along in an hour, then peace will no longer lay across the land.”
    It was the