Milton’s mouth dropped open. “Yeah, we’d get the money from him, but if we don’t stop him from getting back at us again, we might not live long enough to spend that money. Remember Willie Frank done warned that as long as Odell is alive, he’s a threat. Now if you don’t want to finish this project with me, I’ll do it by myself . . .”

“Hush up. You know I would never let you handle something this serious on your own. We been working together too long, and everything we do is for the both of us. But . . .” I paused and gave Milton a thoughtful look. “Do you ever wonder how things would have turned out for us if you hadn’t caught Odell with Betty Jean?”

“Nope. I’m just glad I did.” Milton tickled my side and gave me a quick kiss.

“I’m glad you did, too.”

CHAPTER 34 - MILTON

CHAPTER 34

MILTON

BUSINESS HAD BEEN PRETTY GOOD FOR A MONDAY NIGHT. WHILE guests was finishing up their last drink, I pulled Willie Frank into the kitchen. “What’s going on?” he asked, looking me up and down.

I didn’t say nothing at first. I just reached into my pocket and pulled out the three hundred dollars we owed his uncle. “Paid in full,” I said as I stuffed the bills into his shirt pocket.

He looked puzzled for a few seconds. Then his eyes got big. “Uncle Lamar’s money? It ain’t due until Thursday. I seen him this morning and he told me to remind y’all.”

“I know it ain’t due yet. But me and Yvonne was so anxious to get it over and done with, we decided to pay it off early. Um . . . I was able to borrow the whole amount from Odell and he said I could pay it back when I can. Under the circumstances, it’s the least he can do.”

“That’s nice. This’ll sure impress Uncle Lamar. If y’all need to get money from him again, I got a feeling he’ll look at how prompt y’all settled with him this time and be glad to lend more.”

“Well, I hope we won’t get in a fix this big again.”

“You still going to try and hit up Dr. Patterson and Mr. Cunningham? Y’all still need to make up for the time you missed work. You can delay your next two payments to me for your alcohol orders until February. And I’ll float y’all fifty bucks next week after I collect from some of my customers. I’ll give you more if and when I can afford it. My offer to borrow from Aunt Mattie is still open, too.”