Lisa chuckled but it wasn’t a happy sound. “Businesses like that require an enormous amount of work. The upkeep alone is incredible, and you would have to constantly put money into it. You do work like that because you love it, not to get rich. Especially if you don’t have a business degree. You would have no idea how to grow the place.” She frowned. “I’m sorry. That was pretentious of me.”

“Nope, you’re one-hundred percent right,” he admitted. “Pop-Pop was excellent at running the place. He could fix a boat, stock up on bait, run the bar. He had no idea how to invest money or how to negotiate the best deal.”

“So did Miss Josette get tired of working?”

He turned as the bridge became highway again and he could see the Gulf in the distance. If he opened the window he would be able to smell the ocean. “Josie didn’t work.”

“You’re kidding. That’s a family business.”

“Yeah, well, it wasn’t much of one since neither my brother or sister worked either, and my momma…” How to explain his mother. “Well, when we let Momma work, she ends up causing trouble. She’s kind of a con artist. Not a terrible-meaning one. She’s always looking to make a quick buck. If she offers to read your palm, turn her down. She’s got not an ounce of psychic ability, but she hangs out with the local hoodoo priestess a lot. They have a girls’ night every Thursday.”

“Hoodoo?”

“It’s what we call voodoo around here,” he explained. “Don’t be afraid. It’s not like the movies.”

Her eyes had gone wide. “You have a voodoo priestess?”

“No, we have Miss Marcelle, who gives overblown ghost tours and sells blessings and candles to tourists. She’s got a shop attached to her hair salon. You can get your hair did, as they say in these parts, and pick up a love potion before your date.” They weren’t far now, and he wished they had more time. She would likely run into the guest room and lock herself inside. He might not get to talk to her again for a while. “Miss Marcelle’s daughter is named Sylvie, and she’s the town’s mayor. I still can’t quite believe that. She used to throw mud pies at me.”

“Smart girl,” she said under her breath. “So Josette was too good to work?”