Ava was still reeling from the kiss, and when he turned her loose, she felt off balance…like she was suddenly standing on one leg.

She watched as he drove away and then stepped back inside and locked the door. It was a little after 8:00 p.m. By the time she got her makeup off and her pajamas on, it would be time for her to get in bed. Five a.m. came early, but she needed the two hours before she had to be at work to get mentally ready for another day on the job.

Chapter 8

Gordon had taken Emma to Savannah for a movie, mostly to shift her focus from the funeral and all it entailed, and it worked. They drove home later that night, more at ease with each other than they had been in months. He knew there would be other times when the sadness of loss would return, but for one night, he’d made her smile.

Junior was at the Blue Ivy Bar getting shit-faced drunk because everyone was buying him a drink in sympathy for the loss of his mother. It wasn’t until he passed out at the bar that May Temple, the owner, called Ray.

Ray had to work tomorrow on a roofing job in Savannah. He and Susie were getting ready for bed when his phone rang. When he saw the caller ID, he groaned.

“What?” Susie asked.

“It’s May at the Blue Ivy. How much you wanna bet Junior is passed out drunk again?”

“Oh lord,” Susie muttered. “Let me get my shoes and I’ll drive you.”

“You’re the best,” Ray said.

“Junior needs a keeper,” Susie said.

Ray didn’t comment. Susie didn’t know anything about what was wrong with them and he hoped she never found out.

“I’ve got the car keys,” Susie said. “Let’s go.” And out the door they went, straight to the Blue Ivy Bar.

“There’s his car. Wait here,” Ray said. “I’ll get the keys and drag his ass out. When you see us come out, just get out and open the door for me, please. You don’t need to be exposed to all the crap in there.”

“I will,” she said, and when Ray got out and ran inside, she locked the doors. The whole atmosphere of the place gave her the creeps.

Ray was just hoping Junior hadn’t pissed himself as he walked into the bar. When he saw Junior passed out on the floor and the wet spot beneath his pants, he groaned. Too late.

“Dammit. I’m sorry, May.”

May just shook her head. “This is par for the course here, and it’s not your fault. Thanks for coming to get him.”

“Thanks for calling. I wouldn’t want him trying to drive home like this,” Ray said, and then dug in Junior’s pockets until he found the car keys.