“Wait up front with Adelaide and Dottie. I’ll get the truck,” he said.

Adelaide gave him a nod and the three of them headed for the front door. Dottie was shaking her head the entire time.

“I just can’t believe it,” she said. “I know the LeDoux are white trash who conned their way into money, but this is beyond the pale.”

“Doesn’t surprise me in the least,” Adelaide said. “Why do you think I bullied you into bringing me?”

“Well, you were right on that one,” Dottie said. “I thought maybe some snide comments and at worst, someone flinging a drink at someone else. But this? This is unacceptable on every level.”

Adelaide shrugged. “You know what they say—you can give people money but you can’t give them class.”

“Clearly,” Dottie said, and Marina could tell she was genuinely upset.

When they got to the drive to wait on Luke, Dottie put her hand on Marina’s arm. “I am so sorry.”

“For what?” Marina asked. “You didn’t do anything. In fact, you’ve helped me.”

“I think I could have done more,” Dottie said. “I never expected things to go as far as they did, but I should have known after that business with Avery that Preston was going to double down on stupid. If you want to file a civil suit, I would be happy to pay for your attorney. I know one in New Orleans who specializes in such things. Normally, I loathe that sort of thing when it’s personal business but the LeDoux have taken things entirely too far. They’re ruining this town.”

“Thank you,” Marina said. “Right now, I just want them to go away, but if I change my mind, I’ll let you know.”

“Please do,” Dottie said. “And I’ll be making some changes myself. Come tomorrow morning the people of this town are going to have to choose a side. No more riding the fence.”

“What are you going to do?” Adelaide asked.

“For starters, I’m going to pull my donations to every organization that has a LeDoux on the board.”

“That only punishes the organizations,” Marina said. “Don’t do that.”

Dottie raised one eyebrow. “Do you really think people will choose Preston over me and my money? I don’t care what he has on them or how low the average IQ here is. No one is that stupid.”

“She’s right,” Adelaide said. “Worst case, anyone who really feels they can’t go up against Preston will simply abdicate their position on the board or committee.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Marina said. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the support you two have given me. It was totally unexpected, and yet I feel like we’ve been in the trenches together for years.”

“You’re a class act,” Dottie said and then pointed to Adelaide. “And Lord knows, this one can make me cringe like no one else, but her values are solid. That’s more important than social graces.”

“You heard her,” Adelaide said. “Next time she’s telling me to act right, remind her of that.”