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fit here among them—as one of them—even if her name wasn’t really Zoe Benoit and she didn’t have a drop of Cajun blood in her veins?
    Suddenly she was aware of the music playing at Breaux’s. How long had she been sitting there?
    She got up and took a light blue sundress from her closet and put it on, then sat on the bed and slipped into her most comfortable sandals.
    Pierce appeared in the doorway. “About ready?”
    Zoe nodded, aware that her heart was racing and that she was perspiring.
    “You sure you’re up to this?” Pierce came over to the bed and sat beside her, his arm around her. “Your face is flushed. That must’ve been some run-in.”
    “Well, it’s the last one. Tomorrow I’m going to pick out uniforms.” She laid her head on his shoulder, glad to avoid eye contact. “I should’ve done it before now. Today’s low-cut fashions are inappropriate for the workplace—at least Zoe B’s.”
    “There you go, Mrs. Broussard. Problem solved. See how easy that was?” Pierce got up and pulled her to her feet, his expression completely guileless. “If that’s the worst challenge we face, babe, I’d say life’s pretty good.”
    And what if it isn’t? she thought . What if life as we know it is about to end?

CHAPTER 4
    Vanessa sat with Ethan and Carter at a cozy table at Zoe B’s, finishing her dinner.
    “I love this place.” Vanessa pushed the last bite of corn bread into her mouth. “Too bad Zoe and Pierce aren’t working tonight. I’d like them to know we’re paying customers. I don’t want them to feel obligated to let us eat here free of charge.”
    “We definitely need to get that straight,” Ethan said. “I have a feeling we’ll be eating here often. The shrimp gumbo was to die for, and number-one son devoured that pig in a blanket.” Ethan tickled Carter’s ribs, evoking a giggle.
    “It’s a hot dog, Daddy.”
    “I need to be more like you,” Ethan said to Vanessa, “and exercise some restraint with the bottomless bowl selections and the corn bread that comes with it. I really didn’t need that order of boudain.”
    “I have no idea where you put it all. See that old gentleman sitting with the priest?” Vanessa nodded toward two customers occupying a nearby table. “The one with the untamed hairdo?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “His name is pronounced Ay-bear and spelled H-E-B-E-R-T.”
    “I’ve seen that name a lot down here,” Ethan said. “I would’ve gotten it wrong.”
    “Zoe introduced me to him this morning. He’s going to be ninety-five on his next birthday. The white-haired man with him is Father Sam Fournier.”
    “I didn’t catch Father Sam’s last name.”
    Vanessa smiled. “It’s French. Four-nee-ay. He’s retired now, but he was rector at Saint Catherine’s for thirty years. That’s where Zoe and Pierce go. We really need to consider the churches we’ve visited and get serious about committing to one ourselves.”
    “All three of us seem drawn to Grace Creek Bible Church. It’s small enough to be friendly and big enough to have lots going on. Sunday school was great. And Ben Auger’s a good preacher.” Ethan turned to Carter. “Remember the church with the big cross out front?”
    “I liked the puppets. And the pwayers. And when we singed ‘Jesus Loves Me.’”
    “Would you like it if we went there again?”
    Carter gave a hearty nod. “Georgie wants to go too.”
    “I’m sure Georgie is welcome there,” Vanessa said.
    She sipped her iced raspberry tea and looked outside at the scores of tourists on the sidewalks along rue Madeline . “It’s seven o’clock. Time for the police to close the street and let the tourists take over.”
    “And time for a certain little boy to take a bath.” Ethan tickled Carter’s ribs. “Are you looking forward to going to summer preschool again tomorrow?”
    “Yes! Me and Georgie like Miss Pamela.”
    “That’s good, because Mommy and I do too. Honey, you ready to head