girl will be here for observation for at least one night and the grandfather for much longer, I’m afraid.”
He took a large bite of his hamburger and they ate in silence for a while before he asked, “So you knew who I was the other day. Why didn’t you say something?”
“There just didn’t seem a right moment.”
“So you’ve seen a lot of Mardi Gras.”
She straightened her back and looked directly at him. “I’m not that old.”
He grinned. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that.”
Laura Jo had to admit he had a nice smile. She grinned. “That’s not what it sounded like to me.”
“I was just trying to make pleasant conversation and didn’t mean—”
“I know you didn’t.” Still, it would have been nice if he’d at least thought she looked familiar. She’d been invisible to her parents, unimportant to her husband and just this once it would have been nice to have been memorable. But, then, it had been a long time ago.
“So do you attend any of the krewe festivities?” He chewed slowly, as if waiting patiently for her answer.
“No. I don’t travel in that social circle anymore.” She took a bite of her sandwich.
“Why not? As I remember, the Herrons were a member of the same krewe as my family.”
“I’m an Akins now.”
“So Mr. Akins isn’t a member either, I gather.”
“No, and Mr. Akins, as you put it, isn’t around to be a member.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. He left years ago.”
“Oh, I thought …”
“I know. For all I know, he’s alive and well somewhere.”
Having finished his meal, Mark leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, it has been a pleasure running into you, Ms. Atkins.”
Laura Jo stood to leave. “You, too, Dr. Clayborn. We do seem to keep running into each other.”
“Why, Ms. Akins, you don’t believe in serendipity?”
“If I ever did believe in serendipity, that would’ve been a long time ago. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work.”
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