The lunch rush had finally begun to thin, though the shack still hummed with laughter and the smell of fried spice. Rae was wiping down the counter when the front door creaked open again and a familiar voice called out, “Well, if it ain’t my three favorite troublemakers.”
The girls looked up to see Miss Loretta, one of Momma Anna’s oldest friends, tottering in with her bright floral dress and hair piled high with pink curlers still peeking out the back. She carried herself like royalty of the bayou—because, in truth, she was.
“Miss Loretta!” Remi said, hurrying over to hug her. “You look good as ever.”
Loretta cackled, patting Remi’s cheek. “Flattery won’t get you outta tellin’ me what you’ve been up to, sugar.” Her gaze swept the room before landing on Rae and Del behind the counter. “
