Finding Focus Read Free Page A

myself.
    “Hi, I’m Sheridan Reed. I’m supposed to be meeting with Mrs. Landry about a magazine article I’m doing on the plantation.”
    “Oh, yeah! Ms. Annie will be thrilled you’re here. She’s been talking non-stop about meeting you all week.”
    “That’s sweet. I’m excited about meeting her and getting to work on the article. This place really is gorgeous.” I take another look around, shielding my eyes from the sun.
    “Sure is,” he says, joining me in my appreciation. “Let me walk you in and introduce you.” He motions toward the front steps.
    “I appreciate that. Thanks.”
    I shoot Travis a genuine smile, feeling at ease in his presence.
    “How long have you worked for the Landrys?” I ask as we walk up to the front doors.
    “Oh, for about five years. I’ve known them all my life, though. My mama and Mrs. Annie have been friends since they were knee high to a grasshopper,” he says, smiling back at me.
    He stomps the dirt off his boots on the welcome mat before walking in the front door without knocking.
    As we step into the foyer, a very loud, somewhat angry voice comes from another room close by. It sounds as though the woman is speaking in another language. Now, this is more like home.
    “What do you mean you only have a sixty-five pound pig for me? I have a hundred people comin’ over next weekend for Micah’s birthday, including your family , Owen Miller, so you know damn well we’re gonna need a ninety pounder at least! What kind of cochon de lait do you think I’m gonna have? Certainly not a half-assed one, I assure you!”
    My eyes grow wide as I take in the beautiful woman screaming nonsense into the phone while Travis just shakes his head and laughs.
    The woman continues. “Mmm-hmm. Yes, well, I guess we'll just have to have two pigs to roast to make sure we have enough.” She pauses. “Yes, Owen, two sixty-five pound pigs should be fine. Be sure to tell your daddy I said thank you for finding another pig for us on such short notice.” She rolls her eyes even though the man on the other end of the line can’t see her. I giggle at her sarcasm.
    Hanging up with a huff, she turns to Travis. “I swear, that Miller family gives me the choux rouge !”
    I give Travis a confused look, not understanding what just came out of this woman’s mouth. “Oh, um, Mrs. Annie is just a little upset right now.”
    “Travis LeBlanc, I am not ‘a little upset’. I’m pissed off !” The fiery Cajun woman finally turns completely around to find me standing in the doorway.
    “Oh, good Lord! Where are my manners? I’m usually not so rude. Please, forgive me.”
    Travis tries to stifle a laugh, but the woman hears him and swats at his arm. “Shut up, Travis. I mean, I’m not usually so rude when I have guests all the way from New York in my house.” She smiles sweetly as she makes her way around the center island to greet me. “I try to wait until I know them a little better before I let them see me get too fired up.” She laughs, pulling me into a hug tighter than I thought possible from such a tiny woman.
    “You must be Ms. Reed. My name is Anne-Marie Landry, and I’m simply thrilled you’re here!” she exclaims, her eyes lighting up like I hung the moon or something.
    After I recover from her bone-crushing hug, I formally introduce myself.
    “Hello, Mrs. Landry. I’m Sheridan Reed, but you can call me Dani.”
    “Well, in that case, you need to call me Annie. My husband’s mama was Mrs. Landry, and she’s been dead for ten years now! Travis, would you please fetch Dani’s things and bring them inside?”
    Wait. What?
    “Oh, no, Mrs. Landry . . . I mean, Annie, I have a room at the motel in town. My things are already there.”
    “Wilbur Young’s place? Mercy, that man squeezes a quarter so tight the eagle screams. Why on earth are you stayin’ at that dump? We have plenty of room here,” she says earnestly. I know I can’t accept her hospitality, but damn if I