"If you could introduce me to Mr. Baxter, I'm sure he would agree." Jillian pointed to the desk making Junior smile at the woman's wish.
"I'm getting ready to go see him, want to tag along?" Sally handed them two travel mugs as her boss led Jillian to the elevator leading to the parking garage.
"Where are we going, exactly?" It was a strange time to be asking Jillian thought as the leather seat welcomed her back.
"Bayou Country. How about a muffin or something?" Junior pulled the car into a strip mall that housed a bakery and next to it a liquor store.
Jillian arched a pale brow at her trying to decipher what it was about this woman that she found remotely interesting. She had been rude right out of the box and her conversational skills were a little lacking. "Or something."
"Ok, a girl that actually eats, this will be a nice change of pace. You go get something in there." Junior pointed to the bakery and handed Jillian some money, "And I'll meet you back here in a minute."
When Jillian walked out with a large bag several minutes later, Junior was leaning on the passenger door waiting for her. Once they were both buckled in for the drive, Jillian handed over an apple fritter without asking, laughing when Junior almost ripped it out of her hand.
"Hungry?"
"I missed dinner last night. I take that back. I had three straight vodkas, but they weren't as filling as the steak I had planned on."
"You did leave rather suddenly and you didn't say good-bye." Junior looked over to her passenger before getting on the highway out of town. It's just a comment, Junior, calm down. Maybe she's just worried about you. It was too early in the morning to deal with the voice so Junior just talked over it.
"Just a little melodrama I had to take care of. The truth is I'm still not sure what to think about it."
"Anything I can help you with?" Jillian turned a little to look at the profile next to her. Junior played with her sunglasses and thought about not answering.
"I'll take a rain check on your offer, I'm not ready to talk about it now."
"Then take this," Jillian handed her another treat out of the bag, "It will make you feel better."
Two hours later the car pulled off the highway and entered one of the quaintest towns Jillian had ever seen. Downtown Franklin was a collection of the greatest antebellum homes the city dweller had come across outside of Atlanta. Junior pulled into the last one on the main drag but was going a little too fast for Jillian to read the historic plaque posted outside the gate.
Six large pillars held vigil over the perfectly manicured lawn, and the house they were attached to could only be described as big and gorgeous. Junior smiled at the wide-eyed look Jillian had as she took in the house and grounds. "Welcome to the house crude built."
"You would need oil money to keep this place up," said Jillian leaning forward to take in the whole structure.
"Who said anything about oil?" Jillian laughed at the connotation of what Junior said and the laugh got louder when the driver started singing, "Let me tell you a story about a man named Avery."
"Junior, get your ass out of that car and come tell me hello." The front door had opened and an overweight woman wearing an apron stepped onto the wide porch.
"That would be our cue." Junior opened her door and ran around to the passenger side to get Jillian before she greeted her Aunt Minnie. Jillian almost started laughing again when Junior almost hit the ground as the affectionate woman slammed into her with a hug.
"How are you Minnie?"
"Fine considering I have to put up with Avery all day. You look too thin, and who's your friend?"
"My weight is fine and this is Jillian Sterling. Ms. Sterling, may I present Minnie Robichaux." Junior waited until they were done with their hellos and welcomes before asking about her father's whereabouts.
"Out back watching the water lilies float by. He'll be thrilled to see you, and don't start bitching, you are staying to eat." Minnie shook her head as Jillian smiled when Junior went back to the car to get the bag in the back seat. From the trunk she took out a long tube and her briefcase.
"Come on, Ms. Sterling, Mr. Baxter awaits." Jillian followed her companion around the corner along the porch that wrapped around the entire house. The back yard was an explosion of different colored flowers and a giant pool. The very back of the property bordered Bayou Teche, a brown colored body of water that had a current more like a river than anything else and a long row of cypress trees that provided a wide patch of shade. "Look alive, old man."
Jillian watched as a giant rose from a chair facing the water. The guy had to be a foot taller than Junior, and she was no midget. Blue eyes twinkled at them from under a crop of snow-white hair, which had fallen into his face while he slept. He was wearing shorts, which made it apparent that one leg was a prosthesis, but it didn't slow him down as he ran to Junior and gave her a big hug.
"Junior." He squeezed her so hard her feet left the ground. Wow he must be awesome to work for if this is the greeting you get, thought Jillian as she watched the reunion. "Did you bring me anything?"
"Yes, but only one or else Minnie will throw me out on my ass." She handed him the brown paper bag and laughed when he headed back to his chair with it. "I'm beginning to think that's the only reason you look forward to my visits."
"Don't be goofy, Junior, you're my link to the outside world not just to Jack. With Minnie as my warden, I never have any fun." Junior pointed to one of the other chairs for Jillian to have a seat. Before she did, Jillian looked up at her and smiled. Mr. Baxter had set up three glasses on the small table next to him and was busy pouring amber liquid into each one. Maybe no one had told him it was only ten in the morning?
"Could you do me a favor?" She put her hand on Junior's arm getting the woman to bend down and nod her head. "Please stop calling me Ms. Sterling."
"What's new, Junior?"
"Plenty, but let me start by introducing you to Jillian Sterling. Jillian, this old codger is Avery Baxter." Shooting Junior a dirty look, Avery smiled up at the petite blonde then handed her a drink. "Jillian wanted to talk to you about a job."
"You wouldn't be the Jillian Sterling that caught Junior with her pants down, would you?" He had drained the first shot and was pouring himself another one while he waited for her to answer.
"Excuse me?"
"The inspector that fined her for everything but taking a shit at the wrong time."
"That would be me, sir."
"Don't call me sir, it makes my skin crawl. Only bankers and lawyers call you sir, and then they stick it to you without benefit of a jar of Vaseline. My name is Avery and if it's a job you want you need to talk to Avery Junior." Both Avery and Jillian looked at Junior wondering what she was up to.