Bayou Paradox by Robin Caroll Page B

approach, Bubba whispered, “Yeah, good luck with that, Jacks.”
    â€œThey said I could visit for five minutes, but that’s it,” Alyssa said. “Better than nothing, I suppose.” She smiled at her husband. “But only me. I’ll be back in a few.” She planted a kiss on his cheek before following a nurse down the hall.
    Jackson regarded his old friend. “Why haven’t you just asked Tara?”
    Bubba almost choked. “Because she barely tolerates me as it is. She wants me to run around and start accusing people. I can’t do that.” He jutted out his chin. “Haven’t you realized your sister-in-law is a bit of a, um, fireball?”
    Jackson laughed. “She can be a handful. But she knows voodoo. She trained for a couple of years under her grandmother, and last Al ranted, she’d been visiting your aunt for further instruction.” He paused, all traces of laughter gone. “Could Tara be the connection?”
    â€œIt’s crossed my mind, yes.” Bubba had a sinking feeling in his gut. “If she is, she might very well be in danger.”
    And that was something he couldn’t ignore. Not when it seemed she’d slipped under his skin.
    Â 
    No sign of Alyssa.
    Tara breathed a deep sigh and left the elevator. She turned the corner, heading directly to Grandmere’s room. Luckily, still no glimpse of her sister. Of course, it being after midnight probably had something to do with it. Just as she’d planned.
    She eased open the glass door and slipped into the room. Perching on the edge of Grandmere’s bed, Tara withdrew the vial of healing potion. She looked around once, then administered eight drops before putting the vial back in her pocket. She mumbled an incantation and waited.
    Grandmere appeared less wan. A hint of pink in her cheeks. Could the potion be working?
    The door opened behind her. She jerked to her feet and met the gaze of a nurse.
    â€œYou shouldn’t be in here now.”
    â€œIt’s my regularly scheduled visiting time.” Tara glanced at her watch just to make sure.
    â€œBut your sister was here earlier.”
    Tara crossed her arms over her chest. “And I missed my time before that.”
    The nurse hitched a brow, a frown creasing her face.
    Tara dropped her arms and shoved her hands into her pockets. “It’s not like I’m wearing her out any. Please?”
    The nurse shook her head. “Sorry, but those are the rules.”
    â€œCan’t you bend them just a little? Just this once?”
    â€œI’m afraid I can’t.” The nurse lifted Grandmere’s chart. “The ladies from her church are in the waiting room down the hall holding their prayer vigil. Just in case you’d like to join them.”
    As if. Tara sniffed, dropped a kiss on her grandmother’s cheek and headed out the door.
    Beeeeeeeeeeep!
    Tara shot back into the room just as Grandmere’s eyes fluttered.

SIX
    A s inexplicably as she’d fallen into it, Marie LeBlanc had awakened from her coma. Bubba glanced skyward. The late moon shone brightly on the parking lot. Stars winked back at him. Who knew, maybe Aunt Tanty would wake soon, as well.
    Lord, please let it be so.
    He crossed the asphalt and strode through the hospital’s double doors. His quickening heart set the pace for his steps as he made his way into the elevator and up to the fourth floor.
    Jackson, Alyssa and Tara stood in a semicircle in the ICU waiting room when he entered. A group of women from CoCo’s church stood holding hands in the corner. Some had tears running down their faces. His friend reached him first. Jacks clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Isn’t it a miracle? Reminds me of what happened with you.”
    Bubba found the words hard to form as memories flooded him. “It is, indeed, a miracle. What happened?” He spoke to Jacks, but his attention focused on Tara.
    Her face showed