Gift of Wonder by Lenora Worth

fooled.
    And she wouldn’t be fooled again.

Chapter Five
    J onah stared down at the documents in front of him. He’d come to the small library to research the local history a little more and to maybe find out some information on his biological mother. All he had to go on was a name—Esther Mayeaux. But that was her maiden name and so far, even though he’d found information on the Mayeaux who’d lived here, he hadn’t found any traces of anyone named Esther. When he got a chance he’d have to go to the parish courthouse and search the public records. But he had to handle this very carefully. He didn’t want to lose focus on his work or get any more rumors started.
    â€œHow’s it going?”
    He looked up to find the bubbly gray-haired librarian smiling down at him. “Not as well as I’d hoped,” he said, noting from her name tag that her name was Betty Nell Hollis.
    Her eyebrows lifted. “Is this research for your new community?”
    He smiled, resigning himself to the fact that nothingwas secret around here. “Kinda. I’m just digging into some of the local history.”
    Betty glanced at the books and documents scattered around the table. “Lot of old family names in those pages. Lots of solid history. You know, Cajuns are famous for their storytelling abilities.”
    â€œSo I’ve heard.” He decided to ask Betty Nell some questions, but first he qualified his curiosity. “I’m a history buff, so I’m glad someone recorded the history of Bayou Rosette. But I’d sure like to find out more, maybe talk to some folks.”
    She nodded. “I know a lot of old-timers who might be willing to talk to you.”
    â€œDo you remember the Mayeaux family?”
    She looked surprised and then nodded. “Oh, yeah. Those Mayeaux brothers were always in trouble.”
    Brothers? He didn’t dare ask her about Esther. He’d do a little more digging on his own. “Do you know anyone who might be able to help me fill in the blanks on some of the families who lived along the bayou, including the Mayeaux?”
    â€œHave you talked to Alice Bryson?”
    He laughed. “Oh, yeah. But I need someone who’s a little older than she is.”
    Betty Nell pursed her lips. “You might try Arnold Gauthier out on the old River Road. He’s our local storyteller and poet. He knows everything about everybody on this bayou, but I’ll warn you he’s old and ornery and he can’t always remember as accurately as you might like.”
    Jonah tried to act nonchalant. “Thanks. That might be my next step.” Looking at his watch, he got up. “I’msorry. You’re waiting for me to leave so you can close, aren’t you?”
    Betty Nell grinned. “Take your time. I’m just going home to sit in front of the television.” Her grin faded and so did the brightness in her eyes. “My husband passed away last year, so it’s just me and the cat now.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Jonah said again, gathering up documents and some old self-published histories he’d found. “I’ve always been a loner myself, but I imagine it’s hard to be alone after being married for a long time.”
    â€œForty-two years for us,” she said, her eyes soft with memories. “I have children and grandchildren but they all live far away. I get to see them once or twice a year.”
    Jonah took that in. “Where do you live?”
    She shook a thumb toward the door. “About a mile from here in a trailer on the bayou.”
    Jonah couldn’t say that was very near where he planned to build. “Did you lose your house in the storm?”
    She inclined her chin. “Yes.” He watched as she swallowed then blinked. “I think that’s why I lost my John, too. He never quite got over it.” She took some of the documents he’d gathered. “And truth be