The Best Laid Plans (Brothers of the Bayou) by Renee Peterson Page A

haven’t seen them in quite awhile.” Beaux detected a subtle flinch from Lacy but something wasn’t right and he had to find out what. He didn’t know the questions or the answers he was looking for, but he would find out.
    Sara sat sadly for a moment. “They’re getting a divorce,” she announced then broke into tears.
    Everyone, including Justin sat in astonishment.
    “I’m sorry Sara. I had no idea or I would never have asked.” Beaux felt like a cad making Sara cry, but in his defense he hadn’t expected that news.
    Justin moved to comfort his wife as she continued speaking.
    “I don’t get it. After all they have been through I don’t know why they are giving up now.  Neither will speak to me about it.  The only answer they have given is that they’ve drifted apart. Every time I have seen them in the past year, they’ve been arguing, but I thought they’d work through it.  I guess not everything is meant to last forever.”
    Justin sucked in a noticeable breath while Beaux and Lacy looked at each other squeezing the other’s hand tighter under the table.   Sara still had tears streaming down her face and Justin looked at Beaux and Lacy feeling helpless to stop them, silently pleading for help.
    Lacy stood and nudged a hesitant Justin away.  Beaux and he discreetly left the room, leaving the females alone.  Lacy hugged her cousin until the flow of tears ceased.
    “I’ll be okay Lacy. Pregnancy hormones must be making me all kinds of dramatic.”
    “There is no shame in crying Sara. Goodness knows that I cried my fair share when my parents split.”
    Sara was silent, trying to find the words to ask what she was thinking.
    “They overcame so many obst acles.  Nothing seemed to faze them, and with the exception of my mom’s indiscretion years ago, they had a picture perfect marriage.  If they can’t make it work, how can anyone? Why even bother?”
    “I’m no expert, but I do know marriage takes work and compromise. You can’t look at one marriage and except the same for yours.  No one knows the full dynamics of a marriage, except the two members bound to it.  Justin loves you more than anything.  He is your soul mate and you know that.  I remember even as a teen, I became disillusioned with love and life when my parents divorced and they had every reason but me not to stay together.  But I worked through it, just like you will with Justin at your side.”
    Sara sniffled and Lacy handed her another tissue. “You’re the best Lacy. Thanks.”
    “That’s what friends are for right?  I’m going to send Justin back in.”
    “Okay.”
    Lacy found Justin and Beaux outside engrossed in a very serious conversation. Both looked very worried and concerned, but Lacy passed it off to concern for Sara without a second thought. She let Justin know Sara wanted to speak with him, while Beaux and she lingered outside to allow them privacy.
    “I’m sorry for ruining the night Lacy. I had no idea.”
    “You couldn’t have known, Beaux.  Sara will be fine once she can adjust to the idea.  Of course, being pregnant it may take longer since she is competing with the extra hormones.”
    “Do you think we should leave or go back in?”
    “I was thinking of getting a hotel room for the night.  I think it’s best to leave them alone for the evening.  They have a lot of talking to do.”
    “You don’t need to get a room Lacy.  You can stay the night at my place.”
    “Are you sure?” The idea actually held a great bit of appeal, but she didn’t want Beaux to feel obligated to house her.
    “There’s nothing I would like more.”
    “Let me go and gather some clothes and tell Sara.”
    Lacy walked back into the house and poked her head in the kitchen.  Justi n and Sara were deep in thought so Lacy cleared her throat to get their attention.   “I’m going to go home with Beaux for the night so you two can talk in private.  I’ll call you in the morning Sara,” she told them when