ALMOST HEAVEN

Chapter 5

Mellie answered the front door. "You don't have to knock on my door, Clyde Logan. Come on in. I'm in the kitchen.

Clyde followed Mellie. "You doing all right, Mellie?"

She flashed a smile at him. "Doing just fine, Clyde. I'm not going ask you because I saw you last night. I don't think I've ever seen you out on that dance floor sober before. You were having a good time."

He nodded. "Yup, I was. Hey, Mellie, don't you have a picnic basket?"

There was the sound of a door opening in the back of the house. "Guitar player?" Clyde asked quietly.

"Yep. Don't start on me. I do have a picnic basket. You going on a picnic?"

The guitar player came down the hallway to the kitchen. "Hey, Clyde." He put an arm around Mellie and kissed her. "Any coffee, babe?"

"You know where it is." Mellie pointed to the coffee maker on the counter. She turned back to Clyde. "You need that basket for today?"

"Yeah."

"Where you going on your picnic?"

Clyde glanced at the guitar player. He liked him all right but wasn't much for discussing his business in front of him.

"Not quite sure. I'll figure it out. Can I get the basket?"

"You in a hurry to leave? No time for a cup of coffee?"

"Not really."

Mellie rolled her eyes. "All right then. It's in the trunk of my car. Come on. I'll be right back." This last was to the guitar who was rummaging through the fridge.

"All right, babe. Good to see you, Clyde."

"Ok."

Mellie grabbed her keys and they headed out the door. Mellie walked to her car and opened the trunk.

"Doesn't it annoy you the way he calls you babe?"

"It does not and it's none of your business, little brother."

"I don't understand it, Mellie. Why you've got to.."

"Do not go there, Clyde. I'm not gonna sit home and wait on Joe Bang to pull into town to have a little fun. I'm not lying to either one of those men. They both know about the other. They may not be happy about it but they both stick around. And, once again, it's none of your damn business. Here's the damn basket." She shoved the wicker basket at Clyde.

"Hmm." He opened the basket up, looking inside.

"It's not packed for you, Clyde."

"You're funny, Mellie. Just checking to see if there was anything still in it."

"Oh, like I'd leave old food in it. Do you have a tablecloth you can take?"

"I'm just bringing a quilt. That should be fine."

"Wait here a minute."

Mellie ran back into the house and return a couple minutes later. "Here, take this." She gave him a small blue checked tablecloth. "That way if anything spills, it won't be all over your quilt. Where you taking Laurel on this picnic?"

"Out to the property. It supposed to be a clear night and there's meteor showers tonight."

Mellie looked at him and smiled. "You're head over heels in love with Laurel, aren't you?"

Clyde looked around Mellie's little yard like he was looking for something. He finally met her eyes. "I think so, Mellie."

"You scared?"