Bayou Paradox by Robin Caroll Page B

grabbed the small vial, shoved it into her jeans pocket, then bolted to her car. Her game plan was all laid out—slip in and give Tanty the potion, check on Grandmere, then meet with Suzie to try to find out what was going on.
    The hospital’s elevator felt stuffy, confined. Tara touched the vial in her pocket to calm herself. She had to get her mind on the healing chant. Focus. Concentrate.
    Edging into Tanty’s room, Tara glanced around. Luck was again with her, as no one hovered nearby to observe. She slipped the dropper from the vial and administered the last two drops on Tanty’s tongue. She’d have to make more. Closing her eyes, Tara chanted quietly.
    â€œAren’t you up and about early?”
    Tara jumped from the side of the bed and pivoted. Bubba stood in the doorway, arms crossed but wearing a welcoming smile. She flashed a nervous smile in return. “I just wanted to check on her before seeing Grandmere.”
    â€œI appreciate that. It’s nice of you.” His voice was husky, clogged with emotion.
    She pushed the vial deeper into her pocket. “Well, I’d better go.”
    His broad shoulders blocked the entire doorway. His gaze caressed her face in a way that made heat rise to her cheeks. He put his strong hand on her shoulder. “I feel I ought to warn you.”
    Taking a step back, she quirked a brow. “About?”
    â€œAlyssa’s back here with CoCo.”

EIGHT
    T here wasn’t supposed to be a complication. Tara stared at the doctor.
    â€œShe’s still conscious, but we’re having to keep her on strong medication for the pain, which makes her sleep.”
    â€œI don’t understand. She wasn’t in pain when she came out of the coma yesterday,” Alyssa said.
    The doctor nodded. “I know. But something began making her violently ill a few hours after we’d begun testing.”
    â€œCould the tests have made her sick?” Tara just couldn’t grasp how Grandmere had been fine yesterday and now lay comatose again.
    â€œNot likely.” The doctor gave one of those condescending smiles they must teach in medical school. “It could be a residual side effect from whatever made her sick to begin with.”
    The person who poisoned her had struck again. Tara shoved down the rage coursing through her veins.
    â€œCan we at least sit with her?” CoCo snuggled under Luc’s arm.
    He hesitated a moment. “For a little bit. Just two at a time and only for fifteen minutes. I’ll tell the nurses to adjust the visiting schedule every hour, so you’ll get fifteen minutes.”
    Alyssa nudged CoCo. “You and Luc go in. We got to see her yesterday.”
    CoCo shot a questioning glance at Tara. “Okay?”
    Tara nodded. She really wanted to see Grandmere, but knew CoCo did, too. Besides, she’d go hunt down Suzie and see if her last name was Richard. And she had “news” she could pass on to the little group. Give ’em something to pray about.
    Avoiding Alyssa, Tara strode down the hall to the waiting room. Sure enough, eight women sat in chairs pulled into a circle. They all looked up as Tara marched in.
    Suzie was on her feet first, despite her pudgy middle. “How’s Marie?”
    â€œNot as well as we’d thought.”
    The older woman who’d brought the casserole placed a warm hand on Tara’s forearm. “What’s wrong, hon?”
    Tara explained briefly about the pain and what the doctor had told them.
    The woman patted Tara’s arm. “Don’t you worry none, hon. We’ll be lifting prayers for her right now.” She eyed the others in the group. “Right, ladies?”
    Murmurs of agreement went around the circle. As the ladies joined hands, claustrophobia jabbed at Tara. She motioned Suzie toward the door. “Can we talk outside maybe?”
    Suzie followed Tara down the hall and into the elevator. “I shouldn’t be