“Noway.”
Jacques stole a glance at her to find her eyes wide. The stretch of highway in front of them was arrow straight and near empty, so Jacques beat time on the steering wheel and did his best Pal imitation — including Pal’s house-rattlingvolume.
Hey!Lâches pas la patate mon neg. Hey! Lâches pas lapatate
Une chose qu’est claire, j’fais mon affaire… Mais j’lâche pas lapatate
J’vas au bal tous les samedis, pour escouer mes vieillespattes
J’danse avec toutes les belles filles… Mais j’lâche pas lapatate
J’fais tous les clubs que je peux faire ent ‘Lafayette et la VillePlatte
Oublies-moi pas des fois ça chauffe… Mais j’lâche pas lapatate.”
Of course,he only got to the second line before Rainey had doubled over, her shoulders shaking with laughter and tears filling her eyes. When he finished, she sat up straight and clapped withfervor.
“Encore!” shecheered.
“Hell, no,” he muttered, and she threw her head back, cackling again. Jacques had to rein in his smile. Making her laugh was almost as sweet as kissing her. What would it feel like to make her laugh while she was pressed againsthim?
“Oh my God. That was amazing,” she said, wiping her eyes. “Do you even know what you’resinging?”
“Lâches Pas la Patate?Of course! That song’s ancient,” he said, feigning disbelief that she didn’t recognize the Cajun classic. “It means don’t drop thepotato.”
“What?” she choked, laughter threatening again. “What thehell?”
“Well, that’s the literal translation, but that saying means hang in there or don’t give up,” heexplained.
“Wait,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m sure I heard Lafayette and Ville Platte in theresomewhere.”
“Yeah, the singer’s talking about how he never gives up. He takes care of business, and he doesn’t drop the potato. He goes dancing with all the beautiful girls, but he doesn’t drop the potato,” Jacques translated. “And even when he forgets himself and things get hot, he doesn’t drop thepotato.”
“Lâches pas la patate,”she echoed with a nod. “I’m definitely going to have to remember that one. You have to admit, it’s not such a bad way to be wokenup.”
Jacques could only roll his eyes again, making Raineygiggle.
“It sounds like your grandfather has taught you a lot,” she added, her voice going softagain.
“He’s taught me everything,” Jacques said, the vehemence in his voice taking him by surprise. “Everything thatmatters.”
He glanced over to find Rainey nodding, her smile illuminating her whole face. She looked so happy, and somehow, he understood she was happy for him. That he had someone like Pal. With her smiling at him that way, Jacques wanted more than anything to reach over and take her hand. He gripped the steering wheelinstead.
Talking to her. Making her laugh. Having her smile at him. It had to beenough.
They drove in silence, Jacques, for one, lost in his ownthoughts.
“Can I ask you a question?” Rainey’s voice pulled him back a few minuteslater.
“Yes… ofcourse.”
But she didn’t ask. She was quiet for so long, Jacques glanced over at her to find her watching himintently.
“What?”
“I want to ask you something, but I don’t want it to upsetyou.”
“Ask meanything.”