CHAPTER ONE
A Visitor to Bon Temps
It was just past eight o'clock when she walked into the bar called Merlotte's, tucked behind tall pine trees in the town of Bon Temps. She had driven all day and was completely exhausted, and hoped for the name of a hotel close by.
A man standing behind the bar asked, "Hello. What can I get ya?"
"Um, I'm gonna hate myself in the morning, but can I get a cup of coffee?"
"Of course," he smiled widely.
She watched him walk away, and liked what she saw—from the rear view. Forget about it, Abby. Shaking her head, she pulled out the paperwork in her carry-all and set it in front of her.
"Here you go," he said as he placed the coffee beside the papers. "Doing your homework?"
"Oh, no, no." She picked up the coffee and sipped. "Hmm, this is great."
"Oh, Sam makes the best coffee in the South," said a woman who set her carrying tray on the counter. "Can I get a Whiskey Sour, Chef Salad and a hamburger deluxe? Oh, and Sookie's on her way in."
Sam shook his head exasperated then hollered the order to Lafayette.
"You got it!" he replied from behind the kitchen window.
"What's with Sookie, Arlene?" Sam asked as he prepared the drink and set it on the red-head's tray.
"Like you don't know. I'll give you one hint, and his name ain't Bill," she snickered.
"Get me a Gin and Tonic and Screwdriver," said another waitress with attitude, "and Andy wants his regular. And Sam, I ain't waitressing no more. Sookie and I are having a throw-down in the parking lot."
"Oh, should I have your Mama plan your funeral, Tara?" Lafayette asked.
"Shut up and make that . . . whatever that is you call a cheeseburger," she snarled.
"Meeeooow!" he retorted.
"Sorry about that," Sam apologized as he set Tara's order on her tray.
"Don't apologize, Sam! We're one big happy family here," Tara said sarcastically then left.
Abby instantly liked Tara, knowing her toughness was a screen to hide her insecurities. Oh, did she ever understand Tara.
"Kinda reminds me of home," she said. "I'm Abby."
He blushed. "I always liked that name. I'm Sam. Welcome to my home."
"You're the Merlotte on the roof?" She pronounced it Merlo, as in the wine, and he promptly corrected her. "Sorry. I should have paid more attention in French in high school," she complained. "I won't even kill the French language by trying to pronounce anything else. You live here?"
"No, I found the roof was a little tough on my back so I moved into the trailer across the way," he teased flirtatiously. "So, what brings you here to Bon Temps?"
"Geneaology. I finally found the man I've been searching for," she answered, but to Sam, he thought she didn't mean her ancestor by the tone in her voice.
"Really? You got a place to stay tonight?"
"No. I was hoping maybe you could recommend a place?"
You can always stay at my place. "Oh, sure." He turned, grabbed a sticky-pad and pen then wrote something down. "Call Lynetta at Minuit Soleil, see if she has a room. She owns a Bed and Breakfast. I'm sure she does, though."
"Great, thank you so much. What does Men-hugh-it So-lee-isle mean?"
"You're welcome. And it means Midnight Sun." He then pronounced it correctly, again.
"Oh, yeah, didn't I say . . ."
His attention was drawn to the front door.
"I'm so, so sorry for being so late, Sam," a blonde said as she rushed through the door, putting her hair up in a ponytail. "Bill needed help . . ."
Ah, that must be the famous Sookie Abby thought.
Sookie stopped in her tracks, her hands still attached to the back of her head. She looked over Abby carefully. "Do I know you?"
"That depends." She took a shot in the dark. "Are you a Com—" Abby started but was interrupted by Sam.
"Sookie, can I have a word with you in my office?" he asked angrily.
"It would be my pleasure," she answered, a little too sweetly.
Abby watched the two walk away—actually, she was admiring Sam's Charmin-soft derriere.
"Tara, cover the bar!" Sam hollered.
"Do this! Do that!" she muttered loudly as she came behind the bar. "You'd think I'd be tired takin' orders."
"Scu-rumcious Cheeseburger, Del-Luxe and Salad!" Lafayette barked from the kitchen.
"Oh, no! You get your black ass out here and deliver them yourself!"
Abby had to find every ounce of strength she had not to bust out laughing.
"Is that any way to talk to your favorite cousin?"
"You're my only cousin, you fool," she retorted as she grabbed the plates.
"Love you!" Lafayette said before he turned to Abby. "Wanna try the best cheeseburger you will ever eat?"
She glanced at the plates as Tara walked by and the odor was overwhelming. "Actually, it smells great. I'm already breaking a rule of mine by drinking coffee this late," she chuckled.
"Oh, honey, lots of rules get broken around here," he said then winked.
