Roxie wasn’t so sure about that, but she knew he would have loved Zep. “Thank you for talking to him.”
Her mom’s eyes got misty. “I don’t think it was me. I think it was our granddaughter.”
Roxie looked over at the table where her brother, sister-in-law, and their new daughter sat. Little Constance was three and she had some special needs, and she had become the light of their lives.
“I didn’t think it would be the same,” her mom said quietly. “I thought I would feel differently about a child who wasn’t your brother’s blood, but the minute that baby girl held her hands out to me, I realized how little blood means. I love that child with every bone in my body, and so does your father. I think it’s made him realize that who he is isn’t nearly as important as how he loves.”
Her father had danced with her out on the patio of the B and B, with the sounds of music and the hum of the cicadas all around them. The father-daughter dance wasn’t as awkward as she worried it’d be. Her father had told her how beautiful she was. He’d told her he was proud.
Her wedding day had been an emotional one.
“I told Sylvie I would protest the mayor’s office until she gives me the money I need to microchip every pet who comes through our shelter,” Zep announced as he walked up. He’d ditched his jacket and tie and looked perfectly scrumptious with a bit of his chest on display.
“Hey, all protesting better wait until I’ve had my honeymoon,” Roxie said. They were headed into New Orleans for the night, and then in the morning they would catch a flight to Hawaii, where she intended to do nothing but lie on the beach and love her man.
“Hey, Deputy, Mr. Guidry.” Ashlyn Travers had worn all black to the wedding, but then she hadn’t really been a guest. She’d been working. The now high school senior turned out to have far more skill with a camera than common sense, but then Roxie was certain she would say an artist needs no common sense. “I got some great shots of the reception, and I’m letting you know that next month I will be premiering The Rougarou’s Revenge at the senior center. I would really like to include some of the footage I took from the wedding, if you don’t mind. After all, you two are my romantic leads, and apparently people like a happy ending. Unless you would let me set something up where just before you say I do, the pastor turns into the rougarou and kills you both. Because that would be a great way to end the film.”
Zep’s eyes lit up, and Roxie realized she was going to have to cut him off.
“You can absolutely use the footage of the wedding. A happy ending sounds like the right way to go,” she said firmly. After it had gotten out that Ashlyn had been making a film, the people of Papillon had all caught the acting bug. Now, months later, Ashlyn was almost ready to show off her masterpiece.
Ashlyn huffed. “Fine, but it won’t be the same. Thanks for helping me out.”
“We can’t wait to see the movie,” Zep said, his arm going around Roxie.
“I’m applying to film school in California,” Ashlyn announced.
“I’m going to give you a word of advice,” Zep said gravely. “Fly out there. Don’t drive.”
That made Roxie laugh. “I think she’ll avoid your mistakes.”
Ashlyn waved and went back to work.
“It’s so nice to see all the young people being ambitious,” Pamela remarked. “Though you should know now that you’re married, it’s time to give little Constance a cousin. Your eggs aren’t getting any younger, Roxanne.” Her mother stepped away.
She groaned. “I should have known I was only getting a temporary reprieve.”
Zep’s arms went around her waist, and he pulled her back against him. “We’ll decide when we’re ready. Sera hasn’t told anyone, but she and Harry are going to give Luc a sibling in about six months.”
Roxie turned her head so she could kiss his cheek. “I’m glad. I know they’ve been trying. And we will, too. Hey, we’ve managed to keep a dog and a cat happy. We should be able to handle a small human.”
Once, she’d given up on the idea of having a family. Now she wanted nothing more than to add to the one she’d found. One day they would have a kiddo and he or she would follow after Dad, learning how to take care of the world around them. And they would follow Mom and she would teach them how to protect it.