Dre stepped up. “This is for you, sis. I love you,” he whispered before turning to his mother. “Yeah, Rene, you keep taking my momma’s side. Those pancakes are good, and they’ll be even better with real maple syrup.”
Her mother turned, all thoughts of grandbabies gone as she took on her son about the cost of fancy syrup.
Rene took Sylvie’s hand and started for the stairs. “Your brother is a hero.”
She ran up the stairs, torn between using the sheets to run away or taking a quick shower and getting some of those pancakes. But mostly she was smiling because her family was all here. How she’d longed for this, for a marriage with love and laughter.
It might not be so bad to start trying to add a few more members.
Rene reached the top of the stairs and pulled her into his arms. “Looks like I am bringing something into this marriage besides my charm and good looks.”
She nodded. “Yes, you’re bringing your mom and the best friend your dad could have had.”
“The money is not going to hurt, and I’ll have a job running the charity,” he said, dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose. “That will keep me occupied until I can find my next challenge.”
“According to my ancestors, that next challenge might be changing stinky pants,” she said. “That might not be so bad.”
Rene grinned. “I thought you wanted to wait.”
“That was when I thought I would have to teach you how to love me,” she admitted. “Turns out you’re a quick learner.”
“Hey.” Dre stood at the bottom of the stairs, and he had Lady in his muscular arms. “See, good dog uncle. Also, if your first child is a boy, Andre is an excellent name. That would be a good way to honor the real hero of this story.”
Sylvie heard the sound of her cell trilling. “We’ll be down in a minute.” She shook her head as she walked into their bedroom. “My brother is always going to be fun to have around.”
“Let’s take a shower,” Rene suggested. “Our mothers will understand.”
She glanced down at the phone. “It’s Seraphina. She wouldn’t call this early unless something was wrong. Do you think something happened with your aunt?”
Rene’s brow rose. “I think my aunt is no longer my problem.” His face fell and he sighed. “But your best friend is. Answer her. If there’s something wrong, I’ll handle it.”
“Sera?” Sylvie answered the cell.
“Roberta has been trying to get in touch with Rene all morning, but he’s not answering his cell.” Sera sounded a bit weary. “She’s been talking to family members all morning, and it’s not going well. I cannot make this woman happy. Could you please have Rene come over and handle this?”
Her morning had just taken a bad turn.
* * *
* * *
Rene felt better in a new suit, his armor back and fully in place. He’d had the shower he needed, though he hadn’t had the fun he’d hoped for.
He hadn’t even gotten the pancakes he’d been promised.
“Can they have the meeting without you? Sera said Roberta had been talking to family members. Could they make a decision?” Sylvie looked pretty in her yellow sundress, but then she was gorgeous in anything. They’d stopped by Darois House to change, and she’d smiled when she realized she didn’t have to send back anything. She’d happily selected her dress and a pair of kitten heels.
He moved around the car to open her door and help her onto the gravel lot in front of the Butterfly Bayou B and B. It was surprising how calm he was about this. For months and months he’d let worry gnaw at him, but now that he’d talked it out with his mother and wife, he was practically sanguine. What he’d learned was that sometimes the best way to win a fight was to not fight at all.
“Technically, no, but they can decide what they’re going to do at the actual meeting. The only reason we’re here is because Seraphina is worried. We’ll walk in, make sure everything stays civil, and then go about our day. I thought it would be fun to take Lady to the park this afternoon. And then we can buy some groceries and take inventory of what we need for the new place. I’ll have the movers in tomorrow.”
Her lips quirked up. “The same movers who moved me out a couple of weeks ago?”
He shrugged as they moved toward the front of the house. “They’ll be thrilled to move us however many times it takes.”
The door came open as though someone had been watching for them. Seraphina stood there, her blond hair around her shoulders, and she waved for them to come in. “I’m sorry to interrupt your morning, but I didn’t know what else to do. Don’t be mad at me, Rene. Your aunt is incredibly intimidating.”