by Lexi Blake
Sure enough, the door swung open and his cousin walked in. Angela had been in Sedona for the weekend with her bridesmaids at a girls’ retreat. He’d been told that girls tended to retreat to places with massage therapists and lots of wine. But his cousin didn’t look relaxed. There was a pinched look on her face.
“Hey, Angie. Welcome back. How was your getaway?”
She glanced around as though making sure they were alone. “It was nice. This doesn’t look the way I thought it would.”
She touched the unfinished latticework. As often when working with wood, there was an ugly duckling period before the swan was revealed.
“It’s not done. I promise it’ll match everything. It’s coming along nicely. Are you all right?”
“I don’t know. I get home and I hear that you have a date for my wedding.”
He had not expected pushback from Angie. She seemed so nice. Did she have some sort of problem with Sera? “I was told I could bring a plus one.”
“Yeah, I didn’t imagine that would be Sera. You realize Mom is up to something. She didn’t do this out of the kindness of her heart. She’s never liked Sera.”
He’d been surprised, too, but his aunt seemed vaguely amused with Sera now. “I don’t think she ever gave Sera a chance. Your mom has made it plain that she’s not going to lock Sera out. I’m glad she made the decision to try to be friendly. I thought for sure I would have to fight her on it.”
“Which is precisely why you shouldn’t believe it.”
She seemed so disturbed by the idea of her mother and Sera having any kind of relationship. “What’s behind this? I thought you liked her. I know she speaks kindly of you.”
Angie’s mouth tightened and she was quiet for a moment. “Have you thought about that boy of hers?”
His girlfriend was a single mom, and he was serious about her. He thought about Luc a lot. He wanted to get closer to Luc, but he had to respect Sera’s wishes. “He seems like a good kid. I’ve spent a little time with him, but Sera and I are getting to know each other. She doesn’t want to confuse Luc. We’ll deal with it as we move forward.”
“You need to think long and hard about getting involved with a single mom,” Angie insisted.
“You think single moms don’t deserve to find happiness?” He was flat-out confused at why he was having this conversation with his cousin. Cal had slapped him on the back and congratulated him on getting Sera and his momma in the same room and surviving the experience.
“I think you’re young and she’s looking for more than a boyfriend. She’s a walking, talking instant family. Are you really ready for that? Do you honestly want to give up partying and having fun to change diapers?”
“First off, Luc is three. He’s totally potty trained, but I could change diapers if I needed to. I didn’t have brothers and sisters growing up. If things work out between me and Sera, I would hope she wants more kids. I don’t know if you’ve gotten to know me, cousin, but I don’t party much, and I sure as hell am not some young stud out to get laid. I’m only three years older than Sera. I would think I should be getting a lecture about settling down since I’m rapidly approaching thirty. You’re younger than me and you’re getting married.”
She shook her head. “That’s different. Austin and I are starting our lives together.”
“And Sera can’t start a life because she has a kid? You know you’re allowed to love children you had no part in creating.” He sat back and studied his cousin. “If you don’t want Sera at your wedding for some reason, we can make ourselves scarce that weekend.”
“Do you honestly believe she can fit in here? That my mother will allow her to ever be a part of this family? How will that kid of hers feel when my mom rejects him?”
He felt like he’d been dropped into a bad soap opera. “I seriously doubt Aunt Celeste will reject Luc. He’s kind of adorable. If you ask me, Luc is our secret weapon.”
His aunt wasn’t as cold as she seemed. Her acceptance of him and Shep proved it. Luc could win her over with that big smile of his.
Angie’s eyes had gone wide. “She wouldn’t. Sera wouldn’t bring him here. She knows better than to trust my mom with . . .” She took a long breath and seemed to quell whatever had threatened to take her over. “All I’m saying is you might think long and hard about whether or not it’s fair to bring a child into the middle of our family situation.”
“What exactly is our family situation?”
“I don’t care what games my mom is playing, but she’s never going to forgive Sera for what happened with Wes,” Angie said. “She might pretend because she knows you’ll choose Sera over her, but she’s counting on Sera selling that house and leaving town. She’s counting on this being a short-term relationship, and that’s why you should keep your distance from Luc. He’s been through a lot, and he doesn’t need to lose another father figure.”
“Lose? I wasn’t aware he’d lost one in the first place.”
“You know what I’m saying. He’s young. He needs stability, and this situation can’t possibly give it to him.” She turned to the door. “Bring Sera to the wedding. I like her. But please don’t bring that innocent baby into our mess of a family.”
He didn’t understand her pessimistic attitude. “Has it ever occurred to you that messes can be cleaned up? Aunt Celeste seems to be trying. I know the last few years have been hard on you.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know anything, Harry. You think our family works like yours did, but you’ll learn. I just hope you don’t take Sera and her son down with you.”
She let the door slam behind her, and Harry stared at it. Shep huffed and settled down as though glad to be getting back to the serious business of napping.
Maybe it was the stress of the wedding. He hoped that was all it was because something seemed to be simmering under Angie’s surface, and it worried him.
Was he being fair to Luc by going so fast? He had no intention of hurting that kid. He wanted to know him better, wanted to be someone Luc could depend on, might even want to call Dad someday. That’s what Angie didn’t understand. He was serious about Sera and that meant he was serious about Luc, too.
His cell phone buzzed and a picture of Sera came on the screen. Angie was wrong about a lot of things. They could make this work. But she was right about one thing. If this was some kind of plot of his aunt’s to break them up, she would find out they were far more solid than she imagined. He slid his finger across the screen to accept the call. “Hey, gorgeous. I was thinking about you.”
“Were you?” Her husky voice sent a thrill through him. “Now just what were you thinking about?”
He let go of his worries. “I was thinking about how long it’s been since I kissed you.”
“Too long,” she replied. “Maybe we should fix that. But first we have to talk about your aunt. She’s making me crazy. What’s her problem with jumpsuits? She’s sending me a bunch of e-mails.”
And then Sera was off and he had way more problems than his cousin’s weirdness.
It was going to be okay. He wouldn’t accept anything less.
To: Seraphina Guidry
From: Celeste Beaumont
Re: Scheduling
I have attached the following schedule of events Harry is expected to attend in anticipation of Angela’s wedding. You should be appropriately dressed for each occasion. You will notice I’ve had my assistant include a symbol which will let you know the preferred dress length for each party or soiree. Please reply so I know you have received and understand the instructions.
To: Celeste Beaumont
From: Seraphina Guidry
Re: The royal wedding schedule
Celeste, I received your instructions and have noted each date in my planner. You seem to have forgotten that it is the twenty-first century and women can now wear pants. I’ve
got the cutest jumpsuit with sequins I’ve been dying to show off.
Thank you sincerely for including me. I will try very hard not to embarrass you. I assure you that, having worked in the restaurant industry most of my life, I know which fork to use. I also know how to use a knife. In case you were wondering.
Sera
Your aunt just sent me a schedule for ten events I’m supposed to attend, including a reception at the Jaycees Club. I don’t even know what that is. And why are we burying a perfectly good bottle of bourbon in the yard???? Help.
Harry
Baby, I know nothing about these wedding things. I’ve been told my only job is to make sure Cal doesn’t drink too much, and to tackle your brother if he shows up to spike the punch with moonshine. Obviously, she’s talking about Zep, not Remy. Oh, and my aunt lost her mind because she now wants to make Shep the ring bearer since Austin’s two-year-old niece threw up on her Hermit handbag. Or Hermes. Or something. It was a thing. The long and short of it is I have to find a tuxedo for my dog.
To: Seraphina Guidry
From: Celeste Beaumont
Re: Proper Attire
I understand that we are living in a dying hellhole of a century where ripped-up denim is considered proper dinner attire. I know it is hard for young women to resist the peer pressure to attend special events decked out like a disco ball walking on two legs. Jumpsuits are for prison inmates. I’ll make it easy for you. We’ll go shopping together. I’ve made an appointment at a shop in New Orleans. The directions are attached. I will meet you there as I have business at corporate headquarters that day. You are representing the Beaumonts and you need a Beaumont-approved wardrobe.
To: Celeste Beaumont
From: Seraphina Guidry
Re: Proper Attire
Message received. I will report for my personal Beaumont prison garb at the proper time. I have a leopard-print belt bag that goes with everything so I will not need a handbag. I find it so much easier to simply carry everything I need around my waist. Also, I’ve got some sparkly flip-flops I picked up at the Shop Smart that would be great for the whole bridal party. How many should I get? It’s totally on me. I’ve got a coupon.
To: Seraphina Guidry
From: Celeste Beaumont
Re: Proper Attire
I hope you can feel my judgmental stare.
Sera
We need to break up.
Harry
No can do. I’m on the hook for some of these too. I’ve been told if you’re not my date, one will be found. I’m scared of who my aunt will think is proper. And Sera . . . have I mentioned how crazy I am about you?
Sera
Fine. I’ll go, but there better be a foot massage at the end of this because she’s talking about shoes. I don’t suppose she means comfy shoes.
Harry
Absolutely not. If I know her, you will be taller than me by the end of this. And you know I’m the best kisser in the world, but did I mention I won a prize once for my foot massages???
To: Seraphina Guidry
From: Celeste Beaumont
Re: Tips and practical advice
The brunch is coming up soon and I need to give you a few tips on how to handle my daughter’s fiancé’s family. Austin is a lovely young man and it’s easy to think his family must also be as lovely. They are successful and well respected in society. They, like many respected members of our society, have done little to deserve this. Austin’s father has cheated on his mother twelve times. I give you this number because Austin’s mother likes to drink and complain about her cheating husband. Do not look shocked. Simply nod and agree with everything she says and try to switch out her gin with water. At some point she no longer notices the difference. The only safe topics to discuss are the weather and the Saints. Professional sports only. Wear something modest because the elderly aunt believes we’re living in the eighteen hundreds and she will have a fit of the vapors if you present her with too much cleavage. Angela is insisting on wearing pink. Please choose a different color or our side of the party will look like the inside of a Pepto-Bismol bottle. Also, do not wear all black because you’re an adult female and neither attending a funeral, nor are you a nineteen-year-old trying to rebel against your parents by playing at being a vampire. And please convince Harry to wear a collared shirt.
To: Celeste Beaumont
From: Seraphina Guidry
Re: Tips and practical advice
Harry is his own man. You know he needs to feel comfortable and I want to support him in being who he is. Of course, arrangements could be made . . .
To: Seraphina Guidry
From: Celeste Beaumont
Re: Tips and practical advice
If you can get Harry into a collared shirt, I’ll accept kitten heels. Don’t test me further. There will be no rhinestone-encrusted flip-flops.
Sera
Babe, you’re wearing a dress shirt to the brunch and a tux to the wedding. The good news? I think we can get Shep one at the same place. Two for one deal!
Harry
We should talk about this . . .
chapter ten
“What do you mean you’re invited to brunch with the family?” Hallie asked, her voice hushed in deference to the class going on around them. “With whose family? The Beaumont family?”
Sera moved into downward dog. There was a reason she’d sprung the news on her besties before the class had begun. Every Wednesday morning a group of women gathered in Harte Park for a yoga class. If it was raining, they would move inside the rec center, but she loved the days when they could enjoy the outside. It was peaceful. It was one of the few things she did that was strictly for herself. She found it centered her and allowed her to breathe when it felt like the rest of the world was on fire.
Except not today because she had to meet Celeste in New Orleans. Without Harry. She’d gotten a text from him thirty minutes before that he had some sort of woodworking emergency, and now she had to go and meet his aunt all by herself. She needed the yoga to help center her today.
She was certain yoga would be one of those off-limits things at the Beaumont house. She’d already received several e-mails from Celeste about the brunch next Saturday that included helpful dos and don’ts of attendance.
“To the brunch at Beaumont House?” Sylvie slid in on Sera’s other side. She’d been running late. “Why would you do that? I know you’re dating Harry, but that doesn’t mean you’re a member of the family. Chrishelle Mills dated Cal for two years and never got invited to Beaumont House even once.”
“I wouldn’t call it dating,” Hallie argued in a whisper. “It was more like he would pick her up after her shift at the strip club and they would screw for hours. It’s not the same. Sera’s a real girlfriend. Harry takes her out to the grocery store. A man is not truly committed to a woman until he’s pushed a grocery cart full of actual food, and not beer and chips.”
Harry had been the perfect boyfriend for the whole week they’d been dating. Not only did he come by to pick her up every morning to take her to Guidry Place, but he often sat down and had breakfast with the family. Her mom fawned over him and had taken to making pancakes or French toast every morning, much to Zep’s chagrin since breakfast was his favorite meal of the day and his momma would toss a box of cereal his way. Not for Harry, though. Harry, she’d been told, did a man’s work and needed a man’s breakfast.
“That still doesn’t explain why Celeste is having her sworn enemy over for a family event,” Sylvie whispered. “You know how she is about family occasions.”
“Unless she wants to lull her sworn enemy into a false sense of security before she thrusts the knife in,” a new voice said.
Seraphina glanced back, and Lila Daley LaVigne was moving from downward dog into cobra pose with flawless grace. “You think
Celeste is going to stab me?”
“I don’t think Celeste would get her hands dirty,” Hallie whispered. “She’s always telling me my nails make me look like I’m the oil rigger instead of my husband. I don’t have time to spend all day in a salon. I’m a young mother. We’re lucky I took a shower three days ago.”
Sylvie sent her a shake of her head. “I’m going to have to hose you down, girl.”
“I will welcome it,” Hallie admitted. “And if you put some wine in that hose, that would be even better. I definitely think Celeste is probably planning on poisoning you at the brunch. But it will be one of those poisons that kills you outright with no vomiting because I’ve heard those rugs of hers are worth more than Johnny makes in a year.”
“She doesn’t have to worry about the rugs,” Sylvie argued as they all moved into a lunge. “She would definitely put down tarp.”
“Yeah,” Hallie agreed. “If you see tarp, do not step on it. Do not let Celeste trick you into stepping on it.”
She brought her feet together, completing the sun salutation. If Celeste was going to do anything, it would likely be this afternoon. She still wasn’t sure this meeting of hers wouldn’t include the offer to write a fat check if she would stop dating Harry. “I don’t think she’s going to kill me, but she might be trying to make me run.”
“I don’t know. The tarp thing is solid advice,” a masculine voice said.
“You’re supposed to stay quiet,” Lila whispered back at her husband.
Armie LaVigne sat on a bench a few feet away from his wife. The sheriff of Papillon was wearing sweats and a T-shirt, a book in his hand and a dog lounging at his feet. The big golden retriever mix was named Peanut and he was snoozing, his head resting on Armie’s sneaker. “I’m supposed to be working undercover, but I also have a duty to the public. I absolutely believe Celeste Beaumont could kill a man. Now, I’m pretty sure she could do it with that stare of hers, but I wouldn’t step on tarp around the woman, either.”
“Armie’s undercover?” Sylvie asked as they started another sun salutation.
