by Robin Caroll
Claude’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
“You left my mother destitute with your child. We barely had food to eat and often times had the electricity cut off because we couldn’t pay the bill. Yet you claim you had to uphold your honor and reputation? It’s disgusting.”
“Your mother explained all this to you, yes? Odette assured me she had expounded the situation to you.”
“You mean how you told her it would only destroy her reputation if the truth came out? That she’d never be able to work in New Orleans again? That I should have never been born?”
Dimitri tightened his grip on her hand. He barely knew her, but he was so proud of her for standing up for herself.
“Yes, Claude, she told me that you wanted her to abort me. That eventually, that’s what caused you to leave her, that I was a visible reminder that you were human. You made a mistake. You gave in to your desires while denying everyone else theirs.”
“That is enough.” Claude’s voice sounded like a low roar.
“No, I’m just getting started. I’ve spent my lifetime being denied by you, and you won’t shut me up this time. I am your daughter, your flesh and blood as much as Dimitri, and I will not be denied any longer.”
Claude stiffened his back and squared his shoulders. “What are you saying?”
Dimitri recognized the stance of his father—Claude was in predator mode all the way. “Lissette deserves as much of the Darkwater Inn as I do, Father. She’s just as much your child as I am.”
His father turned his glare on him. “So you think?”
“I do.” Dimitri lifted his chin. “With that in mind, we have a proposition for you.”
“You have my full attention.” The loathing rolled off Claude’s tongue as easily as the words he spoke.
“You’re well aware that I have no desire to be the active CEO of the Darkwater Inn. I love the hotel, Father, I do, but I don’t like the business side of it. I love cooking for our guests.” Maybe now his father would understand.
“We’ve been over this, Dimitri.”
No such luck. The man was too narrow-minded to accept things he didn’t want to. Only he didn’t have a choice any more.
Lissette looked down. He knew he had to stand up not only for himself, but for Lissette and Adelaide too. “Cooking is my passion, and if you didn’t deny yours, I don’t see why you’re trying to force me to deny mine.”
Claude’s eyes widened.
Dimitri pressed on. “You’ve lectured me for as long as I can remember about the importance of the family name and legacy. You’ve taught me by your example how important it is to get what you want, even resorting to blackmailing your own son.” Dimitri let go of Lissette’s hand and reached for the DNA results Claude had dropped onto the table. “I learned well, Father. Better than you can imagine.” He waved the envelope. “But you can’t blackmail me any longer. You have the biggest secret that can destroy our precious family name and legacy.”
Not that Dimitri cared one whit about the Pampalon name or legacy, but his father did. If playing into his father’s mind-set would help him get what he wanted, what was best for everyone, he’d use their reputation as a way to open his father’s eyes.
If that was even possible.
“How dare you speak to me in that manner and tone?” Claude’s voice boomed.
“How dare you deny me all my life? How dare you live in this mausoleum of a mansion while my mother and I survived on leftovers thrown out by others?” Lissette stood, trembling. “I’m in no mood to play, Daddy. This is it. This is your reckoning—that pivotal point in your life where your decision matters for the rest of your life. What you do now can affect the rest of your days, so I would suggest you listen very carefully to what Dimitri proposes.”
Claude’s face had paled when she called him Daddy, something Dimitri had never been allowed to utter. Ever.
Dimitri tugged Lissette’s hand to bring her back to sitting beside him on the couch. He faced his father, and spoke with calmness. “What we propose is actually a win-win situation for everyone. Lissette will begin learning every aspect of the Darkwater Inn, just like you demanded of me. She’ll learn from the bottom up, under the guidance of Adelaide Fountaine. When she’s learned everything, she will assume the position of CEO of the Darkwater Inn, as you intended for me. I will stay on as well, as head chef, but avail myself as needed to assist Lissette and Adelaide, who will continue as general manager.”
His father didn’t respond, so Dimitri continued. “No one has the desire to embarrass you, so no one need know that Lissette is your daughter, unless you wish to publicly claim her. You will, however, include her in your will as an equal heir as I am.”
“And if I choose not to accept this ridiculous proposition?” Claude glared at them both.
All of Dimitri’s hoping that his father would see reason fell short.
Lissette cleared her throat. “Then I shall go public with my life story, including all the dirty little secrets my mother told me about you.”
Twenty-Seven
Beau
“Good morning.” The nurse pulled back the curtains. “The doctor will make his rounds soon, and I expect he’ll discharge you.”
Beau sat up in the bed and took inventory of himself. The grogginess had dissipated, and while his abdomen was sore, he didn’t feel any pain.
“Let’s get you up and into the shower, why don’t we?”
He swung his legs over the side and realized sometime during the night, his IV had been removed. That must have been some pain medication they’d given him.
Twenty minutes later, showered, shaved, and teeth brushed, Beau sat comfortably in his bed awaiting the doctor to make his rounds.
A knock sounded on his door, then his captain’s head popped through. “Okay to enter?”
“Of course.” Beau pushed himself up higher in the bed. “Come on in.”
“Good to see you up, Savoie.”
“Thanks, Captain.” What was he doing here? Beau didn’t know if the captain made hospital rounds if anyone in the department was hospitalized. Especially for something like a gallbladder removal. A gunshot wound or injury in the line of duty, sure, but this?
“I just wanted to come by and let you know that as soon as you’re back, we’ll give you a desk until the doctor clears you for active duty.”
“I’m sure it won’t be that long, sir. I’ll be back active as soon as they tell me I can.” No way did he want to ride a desk for the rest of his career. Sure, he’d be more cautious now that he realized how he could affect others, but he wouldn’t sit on the sidelines.
“Good to hear. Good to hear.” The captain nodded. “And as soon as you’re back active, I’m putting you up for your promotion as planned.”
“Thank you, Captain. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t.”
The door opened and the doctor entered, the nurse right on his heels.
“Well, I’ll get out of the way. See you at work, Savoie.” The captain nodded at the doctor, then rushed out the door.
“Something I said?” The doctor smiled. “How’re you feeling?”
“Fine. Good.” As long as he could get out of here today, he felt magnificent.
“All your labs are in line and the nurse says she’s ready to kick you out of here. Do you have any questions?” The doctor handed the clipboard to the nurse, who grinned.
“Just want to know when I can go back to work.”
“I’d recommend you take a few days off to rest. I’ll clear you to return to work on Monday.” The doctor smiled. “Follow up in my office a week from today, next Wednesday. If all looks good then, I’ll release you from care.”
Music to his ears. “Thanks, doc.”
The doctor shook his hand. “The nurse will be back in with your discharge papers. Call my office if you have any problems.” With that, he was gone.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes with your prescriptions and appointme
nt for next week. Do you have someone who can pick you up?”
Maybe he could get Addy to answer his voice mail if he told her he needed a ride. She hadn’t answered any of his messages so far. There was always Marcel if Addy refused. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Go ahead and call them, honey, while I’m getting all your paperwork together.” She winked at him and left.
He dialed Addy’s cell again. It went straight to voice mail. “Addy, it’s me. Please listen. I need a ride home from the hospital, and I was hoping you would come get me. We need to talk. I need to explain. To apologize. Please call me back.”
Beau waited five minutes for her to call back. Ten. Fifteen.
She wasn’t going to return his call or pick him up.
He dialed Marcel’s number. His partner answered on the first ring. “You good, Beau?”
“Interested in springing me from this joint?”
“Doctor says you can go?”
Beau chuckled. “Well, I’m not running away.”
“I’m on my way.”
The nurse came in with a stack of papers. “Your prescriptions,” she said, then flipped to the next page. “Appointment for next Wednesday morning at nine.” Flipped another page. “Dietary restrictions and recommendations which I strongly advise you heed so you aren’t back in pain with vomiting and diarrhea.”
Beau nodded. Definitely didn’t want to go there.
The nurse continued flipping through papers. “Wound care instructions. Signs to look out for and to call immediately if you see. Information about what living without your gallbladder looks like.” She came to the last several sheets. “I’ll need your signature on the highlighted lines on these three sheets. You’re stating that I went over these items with you.”
Beau heard blah, blah, blah as he reached for the pen and scrawled his signature where she indicated.
She handed him the papers. “These are your copies. Your clothes are in the closet. You’re free to get dressed. When your ride is here, have them pull up to the front doors, and I’ll take you down in a wheelchair.”
He slipped to his feet. “Is that necessary?”
“Not really, but it’s policy, so I have to do it. Buzz me when you’re ready.” She grabbed her papers and left.
He quickly texted Marcel to pull up front and call when he was there, then went into the bathroom to get dressed. He was more sore than he realized once he had on his pants, but it wasn’t painful. Putting on his socks and shoes was more of a challenge as he bent at the waist.
Before he put on his shirt he ran a finger along the four stapled incisions: three diagonally along the bottom of his right ribcage and one right above his belly button. The nurse had told him the scars would be about the width of his thumbnail once they healed. Odd to think that these were the first scars he would have. He’d never really thought about scars before.
His cell phone rang. Marcel. “Hey, are you here?” He pulled his shirt on and pressed the nurse’s call button.
“Sitting out front waiting as instructed.”
“Be there in a sec.”
The nurse opened the door and pushed in a wheelchair.
“I really can walk down, you know.”
“Yes, I do, but this is policy, so get your behind in the chair and let’s go.”
He shook his head but obeyed the nurse’s orders. They made their way down the hall and into the elevator. Seconds later, they were approaching the front door. Beau could see Marcel leaning against the car, arms crossed, and grinning.
After getting Beau settled into the front passenger’s seat, Marcel slipped behind the steering wheel and took the car out of park. Beau looked over his shoulder to wave at his nurse, but someone else walking into the front door of the hospital caught his eye.
Adelaide.
Dimitri
“Adelaide, can we talk for a moment?”
“Of course, come in.” She stood from behind her desk.
“I came by earlier, but you were out. Is everything all right?”
She nodded as she made her way to the settee to sit. “Beau was released from the hospital this morning.”
“How’s he doing?” He sat beside her.
“Okay, I guess. I just missed him.” She crossed her ankles and relaxed back on the loveseat.
Dimitri noticed she looked more than disappointed that she’d missed Beau. Had he misread their relationship? He didn’t know how to process that. Was it just friendly concern, or was there something more between them?
“Have you heard anything from Geoff?” she asked.
He nodded. “He and his attorney are working on a negotiated plea agreement with the state. His lawyer, Mr. Kidel, has asked you and me to both give affidavits and character statements on Geoff’s behalf.”
“Of course. Any time.” She tilted her head. “Dimitri, I need to ask you something. It’s not really my business, but in a way, it is.”
His heart hiccupped. “Ask away.”
“Your father confronted me yesterday morning. We discussed my reports of the hotel while he was away. Just before I left, he said a few things that led me to believe you’d told him about your desire to be the chef here.”
“I did.” He smiled. “I finally got up the courage to tell him.”
She frowned. “But the way he spoke . . . the things he said implied you had given up the notion and would be stepping into the role of CEO as he’d originally planned.”
Dimitri shifted in his seat on the loveseat. “That was his hope.”
She shook her head. “No, he spoke with more certainty than hope. It was as if you two had discussed it and he’d won.”
He hadn’t wanted to tell her all the dirty details, especially the ones that would expose his feelings for her. Maybe he could sidestep. “He attempted to blackmail me into moving into the CEO position. He threatened to cut me out of his will, make me move . . . all his usual noise.”
“And you agreed?”
“At the time, he threw in several new threats that I needed to consider because they weren’t about me.” He didn’t want to give her time to question anything. “So, I bided my time because I knew the DNA results would be in yesterday. Lissette and I confronted him last night and made our own demands.”
Adelaide lifted her eyebrows. “Really?”
“The sad part is he knew he had a daughter and had done nothing.” Dimitri shook his head. His father was a real piece of work. “When he was confronted with the test results and Lissette put him in his place for abandoning her and her mother, he couldn’t bully us any more.”
“I can’t imagine.”
“I never thought I’d see it either, but once we pointed out how hypocritical he was by lecturing me about my place in the family legacy and the sacrifices required of Pampalons, all the while knowing he had a daughter he didn’t claim nor take responsibility for, he didn’t have a viable argument left.”
“Very true.”
“And that’s what led me to come speak with you.”
“Oh?”
Dimitri nodded. “Lissette will start working at the Darkwater Inn very soon. She’ll start in housekeeping and move her way through the departments, just as Father had me learn. Once she gets to the point of management, I’d like to ask you to take her under your wing and teach her. I know it’s a lot to ask you to train your boss-to-be, but she likes you and is eager to learn.”
“Likes me?” Adelaide gave a little start. “She doesn’t even know me.”
“But she wants to know you better. She is, after all, my sister.” So much of his and Lissette’s plans hinged on Adelaide’s cooperation. He’d never considered that she wouldn’t comply.
“Of course I’ll teach her.” She flicked imaginary lint from her slacks. “Should I start preparing my resumé?”
What? “Why would you do that?”
“If she is going to take my place . . .”
Dimitri reached over and grabbed her hand. “Oh, no. You aren’t being repla
ced. You’ll stay on as general manager. Lissette will eventually step into the role of CEO, and I’ll get to stay as chef.”
“Oh.”
This silly, precious woman. “No way would we think of letting you go. I wouldn’t allow it. If I could stand up to Father to not fire you, I wouldn’t—” and just by the look on her face, he knew he’d said way more than he’d intended.
“Your father wanted to fire me?” Her voice wobbled. “I do a good job here. This place has part of me in it. I’ve never called in sick, never taken more than two vacation days at a time, I’m never late. The things that happened lately would have still happened had I not been the general manager. They would’ve still happened if your father had been here running the place himself.”
How could he have been so stupid as to let it slip? “It wasn’t your work performance at all, Adelaide. It was only to keep me in line.”
She searched his face, then her eyes widened. “That’s why you originally agreed to move out of the kitchen into the CEO position? Because he threatened to fire me?”
The lump in the back of his throat nearly blocked his words from getting out. “Yes, but that’s just the way he is. Manipulation is his first language. He can be ruthless, even with his own child, apparently—”
The rest of what he was going to say got lost as she leaned over and hugged him. Tight enough that he could feel her heart beating against his chest. Her warmth seeped into him, settling deep within him.
He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes, inhaling. The delectable scent that was uniquely Adelaide wafted into his senses.
Just as fast as she was in his arms, she moved out. Tears glistened in her eyes. “I’m so sorry he did that to you, but I’ve never had anyone besides my dad stand up for me like that. To be willing to give up what you really want to do to let me do what I love—” She shook her head and smiled. “Thank you.”
He wanted nothing more than to yank her back against him and kiss her thoroughly, as he’d wanted to for months. But now, knowing her history and what she’d been through, he would never move so fast as to frighten her. She was a lady who would require a delicate approach—time and attention.
