“Your daughter was encouragin’ my sister to be a fellow savauge like herself,” Livingston says, as he smoothly steps toward the three of us.
“Raina,” Mrs. Pleasonton admonishes.
“Really, Raina,” Livingston says in mock disappointment before he winks at her.
Rainey narrows her gaze at him, ready to do battle. Livingston’s smile broadens as he watches her.
Luckily, Mrs. Pleasonton speaks before the two of them attack one another with words. “What type of refreshments do we have available?” Mrs. Pleasonton asks.
He looks around, before he shrugs. “I don’t know, perhaps some sweet tea?”
Mrs. Pleasonton places a hand over her chest, as though my brother’s words are a personal affront to her. “Oh, that won’t do. That’s a sad, little drink for a picnic… or a tea party.”
“Or a child’s birthday party,” Rainey chimes in.
Mrs. Pleasonton waves her words away. “Never mind that. I need somethin’ more spirited.”
Livingston does his best not to smile. “If you need spirited then I can go to Étienne’s office and take one of the whiskey bottles from his liquor cabinet. That’s sure to put some energy back into you.”
“My word,” Rainey murmurs to herself.
Mrs. Pleasonton begins to answer but looks over Livingston’s shoulder. A large bowl filled to the brim with golden water and sliced lemons on top. “I do believe there will be no need for that. I think I see my favorite punch. Please excuse me.”
Mrs. Pleasonton nearly shoves the three of us and makes her way to the table that’s still in the process of being filled with finger foods, plates and cups.
In the south, it seems as though every city has their own drink of spirits with the sole purpose of laying every person who has a sip, flat on their face. It’s delightful with the sugar and citrus, but the brandy and whiskey are what does the most damage.
“If anyone can handle their whiskey, it’s your momma,” Livingston says to Rainey as we watch Mrs. Pleasonton pour herself a generous cup of the punch.
“You can admire her ability to hold her whiskey while you help me take her home after this party,” Rainey replies dryly.
“I’d be happy to,” Livingston answers pleasantly and turns to Rainey. “Tell me, after I take her home, can I escort you to my home?”
The corner of Rainey’s mouth lifts. At his question, my face scrunches up. “You know I live with you, right?” I ask.
Livingston hardly pays me any mind. His focus is on Rainey. “What’s your answer?”
“You are incorrigible.”
Livingston wiggles both brows. “Is that a yes, le savauge?”
I need to step away, because it’s evident they don’t mind me standing here, hearing everything they’re saying. I love that the two of them have found one another, but I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a tad bit bizarre to see my best friend engaged to my brother.
“Nat, Rainey!” I turn and see Serene in the doorway, cradling Trace to her chest. She walks over to us. “My two favorite ladies. And Leonore, you found the punch that’s liable to knock a horse out. I’m glad! Étienne insisted we have it.”
Eyes wide, Mrs. Pleasonton nods and takes a sip of her drink.
When Mrs. Pleasonton first met Serene, she didn’t care much for her. She found Serene “too progressive” and “forward,” but the two of them have formed a friendship while they helped Rainey plan for her wedding. Perhaps she realized that behind Serene’s blunt words is a kind, caring person.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t be secretly entertained whenever Serene opens her mouth.
Once everyone is done exchanging pleasantries, Rainey gives Serene the present she’s been holding onto the entire drive to Belgrave. Rainey’s nearly hopping from foot to foot with anticipation. She was never the best at holding secrets. The small ones that contained joy at least.
Serene brushes her fingers across the white ribbon perfectly tied across the wrapping paper. “What did you get her?”
“The book Étienne said she wanted.”
“She’ll love it.”
I look at the present in Serene’s hand and immediately feel embarrassed. “I’m terribly sorry I don’t have a gift for her.”
“Hush,” Serene replies at once. “Your gift to Alex is coming back home, yes?”
Grateful for her words, I nod and wait for the embarrassment to ease, but it doesn’t. I watch as Mrs. Pleasonton makes her way over to admire Trace. Meanwhile, Étienne steps into the room. Livingston is immediately at his side and begins talking with him.
“While the three of us are together, I have a question to ask you, Nathalie,” Rainey says.
“All right.”
I look to Serene. She stands beside Rainey, nearly bouncing from foot to foot herself.
“I asked Serene some time ago to be one of my bridesmaids. And I wanted to ask you sooner, but I didn’t know when you would be in Charleston, but now that you’re here, I would love nothin’ more for you to be a bridesmaid.” Rainey smiles. “If you want.”
I look at my friend as though she’s gone mad. “Why do you even ask? Of course, I will!”
With a burst of laughter, Rainey leans in to hug me. “I didn’t know if you would still want to.” She pulls back, her smile dimming ever so slightly. “I know your transition has been… difficult.”
“Well, nothin’ could stop me from bein’ in your weddin’.”
“Excellent.” Rainey claps her hands together and looks between Serene and me. “We’ll, talk more about the weddin’ later then, yes?”
Nodding, I listen to Serene and Rainey discuss Trace and his sleeping and feeding routine. Mrs. Pleasonton asks if he’s been fussy anymore, and it dawns on me that perhaps I wasn’t feeling embarrassment. Maybe it was discomfort, because while I was gone, Serene and Rainey formed a friendship. They had conversations and quips I knew nothing about. I wanted to know them. Desperately. But I couldn’t ask them to tell me about a part of their life that I missed, when I wasn’t willing to tell them about a period of my life they missed.
So instead, in a peculiar way, I almost feel as though I am a visitor at Belgrave, viewing everything before me with a spectator’s eye. I don’t care for it one bit.
“Where’s Alex?” I abruptly ask.
Serene hands Trace over to Rainey and hovers over her the entire time to make sure Rainey supports his head right. “Upstairs in her room.” She looks over her shoulder at me. “She’s like Étienne and loves her space.”
“May I say hello?”
Serene flings a hand my way. “Yes, yes. Of cour— Rainey, cradle him!”
“I am! If I hold him any tighter, I might break a bone, Serene.”
I leave the two of them bickering and hurry up the marble staircase. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t somewhat relieved to be out of the front foyer. I didn’t know when Asa would arrive and, truthfully, I didn’t want to stay downstairs to find out. My heart feels lighter as I walk down the hallway. It is one I can walk blindfolded, or backwards.