Dre came up behind the couch. “We all know I did not actually shoot myself, right? I did not.”
“But you didn’t call your momma.” Cricket shook her finger Dre’s way. “She knew something was wrong all along.”
Her mother held a hand up toward the ceiling. “The ancestors told me my boy was in trouble. They do not steer me wrong.”
Her brother sent a glare Sylvie’s way. “I had a perfectly good plan. I was going to hide out at my loving sister’s house just for a few days, but no. My best friend and my sister had to go get all nasty and kick me to the curb. Speaking of my injury, you are not exactly treating me like a poor man who got shot. My shoulder aches but you still send me out for syrup.”
“And you bring back this.” Her mother held up a small bottle of what looked to be pure maple syrup.
Oh, her brother had been gone for too long. Sylvie stood up. “I’m going to get more properly dressed while my mother yells at my brother about thriftiness and not giving into trendy foods.”
Trendy foods were anything not available and popular in the last century.
“It tastes better, Momma,” Dre argued. “We don’t have to buy bargain-bin maple-flavored syrup anymore. Especially since Rene got all his money back. Sylvie literally married a bank.”
She faced off with her brother. “I did not. Don’t say things like that. He is sensitive.”
“I’m not really,” Rene replied. “I’m actually feeling pretty good about the trust fund thing. It’s good to have the money to help the people we care about. And to fix this place up.”
“There is nothing wrong with the syrup you grew up with. You too good for your momma’s cooking?” Her mom could whip that spatula around like it was a sword she would use to slay a dragon.
“No.” Dre groaned. “I just really like maple syrup.”
“You are too big for your britches,” her mother said with a shake of her head. “And I’m not buying you any more britches.”
“I can buy my own britches,” Dre insisted before turning to Rene. “Brother, I might need to borrow some money.”
Rene’s head tipped back and he laughed, a sound of pure joy, and then Sylvie was in his arms again. “That will have to wait. I’m taking my wife upstairs. Call us when breakfast is ready. Don’t give your momma more trouble, Dre.”
“I should have known you would take her side,” Dre said. “It’s probably a good play, but you know she’s not going to leave you alone. She’s going to have all kinds of questions, so make it a quickie.”
“Dre, don’t you be nasty,” her mother chided. “Although I do have some things your sister and I need to talk about. I love that dog, but she is not a grandbaby.”
Were they really having this conversation? “We just got married,” Sylvie protested.
“If you wanted to wait, you should have gotten married when you were young,” her mother said as she went back to the stove. “I have consulted the spirits and you need to start now.”
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.