The House on Prytania (Royal Street #2)(77)
Author: Karen White
Yet the stubbornness in me rebelled against an entire family claiming innocence for a murder and kidnapping simply because they were doing what they’d been brought up to do. I could still adhere to the original plan and not tell Beau anything that I might discover. But that didn’t mean I had to stop looking.
I moved back to the bench and sat down. I watched a blue heron sweep down from a tree on Bird Island in the middle of the lagoon, and skitter across the water’s surface before rising again with a tiny fish flapping in its beak. “Yes. I do see. I’m not sure I agree with it, but I do get it.” I forced myself to smile with understanding. Apparently Sunny wasn’t the only one with acting skills.
He sat down again, this time close enough that our legs touched, and smiled with relief. “I knew you would. And I’m so glad we had this conversation before you met them. They truly are wonderful people, and I didn’t want you going in thinking they were monsters.”
I continued to smile. “Of course not.”
Michael turned to face me. “There’s another reason why I asked you here today.”
I raised my eyebrows to show casual interest and to disguise the alarm bells ringing out in my head.
“It’s about the fund-raiser party Mimi is throwing for the cathedral. In the past my aunt and uncle avoided many of the charities and committees that Mimi Ryan is involved with, due to the misunderstandings between the families. But Aunt Angelina wants to change that. She and Uncle Robert recently made a sizable donation to the fund for the renovation of the cathedral, so they should have received an invitation by now but they haven’t. They were hoping that if I asked you, you might be able to talk with Mimi. They really are eager to extend an olive branch, and what better way than through a mutual love for the cathedral?”
“What better way?” I repeated, wondering how I’d be able to talk Mimi into sending an invitation to the people she suspected of attempting to ruin her life.
“So you’ll talk to her?”
“Of course. I mean, your aunt and uncle are inviting me to spend the weekend at their beach house. That’s certainly a good opening, right?”
“Right!” he said, standing, then reaching for my hands to pull me up. “I’m so relieved we’re on the same page. I’m not sure if most people would be as sympathetic as you are. You’re really one in a million.” Without warning, he placed a hand on either side of my face and pulled me toward him. I just managed to turn my head in time for him to place a kiss on my cheek.
“We’re just friends, remember?” I said, pulling back.
“Sorry. I got carried away. We are friends. But I’d be lying if I said I’m not hoping that you might give me the chance to become more. In time, of course.”
I just smiled, unable to find a suitable response that didn’t involve throwing up, then headed for our bikes. We finished riding around the oval path in tandem since more bicyclists had descended on the park, making the lanes crowded with both bikes and pedestrians. I felt relief not having to make any more conversation with Michael, his words still tumbling around my brain and refusing to settle into any conventional slots where I could make sense of them.
CHAPTER 28
After exiting the park, we crossed St. Charles Avenue and I pointed my bike toward Broadway to head home. “Do you want something to drink? My house is right here,” he said, indicating the arched entranceway over Audubon Place.
As much as I was dying to see the inside of the Sabatiers’ mansion on the famed street, I needed time to absorb everything I’d just heard and then find a way to convince Mimi to invite the Sabatiers to her party, if only to show Michael that I was acting in good faith.
I was just forming a plan in my head when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
“Nola!”
I turned to see Sunny wearing a yellow sweatshirt and pants in the same hue, her blond hair piled on top of her head in a high ponytail held in place with a yellow ribbon. It appeared she’d just come from beneath the arched gates of Audubon Place. “What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Good morning to you, too,” she said with her customary wide smile. “I actually stopped by the apartment looking for you, and Jolene told me you were here. I figured it was such a beautiful day that I could take a walk in the park on the off chance I’d bump into you.” She looked over my shoulder to where Michael stood with his bike.
“Oh,” I said, realizing the awkwardness of the situation. “This is”—I turned to Michael, his face a shade paler than it had been—“Michael Hebert.”
Sunny’s smile faded. “I didn’t . . .” She stopped and chewed on her bottom lip. Then, as suddenly as it had disappeared, her smile reappeared and she shot out her hand. “I’m Sunny Ryan.”
Michael hesitated for a moment before taking her hand in his and shaking it. He didn’t speak at first, just held her hand while avoiding looking into her eyes. “It’s, um, nice to finally meet you.”
She let her hand slip from his. Still smiling, she said, “Likewise. I figured we’d have to meet at some point, so I’m glad that’s over.”
“Me, too,” he said, finally meeting her eyes. “I know there’s a lot of ill will between our families for reasons you doubtless already know and that Nola can explain, but I’m hoping this is the beginning of our two families reconciling. Your grandfather and my great-grandfather were once friends. Hopefully, we can rekindle that connection. Once all the misunderstandings are explained.”
I glanced over at Sunny to get her reaction to the word “misunderstandings,” and I saw her nodding in comprehension. “I agree,” she said. “Without any solid proof, I’m not going to point fingers at anyone. It would be a dream come true for all of us to put that unpleasantness behind us.”
Michael smiled. “It’s reassuring to hear you say that. Nola and I were just discussing the same thing. As a matter of fact, I was soliciting her help in asking Mimi to invite my aunt and uncle to her upcoming fund-raiser. They haven’t received their invitations, so now that I know we’re on the same page, maybe you can expedite their request.”
“Absolutely.” Sunny clasped her hands in front of her. “I can’t think of a better way to bring our families together. Don’t you agree, Nola?”
She turned to me, her face open and honest. “Sure,” I said, not convinced at all. “Mimi loves her grandchildren more than anything. I’m sure if you and Beau both asked, she’d agree.”