Page 133 of The Cajun Doctor

Daniel had begun to think there was no bequest. He took the box and eyed her suspiciously. “You knew all along where it was, didn’t you?”

She eyed him back and said, “And you knew all along that I knew but dint want ya ta know that I knew.”

Talking with her was like going around in circles. You always forgot where you started.

“Dolly Doucet always regretted the way her family treated yer mother, but her husband was a mean man. It was hard fer a woman in those days ta defy her husband.”

That made Daniel feel a little better about that side of his family, but not by much. Hell, Valcour LeDeux on the other side was no better. Past history!

“So why are you giving me this now?”

“It’s the right time.”

He opened the box and saw a sparkling diamond ring in a gold setting. He frowned in confusion.

“It belonged to yer Great-Grandma Doucet. I figgered ya might wanna give it ta Samantha fer an engagement ring. ’Course it might be too old-fashioned fer her and the diamond too small, but ya kin allus have it reset and add some other stones.”

“If I got a ring, what does Aaron get?”

“He gets a ring, too, but not till the time is right. His is from the other Great Grandma. She was a Chaussin.”

Touched more than he thought he could be for a gift from a side of his family he’d never connected with, nor wanted to, he merely nodded, and said, “Thank you, Tante Lulu. Thank you very much.”

“Thass all right, honey.” She tugged him down and kissed his cheek. When he put a hand to his face, he said, “Dontcha be worryin’ ’bout no lip print. I’m usin’ the kissproof lipstick Charmaine gave me.”

He didn’t dare ask why.

When he went outside, he bypassed the drinks table, for now, and went up to Samantha, who was talking with Aaron, who was looking good tonight, but then he always did, no matter what he wore. Tonight he was in rare form with a crisp blue, tapered dress shirt (Like minds and all that!) worn outside navy blue shorts with his bare feet tucked into Docksiders. Daniel saw several women eyeing Aaron already. The boy was going to get lucky tonight. If he wanted to. One never knew with Aaron.

Surreptitiously, Daniel slid the ring onto Samantha’s finger while she was talking to Aaron. She felt the movement and glanced down, and then did a double take. “Daniel!” She raised her hand and gasped. Tears immediately filled her eyes. “Daniel!” she repeated.

“If you don’t like it, you can have it reset. I know it’s small, but—”

“It’s perfect!” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gave him a big kiss, right in front of everyone.

He wasn’t even embarrassed.

After that, Aaron said, “Congratulations, little brother,” and yanked him into a bear hug, from which he wouldn’t let go. Holding on tight to him, Aaron whispered against his ear, “Be happy!”

When he drew back, he could swear Aaron had tears in his eyes.

“Where did you get this?” Samantha asked. “You had no time to go shopping today.”

“I’ll explain later,” he promised, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and tugging her closer to his side.

They moved through the crowd then, ate heartily from the array of gumbos, jambalayas, étouffées, rices, and various desserts, and even danced to a slow version of “Jolie Blon.” Once again, he marveled at how well he and Samantha fit together. Especially with the high heels, they were almost the same height.

Later, they listened to Tante Lulu give a little speech after blowing out the few candles on her birthday cake. “I wish everyone was as happy as I am t’day. I have been blessed with a long life filled with love and family.” She raised her champagne glass and said, “Ta love and family!”

“To love and family!” everyone shouted, and drank. And drank.

It was a wonderful party, everyone agreed, but the best part for Daniel and Samantha was when they went home. And, yes, Bayou Rose was beginning to feel like home, to them both.

Epilogue

In the end, life is just one big fantasy . . .

The wedding of Samantha Starr and Daniel LeDeux did not take place until October. Both the bride and groom wanted the Bayou Rose mansion to be renovated enough to show off to company, although there still wasn’t much furniture, and years of work yet to do. That didn’t matter because the ceremony and reception would be held mostly outdoors in the rose garden. And, yes, thanks to a landscaper and much, much money, Bayou Rose once again had a rose garden to be proud of.