Simon’s chest swelled with pride at the excitement in Holly’s voice. It matched his, which made it even better.
“Holly, my darling,” her mother rushed forward and hugged her tightly. “Why didn’t you tell us? When did this happen?”
Holly laughed. “This morning, in the middle of making gumbo.”
Dr. Gautier held out his hand to Simon. “I couldn’t be happier for my daughter and us. Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m pretty glad she said yes. I don’t know what I would’ve done with the ring, otherwise.” He winked at Holly.
She laid her hand in his. “You don’t have to worry about it now. It’s mine, and I’m not giving it back.”
“Good. That means you’re mine, and I’m yours. Life doesn’t get better.”
“Speaking of couples and engagements, did you see that Mitchell and Joyce got engaged?” Lissette asked.
“Oh, and Cody got a girlfriend,” Gisele said.
“Cody?” Holly’s eyes widened.
“He was visiting a friend in Bayou Miste and got knocked on his ass for coming on to a female game and fish officer. When he picked himself up, she told him to apologize and then had coffee with him. Apparently, she knocked some sense into him, and he liked it.”
Holly laughed as they all took their seats. “I’m happy for him.” She smiled across the table at Joe, sandwiched between Madam Gautier and Lissette. “Hey, Joe. We’re glad you came.”
Her mother smiled. “Of course, he came. After hosting us for six months, Joe’s family.”
Joe nodded. “Thank you all for inviting me. I didn’t realize how much I missed having company until Bastian and Evangeline moved out. I might have to rethink living off the grid.”
“We’d love to see more of you,” Evangeline said.
Simon tipped his chin toward Joe. “You might want to talk with Remy. The Bayou Brotherhood Protectors can always use good special operations men to protect the vulnerable and put the bad guys away.”
“Speaking of bad guys…” Rafael lifted a bowl of potato salad and scooped a spoonful onto his plate. “Did you hear on the news that Marcus Solberg was arrested for Paul’s murder and for attempted theft, treason and espionage?” He passed the bowl to Gisele. “He worked out a deal for a lighter sentence by implicating Secretary of State Edmund Carver in the whole affair. They’ll both spend a significant number of years in jail.”
“Where they belong,” Gisele said.
Madam Gautier stood and tapped her knife against her glass of iced tea. “My dear loved ones, I’d like to propose a toast.”
Everyone lifted their glasses.
“To my beautiful family, thank you for being the wonderful folks you are in your work, in your lives and in your hearts. And thank you to Simon and Holly, and to the people who had their backs and supported them while bringing my son and daughter-in-law out of hiding and back into the light. And I want to give a special thanks to my beautiful granddaughter, Lissette, for putting others before herself and showing the truth in her heart. I love you all so very much.”
They raised their glasses. “To family!”
“And Lissette, Gisele and Holly, it will be my goal and pleasure to pass my knowledge of the Voodoo to you, who will use it in kindness for the good of others. We’ll meet twice monthly and learn together.”
Lissette beamed, Holly and Gisele smiled, and Simon worried about who they might target with jock itch.
As they finished their meal, Holly rose to help with the cleanup. Simon did his part as well.
“We’d love to stay longer,” Holly said, “but we promised Mace we’d join the Bayou Reapers in their annual picnic with the single parents of the parish.”
“They do a lot for the community,” Gisele said.
“Oh no!” Lissette cried out.
All eyes turned toward her.
She held up the empty fishnet. “Napoleon’s loose.”
