The first time she’d set out on foot to explore the central business district she’d discovered the Outlet Collection at the Riverwalk. Nydia felt like a kid in a candy shop when she strolled through the mall with more than 120 stores. It had become the perfect place for her to shop for Christmas gifts. It had taken several days for her to cross off all the items on the list she wanted to give her parents, grandmother, brothers, sisters-in-law, and nieces. She also took advantage of the hotel’s business office services when she wrapped and shipped her purchases to her parents’ brownstone for safekeeping until it came time for the family’s Christmas Eve tradition of exchanging gifts.
Jasmine and Cameron had returned from their honeymoon tanned and seemingly more in love with each other, and the new bride had enlisted her support when she admitted she had to shop for clothes to accommodate her thickening waistline.
Tonya and Gage were featured in the entertainment section of the local newspaper after a renowned food critic had interviewed them about the impending launch of their new supper club in the Garden District. He’d been assigned to critique the Singletons’ anniversary soirée and their son’s wedding, and the columnist had given the professional chefs rave reviews and had highly recommended reservations once Toussaints opened to the public.
Her gaze lingered on Hannah, who’d talked incessantly about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with the ongoing renovations to her ancestral home. She claimed she was eager to begin her new career as an innkeeper.
Hannah met her eyes. “I know you’re tired of me beating my gums, but this is the last time I’m going to ask you whether you want to be the DuPont Inn’s CFO.”
Nydia felt all eyes on her as she gave the lawyer a direct stare. “I’m still not sure.”
“What aren’t you sure about?” Tonya asked.
“Whether I want to move from New York.”
“What’s keeping you there?” Hannah questioned. “Didn’t you tell us you’re no longer seeing your deadbeat boyfriend?”
“I broke up with Danny almost a year ago.” Nydia didn’t know why, but she felt as if she were being interrogated about a crime she did not commit.
Tonya glared at her. “So, there’s really nothing in New York to keep you from relocating.”
“What about my family?” Nydia said defensively.
“That’s the same excuse I used,” Jasmine added. “I didn’t want to leave my parents because I’m an only child. Meanwhile I had no idea they’d planned to leave New York and move to North Carolina.”
Nydia blinked slowly. “Your circumstances were different. Your parents were leaving New York, and you’re pregnant with Cameron’s baby.”
“That’s bullshit,chica, and you know it! I had no idea I was carrying Cameron’s baby when I came down for Tonya’s wedding. And even if I wasn’t pregnant, I’d still already committed to investing in the inn.”
Tonya dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin. “Maybe you should find a local man like the rest of us and give up the Big Apple for the Big Easy.”
“She already has,” Jasmine confirmed. “She went out with Lamar Pierce. When I first met him I thought he looked like the CNN journalist Don Lemon. That was when Cameron told me Don Lemon is also a native Louisianian.”
Nydia rounded on Jasmine. “Since when did you become a snitch?” She did not want to believe her best friend had revealed what she’d told her was a secret.
“Are you talking about Lamar Pierce who lost his wife in a drunken driving accident?” Hannah questioned.
Jasmine nodded. “Yes.”
Nydia sat, stunned, when Hannah related the details of Lamar losing his wife. “Everyone said they were the perfect couple. Valerie was a flight attendant, and she was on her way to the airport when a drunk driver hit the taxi in which she was a passenger and it burst into flames, instantly killing her and the driver.”
Nydia folded her hands in her lap. “How long ago did it happen?”
Hannah crossed her arms under her breasts. “It will be four years this Christmas. I remember the incident because I’d come back home to celebrate the holiday with Paige and LeAnn. Her death had become front page news because the driver of the other car was the grandson of a wealthy local oilman.”
Tonya leaned forward. “What happened to him?” she asked Hannah.
“He was arrested and his family hired a high-priced attorney, who got the judge to agree to an exorbitant bail and the forfeiture of his passport. The lawyer claimed he wasn’t drunk, but had neglected to take his bipolar medication. The lawyer also asked for a change of venue because he knew his client could never get a fair trial in New Orleans. The spoiled little shit had been involved in several DUIs.”
“What happened to him?” It was Nydia’s turn to repeat Tonya’s query.
“He OD’d on heroin a month before he was scheduled to stand trial. I don’t know whether it’s true, but I’d heard through the legal grapevine that Lamar sued the family’s estate for the wrongful death of his wife and the mother of his daughter. The case was settled out of court and all documents relating to it sealed.”
Nydia rested a hand over her throat. She’d invited Lamar and his daughter to celebrate Christmas with her and her family not knowing of the tragedy that had torn his family apart during the most festive holiday season of the year.
Hannah lowered her arms and took a sip of wine. “When you went out with him, he didn’t tell you about losing his wife?”
“No.”
