“I honestly don’t know where we’re going but I think we may stay in Paris for a bit.”
She nods. “Of course, I understand. We’re here all the time anyway. And I like to stay close to Avril.”
“I can understand that totally.”
“I can’t believe they threatened you like that. Even then, when you betrayed us, you told me you were sorry. I knew you were under duress, but I had no idea why.”
I feel so much lighter. I feel so much more at ease.
“Cosette. You have to know they don’t forgive easily. If Lyam and Thayer know the truth, they know exactly what happened. And if the people who forced you into that weren’t already dead, they’d see to that.”
I laugh and feel lighter than I have in ages. “He said that.”
She snorts. “Lyam? Of course he did.”
The door opens and Avril stands on the other side, waving to us with a huge charcuterie board.
“Oh my God, I’m starving,” she says. “And she knowsallmy favorite foods. You have any cravings?”
And just like that, we’re talking about food cravings and due dates and babies. Like sisters.
Sisters.
“Does she know yet?” she whispers.
“Not yet,” I whisper back. “But we’re telling her today.”
Savannah grins. “Oh, I can’t wait to see her reaction. She is going to be so damn excited!”
We step through the door and Avril gives us a group hug. “Oh, girls, I can’ttellyou how nice it is to have somewomenaround here.I love those boys, but they are uncontrollable sometimes, you know?”
“Oh, do we know,” Savannah says with a laugh.
“And to think,” Avril says, “we’re having ababy.”
“Pretty surethe girlsare the ones having the babies,” Lyam says drily.
“You know what I mean,” Avril says while we all wait for her to figure it out. “Wait. Did you saygirls? As in… plural?”
Lyam’s eyes twinkle. Savannah grabs the tray of food just in time as Avril throws her hands up in the air andsquealswith excitement. “Ahhhhhh!Mère de Dieu! Another baby?”
And then I’m in her arms again and Lyam’s laughing, Savannah and Thayer in the background but even Thayer’s smiling. And I relish this moment. This feeling that maybe everything’s coming together.
“We have a few more guests, Maman.”
Avril’s eyes light up as if she just won the lottery.
“Mario’s in town with one of his cousins.”
“Tell them to come!” she says, nearly clapping her hands together with glee. “Please!”
I’m thankful I’ve had the conversation I needed to with Savannah. I feel happier than I have in ages, energized and excited and…hopeful.
“Already did. They’ll be here any minute.”
“Speak of the devil,” Lyam says as the doorbell rings. He doesn’t let me go but holds me against him as Avril opens the door and the hottest, most Italian-looking men I’ve ever seen enter. Thetaller, thinner man holds a toddler in his arms and a second by the hand. One boy, one girl.
Lyam grins and my heart turns over in my chest. “Mon Dieu,”he whispers in my ear. “If those aren’t the cutest damn kids I’ve ever seen?”
