Page 97 of Provoke You

28

Well, That's New Orleans for Ya

Ela

Weeks Later…

Grans used to say life is a party. Dress up and have fun. For the longest time after she’d passed, I took her meaning literally. Yeah, it was all an excuse not to face my new reality. Almost losing it all was the wake-up call I needed. What she’d meant was that life was meant to be lived to its fullest. Dress the part and show up for it every day.

“Hey, everyone out there is asking where you are.” Matt came up behind me and snaked his arms around my waist.

His breath brushed the nape of my neck, and I giggled. The man made me giggle on a daily basis. Who would’ve thought a grouchy marine could come around like that?

“I know. I’m almost done.” I shoved the tray of mini desserts to the other side of my workstation and grabbed the next one. In the main kitchen behind us, the collective roar of pans and pots clicking, people yelling orders, and food sizzling was like music to my ears.

The contractors had taken longer to complete the kitchen renovations needed after the explosion, the one I survived because Matt was stubborn as all hell and had refused to let me out of his sight. As the new owner of the Baroness, I made a few executive decisions, like tripling the size of the pastry room. Our shop was now front and center, facing the restaurant’s main dining room. Visitors to the Big Easy still came to us for the best turtle soup in town, but now they had a reason to stay for dessert.

“If you don’t hurry, I can’t be responsible for how much of your pastries Kitt eats. He’s been parked by the fancy display you made since he got here.”

I elbowed him in the ribs. “I’m done. Make yourself useful and grab that tray for me.”

He nuzzled that sensitive spot behind my ear. “I thought I’d made myself quite useful this morning.”

I laughed and turned to face him. “If you’re looking for compliments, I don’t have time right now.”

“I wasn’t. Just hoping for a repeat.” His smile did the usual swirly thing in my belly and I pushed him away. “No more of that. Today is about the Baroness. People are expecting a big shindig.”

“It should also be about you. In just a few months, you’ve been able to turn this place around.” I stopped a server going by and handed him the two trays.

“I could not have done any of this without you, Jennifer, and Ben. I don’t know why I doubted myself so much before.” I kind of did. Dad, or Andre, spent a great deal of time reminding me of all the things I wasn’t capable of. I was so caught up in wanting to be part of a family I didn’t see he had other motives. Ironically, we both wanted the same thing. He just went about it the wrong way.

“You know why. It’s hard to swim when someone’s dragging you down. Don’t waste another second on them. Hey, Andy got what he wanted. More quality time with his dad…in jail.”

In only a few months, Matt had become my whole life. Together, we had started our own little family, our way. Who knew? Maybe someday we’d take the plunge and expand.

“Before I forget, Lilly called.”

“Who?”

“Your mom.”

“I know that. You’re on a first-name basis with her now?”

“She’s freaking out. You haven’t sent her your measurements for your tux. Your brother’s wedding is next week. I’m measuring you when you get home.”

He groaned like a nine-year-old kid who’d just been told he can’t have more sweets. “I can’t believe they’re making me be in the wedding. Also, should I be worried that you and Mom are like besties now?”

“No. Why? She loves getting weekly reports on you. She thinks we work too much.” I shrugged.

“That’s why.” He tapped my nose. “She’s got you on spy duty.” His tone said he wasn’t happy about it, but the smile in his eyes said he loved having a family like the Coles, who cared what happened to him. If he was alive or not. Happy or sad.

As for me, Mom checked out a long time ago. Even after she heard her husband had landed in jail, she didn’t bother to visit or call. She did call Ben to find out if the change to the LeBlanc estate would affect her trust fund. Ben left it up to me. I let her keep it. Who knew? Maybe one day she’d change her mind and come looking for family.

“I can’t wait to meet Lilly in person. You’re very lucky to have them.” I wrapped my arms around Matt’s neck, tunneling my fingers through his hair. His body and mine fit together so perfectly. “You can’t choose the family you’re born into, but you can choose the one you get to share your life with. I’m glad I have you.”

“I know what you mean. I came to New Orleans looking for a connection to my childhood and the family I had then. I found you instead.”

“Well, that’s New Orleans for ya.”

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