Page 38 of The Bitter Heir and the Beauty

I pick up two of the baby items and start toward the front door.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking you home,” I call over my shoulder as I head outside into the rain.

“Maddock, I can?—”

I turn around and look pointedly at the stroller, reminding Honey of this morning’s adventure.

Two minutes later, the bed of the truck is loaded with the baby’s gear. I roll the cover rolled out to keep it dry from the rain and the stroller basket is strapped safely in the rear seat.

It’s a one-minute ride to the mobile home park, but I bypass it and continue down the dark road that leads to the estate. The trees above block the rain and the windshield wipers squeak.

“I’d like to argue with you about our destination, but—” Honey starts.

“But you’re tired, which is why we’re going here first.”

When the headlights sweep the old estate, glowing from inside, Honey sits up.

I’m under a bit of pressure from Leyton to decide on whether I’m going to take up his offer, so I pulled out all the stops to get this place cleaned up before I decide what to do.

“Wow. It’s transformed.” Her mouth hangs open.

I hired a crew to clear away all the overgrowth and undergrowth surrounding the exterior. I think letting in a little sunshine might sanitize the place. While they were at work, along with a few guys from town—the ones Honey calls the Klatch—we cleared out all the junk inside. Over the weekend, I hired a house cleaning service to scrub, wipe, and clean the grime.

“It’s not about to get the white glove treatment and there’s still a ton of work to do, but I think health services and the parish building inspector took the chateau off the top of the list for places to condemn.”

Hunched against the rain, I jog to the passenger side and open the door and then take out the stroller basket containing the baby. It’s surprisingly heavy.

Walking up the front steps, Honey says, “It’s remarkable what a week can do.”

“And several thousand dollars worth of excavation equipment, Dumpsters, and elbow grease. I figured I’d start on the outside.”

“And the inside?” she asks as we enter the chateau.

“Mostly just cleaning. I had a crew here along with several contractors to assess what I’m dealing with.”

“I’ll admit that I’m impressed.”

“This brings me back to my request ...”

Honey shifts her weight, and the baby lets out a little coo.

“Can I warm up her food first?” Honey is a blur in the kitchen as she does I-don’t-know-what with a pot of hot water and a baby bottle. Thankfully, the stove burners work. Moments later, Leonie makes a purring sound as she drinks warm milk. She droops and drifts in Honey’s arms. After a little hiccup, her eyes close and she falls asleep.

With the baby safely in the stroller basket, I set out the containers from the Laughing Gator Grille.

I gesture to the chair. “Sit.”

Despite the exhaustion etched on her features, Honey shoots me a glare.

“Please sit.”

She eyes the chair like it’s a dangerous object as if she uses it, she may never get up again. Getting to my feet, I pull it out and then wait until she lowers down.

After a prayer, Honey digs into the meal like a lioness and her kill.

“You didn’t eat all day, did you?”

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