“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Marguerite whispered as she hugged her tightly. “I thought everything would work out. And it may still,” she added, squeezing a littler tighter. “Don’t lose hope.”
“I won’t,” Jeanne Louise said quietly, but knew it was a promise that would be hard to keep. Releasing her, she then turned to say, “You know Paul, of course, and this is his daughter, Livy. And that’s Boomer,” she added pointing to the small shih tzu the girl carried.
“Olivia Jean Jones,” Livy announced solemnly, shifting Boomer to one arm so that she could hold out her hand to Marguerite.
“Hello, dear,” Marguerite murmured, bending to accept the hand. “Do you prefer Olivia or Livy?”
“Livy,” she said at once.
“Then Livy it is,” Marguerite said solemnly, and then straightened and glanced over her shoulder as a tall, good-looking man with auburn hair appeared behind her. Stepping to her son Christian’s side, Marguerite made the introductions, including the dog.
“Ah. That explains why Julius was sent to the kennel,” Christian said wryly, eyeing Boomer. “He’d have eaten him alive.”
“Julius is Marguerite’s dog,” Jeanne Louise explained to Paul as she smiled at her Italian cousin.
“I thought Julius was Marguerite’s life mate?” Paul said with confusion.
“He is. There are two Juliuses,” Christian said with amusement. “One is a dog, and one is my father.”
“Long story,” Jeanne Louise said when Paul glanced her way.
“Christian, you’ve met Justin Bricker, haven’t you?” Marguerite asked now, gesturing to the Enforcer who stood a little back from the group, looking uncomfortable. Anders approached then and she added, “And Anders.”
Christian nodded to the men.
“Now, we should go in. I have sandwiches and snacks waiting, and Caro is eager to meet you all too,” Marguerite announced, turning to lead the way inside.
“Caro?” Paul asked, taking Livy’s hand and slipping his arm around Jeanne Louise’s waist as they followed mother and son into the house.
“Christian’s life mate,” Jeanne Louise explained. “They’re new life mates too. They met in St. Lucia on Julius and Marguerite’s honeymoon.”
“Christian went on his parents’ honeymoon?” Paul asked with amazement as they walked up the hall a few feet behind the others.
“Ah . . . well, not originally. But Marguerite was sure Caro was perfect for Christian so they called and had him fly out to meet her.”
“On their honeymoon?” he asked with a grin.
“The things we’ll do for our children, eh?” Julius asked behind them and Jeanne Louise glanced around to see him coming out of the office door they’d just passed.
“Oh, hello, Uncle Julius,” she murmured and moved back to hug him.
“Hello Jeanie.” Julius Notte squeezed her tight and gave her back a quick rub, then released her to offer his hand to Paul. “And hello to Jeanne’s life mate. Paul, no?”
“No,” he murmured as they shook hands and then said, “I mean, yes. Hello.”
Julius smiled and put an arm around each of them to usher them up the hall. “We know the troubles that have befallen you. Family is important. We do our best for our children. You are welcome here.”
“Thank you,” Paul said sincerely, and Jeanne Louise noticed that he relaxed quite a bit. It was only then she realized how tense he’d been before and understood that he’d been worried about how her relatives would receive him. It was understandable, of course. After all, her father and brother hadn’t been pleased with the whole “kidnapping and using her one turn on Livy” business. But Julius had just said he understood and didn’t hold it against Paul and she tightened the arm she had around her uncle in gratitude. She’d liked her Aunt’s life mate from the start, but every time they met she liked him a little more.
“Oh, nobody told me you were here. I would have come to greet you too.”
Jeanne Louise glanced into the living room they were entering at those startled words and smiled at Christian’s life mate, Caro, as she hopped up from where she’d been curled on the sofa, reading.
Setting the book on the table, the blonde hurried forward to offer Jeanne Louise a hug and be introduced to Paul and Livy and then they all went into the dining room to eat. Jeanne Louise had been worried about their staying here, but Marguerite knew Paul, and Julius, Christian, and Caro were as welcoming as could be. He seemed to fit right into the group. In fact, if anything it was Bricker and Anders who seemed uncomfortable as they had their meal. Jeanne Louise could understand that, they were basically there as babysitters for her and Paul. Not really guests and not really welcome, at least not by her, though Marguerite was as warm and welcoming with them as she was everyone and her husband, son, and daughter-in-law followed suit. Still, Jeanne Louise didn’t think they were necessary, and the Enforcers were short staffed as it was lately. Surely they had better things to do.
She was wondering about that when Anders turned and answered the question for her, saying bluntly, “Yes, we are short staffed, but Lucian wants us to stay until he figures out the way the land lies.”
“Meaning?” she asked with a frown, not liking that turn of phrase.