Bayou Baby - Lexi Blake Page 0,1
Are we talking about Harrison? He seems like a fine young man, Seraphina. He’s here to rebuild the grand gazebo at Beaumont House before the big wedding. He’s Celeste’s sister’s son, though they’ve never visited before. I like that she’s finding some family again. It’s been a hard few years for her.”
Because Celeste Beaumont had lost her youngest son, Wesley.
Wesley, who had been Sera’s best friend growing up. Wesley, who had fathered her child. Wesley, who had died hating her.
Sometimes she could still see him and the way he’d looked at her that day. Sometimes she could barely remember what he looked like. She couldn’t decide which was worse.
She forced the dark thoughts from her head. At least she tried to. It was hard because being at a funeral always made her think of Wes, and hearing the word Army did, too. Wes had gone into the service to get away from her.
She was the reason he’d died.
“See, he’s got a good job,” her mother was saying. “A carpenter always has work.”
“I don’t know,” Hallie replied in a way that made Sera think she’d missed something. While she’d been lost in the guilt well, the conversation had gone down a whole other path. “It’s been months since she’s been on a date. I think this guy might be like diving into the deep end of the pool when she’s forgotten how to swim.”
“Nah, Sera can handle him,” Zep said. “But she might not want to because she’s an independent woman and I’ve been told they don’t like to be set up on dates. Apparently they like to troll bars and find men all by themselves.”
“She was having a beer,” Lisa shot back like this was a well-worn argument. “She wasn’t trolling for a date. And you should keep your nose out of Roxie’s business. She hasn’t arrested you in a while. I think it’s a great idea to set up Sera and the new guy. Hallie’s right. She hasn’t been dating and she needs to get back out there.”
Whoa. She had definitely missed something. “I am not getting set up.”
“Of course not, dear.” Her mother patted her hand. “Don’t think of it as a setup. You’re showing the new guy around town, and if he happens to take you to a nice dinner where you put on a pretty dress and follow up dinner with some dancing, that’s a plus.”
“I am not going out with the new guy.” The thought was horrifying. Hallie was right. She hadn’t been on a single date in almost eight months. She’d put it all on hold after the Jackson Lane debacle. She’d concentrated on her son and finishing up cosmetology school and starting her business.
Turned out she pretty much hated being a hairdresser and she wasn’t all that great at it, but wasn’t that the story of her life? The last thing she needed was to throw a guy into the mix. She had a man in her life, and he was currently in the church’s day care center probably stuffing something he shouldn’t into his mouth.
Father Franklin gave her a shake of his head. He’d been the parish priest for most of her life, and the man could make her feel like she was eight years old again getting caught sneaking cookies before lunch. “God wants us to try new things, Seraphina.”
“I don’t think he wants me to try the new guy on for size. I’m fairly certain he’s opposed to that,” Sera shot back.
“Kindness is what God wants for us always,” the priest said, straightening up. “Your great-aunt Irene would have told you that.”
“My great-aunt Irene used to scare small children by taking out her dentures and hissing at them. She was a terrible person.” The only things Irene liked in this world were her cats, and Sera was fairly certain she’d trained them to attack.
“And yet the church is filled with love for her today,” the father pointed out.
“Nah.” Zep waved the thought off. “They’re here because Remy made a big old pot of gumbo. Guidry’s is catering and these cheap bastards want a free meal.”
The priest sighed as though he knew Zep wasn’t salvageable. “I think you should take the passing of your dearly beloved aunt as a sign that it’s time to start living. After all, Irene waited too long to find love and she died alone.”
“I thought she was loved by all.” Sera thought Father Franklin needed to stick to one story. “Which one is it?”
He shrugged. “Whichever