roast in the oven, and she’s promised I can have dinner by myself since I have to suffer through tomorrow. You should allow her to cater in the board meeting. She’s an excellent cook.”
It was good to know at least that part was going well. He wasn’t sure he liked being told she considered the meticulously planned party something she had to suffer through, but he wasn’t going to argue. Especially since he would likely be the one suffering. “I’m glad that’s to your liking. I hope you enjoy the party. I know Sera and Sylvie have been working hard to make it special.”
“Yes. I heard your wife has taken an interest in the party. Is her mother coming?” The question had an air of expectation.
“As a matter of fact, my mother-in-law has expressed an interest in coming by to offer you her congratulations.” Marcelle was more than willing to play her part. “You know she spends a lot of her time with Delphine these days. They were wondering if you would like a reading.”
“Marcelle Martine is the only good thing about this town,” Roberta said under her breath. “Yes, that would be wonderful. I swear the psychics in Houston are all con artists. Not a single one with a bit of sight, I tell you. And since we’ve got such a big vote coming up, I would like some guidance, if you know what I mean. I’ve heard some rather upsetting rumors about what’s going on at the company. You seem to be losing clients.”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle.” He wasn’t about to tell his aunt that he suspected one of his cousins of corporate spying. He certainly wasn’t going to mention that Louis was a suspect. He’d heard on more than one occasion Roberta talking about how Louis had ridden coattails all his life.
“You’ve lost two clients, and there’s rumors you could lose a third.”
That got his instincts tingling. “Who told you that?”
They were supposed to hear from Lowestone later today. If there was a rumor that they’d lost that, he would like to know who was talking.
“I have my sources, Rene. Don’t think because I’m old I don’t keep an eye on things. I have a responsibility to my family to ensure that you don’t screw things up. Your father was a good head of this family, but I can’t say the same thing of you yet. You have to prove it to me.”
He wanted to shoot back that he didn’t have to prove a damn thing to anyone but his wife, but he knew better. He’d had to prove himself to his family over and over again, and now he had to do it to save his mother’s home.
He had even more at stake since he had a wife now.
“Of course.” He bit back his anger.
“You remind me of your father. He always managed to sound calm, and yet there was always a bite of hate when he talked to me. I respect that,” Roberta said. “We’ll talk at the party. I expect to spend some time with your bride. Good night.”
He sighed and sat back. It was barely four, but it looked like Roberta was an early-to-sleep lady. He would have to make sure he left Sera and Harry the biggest tip, because they would be dealing with a lot.
There was a brief knock on his door and then Ashley was pushing through, a frown on her face. Her brother Gabriel was right behind her.
“Rene, I’m sorry. I told her you were busy.” Gabriel was flushed, as though he’d run to keep up with her.
“I deserve more money for putting up with that nasty old lady,” Ashley announced. “She complained the whole time. The entire time. She complained about my driving. She complained about my clothes. She complained about the music, even though I put it on the old folks’ station like she wanted me to.”
“Well, the good news is you don’t have to drive her back. She was just on the phone telling me to find someone else.” His irritation was starting to rankle. “So I have to do that.”
Ashley stopped, her face going white. He prepared himself to take the full-on blast of her rage. It was what he did. He got yelled at. He got blamed for anything that happened to go wrong.
“But I did everything she asked me to do.” Ashley’s tone was quiet. “I didn’t say anything.”