Epilogue
Anthony
“The weather is amazing,” Daisy exclaimed as we approached the boat. “Will all of us fit on it?”
“I’m not sure.” Grandpa David wanted us all here to celebrate his birthday with him out on the bayou. The boat was big, but the LeBlanc-Broussard clan was huge.
My fiancée smiled, leaning into me. I would never tire of calling her that.
Every time I introduced her to someone, I said, “This is my fiancée, Daisy,” not just “Daisy.” She looked at me funny in the beginning, but then she got used to it. I was crazy about her, and I wanted everyone to know that, to have no doubt.
The gang was already here and boarding as we arrived. David was waiting in front of the boat. He smiled at us and said, “Thank you both for coming.”
“Of course! I’d never miss your birthday.”
“And neither would your lovely fiancée,” he said, looking at Daisy with a big smile. Oh yeah, the fiancée thing was now a running joke in my family, but I didn’t mind one bit .
I glanced onto the boat. Even though there were a lot of us, there was still enough space. It was bigger than it looked.
Both my grandmothers were dressed to the nines. They looked a bit odd out here on the bayou, wearing long dresses. But my grandfathers weren’t wearing their usual gear either—they’d put on suits. Everyone else was much more casually dressed, including myself.
“All right, everyone’s here,” David said. “Except Beckett, but he texted me that he can’t make it.”
My eyes bulged. That was concerning to say the least. No one in the family would miss a birthday unless it was for a very good reason.
Daisy looked up at me, frowning.
“You think something happened to him?” she whispered, putting one hand on my chest and the other on my arm. She leaned closer to me, and the side of her boob pressed against my chest. I loved feeling her body against mine. I’d never tire of it.
“Something’s wrong,” I said. Once the boat started to move, I got out my phone and texted him.
Anthony: Why are you missing Grandpa’s birthday party? I want the truth, not some bullshit excuse.
“That’s a bit harsh,” Daisy said, reading the message over my shoulder.
“I’m sure he’d try to placate me. Something serious happened. He wouldn’t miss this otherwise.”
“Oh,” Daisy said and then frowned.
I caressed her cheek with the back of my hand as everyone moved around the boat to the windows to look outside. I glanced at my phone, but there was no reply.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked.
“That I miss having you at the office.”
“Anthony, it’s been months.”
“I know. What does that say about me?”
“A lot of good things, but I actually meant what you’re thinking about Beckett. ”
“I don’t want to have a guessing game. He’ll text.” My phone beeped two seconds later. “And speak of the devil,” I said, opening the text.
It was a picture of Beckett holding a newborn. Did one of his friends have a kid? That was no reason to miss David’s birthday. Then I read the caption, and my blood turned cold.
Beckett: Just found out that I have a baby girl. I flew out to get her. I’ll give you details when I return. Don’t tell the family.
Never in my entire life had I been so shocked.
“Oh, that’s such a cute baby,” Daisy whispered, then gasped, which told me she’d read the message as well. She looked up from the phone at me and then quickly around us.
I followed her gaze. Bella was asking absolutely everyone if they thought there were gators around the boat. No one was paying attention to us.
Anthony: Okay, let me know if you need anything.
Beckett: Just keep quiet. I want to be the one to tell the family.
Anthony: Sure.
I swallowed hard, putting my phone away, and glanced at Daisy. She was blinking rapidly, shaking her head and frowning. Then she looked up at me with wide eyes, clearly having a conversation with herself.
“What the hell?” she asked me.
I shook my head. “Later.”
“Did you suspect?”
“Hell no.”
I wondered what my brother told David.
I put my mouth to Daisy’s ear. “Let’s just enjoy the day. We’ll know more when Beckett’s back.”
Daisy nodded. She’d blended in seamlessly with my family. I especially liked seeing her interact with Bella, who was now coming right at us.
“Uncle Anthony, you always give it to me straight. ”
That was an interesting start… especially if she asked me about Beckett.
“Are there gators in this water?”
Chad was looking at me with a warning in his eyes, but I couldn’t lie. As Bella said, I was always honest.
“Yes, there are.” There was a collective groan. “Come on, people.”
“I knew it. Why is everyone treating me like a baby?” Bella asked. She turned to face Chad. “I’m not a child anymore, Dad. I’m not afraid of gators.”
Chad opened his mouth, then closed it again. “You’re not?”
“No.” She looked around. “Everyone, please stop treating me like I’m a kid, okay?”
Well, hell. My brother was in for a ride. Bella wasn’t a baby anymore.
My mind flew to Beckett instantly. There was going to be a new baby in the family.
“You’re so clever,” Scarlett said. “So, you asked everyone just to see if we were all in on the lie?”
“Obviously!” Bella answered with a devious smile.
“Bella,” Isabeau said. “We just wanted to protect you, darling. But we get it. You’re not a baby anymore. Well, now that that’s settled and the cat is out of the bag,” she said, turning to David, “please take us somewhere where there aren’t many gators. Bella might not be afraid of them, but I am.”
Everyone started to laugh.
“Don’t worry, Isabeau. I asked them beforehand to take us out to deeper water. Less chance of alligators,” Xander said.
Bailey shuddered. “I have to say, I’m not a fan of gators either. One of the reasons I don’t go out on the bayou very often.”
“Don’t y’all worry,” David said. “We’ve worked closely with Xander on this.” His tone was a tad mocking. “Turns out, he knows the bayou even better than us even though he’s never out here. Now, I need help popping the corks and pouring. ”
I moved forward, along with Dad and Grandpa Felix. Daisy beamed at me, and I mouthed, “I love you.”
Sometimes I couldn’t believe that she was mine for good. When I told the family about our engagement, they all contacted her with delight. I think they all knew she’d be part of the family before I did!
We opened the three bottles at once on the back of the boat and then came back inside, pouring champagne in all the glasses. There was a flurry of activity as everyone took a glass, Bella included. She looked mighty happy when Chad told her she was allowed one sip.
“All right, everyone,” David said as we clinked glasses. “Thank you for coming here today to celebrate. And for indulging me in having this party out here on the bayou.” He smiled at Isabeau. “My wife here was the hardest to win over.”
She waved him off. “Oh, stop it. I didn’t mean to give you a hard time. I’m sorry about that. It’s your birthday—of course we can celebrate any way you want.”
That was the secret of their marriage. They compromised when they knew something was truly important to the other one. Isabeau didn’t like the bayou at all, and David didn’t mind spending time here without her. But she made an exception for his birthday.
“Few people are lucky to reach the age I have and even fewer to be able to spend their birthday with their family by their side.”
I walked over to Daisy, putting an arm around her waist from behind.
“I’ve always considered myself a lucky man,” David continued. “First, because I was born into the LeBlanc family.”
There was a round of laughter. We were all very aware of our privilege in our family.
“That was my luckiest day. The second-luckiest day was meeting my dearest wife.” He winked at Isabeau, and she beamed at him .
“This is such a good speech,” Daisy murmured.
“I’m very proud of the life the two of us built together.”
David then looked at Felix and Celine. “Joining our family with the Broussards’ was yet another lucky day even though we all tried to fight it in the beginning.”
Mom and Dad both laughed out loud.
“You truly did. You didn’t know luck when it stared you in the face,” Dad said.
David nodded. “They blessed us with six grandkids, who enriched our lives immensely. They still do, to this day. To many more celebrations in the family!” he finished, taking a sip of champagne.
We all followed suit, and then Daisy looked up at me.
“I truly can’t believe that a LeBlanc is happy to just have this low-key birthday celebration.”
“It’s how my grandparents have always done things. They instilled the same in all of us, and I’d like to do the same with our kids.”
Daisy smiled, then blushed.
“I hope so too,” she murmured.
“In fact,” I said, kissing her temple, “I like the bayou as much as the grandfathers. I can imagine us in fifty years, standing just like they are here, surrounded by our kids and grandkids.”
“You’re on a very romantic streak today.”
“What can I say? I get all sorts of ideas when I’m around you,” I confessed. “We’ll build a great life together.”
“Yes, we will,” she replied.
“All right, everyone. It’s time to eat,” Isabeau said.
She and Celine had insisted on preparing all the food for today. Scarlett helped too. They’d brought chafing dishes and whatnot aboard.
As we all hurried to get a plate, my thoughts went to Beckett again. I didn’t want to press him for more information even though I was curious .
My brother hadn’t been dating anyone or he would’ve told me. That meant he’d be a single dad. But I knew without a shadow of doubt that the entire family would rally around him. That’s what we LeBlanc and Broussards did. Always.