Epilogue
Two weeks later...
“Here, let me hold that while you get out of the boat.” Simon took the heavy pot of gumbo Holly had prepared for the first family potluck dinner they’d decided to hold since her parents had returned from the dead, her curse had been broken and everything was right with the community of Bayou Mambaloa.
Holly climbed out of the boat, wearing the colorful dress Gisele had given her, looking beautiful, fresh and happy.
Simon liked to think he’d put some of the smile on her face, especially after the night they’d spent making love.
He loved waking up with Holly in his arms and couldn’t imagine a day without her in it. He’d even told her as much that morning when he hadn’t been able to wait another moment and popped the question because the ring he’d purchased had been burning a hole in his pocket.
She hadn’t even been disappointed that he hadn’t done it “right” by planning a big proposal event, with a plane flying overhead, painting a smoke message in the sky that read, Marry me.
Nope, she’d been stirring the gumbo, wearing an apron over her dress, her hair up in a loose, messy bun. Still, the prettiest woman he’d ever seen. He’d gotten down on one knee and asked her to marry him before she wised up and figured she could do better.
She’d laughed and thrown her arms around his neck, shouting, Yes! And she’d been beyond excited to get to share the news with her family that afternoon at her grandmother’s house.
Her feet firmly on the dock, Holly leaned up on her toes and kissed his lips. “I love you, Sinclaire Simon Sevier. I can’t wait to marry you and live happily ever after with you.”
“You know we still have to find a house,” he said, wishing he could pull her into his arms and give her a proper hug and kiss, but the pot of gumbo stood between them.
“What do you think about buying the houseboat and renovating it the way we like?” She smiled up at him and lowered her voice to a whisper. “I kind of like the way it rocks when we’re rocking the bedsprings.”
He laughed. “Actually, I was thinking the same thing. We can start with the deck where the fire was and work our way forward. Do you think LaShawnda would help us make the offer and do the paperwork?”
“I’m sure she would,” Holly said, smiling down at her ring. We can plan our wedding for some time after we finish the renovations.”
“Or before we start,” Simon suggested.
Holly grinned. “I’m game. We don’t need a big, fancy wedding. I’d rather spend the money on the houseboat.”
They walked across the dock and up the rise toward the house where Holly’s rapidly expanding family was gathered, along with a few friends.
They’d set up a line of tables, covered them with colorful plastic tablecloths and heaped them full of dishes with enough food to feed an army.
“Holly! Simon! You’re finally here.” Gisele hurried forward, took the pot of gumbo, set it in the middle of one of the tables and slipped a big ladle into it.
“Come sit by me and Rafael,” she said, and grabbed Holly’s hand.
“I saved a space for you and Simon.” Then she glanced down at Holly’s hand and squealed.
“What’s this! What’s this rock on your ring finger? ”
Holly’s cheeks turned a pretty pink. “It’s an engagement ring.” She leaned into Simon. “Simon asked. I said yes. We’re getting married.”
Simon’s chest swelled with pride at the excitement in Holly’s voice. It matched his, which made it even better.
“Holly, my darling,” her mother rushed forward and hugged her tightly. “Why didn’t you tell us? When did this happen?”
Holly laughed. “This morning, in the middle of making gumbo.”
Dr. Gautier held out his hand to Simon. “I couldn’t be happier for my daughter and us. Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m pretty glad she said yes. I don’t know what I would’ve done with the ring, otherwise.” He winked at Holly.
She laid her hand in his. “You don’t have to worry about it now. It’s mine, and I’m not giving it back.”
“Good. That means you’re mine, and I’m yours. Life doesn’t get better.”
“Speaking of couples and engagements, did you see that Mitchell and Joyce got engaged?” Lissette asked.
“Oh, and Cody got a girlfriend,” Gisele said.
“Cody?” Holly’s eyes widened.
“He was visiting a friend in Bayou Miste and got knocked on his ass for coming on to a female game and fish officer. When he picked himself up, she told him to apologize and then had coffee with him. Apparently, she knocked some sense into him, and he liked it.”
Holly laughed as they all took their seats. “I’m happy for him.” She smiled across the table at Joe, sandwiched between Madam Gautier and Lissette. “Hey, Joe. We’re glad you came.”
Her mother smiled. “Of course, he came. After hosting us for six months, Joe’s family.”
Joe nodded. “Thank you all for inviting me. I didn’t realize how much I missed having company until Bastian and Evangeline moved out. I might have to rethink living off the grid.”
“We’d love to see more of you,” Evangeline said.
Simon tipped his chin toward Joe. “You might want to talk with Remy. The Bayou Brotherhood Protectors can always use good special operations men to protect the vulnerable and put the bad guys away.”
“Speaking of bad guys…” Rafael lifted a bowl of potato salad and scooped a spoonful onto his plate.
“Did you hear on the news that Marcus Solberg was arrested for Paul’s murder and for attempted theft, treason and espionage?
” He passed the bowl to Gisele. “He worked out a deal for a lighter sentence by implicating Secretary of State Edmund Carver in the whole affair. They’ll both spend a significant number of years in jail. ”
“Where they belong,” Gisele said.
Madam Gautier stood and tapped her knife against her glass of iced tea. “My dear loved ones, I’d like to propose a toast.”
Everyone lifted their glasses.
“To my beautiful family, thank you for being the wonderful folks you are in your work, in your lives and in your hearts. And thank you to Simon and Holly, and to the people who had their backs and supported them while bringing my son and daughter-in-law out of hiding and back into the light. And I want to give a special thanks to my beautiful granddaughter, Lissette, for putting others before herself and showing the truth in her heart. I love you all so very much.”
They raised their glasses. “To family!”
“And Lissette, Gisele and Holly, it will be my goal and pleasure to pass my knowledge of the Voodoo to you, who will use it in kindness for the good of others. We’ll meet twice monthly and learn together.”
Lissette beamed, Holly and Gisele smiled, and Simon worried about who they might target with jock itch.
As they finished their meal, Holly rose to help with the cleanup. Simon did his part as well.
“We’d love to stay longer,” Holly said, “but we promised Mace we’d join the Bayou Reapers in their annual picnic with the single parents of the parish.”
“They do a lot for the community,” Gisele said.
“Oh no!” Lissette cried out.
All eyes turned toward her.
She held up the empty fishnet. “Napoleon’s loose.”
“Who’s Napoleon?” Joe asked.
“The meanest rooster this side of the Mississippi River,” Holly said. “He doesn’t like men.”
Simon shot a glance around, expecting the worst.
A sudden flutter of wings spun up beside him. He held out his hands to deflect the attack but caught the rooster instead.
Napoleon settled into Simon’s arms as if he belonged there.
“What the hell?” Simon stared down at the rooster.
Madam Gautier nodded. “Good things happen to those who believe in magic.”