Epilogue
One month later
I loved September in New Orleans. Then again, I loved every season, but there was always something magical about September. The kids were back in school, everyone was back from vacation, the hot summer days were behind us, and the time came again to stay indoors, snuggled up with a good book. It was a very good sales month for my books. My team and I were busy bees again, already preparing merchandise for the floats for the next Carnival season.
"We should get going," I said as Julian kissed my neck. We were meeting the entire family for lunch at LeBlanc & Broussard, and I didn't want to be late.
"I've changed my mind. I should tell my family to stop planning stuff on weekends when I have other plans for us."
I giggled because his breath tickled me. "We’ll come back from brunch eventually," I teased. “Just keep all those ideas for later."
He growled in my ear, and a tingle went through me. "Right. Now let's go before I lose myself in you completely."
"By the way, do you want us to tell the family today that we set a date?" I asked him.
"Yeah, I think that will make them very happy."
He opened the door, and we stepped out onto the street.
There was already some commotion. Then again, it was almost eleven o'clock.
"Hey, you two!" Xander's voice came from somewhere behind as we turned onto Royal Street.
"Hey," I greeted.
“What are you doing around here?" Julian asked him.
Xander held up a bag from Café Du Monde. "I bought beignets for Bella."
Julian threw his head back, laughing. "You're good, I'll give you that. I didn't even think about it.”
“Won't there be a ton of food at the restaurant anyway?" I asked.
Xander grinned at me. "Beignets are her favorite."
These LeBlanc brothers were something else entirely.
"You look tired," I said. "Working overtime again?"
"Babe," Julian said, "he always works overtime."
"I was at the office until eight yesterday."
My eyes bulged. "On a Friday? Sweet heavens."
"I've been running some of the financials of the Orleans Conglomerate. We're spread too thin in some areas. We should shut down some things, or at least properly finance them."
"Like what?" Julian asked.
"Like the pralines confectionery."
I gasped. "No!" I exclaimed. "Xander, they're the best pralines in the city."
"The whole operation is just bleeding money, though."
"Dude, word of warning," Julian said. "Don't even think about it. And whatever you do, don't mention it to the grandmothers. You know it's one of their pet projects."
Xander shrugged. "I wasn't going to bring it up today. But I will eventually."
"I don't think everything in the conglomerate needs to be profitable. And I know Bailey and her sister, Avery. They've come to the mansion a few times during the Christmas season at the open house event. They're really great." Julian had told me before that they managed that end of the business.
Xander shrugged again. "That's neither here nor there, really."
I looked at Julian pleadingly. "Please tell me this won't happen. I don't think the city can survive without LeBlanc & Broussard pralines."
He laughed, pulling me closer and kissing the side of my head as we arrived at the restaurant. "I make no promises. Xander has a mind of his own, and he's usually unstoppable."
"Damn right I am," Xander replied.
Hmm, our financial guru is a bit of a Grinch.
We entered the restaurant and headed straight to the huge table in the opposite corner from the entrance. The place was filling up nicely already even though it only opened two minutes ago.
The entire family was at the table. Bella noticed us first. Well, she noticed Xander and his bag of beignets. Her little face lit up, and it was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen.
"You're very good," I told him.
"I know," Xander replied as Bella came running to him.
"Are those for me?" she asked innocently, batting her eyelashes.
"Of course they are."
"Thank you, Uncle Xander." She took her bag, keeping it to her chest as if it was a prized possession. Then she headed back to the table.
As we all sat down, Julian cleared his throat. "By the way, we have some news. We want the wedding to be next June."
"Oh my goodness," Isabeau exclaimed. "Congratulations!”
"I can't believe another one of our grandsons is getting married," Celine added. She looked at me with so much affection that it warmed my heart. "We’ re so happy for the two of you."
"Thank you," Julian said.
I just nodded, too much emotion clogging my throat to reply.
"You were right," Bella told Isabeau. "When can I have the lilac perfume?"
The entire table burst out laughing.
Felix put a hand on her lower back and said, "Let's see how you get out of that one, darling. I told you that bragging about the lilac too much would come to bite you eventually."
"Nonsense," Isabeau said to him, then turned to her great-granddaughter. "Bella, darling, not until you're of age."
"Excuse me?" Chad said. "Shouldn't you consult with me whenever you do that?"
Bella turned to him, and by her expression, I knew she was going to give him a sassy reply. "No, she doesn't have to, Dad. Once I’m eighteen, I'm an adult. I won't need your permission."
The laughter around the table intensified, but Chad simply shook his head.
"What's the whole story behind the lilac in perfumes?" I asked, looking from Celine to Isabeau, who both seemed extremely glad that I was interested.
"Celine should tell it," Isabeau said. "After all, she's the one who started it all."
Celine rolled back her shoulders, smiling at me. "My Adele was upset before her prom that she didn't have anyone to go with."
Adele shook her head down the table from us. "I really didn't."
Julian just smiled in reply.
"I'd always dabbled in making fragrances," Celine continued. "I believe herbs and flowers have powers and that their scents encapsulate said powers. So I made her a custom perfume and included lilac."
"And guess who took her to prom," Remy said, putting an arm around his wife's shoulders. "It was love at first sight." He looked at his mother-in-law. "And I'm sorry, Celine, but I don't think it was your perfume."
Celine immediately frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "You take that back, young man."
I barely stifled my laughter. It was truly comical to hear anyone call Remy "young man."
Scarlett leaned forward. "I'm sorry to say, Remy, but I do agree with Celine and Isabeau. I wholeheartedly believe that their perfumes have magic powers, not just the lilac but... the other one you made for me too."
A ripple of excitement went around the table. Bella looked like she was about to burst at the seams—and then she did. "I'm going to have a baby sister or brother!"
Chad started to laugh, as did Scarlett. Clearly, this was not how they'd planned to announce the pregnancy, but it was very cute nonetheless.
"Oh goodness. We're so happy!" Isabelle exclaimed. "This is such a fantastic day."
After everyone congratulated Chad, Scarlett, and Bella, I asked, "So, wait, what does your perfume have to do with it?"
"They made a special one for me last Christmas with ingredients that are known to boost fertility," Scarlett explained.
"Oh, that sounds so technical," Isabelle said. "But, well, it is the gist of it."
"Well, damn, the family's getting big fast," Xander said.
Zachary nodded. Anthony and Beckett were in deep talks with Bella, who was instructing them that even though there was going to be a baby in the family now, she still wanted to be spoiled. The guys were listening to her so intently, you'd think she was throwing a business pitch.
"Anyone else have such happy news?" Isabeau asked. She looked pointedly at Xander.
He squirmed in his chair. "Not exactly, but I do have news of another type."
Julian threw him a warning look, but Xander didn't heed it.
"I'm thinking of making some changes at the confectionery."
Isabelle blinked "Changes? How come?"
"I don't have a plan, but I’ll share as soon as I do."
"Dude, why would you change anything? Avery and Bailey are doing such a great job," Zachary said.
"Does everyone know the sisters except me?" Xander asked.
There was a chorus of yeses around the table.
"We don't know them well ," Anthony said, "but they're sassy."
"Yes," Beckett continued. "I wonder who's going to give Xander a harder time. My money's on Bailey."
The brothers went back and forth with guesses. Even Chad and Julian joined them. Xander was clearly not amused.
Oh, this man is a true grump.
Isabeau and Celine were having a different conversation altogether. I was close enough to know they were talking about their perfumes. And though I couldn't hear everything, they did mention both "Xander" and "lilac" in the same sentence.
Oh my, these next few months are going to be fun...