“Considering she only has one sister-in-law Giselle, that’s probably a good thing.”
Giselle and Imani looked to Candace who winced over her remark.
“Sorry,” Candace whispered, pulling a large linen napkin from her lap. “I’ve been saying all kinds of stupid things lately.”
Imani reached across the table she and her lunch mates occupied. “What’s wrong, Candace?”
“It’s all this baby shower stuff, right?” Giselle guessed, her light eyes sorrow-filled. “Does Pitch ever discuss marriage?” she asked.
“No...” Candace gave a shaky smile. “We’re too busy discussing whether we’ll...stay together to get around to marriage.”
A waitress came to refill the young women’s tea glasses. When she moved on, Candace didn’t seem interested in continuing the conversation.
“He loves you, Cand,” Imani said.
“Oh Imani,” Candace seemed to wilt. “I know that, but his family did a number on him and not just the Tesano side. I think he’s afraid I’ll be the one getting hurt sooner or later and he wants me to walk away before that happens.”
“Has he said that?” Giselle asked.
Candace grimaced. “No, I just...”
“You just know it,” Imani guessed.
Candace rolled her eyes, leaned her head back. “Y’all just tell me I’m being an idiot, that if I keep nagging Vic about being unhappy, he will be.”
“Are you happy?” Giselle asked.
Candace nodded without hesitation. “I really am.” She flicked a tear that held one tawny colored lash. “Maybe that’s the problem. I want him to be as happy as I am and it’ll break my heart if he’s not.”
“Then stop thinking about it,” Imani urged. “Embrace the happiness, hold onto it for as long as you can. You say you believe he loves you, build on that. Whatever is bothering him, he’ll bring it to you eventually.”
“You believe that?”
“I do,” Imani squeezed Candace’s wrist. “Someday soon you too will be able to call Athena Tesano mother-in-law.”
The explosion of laughter from the table brought the ladies a fair number of approving looks from the men that patronized the Chinese restaurant.
“Thank goodness Vic got the better parent out of the deal,” Candace sighed, laughter still holding her voice. “How’d she take the news of the baby?”
“As I expected. Not well,” Imani broke a sweet biscuit in half. “She at least had the decency not to show it too much. Roman, Ari and Liam were too happy to notice she and Humphrey off to the side looking dismal.”
“Maybe they were just surprised,” Giselle reasoned.
Imani blew out a laugh. “Oh yes, they were.”
“Yeah, with a big dose of bigoted disapproval,” Candace added.
Imani raised her water glass in toast.
“I think it’s time for the rest of the family to know about me,” Giselle quickly interjected.
Candace and Imani sobered.
“You’re sure?” Candace asked.
“It’s not fair that everyone knows except Athena, Humphrey and Vale.”
“Where do you plan on having this little discussion?” Candace aimed an index finger skyward before anyone could answer her query. “Might I suggest police HQ? That way you’ll have lots of backup.”
Giselle sighed. “It could be an ugly scene wherever we go, considering how long I’ve hidden this. The location will be mine and Gabe’s place two weeks from now and I want you all there.”
“As dinner guests or witnesses?” Candace asked.
“She’ll probably need both,” Imani put in.
“So it’s decided then?” Giselle raised her tea glass in toast. “To decisions,” she said.
“Decisions.” Candace and Imani returned.
~37~
Liam’s laughter carried on the wind when he saw Pitch approaching him along the dock. Father and son hugged and then Liam looked out over the wharf.
“I don’t get out this way much anymore. Less, since Claymore passed.”
Pitch nodded at the mention of his great uncle Captain Earnest Claymore. “That was a long time ago, Pop.”
Liam studied the expanse of blue gray waters stretched beyond the pier and the early evening skies above. “Seems like yesterday,” he said.
