Lana flashed her high-wattage smile. “You look great to me. I saw you several times in the early days, and your face is looking more like you and less like a shattered pumpkin.”
Azelie laughed, gasped and covered her mouth.
Maestro scowled at Lana. “Don’t make her laugh. It hurts.”
“That’s going to be difficult, especially when the widows get here. Azelie laughs at everything. She makes life fun.”
“The widows make life fun,” Azelie corrected. “I just sit in the coffee shop and laugh. Most of the customers come there to eavesdrop on their conversation as much as for the coffee.”
“That could be true,” Maestro said. “They’re a little addicting.”
“A lot addicting,” Azelie corrected.
“She’s waving her hand under your nose, Lana. You’re supposed to be very observant,” Maestro said.
Lana caught Azelie’s hand and stared at the ring. “It’s beautiful and unique. I’d recognize Ice’s work any day. I absolutely love the scrollwork.” She let go of Azelie’s hand. “Are you certain you want to tie yourself to Mr. Bossy Pants?”
Azelie burst out laughing, this time interrupting the beautiful sound with a gasping cry.
“I told you not to make her laugh.” Maestro glared at Lana.
“Sheesh. You see what I’m saying, Azelie?”
She didn’t seem in the least fazed by Maestro’s stern look.
“Alena is cooking dinner for your guests,” Lana said. “She’ll have it here around five or six, whichever you prefer. She said to let her know.” Lana sat on the edge of the bed. “Wait until you meet Alena. She’s supersweet and the best chef I know. Well, I don’t know a lot of chefs, but I’ve eaten a lot of food, and hers is spectacular. She owns Crow 287 in Caspar. People come from all over to eat there, and she’s never advertised.”
“That’s so nice that she’d bring dinner for my friends,” Azelie said.
“Those women are a hoot,” Lana said. “Have you seen the video of them?”
“Not yet. Andrii said he’d play it for me. More than likely, they’ll want to see it too. If for no other reason than to have Doug and Carlton lose their minds.”
“They should have a reality show,” Lana said.
“Don’t give them any ideas,” Maestro said. “They’d do it just to tweak Doug and Carlton. Those men have enough on their plates trying to watch over those three firecrackers. And we’re not introducing them to the Red Hat ladies.” He pressed his palm to his forehead, horrified at the thought. “Those women are out of control as well. Lana, we need to get a handle on our senior citizens.”
“I’m going to be just like them when I get older,” Azelie warned.
He sighed. “You already are. I’ve decided wrapping you in bubble wrap and keeping you pregnant is the only safe thing to do.”
Azelie tried to make a face, but she was on the verge of laughter. Maestro wasn’t that certain he was joking. Lana knew him well enough to know he was half-serious.
“He’s obsessed with babies,” Azelie said. “Even though he’s admitted kids would probably eat him alive.”
“That’s because he’s a pushover with them. Not so much with women, but kids run all over him,” Lana said.
“He’s kind of a pushover…”
“Don’t say it. Don’t even think it. The alarm was triggered, which means your friends have arrived. Be prepared to be mobbed. And I’m going to be interrogated and lectured.” He was resigned to his fate.
Azelie giggled and pressed her hand to her mouth again, sobering.
“That’s my cue to leave.” Lana bent forward to brush a kiss on top of Azelie’s head. “I’m so happy for you and Maestro. Thank you for being so perfectly wonderful. Someone had to tame him.”
“Not tamed,” Maestro muttered as he walked her to the front door.
“How is she really?”
“Nightmares. A lot of pain. She doesn’t talk about it. She hasn’t once condemned me or considered any of it my fault, including the fact that I didn’t protect her.”
“That’s because you found one of the good ones. Like Blythe and Seychelle and Soleil. They have this light in them and manage to find a way to make our lives so much better.”
Maestro hadn’t been wrong when he said he would be interrogated and lectured. He showed them through his house, noting that all three of the widows observed he had very little furniture.
“A beautiful home,” Blanc commented.
“But a bit sparse on décor,” Penny pointed out.
The speculation in her voice and the way the three women exchanged suddenly bright looks had him sweating. Little kids ate him alive, and it seemed that older women did as well. They looked as if they might rush right out and buy every piece of furniture they could find.
Doug saved him. “Clearly, he wants Azelie to find the things she likes when she moves in with him.” He pinned Maestro with a stern eye. “She apparently has a ring. We know this because all of a sudden three women started shrieking at the top of their lungs. We almost wrecked.”
Blanc rolled her eyes. “You’re always so dramatic.”
“I didn’t believe it because no one asked Carlton or me for her hand. That’s mandatory.”
“I have no problem with formally asking you,” Maestro said, “but only if you’re going to give me the green light. Azelie would love it, but I’m not giving her up. She’s rare and wonderful.”
