Page 17 of Landry

Landry left the war room and the leader of their branch of the Brotherhood Protectors before he got roped into changing a baby’s smelly diaper. He walked out to his SUV, his lips twitching at the sight of Remy Montagne, one of the fiercest Navy SEALs he’d ever served with, wrangling a squirming baby with a dirty diaper.

Landry’s respect for Remy swelled, warming everything that had been cold inside him from his upbringing. Handling his son with such care didn’t make the leader of their team look like a washed-up warrior. Remy looked like a man who loved his wife and child with all his heart and would do anything for them.

Like Camille Catoire would do anything for her daughter. Would that include hiding jewels for five years until it was safe to find a buyer for them?

One way he could learn the truth was to ask her.

Chapter 4

The clock hanging on the wall finally made it to five on one of the longest days Camille could recall. Happy the workday was over, she was still anxious about going home to her cottage. She’d already cleaned the mixing bowls, pots, pans and utensils she’d used that day, making her sweets, and mopped the floors.

Ava had played quietly for most of the day, sharing her lunch of chicken salad sandwiches and potato chips with Camille in the storeroom. She’d lain down on a cushioned mat for a short nap and then helped Camille make homemade heart and star-shaped lollipops for a child’s birthday party.

Camille had enjoyed having Ava with her for the past few years and would miss her little helper when she started kindergarten in the fall. She was also happy Ava would be with children her age and making friends. Her little girl was growing up. She’d need her mother less and less as she got older.

It saddened Camille to think of Ava graduating from high school and going off to college. However, if she did her job right as a mother, Ava would have the drive and determination to make a life of her own—and hopefully make better relationship choices than her mother.

The bell over the door jingled as someone entered.

Camille frowned, drew in a breath and turned, ready to tell whoever had entered that she was closed and to come back tomorrow.

When she saw it was Gisele, she let go of the breath. “Oh, good. It’s just you.”

Gisele chuckled. “Were you expecting someone else?”

“I thought you were a customer trying to sneak in a last-minute purchase.”

“I’d think you’d be happy for the sale.” Gisele entered, closed the door behind her and flipped the sign hanging on the door from OPEN to CLOSED.

“I’m tired to the bone and ready to call it a day.”

“Rough crowd in the candy store today?” Gisele asked with a sympathetic smile.

“Not really.” Camille sighed. “I’ve just had a lot on my mind, and I’m ready to be home. Ava,” she called out, “are you ready?”

Ava appeared in the doorway to the storeroom, with her child-sized backpack slung over her shoulders and her doll and Fuzzy hugged to her chest. “Auntie Gisele,” Camille’s daughter cried out and ran into Gisele’s arms.

Gisele swept up Ava, hugged her tight and gave her a loud kiss on her cheek. “That was so very gratifying. I love being an auntie to this little nugget.” She set Ava on her feet.

Camille loved how Ava had so many “Aunties” in Bayou Mambaloa. She loved them all, and they loved her. Camille’s gaze shifted from her daughter to her friend. “When are you and Rafael going to have children?”

Gisele snorted. “I’m not sure we’re cut out for children. I have a macaw with a potty mouth. I’m sure that makes our home environment unfit for raising small children.”

Camille shook her head. “Ava spends almost as much time with you and Rafael as she does with me. Johnny the macaw hasn’t corrupted her yet.”

“I taught Johnny how to say something new,” Ava said.

“Oh yeah?” Camille’s brow dipped. “And what’s that?”

Gisele shook her head, held a crooked pinky finger in front of Ava’s face and said, “We made a pinky promise to keep that secret until Johnny can say it clearly.”

Ava hooked her pinky around Gisele’s. “Pinky promise.”

Camille’s frown deepened. “I don’t like it when you keep secrets from me.”

“It won’t be secret once Johnny learns his part,” Ava assured her mother. She turned toward the display case. “Can I take a lollipop for Billy Ray?”

Camille’s brow wrinkled. Did Ava really want the lollipop for herself while claiming it was for her imaginary friend? Or was this another secret she was keeping? Too tired to grill her child, she opted for, “If you want one for yourself, you can get one.”

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