Page 32 of The Betas: Rene
Frankie laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Don Ferone seemed to be irritated because he didn’t get the joke.
“Isabel is the classically trained chef that I tried to lure away from Julien for Mom,” Frankie told him. “She attended the Culinary Institute of America and specialized in pastry. It’s a good thing that both Richard and Julien have a high metabolism. Otherwise, they’d both be as big as a house.”
“That is good that you think of your mother. Here is Gemma with the pastry. I’ll cut for Brigit, if you don’t mind, René. She goes to PT, but her arthritis still sorely tries, and she refuses to take pain medication. She has a prescription from over a year ago. I told her to get a new one because the medicine has to lose its efficacy after all that time.”
Dante served the dessert. Junior came downstairs, got a cannoli and a piece of cheesecake then disappeared again.
“Mom, this is excellent. Gemma is a good cook.”
“She is, isn’t she? Last night, because she didn’t have adequate time to prepare a meal, she made us rotelle with puttanesca sauce. She served it with a Caesar salad. It was wonderful.” His mother lowered her voice, “I hate to say this about Carmen, but she couldn’t cook, and Dante ate at the restaurant frequently. Now maybe he’ll eat at home.” His mother appeared angelic while Frankie’s stepfather, obviously startled that his wife knew why he avoided dinner, narrowed his eyes.
He covered by pouring more coffee. “Would anyone else like more coffee?”
René stood. “I’m afraid we have to leave. I see through the window that Pierre is outside. We’re leaving tonight for New Mexico so that Frankie can meet the rest of the family. I have third, fourth, and fifth cousins out there. It’s easier for us to fly to New Mexico than it is to have a hundred people fly here.”
“Oh yes. It’s nice to have a large family, but sometimes, it is burdensome.” Brigit stood with difficulty. “Come and give me a kiss, Frankie, René. René, it has been a real pleasure to meet you. You will, of course, come to dinner.”
“Yes, ma’am, and I’ll even bring Frankie.”
Brigit laughed and Dante saw them to the door.
“Dante, Mr. La Marche would like a meeting with you on Monday at ten,” Frankie said. “He’s going out to New Mexico with us tonight, and like Martin no doubt told you, can’t make the one he scheduled for Wednesday. He said to tell you he’s about to ask for a favor. He told me to tell you that he will owe you four favors for this one.”
Don Ferone rubbed his chin. “Because he goes with my son to introduce him to his new family, I am inclined not to get insulted over the canceled meeting and grant him another meeting on Monday. However, he will see me on Saturday, why can’t we talk then?”
René spoke up, “He doesn’t want to mar our wedding day with business, even though it’s urgent. He also thought that maybe it was inappropriate to do business with Frankie’s mom and Junior present.”
“We will meet on Monday at ten then?” Dante’s eyebrow shot up.
“Ma Vie, no matter what you may think, some of your characteristics come from your stepfather. That mobile eyebrow for one.”René’s beloved blushed.
“Ten is good, thank you, Dante.”
“Your car is waiting.” Dante grabbed Frankie for an awkward hug. Frankie reluctantly hugged him back then René and Frankie walked out to the waiting limousine. René’s heart leapt in his chest, tonight they would mate and his Frankie would take René’s bite and knot.
