you’re sure this is what you feel is necessary, I’ll be there.”
“Now, I have some news that I hope will put a smile back on your face. I heard from your cousin Robert the other day. He said he will be coming home for the Doucette Mardi Gras party and will stay for at least a week.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. I was disappointed he and Becky weren’t able to make it home for Christmas.”
“So was I. I’ve never understood why he insisted on going to college up north with all those Yankees.”
“Grandmère, the University of Michigan is an excellent college.”
“That may very well be, but we have excellent schools right here.”
Caterine smiled. “Now, Grandmère, Bobby did go to Loyola. He only went to Michigan for grad school. Besides, if he hadn’t gone north, he wouldn’t have met and married Becky.”
“He could have gone to grad school here as well, but I do love Rebecca, so I’ll forgive him.” Miss Dauphine sighed. “Caterine, you and your cousin Robert have been thick as thieves since you were children. Heaven forbid anyone might have the nerve to say anything against either one of you in front of the other.”
Caterine laughed. “I’m afraid you’re right.”
“Well, I suppose we should be going. I have a garden club meeting this afternoon.” She gathered her gloves and purse. “What are your plans? Will I see you this evening for dinner?”
“Yes, I’ll be there. Since I’m already in the Quarter, I’ll go on over to Ma Chérie and get some paperwork done.”
“That reminds me. With my mind on this other business, I’ve neglected to call Paul to schedule a time for him to install the new security system. Can you take care of that for me?”
“I’d be happy to.”
“Then I’ll see you later.” Miss Dauphine kissed Caterine’s cheek. “Don’t work too hard.”
“I’ll walk out with you. Thomas has my keys, and I don’t know where he’s parked my car.”
Chapter Eight
Caterine stood for several long minutes on Royal Street in front of Ma Chérie, overawed by the responsibility that would soon be entrusted to her. She shook her head. Grandmère, I hope you know what you’re doing.
In her office, she sat behind the desk and reached for the phone. “Hi, Paul, it’s Caterine,” she said when Paul LaBeau answered.
“Hey, Cat, how you doing? Too bad you missed the party last night. We had quite a house full.”
Caterine said a quick prayer of forgiveness for the lie she was about to tell.
“I’m really sorry I missed all the fun. Something came up here at work that I had to attend to.”
“Cat, you need to get a life other than that store. Not only did you miss a fun party, I wanted to introduce you to my partner, Remi. He’s a great guy who was with me on the force. I think you two would get along well. I thought the four of us could go to dinner some time.”
Great, now how do I get out of this? She couldn’t come up with one plausible excuse. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt just to go to dinner. As this thought flickered tantalizingly through her mind, her internal alarm began to scream. If you have dinner with Remi, where do you think that will lead? Directly to his bed, that’s where. Then what?
Was she ready for a relationship that might mean nothing more to him than sex? She’d only been with him once and already couldn’t keep her mind off him. What if the affair were to go on for months? How would she handle the hurt if one day he was gone?
“Cat, are you still there?”
Paul’s voice brought her thoughts crashing back. “What? Oh, sorry, Paul. I’m here. What were you saying?”
“I said Elaine’s not here. She took the boys to the park. Do you want me to tell her you called? Or you can get her on her cell.”
“No, that’s okay, I’ll try her later. Actually you’re the one I wanted to talk to. Grandmère wanted me to ask if you’d have time to install an alarm system here at Ma Chérie.”
“Sure, no problem. But don’t
“Now, I have some news that I hope will put a smile back on your face. I heard from your cousin Robert the other day. He said he will be coming home for the Doucette Mardi Gras party and will stay for at least a week.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. I was disappointed he and Becky weren’t able to make it home for Christmas.”
“So was I. I’ve never understood why he insisted on going to college up north with all those Yankees.”
“Grandmère, the University of Michigan is an excellent college.”
“That may very well be, but we have excellent schools right here.”
Caterine smiled. “Now, Grandmère, Bobby did go to Loyola. He only went to Michigan for grad school. Besides, if he hadn’t gone north, he wouldn’t have met and married Becky.”
“He could have gone to grad school here as well, but I do love Rebecca, so I’ll forgive him.” Miss Dauphine sighed. “Caterine, you and your cousin Robert have been thick as thieves since you were children. Heaven forbid anyone might have the nerve to say anything against either one of you in front of the other.”
Caterine laughed. “I’m afraid you’re right.”
“Well, I suppose we should be going. I have a garden club meeting this afternoon.” She gathered her gloves and purse. “What are your plans? Will I see you this evening for dinner?”
“Yes, I’ll be there. Since I’m already in the Quarter, I’ll go on over to Ma Chérie and get some paperwork done.”
“That reminds me. With my mind on this other business, I’ve neglected to call Paul to schedule a time for him to install the new security system. Can you take care of that for me?”
“I’d be happy to.”
“Then I’ll see you later.” Miss Dauphine kissed Caterine’s cheek. “Don’t work too hard.”
“I’ll walk out with you. Thomas has my keys, and I don’t know where he’s parked my car.”
Chapter Eight
Caterine stood for several long minutes on Royal Street in front of Ma Chérie, overawed by the responsibility that would soon be entrusted to her. She shook her head. Grandmère, I hope you know what you’re doing.
In her office, she sat behind the desk and reached for the phone. “Hi, Paul, it’s Caterine,” she said when Paul LaBeau answered.
“Hey, Cat, how you doing? Too bad you missed the party last night. We had quite a house full.”
Caterine said a quick prayer of forgiveness for the lie she was about to tell.
“I’m really sorry I missed all the fun. Something came up here at work that I had to attend to.”
“Cat, you need to get a life other than that store. Not only did you miss a fun party, I wanted to introduce you to my partner, Remi. He’s a great guy who was with me on the force. I think you two would get along well. I thought the four of us could go to dinner some time.”
Great, now how do I get out of this? She couldn’t come up with one plausible excuse. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt just to go to dinner. As this thought flickered tantalizingly through her mind, her internal alarm began to scream. If you have dinner with Remi, where do you think that will lead? Directly to his bed, that’s where. Then what?
Was she ready for a relationship that might mean nothing more to him than sex? She’d only been with him once and already couldn’t keep her mind off him. What if the affair were to go on for months? How would she handle the hurt if one day he was gone?
“Cat, are you still there?”
Paul’s voice brought her thoughts crashing back. “What? Oh, sorry, Paul. I’m here. What were you saying?”
“I said Elaine’s not here. She took the boys to the park. Do you want me to tell her you called? Or you can get her on her cell.”
“No, that’s okay, I’ll try her later. Actually you’re the one I wanted to talk to. Grandmère wanted me to ask if you’d have time to install an alarm system here at Ma Chérie.”
“Sure, no problem. But don’t
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