“Armand.” I go to him and taking his hands. “Finally, I can thank you for how you helped us with Seattle.”
He smiles and kisses my cheek. “I was glad to do it, and Evie was glad to have the baby all to herself for a few days.”
“Still, it would have been a lot harder and taken a lot longer. I would have been frantic worrying about her—”
“I’m sorry I had to leave before you returned, but I visited with your friend Mr. Lovel while I was in Paris. He sends you his best wishes… and a gift.”
Armand takes a narrow white box from his breast pocket and hands it to me.
“Oh!” I take it. A folded note is inside, and I read the inscription.
Wishing you a lifetime of happiness, and if you ever decide to sing again…
-Freddie
I take out a beautiful gold necklace with a delicate gold treble clef charm.
“It’s gorgeous. But I didn’t know you and Freddie—”
“He’s a business partner. We’ve actually worked together for years.”
Glancing over at Roland, I notice he’s drifted closer to where the band is playing. Jillian is on his arm, and I feel a mixture of regret and gratitude. As long as I’ve known him, he was always looking for ways to take care of us.
All of us.
I feel bad for the times I doubted him, was cross with him. The night I threatened to take Jilly and leave.
“What’s wrong?” Molly appears at my side.
“Just thinking about Roland. How much he helped us.”
“Armand gave you a gift?” She frowns looking at the necklace.
“It’s actually from Freddie. They know each other.”
“Small world,” she says, tracing her finger over the gold charm. “It’s pretty.”
Joshua is at her side, and I reach out to grasp his hand. “I’m so glad you could come.”
He gives me that signature smile. “Me too. I’ve never been to New Orleans. It’s just like everyone says.”
“How’s that?”
“Good food, great music, sticky…” I start to laugh, and he pulls Molly onto the dance floor.
She tries to complain, but he manages to get her dancing anyway. My heart is full seeing her happy with him.
Roland walks up to me still carrying Jillian. I put my arm around his waist and a hand on my daughter’s back as the music transforms into a slow waltz.
“It’s perfect,” I say, moving side to side.
He nods. “Everyone seems happy, settled.” A little sigh. “Your mother would have loved all this. She loved everything about the city.”
“I wish I’d known h
er.” The words are out before I can stop them.
My lips tighten and I blame the mimosas.