Rene flipped over his hand and showed him the ace and queen that would have cost him three dollars.
They never played for much. This monthly poker game was more about friendship and having a night out than making money. He’d played once a month since he’d come home and Rene had decided they all needed a boys’ night out. Of course, it wasn’t a night out for Rene, since they almost always played at his place, but the Darois mansion had ten bedrooms, a large room devoted entirely to wine, a movie theater, two different kitchens, and a wing for servants’ quarters. Armie supposed that getting to the pool house could be considered a vacation for Rene.
They sat around the custom-made poker table, but Armie’s head was miles away.
Remy sat back, shaking his head. “Damn, I’m glad I got out of the way.”
He’d expected some anger from Remy. The fact that Lila’s brother-in-law would be sitting at the table had made him think twice about coming. He’d called Rene and tried to beg off, but Rene had insisted, playing the guilt card since he’d been stuck in the house alone after he’d been released from the hospital. He’d needed his friends.
Remy had simply shaken his hand when he’d walked in, and things were oddly normal.
Major stood up and stretched. “I’m getting a beer.”
Quaid Havery nodded his way. “Get me one, too, if you don’t mind.”
Rene simply picked up the crystal decanter in front of him and poured a couple of fingers into his glass. “I’m sticking with this absolutely perfect Scotch.”
Armie frowned Rene’s way because Rene’s leg was currently in a cast, propped up on a stool. “Aren’t you on painkillers?”
He was certain Lila wouldn’t like the fact that her patient was drinking and taking narcotics.
Rene waved him off. “I got off those things days ago. I’m probably going to wish I hadn’t when I get through my first therapy session, but for now I’m feeling pretty good.”
Quaid leaned in. “You’ll feel better when we sue.”
Rene groaned. “I’m not suing Janice Herbert. It’s bad enough that she’s got her Bible study group coming here once a day to pray for me. I can’t imagine what those women would do if I sued her.” Rene raked the pot and took a sip of his Scotch. “Where’s Noelle tonight?”
“She’s got Beth spending the night with her.” He rarely left Noelle alone. Had Noelle been by herself for more than a few minutes since the accident? She used to crave that time. Even as a child she’d been the kid who would sit in her room for hours reading books. Now he was terrified something would go wrong and she wouldn’t be able to take care of herself.
“I heard Beth is rebelling.” Major chuckled as he passed Quaid his beer.
Quaid slapped at the table with a wide smile. “Her daddy asked me if he can legally block her from leaving the state. I told him that he would have to make a deal with his boss because the court is going to rule against him incarcerating his daughter in their home so she can’t go to college.”
“Why wouldn’t he want her to go to college?” Armie asked.
“Ah, it’s not college Marge and Hank have a problem with. It’s the fact that Beth got a scholarship to UCLA that has them up in arms,” Quaid explained. “He’s absolutely certain that the minute Beth steps foot in California she’ll either be murdered or join a cult.”
“Good for Beth,” Remy said with a nod. “It’s important to get out and see the world. Where’s Noelle thinking of going for college?”
Why did everyone ask him that damn question? “She’s looking at some schools. I think she’s going to study business.”
“Really? I thought she liked science,” Rene mused. “I seem to remember you always talking about how crazy she was about chemistry. Wasn’t she in AP Chemistry before the accident? Was she able to finish that up?”
“She decided to go another way.” He’d been surprised because her school offered it as a course. He’d figured she had enough to deal with and he hadn’t fought her on it.
“All that work and she didn’t finish?” Remy asked.
“She was going through a lot at the time.” And he’d been dealing with it, too. Was it time to stop merely trying to get through a day and start worrying about the future? “I’m surprised Beth would even think about going to California. She’s so close to her family.”
Quaid shrugged. “She wants to see the world.”
“Has she ever been on a plane?” Beth was as sheltered as Noelle.
“She’s got to start somewhere. I think I might need to set up a scholarship fund.” Rene glanced over at Quaid. “Hey, when Hank sues me for paying his daughter’s travel expenses, you can defend me. Now, why don’t you and Major go and grab that tray of sandwiches the housekeeper left for us? I think she left some sweets, too. She told me boys need fuel when they’re playing. Her sarcasm is sharpening with age.”