She loved her friends. She softened her expression. “I am. Go on. He really will call you later, and if you need anything for Gracie, you can probably guilt it out of him. Gifts are his love language.”

Rene simply stared at her until Hallie had walked out. “How long have you known that Louis was romancing my mother behind my back?”

“About two minutes, and I wouldn’t put it like that,” Sylvie replied, trying not to amp up the emotion in the room.

“Your mother and I have cared about each other for a very long time.” Louis stepped up beside Cricket.

“So much that you thought it was a good idea to get her in a car accident?” Rene turned his attention to the other man. “I would think you would be more careful with your cash machine.”

Cricket gasped.

He was going to make this hard. “Rene, you need to think before you speak,” Sylvie said. “Why don’t we go and talk about this? You can sit down and collect your thoughts and feelings before you say things you shouldn’t.”

It was something she always did before responding in public. If she didn’t, she would tell many, many constituents that they had lost their damn minds.

“Louis wasn’t driving. I was,” Cricket said.

Rene’s eyes went wide. “You haven’t driven in over a year and a half. I pay for a driver for that reason. It’s dangerous.”

Cricket’s shoulders went back in a regal pose. “You pay for that driver with my money, son. I’m afraid it’s not yours until I die, so maybe you should be happier that I’m out and about driving myself. Louis is right. You’re treating me like a child.”

Maybe Rene wasn’t the only one waiting to explode. “I think Rene is merely trying to watch out for you,” Sylvie tried.

“You think I’m the one who wants your money, Momma?” Rene’s expression had gone frighteningly blank. “You’ve had stock market losses lately, haven’t you, Louis? Right around the time you decided to date my mother.”

“I wanted to go to her after your father died,” Louis said. “But I had to let her mourn. The truth is I’ve loved your mother most of my life. I love you, too, Rene. Please don’t turn this into something it’s not.”

“Rene, I don’t think his intentions are bad,” Sylvie began. “Your mother cares for him and he’s been a good friend to you all your life. I know it’s hard to process, but that’s why you need some time.”

“That’s what you meant. You were advising them not to tell me,” Rene accused. “You wanted to give me time.”

“I wanted to get you through this week before you got smacked with another family issue,” she admitted. “It’s been a lot for you to deal with.”