“You’re my wife. You’re supposed to be on my side.” The words didn’t sound angry, exactly. There was more of a plaintive tone to his voice.

She moved in, hoping he would reach out for her. “I am. Always.”

“Maybe it’s for the best. It makes everything easier.” Before she could ask him what he meant by that, he was turning back to Louis. “Did you or did you not lose the majority of your retirement fund a few months back?”

Oh, god, what had he done? Remy had shown up last night looking grim, and Rene had taken him into his office. When she’d asked about what Remy had needed, all Rene would say was it was business and she shouldn’t worry about it.

“How would you know that?” Cricket strode up to her son. “Did you have someone investigating him? His finances are private. You had no right.”

“I had every right when his finances involve yours, when he decides he can retire off our family money,” Rene shot back.

“Again, Rene, my money. I know I allow you to do the budgeting and pay the bills and spend what you like, but your father left the money to me, not you. I am not a child,” Cricket proclaimed.

“You are acting like one right now. You are acting like a teenager who knows better but can’t quite help yourself.” Rene’s arms crossed over his chest.

She’d had enough, and they had an audience. It had not escaped Sylvie that Lila and Mabel were caught at the reception desk. They were politely trying to be invisible, but they had nowhere else to go since Louis was standing in the hall that led to the exam rooms and Lila’s office.

She got in her husband’s space. “Rene, stop. I mean it. You need to walk away and cool off. We should all go back to the house and have this conversation there. You are airing our dirty laundry in public.”

“Ours? Honey, you just proved to me there is no us, and my mother doesn’t mind galivanting around with her lover, so I think there’s no real need to go home,” he said implacably. “After all, it’s not truly mine, is it?”

Cricket took a long breath. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have talked to you like that.”

“Oh, no. I think honesty is absolutely the best policy.” Rene’s words had lost their heat, and his expression had gone cold. “I apologize. I thought I was protecting you. I can see I don’t need to do that now. It’s Louis’s job. Be careful with your money, Mother. He really is almost broke.”

Rene turned and started out the door.

What the hell had happened? Sylvie raced after Rene. “Hey, you don’t get to walk out like that.”