Cricket had put off her year-long cruise when she’d found out Sylvie was pregnant. Between her mother and her mother-in-law, they never wanted for babysitting. And her brother had turned out to be quite the diaper changer. “Yes, I convinced her two weeks visiting the Hawaiian islands wouldn’t be hard on Marci.” She moved to warrior one. “Cricket is loving her new grandma status.”

“Your momma and my momma are already planning to teach the girls how to speak to spirits,” Sera said, picking up Ella as they finished class.

Her mother was still a little crazy. “We should let them. The girls will need a career.”

Watching her mother with her namesake warmed her heart.

Hallie cradled her son as the women around them started to pack up. “Can Ben get in on that, because I do not want him following in his father’s footsteps.”

“Sure,” Sylvie said, catching sight of her husband. Rene was dressed for the day in a gray suit, and he looked so sexy walking their dog that she practically drooled.

“I heard Charles is moving to New Orleans,” Hallie said. “We saw him at the Fast Mart last night and he was telling anyone who would listen how he’s opening his own firm there.”

Because he’d gotten fired from his last firm. “His lawsuit against the company got thrown out,” Sylvie explained. “The bylaws are plain. I think he’s going to move away to get a new start. It’s a good thing.”

They were all getting new starts. Gabriel worked hard and was doing much of Louis’s old job now, while his sister was studying fashion design at a university in Houston. She often drove Roberta around, and they seemed to enjoy their constant bickering.

Sylvie herself had run a campaign while she was pregnant. Working while pregnant had been a revelation. It had pointed out all the services the city didn’t provide for women and children. She’d been reelected easily and promptly formed a committee to investigate how the city could help and put Seraphina at the head. They were going to change things for their daughters.

“I’m glad for his family,” Hallie said. “Maybe they can find some peace. Anyone want to grab some coffee? My mom has Gracie. It’s sad that I now feel like I’m lazy when I only have one kid with me.”

“I’ll go. Harry and Luc are spending the day working on my mom’s plumbing.” Sera placed Ella in her car seat. “What do you say, Sylvie? Want to shock the town by breastfeeding in public?”

She would love to do just that, but she had other plans. “I’m afraid I have a date.”

“Hey, how are my girls?” Rene was smiling her way.

“They’re still practically newlyweds,” Hallie said with a shake of her head.