She was ridiculously full of everything except wine. She could use more of that.

An adorable toddler sat on Seraphina’s lap. The boy, who couldn’t be more than two and a half or three, sat up straight when he saw Remy. He had a mop of dark hair and seemed fascinated with the big man in front of him.

Not that Remy had a chance to greet his nephew. The minute they’d walked up, his mother had been all over him. Delphine was far too busy doting on her firstborn child. Delphine Guidry looked an awful lot like her son. She was tall, with dark hair and a feminine, older version of Remy’s face. She put her well-manicured hands on either cheek. “I prayed for this day. Three long years, I prayed that my baby would come home. I told you all this day would come. I told you we hadn’t lost him forever to that hellhole called Dallas.” She pointed at some of the people watching the reunion of mother and son. “You doubted me but the saints spoke to me. They told me the time and the place and here he is. My son, the heroic soldier.”

“But I called you and let you know I was coming home,” Remy said under his breath.

“This is the day the lord made,” his momma continued, her voice rising.

Sera looked up at Lisa. “She didn’t need Remy to tell her when you were coming through town. I have this app that watches where his phone is. Why the hell did you need to go to Malaysia? What is a Malaysia? I told the sheriff I thought it was one of those made up countries.”

Remy shook his head, patiently allowing his momma to hug him. “I was guarding a businessman who had meetings there. It’s a real country, Sera.”

She turned back to Lisa. “It sure sounds fake to me. I totally watch Zep’s phone, too, but it never gets farther than New Orleans. I was worried in the beginning that Zep’s phone would give mine an STD, but Rene told me it doesn’t work like that. And don’t mind Momma. She’s about to launch her new business. She reads tarot cards and palms and specializes in magical fixes. So when you get the whammy put on you by Miss Marcelle, Momma can give you some herbs and say some words and make you feel better.”

“She is not planning another con,” Remy said, shaking his head. “Damn it, Momma, you promised.”

“It’s not a con if it works,” Delphine insisted. “Those people seriously feel better. I’m helping them.”

This was completely different than her family. Her family got scandalized when someone made a C on a test. The most scandalous thing that happened was when Lila mistakenly read Bridget’s manuscripts and asked what figging was.

That had been a fun family night.