Jean-Claude stood up and walked over to the windows. The sun was up, turning the whole bay pink and orange. In the distance, the shrimpers were already moving out, ready for the day’s catch. “I’ve loved her since we were kids, but she never once looked my way. I know she’s a conniving bitch, but the heart is a stupid thing, Remy. I stood by you on your wedding day and that might have been the worst day of my life. I stood there smiling and saying all the right things, but there was hate in my heart. I was practically gleeful when you two divorced. I wanted you to leave so I might have a shot. Of course that didn’t work out either. When she came back, I knew I had to leave and I put it all on you.”

Holy shit. He wasn’t sure how he felt, but he knew getting mad wouldn’t change a thing. How many years had his cousin been hurting? “Jean, I didn’t know. I’ll be honest, if I had known, I would have walked away from her. I never loved her. I liked her. I was attracted to her, but I married her because it seemed like it was time.”

“Yeah, that was the worst part,” his cousin replied.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Maybe if you talked to her.” The thought that he’d taken something from Jean-Claude made him sick inside. Especially something that had turned out so poorly.

A low, humorless chuckle came from Jean-Claude’s chest. “You think I didn’t? I went to her the night before you married. I went to her when you divorced. I won’t go to her again, and that’s precisely why I’m leaving this morning. My bags are packed. I’m offering you and Lisa the house if you want it. Consider it a gift to placate my conscience. The keys are upstairs. If you don’t want it, I’ll sell it off.”

“That house has been in your family for a hundred years.”

“And I’m the last of my line. I don’t think I’m going to come back. View the house as a way to make up for all the blackmail. I know it’s been damn hard on you and I made it harder.” He glanced toward the back, as though he could see up the stairs and into the apartments. “You’ve got a woman now. You can’t stay upstairs forever, and dear god if you want to keep that woman, don’t let her live with your momma.”