“Odette’s mother died in a car wreck, and there was no family left to take her,” he continues.

“So you...?”

“Adopted her,” Vincent says, looking at me like I’m slow-witted.

Kate picks up the conversation. “Meet the youngest member of La Maison—Odette Mercier-Delacroix. Gaspard can’t wait to get a miniature sword into her hands, and Ambrose...well.”

Ambrose is already crouched down next to the little girl and pulls faces to make her laugh. She pats apple sauce onto his forehead and says, “Bro-bros pwitty.”

“Wow,” is all I can think to say. I don’t know why I’m so shocked. Maybe it’s because I thought I was moving into a house of warriors, and this looks more like...a family. Something aches inside me.

Kate senses my discomfort. “Just let me know if La Maison is too stuffy for you, with a child here and all. You’re welcome to choose one of the other group houses. The Mouzaïa house, for example, Genevieve’s old house. I just thought you might want to start out here, where all the decisions are being made.”

I shake my head. “Even if you had asked my opinion, La Maison would still be my first choice.”

Charlotte grins. “We like you too.”

Kate leans over to give me a supportive pat on the arm, and I notice the large sapphire on her ring finger. “Are you?” I begin.

She shoots a sideways glance at Vincent. He notices but turns back to pop a strawberry into Odette’s mouth. “It’s an engagement ring,” she clarifies.

“Congratulations,” I say.

“Yeah, we’ve been saying that too,” Charlotte says, nudging Kate playfully, “for the last three years.”

“We’ll most likely live forever,” Kate replies breezily. “I don’t see why everyone’s in such a rush.” She turns to drape her arms around Vincent’s neck. “I don’t need a paper and a ceremony to prove my love for you.”

“Maybe, but it wouldn’t hurt,” Vincent mumbles under his breath.

With perfect timing, Gaspard walks into the kitchen, distracting everyone from the uncomfortable conversation. Jeanne announces, “We’re all here. Bon appétit!” before sweeping Odette into her arms and out the back door into the garden, “to play while the big people eat.”

“Thank you!” Kate calls as the door swings shut behind them.

“So, what did you find?” Gaspard revenant asks once we’re all settled and eating.

Charlotte speaks first. “Louis took us past several old numa locations.”

“There wasn’t much to see,” I add. “We made a list of everyone I could remember living at each old address. When we spoke to a few of the building managers, it’s definitely all new families living in the buildings. No signs of the old inhabitants.”