Page 26 of Feel It in the Air

“It’s gonna take me a bit to learn everyone.”

“I’m sure it’d be the same if I came to New Orleans.”

Damn, is that a happy thought…

I sigh, liking that idea way too much.

“Not even close. My mother is Renee, my father is Liam, my middle brother is David, his wife is Callie, and they have my nephew, Sam. Baby brother is Louis. Then my grandfather, the one who runs the restaurant, is Remy. But we all call him Papa Duck, which is also the name of the restaurant, by the way. And that’s all you’d have to know.”

“Pretty sure I can remember that.”

I hope so…

“Wait, did you just say your grandfather is Papa Duck?”

I look over at Dolly, who is staring at me as if I told her that I was there for the birth of Jesus. I nod, confirming what she heard.

“Yeah. You’ve heard of him?”

“Are you kidding me? Magic’s in the air! Can’t you feel it?”

I laugh. “Nailed it!”

“Huh?” Gus asks.

“That’s what Papa Duck says while cooking. Like Emeril’s ‘bam!’ Not that my grandfather is Emeril or anything. But people apparently ate it up after it aired on TV—pun intended. And yes, before you ask, it’s trademarked.”

“Didn’t doubt it for a second.”

“I made this one drive me to New Orleans after the episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives because I wanted to try those cheddar hush puppies!” Dolly says, pointing to Hux. “I was willing to trade my sausage rolls for them, but the guy behind the counter wasn’t having it.”

I chuckle, knowing without asking that was David. “I bet we can make a deal.”

“Seriously? You have the power?”

I nod. “I do.”

“OMG! That’d be incredible. I really want to update Dolly’s menu.” She must notice the confused look on my face, because she backs up to explain. “I own the small breakfast place here in town. I took it over from my grandmother, who named it after herself. The menu is the same as when she ran it, and really needs a refresh. But that’s a post-wedding project.”

“When’s the big day?” I ask, trying to be polite. My question seems to be the wrong one though, since out of the corner of my eye I see Hux shift uncomfortably, and Gus moves his hand to my thigh, squeezing lightly. Even Willa makes a face.

I look to him, hoping to find an answer to why all the Hayeses just went awkward, but his features betray nothing. Dolly, however, beams.

“April, finally. It’s been three years.”

“That’s not that long, is it?”

“I guess not in the grand scheme of things. But we were together for more than three years before he proposed, and now we’ve been engaged for another three so…I’m just ready to finally be married.”

I swallow hard, trying to hold back my reaction. I know I don’t do a good job, since Willa nods, confirming the judgment that is clearly written all over my face.

The trill of a phone pierces the air and Dolly jumps. “Oh, speak of the devil. Be right back!”

“He’s the devil alright,” Hux mutters, as Dolly answers her phone and walks away to talk.

“It’s okay, you can judge,” Gus tells me.

“No, I wasn’t judging⁠—”