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14
BEAU
“So, tell me more about your cousin’s wedding next weekend,” I said as we walked along the path next to Lake Pontchartrain.
Breakwater Park was one of my favorite places in New Orleans because of its views and overall relaxing vibe. It was the perfect place to take Lyndi if she wanted to avoid noise and chaos. But I didn’t realize until we got here that I’d only ever come out here alone, and there wasn’t much to do besides walk and talk and look at the scenery.
“Well, it’s in Charleston,” she said. “Clara is going all out, making it the most picture-perfect Southern wedding she could ever dream of.”
I bit my lip, hoping it was safe to ask the question that’d been on my mind since I first heard the wedding was out of town. “Is there a reason she’s not having it at Starlight?”
“It’s not a diss against Aria or anything, if that’s what you’re asking,” she said with an easy laugh.
“Just checking. Seems like everyone you guys know gets married there, that’s all.”
“Well, since her wedding is thefirstweek of May and Aria was supposed to have the baby thesecondweek of May, she told Clara it might be better to find somewhere else. Plus, her husband’s family is in Charleston. So now it’s an out-of-town wedding for our family but a local one for his.”
“Gotcha.”
“So,” she went on, eyes on the lake, “we’ll get there Friday night and probably go straight to bed, then Saturday she’s got some ‘family bonding’ activities planned.”
“That you’resuperexcited about,” I guessed.
“Oh,super. And then that night is the bachelorette and bachelor parties.”
I frowned. “The night before the wedding?”
“Yeah, I guess because most of their bridal party is from out of town, they didn’t want to make everyone come out multiple times. But I’m sure we’ll keep it low-key. Knowing Clara, she’ll want to get her beauty sleep.”
“Zac isn’t in the wedding, is he?”
“No, he doesn’t know the groom. So the two of you can hang that night with Grayson while Layla and I go out with the girls.”
Relieved that I wouldn’t have to tag along on a bachelor party for some dude I didn’t know, I relaxed slightly. I hated it when my client was in the wedding party and insisted that meant I had to bro-it-up with the guys. I had my circle of friends, and I was good with them. I didn’t need fake ones.
“Cool. I’m sure we can find something to keep us busy.”
“I’m sure you will,” she replied, then she looked up at me and bumped my shoulder with hers as we walked. “You really like my nephew, don’t you?”
“Grayson? Yeah, he’s a great kid.”
“And um… maybe you kind of… relate with him a little?”
My stomach turned and I held up a hand. “Hey, whoa. I didn’t tell you that so you could use it against me.”
“Ah, right, because talking about real feelings is off-limits with you.”
I started to say that it was, but then something about her tone had me deciding it was too late to clam up now. “Fine. Yeah. I guess I feel for the kid. Though, I’m also a little jealous of him.”
“Because he was so young?”
“Yep. I wish I didn’t remember her, but I do.”
Lyndi stopped walking, so I reluctantly turned to face her as she stood there fiddling with the strap of her cross-body purse. “Do you remember your brother?”
“Not really, no,” I said in a low voice. I looked out over the water, unable to meet her eyes. “Sometimes I’ll remember little things. But I’m not sure if they’re real memories or something my mind is tricking me into seeing.” I laughed dryly and jammed my hands into my pockets. “Sorry, that probably sounds really dumb.”
She took a step closer. “No, it doesn’t. If I had a dime for every time I thought something would sound dumb if I said it out loud… well, okay, I’d be rich, but regardless, I’d continue working as a photographer. But still.”
