Before I could tell them all to shut up, the littlest one tugged on my jeans. Looking down, I saw Sean, Enigma and Sugar’s son, peering up at me.
“Yeah?”
“Can I bring my truck?” Sean asked, holding his red firetruck.
Fiona took mercy on me and picked Sean up. “Sure, Sean, and you can sit next to me and show me all the cool things your truck does.”
“Alright, children,” Granny said in a firm authoritative voice. “Let’s get this show on the road!”
I stood there and watched as a stampede of children raced out of the clubhouse when I heard laughter come from behind me. Turning slowly, I saw all my brothers and their wives, unsuccessfully hiding their laughter.
“Better hurry, Georgie,” my brother Frankie teased. “My little buddy doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
Storming toward the front doors, I shouted, “I hate you all!”
The clubhouse erupted in laughter.
“You ready to tell me why we are taking this lot to New Orleans?” I asked Granny, who was currently reading a book.
Closing it, she turned to look at me and smiled.
“Because you need help.”
“Okay. I’ll bite. Help with what?”
“Josephine.”
Groaning, I laid my head back and closed my eyes. “Granny, please tell me this is a joke. Josephine made her decision. She wants to stay friends. I will not force her to do something she doesn’t want.”
“No, she got overwhelmed and instead of reading the room and listening to her, you heard what you wanted. That beautiful girl is dealing with a lot right now and instead of giving her some compassion, you cut tail and run, just like you always do.”
“I do not.”
“Oh yes, you do,” Granny sneered. “Every time something gets too heavy, you back away. You’ve been like that ever since your parents died. It’s time for you to man up. You will not get the girl if you don’t commit.”
“Jesus Christ, Granny!” I growled. “I was committed. I claimed her. What more did I need to do?”
“Don’t you get lippy with me, boy. I’m still big enough to throw you over my knee. That girl has the weight of the world on her right now. She’s got a con artist trying to weasel his way back into her life. She’s got a grown ass man-child for a father who thinks he’s a randy teenager again. A ski lodge to run and a wedding to take care of and that’s not including two little kids to raise. The woman needs a damn break! And instead of listening and understanding, you walked away from her. She’s supposed to be your friend, George. Best friend, according to you. Friends don’t leave the other one hanging.”
“And flying the brats to New Orleans is going to fix this?”
“Mostly. There is someone there Cameron believes will help you secure Josephine, and let’s face it. Right now, you can use all the help you can get. Plus, there is another issue Cameron has offered to help me with. We’re killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.”
“What other issue?”
“Never you mind about that. That’s between me and the young man.”
Looking at my granny, I narrowed my eyes. “Granny, are you matchmaking?”
Instead of answering me, the stubborn woman opened her book, thus ending the conversation.
A few hours later,
“GO AWAY! THE BAR IS CLOSED!”
Standing on the sidewalk on Bourbon Street, I watched as Cameron and Granny banged on The Bourbon Bar’s doors.
“You open this door right now, Wade Crawley!” Granny shouted. “I know your momma, boy, and I’m not afraid to call her!”
