Authors: Lori L Clark
Dinner with the brothers was surprisingly comfortable and not awkward at all, except for Landon. Landon was a hard one to read. He was the oddball brother. So quiet, so serious.
Martin and Romero had jet-black hair, brown-black eyes, and olive skin that resembled Italian lineage more than French. Landon had blonde hair and blue eyes which he normally hid behind glasses.
After dinner, the gathered around the tiny living room and Starley served everyone coffee.
"Get any vibes?" Starley asked Rue as they cleared the table.
"About what?" Rue replied.
"Any devils, angels, or anything other than totally human?" Starley whispered.
Rue frowned. "Not that I noticed. Besides, you'd see it too."
"I don't know. I haven't seen any strange creatures for a long time. I think I'm losing my touch," Starley said.
"Why do you say that?" Rue asked as she started loading the dishwasher.
Starley shrugged. "I haven't seen any creatures since Pastor Byrd left town. Not any new ones, anyway."
"I wouldn't worry about it," Rue said. "They're out there. They're everywhere. Like a bad smell that you can't get rid of."
"So, the Bouvier brothers? Normal?" Starley said.
"Yes, mostly. Except for Landon. I'm not sure about him," Rue said. She dried her hands on a towel.
"I know, but, besides the obvious," Starley said with a giggle.
Rue giggled back. "Not a single shifter in the bunch."
Rue went home, and Starley didn't want to be rude, so she offered everyone coffee refills before feeding Poe.
As soon as the brothers left, Starley went out to talk to her sisters.
"So, they all seemed normal, right?" Juliette said.
Francesca smiled and nodded slowly. "They all smelled so completely normal."
"I did pick up some darkness around them. Nothing diabolical or anything, more like a sadness," Juliette said.
"Yes, exactly! The more I think about it, the more I believe their mother might be ill," Francesca said.
Juliette said, "Makes sense why they would move to Prosperity. I mean, no one in their right mind moves to Prosperity, right?"
"Ahem, we moved to prosperity," Starley reminded them.
"We were led here on a mission," Francesca said.
Starley watched as Francesca tried on four different outfits before she finally settled on one.
"Where's he taking you?" Starley asked.
Francesca shrugged. "I'm not sure where we're going. He just said dinner."
"There are like two places to eat in Prosperity," Starley said.
"Maybe we'll drive to Lake Providence, it's not that far," Francesca said. She ducked to look at her reflection in the mirror. "Then again, I actually kind of like the diner here in town."
"If you say so," Starley said. "You're probably safer staying in Prosperity. In case he turns out to be a psychopath or something."
Francesca planted her hand on her hip. "Don't you think I'd know if he was crazy?"
"That whole love is blind thing. I don't know Frank. You haven't exactly had a lot of experience out in the dating world," Starley pointed out.
"Starley," Francesca said, narrowing her eyes. "Did you see something?"
"See something?" Starley opened a can of beef stew to heat.
"You know. Your visions?" Francesca said. "You didn't see any snakes or moles or anything when you looked at him?"
Starley frowned. "No, I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary about them."
"Hmm, yeah, I haven't smelled anything weird, either," Francesca said. "Juliette will be home as soon as she closes the store."
"Oh, good," Starley said. "I was worried that the babysitter wouldn't get here in time."
"Funny girl," Francesca said.
"Rue's coming over, we're going to practice doing tarot readings for each other," Starley said. She turned and hurried from the room before Francesca could object.
"Oh, great. While you're at it, maybe you can break out the tea leaves, too. Or if Juliette's up to it, maybe you can do a séance," Francesca called out.
Starley chuckled. "No dead people. That stuff creeps me out."
Martin arrived right on time to pick up Francesca for their date. He smiled and helped her with her coat. He held the door for her and opened the car door, too. He behaved like a perfect gentleman and he smelled crisp and clean like cool water.
"I thought we could drive to Lake Providence if that's okay with you?" Martin asked as he slid into the driver's seat and buckled his seatbelt.
"That's fine," Francesca said.
They drove in companionable silence until they reached the restaurant. After they had been seated and their orders placed, Francesca decided it was time to talk. Not more superficial weather chit chat, but real, important things.
"So, Martin, before you and your brothers moved to Prosperity, where did you call home?" Francesca asked.
"We've been living in New Orleans for several years," Martin said. He added some sugar to his iced tea and stirred. "But, before that, Prosperity was home."
Francesca blinked. "Really?"
Martin smiled and chuckled. "I know, hard to believe anyone who left Prosperity would ever come back."
"It's not such a bad little town, I suppose," Francesca said. "Your mother and father are still here, then?"
Martin sipped from his drink and nodded. "Yes, that's why we're back."
"Oh?" Francesca said. She had sensed there was something going on with his mother, but she didn't want to come right out and ask. "Is everything okay?"
He sighed heavily. "No, not at all. Mother's got stage four cancer. She and dad haven't been apart for more than a day the entire time they've been married. This is extremely hard on us all."
"I'm so sorry, Martin," Francesca put her hand on top of his and squeezed. "I didn't mean to pry."
"Don't be silly, you're not prying," he said with a thin smile.
"I think it's wonderful they way you're all rallying together in support. Moving to Prosperity, buying a house," Francesca said. "Did the three of you live together in New Orleans?"
Before Martin could answer, the waiter returned to refill their drinks and bring the salads. Rather than answer, he dove into his food. Francesca got the impression he didn't want to talk anymore, so she didn't press.
After the meal, on the ride back to Prosperity, Martin began to open up again.
"My brothers and I owned a business together in New Orleans," Martin said, peering sideways at Francesca. "Romero and I ran Bouvier's Curiosity Shop. Landon helped out after school and weekends."
"Curiosity shop? That sounds fascinating. Are you thinking about opening one here in Prosperity?" Francesca asked.
"As a matter of fact, we are," Martine said.
"What kind of things do you sell?" Francesca asked.
"A little of this, a little of that, oddities, antiques, collectibles. Think Stephen King's 'Needful Things,'" Martin said.
"It sounds really interesting," Francesca said.
"Oh, it is. Everything's boxed up and in storage. As soon as we find a place to open up here in Prosperity, I'll have it all shipped in," Martin said.
"You know, the building next to The Perfumery will be available in a few weeks," Francesca said.
"Isn't that the flower shop?" Martin asked.
"Yes, the flower shop is moving to a larger location across the street," Francesca said.
"Hmm, thank you," Martin said. He slid his hand across the center console and found Francesca's. "I'll look into that."
When they got back to Prosperity, Martin parked the car and walked Francesca to the door. "Thank you for tonight. It felt good to get away from over-thinking things for a night."
Francesca tilted her head. "Is that a good thing?"
"Yes, it's a really good thing," Martin said. He leaned in and gave Francesca a polite kiss on the cheek. "Would it be terribly forward of me to invite you and your sisters to our house for dinner next week?"
"Yes," Francesca said, grinning. "I mean, yes, we'd love to come."
Martin laughed. "Great, it's settled then. Next Friday night. The three of you, the three of us. Our house. Sound good?"
"Sounds perfect," Francesca said. She stood on her tip-toes and boldly gave Martin a peck on the lips. "Tonight was nice. Thank you, and good night."
His eyes widened a fraction, and Francesca darted inside the house. She stood with her back against the door and giggled.
Juliette wasn't prone to falling in love at the drop of the hat. She tended to think of herself as the least romantic of the Duchesne women. Unlike Francesca, who fell in love with the idea of love often, Juliette hadn't given it much thought. They had moved so frequently, giving them a lack of roots. Without roots, Juliette reasoned, true love would never be able to blossom.
So, going to dinner at the Bouvier's house didn't mean as much to Juliette as it did to Francesca. Francesca had been walking on air with her head in the clouds all week, every since her date with Martin.
"Don't you think Romero is an attractive man?" Francesca asked, sliding Juliette a glance.
"I suppose he's a good looking guy, yes," Juliette admitted. "But Frank, seriously, we never stay in one place long enough to start a relationship with anyone, let alone a good looking eligible bachelor."
"We moved to Prosperity for a reason, sister dear," Francesca said. "Don't you believe in fate, and things that are meant to be?"
Francesca tugged on her mittens and watched her breathe curl in the air around her face when she sighed. "You're the dreamer, not me."
Starley tagged along behind her sisters with her face buried in a book. "Remind me again why we're walking. It's freezing out here."
"The air is brisk, it'll give you rosy cheeks," Francesca said. "It's not that cold."
"It's December," Starley pointed out. "It is
that
cold."
Francesca tipped her head back and looked at the clear night sky. "I love this time of the year. I think we're going to have a white Christmas."
"Look, Frank, I know you like Martin," Juliette said, glancing over her shoulder at Starley. "But that doesn't mean you need to drag us with you. You don't have to include Starley and me in all of your plans."
"Nobody's forcing either of you into anything," Francesca said. "I thought you might enjoy a good home cooked meal prepared by someone else for a change."
"Nobody's forcing us? Excuse me?" Starley stopped walking. "I'll just turn around and go back home now then."
Juliette bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling. "Me, too."
Francesca huffed. "You are not going back home. You're going with me to the Bouvier's house, and you will both be pleasant."
"So, you are forcing us," Starley mumbled.
Francesca narrowed her eyes at Starley. "Don't you think Landon's nice?"
Starley snapped her book shut and shook her head. "Oh, no you don't. Landon Bouvier is a nerd. A walking eyeglass wearing brain that does nothing but read, study, and get A's in every one of his classes. And no, I don't think he's nice. He doesn't talk to a single soul at school and, God, have you seen how he dresses?"
"Might I remind you, Starley, it wasn't so long ago that we could have used those very same words to describe you. People change, young lady. You of all people should know this," Francesca pointed out.
Starley's cheeks burned with embarrassment. "True, but don't go getting any ideas about Landon and me hooking up. I swore off boys right after I nearly killed my last date."
Juliette giggled. "Just what are your intentions, anyway?"
"What makes you think I have ulterior motives?" Francesca said as they turned the corner and started down the street toward the Bouvier house.
"Because you made us come with you, that's why," Starley grumbled.
Francesca's jaw clenched. "I won't ask either of you to go anywhere with me, ever again. Let's just have a pleasant evening. Try to be cordial, please."
The Bouvier's home was a huge old Victorian with a wrap-around porch that had been lit up with tiny blue Christmas lights. Francesca took a deep breath; the smell of wood smoke tickled her senses.
Francesca rang the doorbell and the front door slowly opened. Martin greeted her warmly and welcomed them inside. The house was warm and inviting with so many sense-pleasing aromas it nearly made her dizzy.
They shrugged out of their coats and Romero hung them in the coat closet beneath the open staircase while Martin lead them to the parlor for before dinner drinks in front of one of the many fireplaces.
After a wonderful meal, they met back in the parlor, and Romero surprised Juliette by challenging her to a game of pool. Martin and Francesca joined them in a game of doubles. Starley sat in opposite corners of the room reading. Seems Starley needn't have worried about Landon. He found her just as appealing as she found him.
Many laughs were shared. Francesca couldn't be sure if it had been the after dinner spiked apple cider, their full bellies, or the comfortable laughter. She noticed, on more than several occasions, the times Juliette and Romero locked eyes. Perhaps, she mused, there was hope after all for her unromantic sister.
"Oh, my. Look at the time." Francesca stood, a bit wobbly from the alcohol. "We really should be going."
"Let me drive you," Romero offered.
Francesca opened her mouth to decline but changed her mind when she noticed Juliette subtly shaking her head behind Romero's back. "If you're sure it's no trouble?"
"Not at all," he grinned.
Martin cleared his throat. "Francesca, could I see you in the kitchen for a moment before you leave?"
Francesca felt warmth spread through her body. She was pretty sure that the heady feeling wasn't from the booze. "Of course."
Romero glanced right and left and sighed. "I didn't think we'd ever have a second alone," he said.
Juliette cocked and eyebrow. "Alone, for what?"
Romero leaned into her and kissed her on the lips, tentatively at first. When Juliette responded by linking her hands around his neck, he relaxed into a much more passionate kiss.
Juliette felt her stomach come alive with a million butterflies, and she kissed him back. It was at that moment she decided maybe there was something to that romance stuff after all.
Starley walked into the room and quickly retreated, but not before uttering a disgusted, "Ugh."
Romero and Juliette jumped apart and began laughing.
"I guess we'd better get you home," Romero whispered before sneaking another quick kiss.
Francesca and Martin came out from the kitchen, and Juliette knew from the color in Frank's cheeks, they'd been enjoying the same covert exchange.
Plans were made to get together over Christmas before they said goodnight.
Juliette and Francesca sat up over a pot of coffee and talked until the wee hours of the morning before going to bed.