All of Luc’s family inhaled sharply with shock at Valcour’s condemnation of his own son, Tante Lulu most of all. The little woman stood to her full five feet and told her nephew-by-marriage, “You are the one who’s bad to the bone, Valcour. What Adele saw in you, I never knew. She mus’ be rollin’ in her grave now to see you put down your own son.”
Valcour’s fists clenched and unclenched at his side. Fortunately, he’d let go of Tee-John’s nape. The boy stared in fear up at his father, whose face flushed so bright a red Sylvie feared he might have a stroke. “I will not have you, or Lucien, interferin’ with Cypress Oil business. He’s in jail where he belongs.”
“Not for long,” Sylvie vowed.
“I don’t care if you two are screwin’ each other’s brains out. I don’t care if you stem from some blue-blooded Creole family that thinks its vomit smells better than the rest of us. I don’t care what you think of me. You will not do anything to affect my holdin’s in Cypress Oil. And that’s a fact, missy.” Valcour was wagging his forefinger at Sylvie the whole time, and spittle clung to the edges of his mouth as he spat out the vicious statements.
Before anyone could protest his horrible words, Valcour spun on his heels and left the house, dragging Tee-John with him.
At first, there was just stunned silence. How a father could have such virulent feelings toward his own son was beyond them all. Sylvie’s heart went out to Luc, wondering how he’d survived childhood in the same house with that hateful man.
“Killin’ would be too good for that man,” Tante Lulu said finally, pretty much summing up all their opinions.
“Will Tee-John be okay?” Sylvie asked.
“Yeah,” Remy answered. “Dad won’t do anything with so many of us watching his every move. Oh, he’ll make the kid miserable, but he’ll be safe.”
“I’ll go over and check up on him later,” René promised.
“Back to my… our problem… how we’re going to get Luc out of jail,” Sylvie began.
“No, Sylvie Marie, it is most definitely not your problem,” her mother stated. “Let Lucien’s family and friends take over from here. Pack a small case and come home with me now. I forbid you to involve yourself further.”
Forbid? Sylvie’s hackles rose. “I told you before, Mother, I am not leaving till Luc is out of jail. Furthermore, must I remind you, this is my home. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Don’t you care at all what this could do to my career?” her mother wailed. “Disgrace yourself and you disgrace me, you selfish child.”
Sylvie exhaled with a whoosh of frustration. “Of course, I care about your career, Mother. But sometimes it’s necessary to take a stand, despite the consequences.”
“Personally, I think you need some professional help. Why don’t you call your therapist?”
“My therapist?” Sylvie’s voice was shrill even to her own ears. She exchanged a glance with Remy, who had told her two days ago that her mother had suggested a mental imbalance. At the time, Sylvie had considered such an idea impossible. Now, she wasn’t so sure. “I’m exhausted, Mother. Not crazy. I think it would be best if you and I don’t say anything else to each other right now, lest words be said that can’t ever be taken back.”
Inez stared at her as if she couldn’t believe this was her own daughter speaking. “So be it,” she said finally, and left in a huff.
The room resounded with an embarrassing silence as everyone avoided looking at Sylvie. How they must pity her! To have such a cold woman for a mother must seem unfathomable to them. Well, no, they had Valcour to deal with in their own family.
The old Sylvie would have slunk off in shame, too mortified to face anyone. The new Sylvie straightened her shoulders, ignored the heat that flamed over her, and said, “Well, what are we going to do about Luc?”
“Your bail has been set for $500,000,” Lt. Ambrose “Rosie” Mouton informed Luc, who was dealing out new hands of cards for the next set of bourre. “Captain just got a call from the court clerk before I came down here.”