Lie to Me (Pearl Island Trilogy #4)(65)

“Don’t worry,” Luc assured her. “There’ll be plenty to eat, believe me.”

“It’s not about having enough food,” she told him, horrified that she hadn’t thought of this. DeeDee would dress her down royally for such a social faux pas. “I should have known to bring something.”

“It’s fine.” He frowned as if he thought she was being silly in an adorable sort of way. “No one will even notice.”

She glared at him. “They’ll notice, trust me.”

“This really is your first cochon de lait, isn’t it?” His expression grew more amused. “All you need to do is relax, have a good time, and let the men do the cooking.”

“Really?” She took in the scene again and noticed the group of people working at a makeshift table near a butane-fired crawfish boiler were all men. Several yards away, another group of men were tending a fire pit made out of cinder blocks where smoke curled around the suckling pig sandwiched between metal grates. The women were either playing with the children, flirting with the men, or visiting around a long picnic table. Except, all those ice chests had to be holding side dishes people had made at home. “I still think I should have brought something.”

“Luc!” one of the women seated at a table called and waved.

“Hey, Ma.” Luc waved back.

“That’s your mother?” Chloe asked, jolted by the thought. “Is your grandmother going to be here, too?”

“Of course,” Luc said, looking confused. Then understanding dawned on his face. “There’s nothing to worry about. She’s not going to ask you about the necklace at something like this.”

“Then she knows who I am?” Chloe worried her lower lip. Yesterday, his grandmother hadn’t recognized her, but the minute he introduced Chloe and said her name, the woman would know.

“It’ll be fine,” Luc assured her as his mother hurried toward them. She looked like a blond gypsy in a multi-tiered skirt and a loose, sleeveless shirt tied at her waist. Several other people glanced over, and Chloe saw more than one eyebrow rise with interest when they saw Luc had brought a guest. A female guest.

She didn’t see Luc’s grandmother among the crowd, however, and wondered where she was.

“You made it,” Luc’s mother said as she reached them, a little out of breath from hurrying up the hill. She reminded Chloe a bit of Aurora with her long curly hair and a love for life that shone on her pretty face.

“Of course I made it,” Luc said, hugging his mother with easy affection.

“There is no ‘of course’ with you,” she scolded good-naturedly. “I know how absentminded you get when you’re playing with your game.”

“You mean that thing that’s my livelihood?” he countered.

“Yes, that.” Luc’s mother turned to Chloe. Undisguised curiosity lit eyes that matched Luc’s in color but had a more exotic tilt. “Hello, I’m Lynnette, Luc’s mother.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Chloe extended her hand. “I’m Chloe. I hope it’s okay that I came,” she added, suddenly wondering if Luc had mentioned to anyone that he’d be bringing a guest. God, was she empty handed and uninvited?

“Are you kidding?” Lynnette pulled Chloe into an exuberant hug that caught Chloe off guard. “Any woman who can pull my son’s nose away from his computer is welcome. Besides, what’s one more in a crowd this size.” Lynnette gestured to encompass everyone. “Come on, let me introduce you around.”

As the three of them started down the hill, Chloe eyed the men chopping corn and potatoes for the crawfish boil. “Is there something I can do to help?”

“Oh, I’m sure the men have it under control,” Lynnette said.

“Actually, I enjoy cooking.” The thought of having something to do helped settle her nerves. “I mean, if it’s okay for me to help.”

“I don’t know.” Lynnette looked worried. “My uncles are really particular about their cooking.”

“Chloe happens to be trained by a chef,” Luc said. “I think she can handle chopping some vegetables. That way, she and I can hang together.”

“Oh, no.” Lynnette shook her head, feigning horror. “Otis already said you aren’t allowed anywhere near the cooking this year. He still hasn’t forgiven you for screwing up his gumbo.”

“That was three years ago,” Luc argued.

“Still, if you value your fingers, I think you need to stay away from the cook table. Why don’t you go help with the ice cream?”

“Cranking ice cream is the kids’ job.”

“Then you can supervise,” Lynnette suggested.

“I don’t want to crank ice cream,” Luc complained. “I’ll help with the pig.”

“You really want to get in the way when Charlie’s running the Cajun microwave?” Lynnette cocked her thumb toward the fire pit. Turning to Chloe, she sighed. “Honestly, it’s beyond me. My son is smart as can be when it comes to that computer stuff, but the sad truth is, he can’t cook.”

“Ma, please,” Luc said, his tone asking her to not unman him in front of Chloe. “I’m standing right here.”

“When you should be helping with the ice cream. Now go on, so I can introduce Chloe around.”