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anyone could talk to Catherine, it was Amandine.
    “But what are we going to do if the auditors say she stole from the company?” Tony asked.
    “I think you have to question why she would do that,” Kerri said. “She had access to all the money she could ever want through Jacob, and the embezzlement has been going on for quite a while, based on what I found. A long time before anyone found out about the bigamy.”
    Tony didn’t seem convinced. “We’ve never let anybody get away with stealing from us.”
    “We’ll cross that bridge if and when we come to it,” Ethan said. “In the meantime, Kerri and I plan to have a happy, low-stress wedding where everyone—
everyone
—can enjoy themselves. I hope that all of you are with us on this.” He made eye contact with each person in turn, bringing the force of his personality to bear, and no one said anything to the contrary.
    * * *
    After the call ended, Gavin wrapped his arms around Amandine, pulling her close. “Are you really sure about this? You don’t have to accommodate Kerri just because. I’ll talk to them about it. In fact, I can hire—”
    “I’m sure, Gavin.”
    “But you’ve always felt so weird about the fact that she and I dated.”
    She held his hand and ran her finger along the wedding band. “What’s past is past, but you’re with me now. She’s my cousin, your sister-in-law and our son’s aunt.”
    “Technically, she’s really only the first…”
    “Well, whatever she is, she’s family. Actually I’d love to check up on her and make sure she’s all right. She’s always been so proud and regal, it’s not like her to just…disappear like this. Not even Aunt Olivia knows where she is, and that’s pretty strange.”
    “Okay. If that’s what you want, go for it.”
    “Thank you”—she kissed his knuckles—“for your support.”

Chapter Five
    The phone next to her bed rang, and Catherine opened her eyes with a frown. She didn’t remember if she’d given the number to anybody. Actually, she couldn’t have; she didn’t know the phone number to the house. She fumbled for the receiver and said, “Hello?”
    “Catherine, my dear. It’s impossible to get a hold of you.”
    “Hello, Salazar.” She stacked pillows behind her and settled against them. The Blue House had a great bed. The one in the master bedroom was like a fairytale princess’s, with a huge ivory lace canopy and cotton sheets with a thread-count so high they felt like silk against her skin. Thankfully the bedroom didn’t have any of Salazar’s cheap paintings. Instead there was a mirror on the wall in a soothing blue-green frame. “What are you doing up so early?”
    “I couldn’t sleep so I figured I’d call you. Is that new cell-phone of yours working? I tried calling four times but no one picked up.”
    She sighed. “I don’t have it.” Thanks to that Willie Rae.
    “Why not?”
    “It’s a long story. So to what do I owe the honor?”
    “Oh, no special reason. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
    Meaning he wanted a status report on her and his son. “Things are okay. I met Blaine.”
    “So soon?”
    “Yes. I’m not sure I’ll be able to convince him to join the Pryce family. I don’t think he likes me all that much.” It was very unusual for a man to be as standoffish to her as Blaine had been.
    There was a short pause. “You think he’s gay?”
    “No. I’m probably just not his type.”
    Salazar laughed. “You’re every man’s type.”
    She shrugged it off. Her life experience proved the opposite. “Regardless, I’ll do what I can for you. But I don’t know why you can’t come talk to him yourself. That might do wonders to improve your relationship.”
    “It’s complicated. I mainly don’t want Ceinlys to know that I had a baby with another woman until I have to. You know how she can be.”
    “Actually I don’t.”
    “She’ll be hurt, then angry. And then she’ll do something she’ll regret. No need for