The sound of the front door opening made them both glance toward the entry.
Eager to meet and question Nicholas's sister, Jo hurried across the room, aware that Sam was following. She paused abruptly in the doorway when she saw the woman entering the foyer. Tall, shapely, and gorgeous, the brunette looked amazing in a bright red summer dress. She also had an air of command about her that didn't seem to suit a young immortal, at least not in Jo's mind.
"Jeanne Louise?" she said uncertainly as the woman turned and spotted her.
"No, dear. I'm her aunt Marguerite," the woman answered, eyeing her with lively interest.
"I'm Jeanne Louise," another woman announced as she stepped into the entry.
This woman was more what she'd expected, Jo thought as she took in her lover's sister. She was tall but slender, her hair midnight-black and pulled back into a bun. She was also dressed much more conservatively than her aunt, wearing dark slacks and a white blouse.
"And this is her other aunt and my sister-in-law Leigh," Marguerite announced as a shorter brunette entered on Jeanne Louise's heels. "And this is Jeanne Louise's sister-in-law Inez."
Jo glanced at the woman with curly dark hair, and a darker complexion, and then to the next woman to enter, a blond replica of Marguerite who carried a small child in her arms as Marguerite continued the introductions with "My daughter Lissianna and her darling baby girl Lucy."
Marguerite turned back and smiled as she admitted, "Thomas was very mysterious on the phone and we were all curious so we decided to come with Jeanne Louise."
"Hell," Sam sighed behind her, and Jo could only silently agree. Unless there were two Leighs in the family, then they presently had Lucian's wife in the house. Great. There was no way they were going to be able to keep Nicholas's presence a secret from Lucian now.
"Aunt Marguerite!"
Jo glanced up at that alarmed cry to see Thomas leading the men up the hall, each of them carrying a plate of cookies, cups, or a tray with cream and sugar on it. At least he had been leading them up the hall, but stopped abruptly now and whirled to start pushing them back toward the kitchen.
"Oh, don't bother, Thomas," Marguerite said with amused exasperation. "I've already read these two lovely young women and know who they are and that Nicholas is here."
"Nicholas?" Jeanne Louise gasped. Jo glanced to her to see that she'd gone pale as she stared at the crowd of men, her eyes searching them for the presently hidden Nicholas.
"Come," Marguerite said suddenly. "Let's move into the living room."
She began to herd the women toward Jo and Sam and then said, "Sam, would you be a dear and show Lissianna somewhere she might lay Lucy down for her nap? She fell asleep in the car on the way over and doesn't need to hear this anyway."
"Of course," Sam murmured, and slipped past Jo to lead Lissianna upstairs.
"Come Jo, let's get settled in the living room, shall we," Marguerite urged, turning her into the room with a hand on her arm. Glancing up the hall, she added, "And you boys bring the goodies… as well as Nicholas. There's no sense hiding him now."
Jo moved reluctantly into the living room, only to pause by the nearest chair and glance back toward the door for Nicholas.
"Thomas, you and Inez sit on the couch with Jeanne Louise," Marguerite ordered gently. "She's a little upset. Nicholas…" She turned to the door as he entered behind the other men. "Come give me a kiss."
Nicholas moved to his aunt and she immediately pulled him into an embrace, murmuring, "We've missed you."
"Thank you," he said quietly as she kissed and hugged him.
She smiled and patted his cheek and then ordered, "You take the end chair there with Jo. We'll get this all sorted out."
Nodding, Nicholas released her and moved to sit in the La-Z-Boy Jo stood beside, then caught her hand and tugged, urging her to sit in his lap, but she shook her head.
"I want a coffee. Would you like one?" she asked.
"Yes, please," he said softly.
She moved to the coffee table where the men had set the trays and plates and quickly poured both herself and Nicholas a cup. She then moved back to hand Nicholas his before seating herself carefully in his lap. Jo sipped at the bitter liquid as she watched the others milling around getting themselves coffees and some taking cookies, but then they all began to settle into seats.
"We can make room here on the couch, Aunt Marguerite," Thomas said as the chairs began to fill up.
"Good,, then Lissianna or Leigh can sit there. I think I'll take the rocking chair since I'm now a grandma. Everyone else find a seat where you can."