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AS DOMINIC ST. GERMAINE hurried around, already late for the day, he caught a glimpse of his great great grand-pere’s picture as he walked downstairs. Jacque St. Germaine had been a handsome man, and his French heritage had been clear to anyone who saw him. When he first laid eyes on Lucille Picou, he knew he had to make her his wife. The two had a whirlwind courtship and married three months after meeting. He liked to tell everyone that his southern-bred, debutante wife had married up in the world. Their love story was told from generation to generation, and it was one he never grew tired of hearing. It meant that true love existed.
Within their first year of marriage, the eldest son was born. Right after the birth of his son, he moved his growing family into a sprawling estate that became known as the St. Germaine Plantation. It was more of a mansion really; Jacque St. Germaine made sure that the expansive grounds were kept immaculate. Jacque wanted to flaunt that business was thriving, and life was good. There were those in town that had labeled him river trash. If only his parents had lived to see their son make something of his life.
Anyone could see the pride in Jacque St. Germaine’s eyes whenever he mentioned how well his new hotel, Maison de St. Germaine, was doing. He especially loved to rub it in his biggest competition’s face, Henri Scarcelli. Everyone knew that the Scarcelli Family was from an old Italian Family, meaning they were mafia. Jacques St. Germaine wasn’t afraid of Scarcelli and made sure that his business flourished in spite of Scarcelli and his threats.
Even after Jacque St. Germaine moved his family to the plantation, he kept the penthouse free for when he needed to stay in town for a meeting, or to cavort with a comare (mistress) or two. Jacque loved his new wife deeply, but he had a wandering eye and figured as long as his wife didn’t know what he did behind her back, they were okay.
The St. Germaine empire grew with his great great grand-pere’s good head for business. Jacque St. Germaine’s eldest son, Jean Paul St. Germaine, wanted to venture out into construction. But Jacque stressed that the Scarcelli Family was too deeply entangled with the construction business and that they should leave it be. After Jacque’s passing, Jean Paul ventured into the construction business, doing it slow and steady as to not cause waves with the Scarcelli Family. So by the time Dominic’s grandfather, Jean Paul Jr., came along, the St. Germaine Family business had grown at an expeditious pace. Maison de St. Germaine, was always booked, and their construction business was booming. They were awarded several contracts for new buildings despite the Scarcelli Family threats. Jean Paul Jr. grew their business even more by opening a car dealership. There were enough Family members to help run the new business where they didn’t have to bring in outsiders.
As the St. Germaine Family business grew, it caught the attention of not only the Scarcelli Family, but that of another Mafia Family vying for control of Louisiana. This other family was not Italian mafia, but one started by a Frenchman. He’d heard how well the Scarcelli Family did in their crime syndicate and figured if an Italian could do it, then a Frenchman could do it better.
Even with the constant pressure from these two mafia families, the St. Germaine Family flourished in their business ventures.
By the time Dominic made it to the office, his cellphone rang. It was his brother, Simon. “Dominic you need to come back home. Dad had a heart attack. Mom has already called the ambulance.”
Dominic could hardly believe his ears, “I will meet you at the hospital. It is faster than me coming back home. Are you sure it was a heart attack?”
His brother let out a sigh, “I don’t know Dom. Something isn’t right about this. Dad was at the dining room table talking to Mom about what all he had to do today when he just collapsed.”
Without even entering the office building, he climbed right back into this car and drove to the hospital. Once he arrived at the hospital, it seemed to take him forever to find a parking spot. No sooner than he walked into the emergency room bay doors, he saw the ambulance pull up. He watched as his mother stepped out with his dad on the gurney. His heart broke to see the tears in his mother’s eyes.