She reached for the card inserted in the roses.
“What does it say?” her mom asked.
“‘You’ve brought light into my life. R.’”
A little shiver ran through her body before Cami glanced at her mother. “What did he write to you?”
“‘Thank you for an outstanding job despite the pain in your shoulders. Raoul Fontesquieu.’” She eyed Cami with uncommon interest. “He says and does everything right, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. But what you’ve just said makes me suspicious. It’s all happening too fast.”
“Why do you look so troubled?” her mother prodded. “Does this have anything to do with your ex?”
“Maybe somewhere deep down I don’t trust my own feelings after my bad marriage.”
“Then talk to me. Come on.”
Cami sank down on one of the chairs, remembering the last kiss Raoul had given her. She still trembled from it. “He walked me to the door and said he’d call me today. Then he sent a text that he’d gone out of town.
“Now I see these roses. I feel like I’m spinning out of control and still have so many questions about him.”
Her mother sat down opposite her. “Like what?”
“For starters, he has a toddler son he only learned about this fall. In the nursery he’s put a picture on the dresser of his lover who died after the baby was born. He’s barely divorced. I have no idea if he was unfaithful to his former wife or not.
“I can’t help but wonder how many other vulnerable women have been left in his wake—women hoping for life everlasting with a man like him. The nanny who came for an interview couldn’t take her eyes off him. Her behavior reminded me of myself.”
“Give it time and you’ll learn a lot more about him.”
“I’m afraid to learn more and then find out I was a detour along the way.” Cami was already disturbed at the thought of his losing interest in her. “It might be better if I never see him again, that is if he calls me again.” He would haunt her dreams forever, but she didn’t dare open herself up for possible heartache when she was already facing a personal health crisis.
Her mom walked over and hugged her. “Christophe hurt you.”
“At first, Maman. But after I realized I’d made a terrible mistake to marry him, I was no longer in pain. He was a child and always will be. With hindsight I realized I’d gone into that marriage so young because I’d wanted security after losing Papa. Christophe was too immature to handle any crisis, especially the fact that my heart murmur wasn’t getting better.”
A wince marred her mother’s brow.
“On the surface, Raoul Fontesquieu appears to be heaven’s gift to women and has more money than most of us can imagine. But because of my former experience, I need to be aware of the warning signs—like that picture of his lover—and not get any more involved with him.
“Soon my life will be going in a brand-new direction. Depending on a positive result of my operation, which I worry about, I’ll be working at Gaillard’s, and be able to take care of both of us. You need a rest.”
“That’s not your job, Cami.”
“Why not? You’ve sacrificed for me all these years. It’s my turn.”
“But there will come a time when—”
“I don’t think so, Maman,” she interrupted her. “I have to get through the operation first and find out the chances for survival. Forget thinking about a mythical man in my future. He would have to be the antithesis of someone like Raoul Fontesquieu with his complicated life and background.
“His type comes from another planet, let alone a different cultural postal code from mine, and has so much family baggage you can’t wade your way through it. I have to face reality. If a man does show up—that is if I have a future—and he isn’t trustworthy or can’t add richness to the solid life I’m planning to establish, then I don’t want him under any circumstances.”
She kissed her mom. “I’m going to get ready for bed and read for a while. We’re facing another workday tomorrow. Get a good sleep.”
“Don’t you want to put the flowers in your bedroom?”
“It wouldn’t be a good idea.”
Cami went back to her bedroom deep in thought. At eighteen she’d thought marriage would make her blissfully happy. How wrong could she have been? Shouldn’t she have learned some lessons that would prevent her making another serious mistake?