“I couldn’t put him through this.”
“Why not?”
“Because I haven’t told you everything about his life. While he was married, his wife had a baby girl.”
“He had a baby with his wife?”
Cami stared at her mom. “But he found after the birth that his little daughter, Celine, wasn’t his!”
A frown broke out on her mother’s face. “His wife lied to him about that?”
Cami nodded. “She tricked him so he would marry her.”
“Ah. That explains why he had to let Alain’s mother go and he never got to see his own boy.”
“There’s more, Maman. He adored that baby in spite of the lie, but suffered grief when the doctor told them the little girl had such a damaged heart, she wouldn’t survive. They buried her on the Fontesquieu estate a month after she was born.”
Cami watched her mother pace for a moment before she came to a halt. “I finally have my answer why you never told him about tomorrow’s surgery.”
“How could I after all he’s been through? He loved that baby and it killed him she died of a bad heart!” Cami cried. At this point she broke down sobbing. “He’s so remarkable, so wonderful and doesn’t deserve to go through any more pain or suffering.”
“That’s because you’re convinced that you’re not going to make it.”
“I don’t know what to believe,” she bit out. “Can you guarantee I won’t die?”
Silence reigned for a moment. “No, my darling girl, but I know God is watching over you and He’s not going to let that happen. Excuse me while I freshen up in your bathroom, then I’ll come in and lie down on that cot by you. I want to hear more about this incredible man who’s going to become my son-in-law one day.”
“Don’t joke with me about this.”
“Who’s joking?” she asked from the bathroom door.
“I’m afraid you’re not going to get much sleep.” Cami wiped her eyes. “The nurse will be in and out during the night.”
“It’ll be worth it when morning comes and I find out my daughter came through her surgery perfectly and will be free of worry for the rest of her life about her heart.”
Free of worry.
Incredibly, for the first time in years, Cami had something else on her mind besides the outcome of the surgery. She was still so shaken by the feel of being in Raoul’s arms, let alone his marriage proposal, she couldn’t think straight.
Raoul had been right about one thing. She’d fallen crazy in love with him and his son. The way she’d returned his soul-searching kisses told him everything she hadn’t been able to say in words.
Cami had escaped his world just in time. He deserved to find a woman of his own class who would love Alain and make a wonderful home for
him. She would have to be a woman of whom his parents could approve of. Cami didn’t care how much Raoul denied it, his father’s opinion had to mean something to him. She could never be his parent’s choice of daughter-in-law.
Of course, Cami’s mother didn’t have the same problem when it came to Raoul. She’d approved of him from the beginning.
But the only matter of importance was tomorrow, the most important day of her life. Until the operation was over, she had no idea what her life would be like. No one could predict the future.
Antoinette had died of infection ten days after giving birth to Alain. Within a month of being born, Sabine’s baby had died of a bad heart, adding to Raoul’s grief over the lie she’d told him.
Maybe Cami wouldn’t come out of the anesthetic. Thank heaven her mother had family to turn to if the worst happened and Cami’s heart stopped beating altogether.
Anything could happen. Thankfully her beloved Raoul would know nothing about it. That was the way it had to be.
The next morning, her operation was scheduled early. Before going to sleep the night before, they’d given her a medication to make her less anxious. When morning came she was administered the anesthetic. When Cami awakened in the recovery room later on, she saw her doctor smiling at her.
“Welcome to the world, Cami. Your mother told me how frightened you’ve been, but you don’t have to be any longer. Your operation was a complete success. You’re going to live a long, full life. For now you must rest. You’ll be taken to your room in a little while. Tomorrow I’ll release you.”