Luc asked her why she was so upset. She pretended not to understand and said she needed to get off the phone, but he wouldn’t let her go. When he accused her of keeping a secret from him, she cried out he would have to ask Cesar.
“If you’re talking about Genevieve, I already know about it, Bianca.”
The older housekeeper had sounded shocked. Then she’d broken down in tears before it all came gushing out, verifying everything Olivia had alluded to.
As Luc listened, his throat swelled in pain for his silent accusations against his brother, for the two years Bianca had kept her silence.
Because Luc had believed Genevieve’s lies, he’d refused to let Cesar explain. In consequence their family had suffered needlessly. With hindsight Luc could see that his intransigence had spilled over to his cousins who’d been forced to tread softly around him.
“Luc?”
At the sound of his brother’s voice, he turned in his direction.
“Your cane—it’s gone! You must be three inches taller!” The joy in Cesar’s voice was so heartfelt, Luc felt crucified all over again for the injury he’d caused his brother.
Cesar stood in the doorway, still wearing his driver’s suit. His dark hair was mussed from the helmet he’d been wearing. It took Luc back years to a time when they were young boys playing Space soldiers.
Pere Noel had brought them spacemen costumes for Christmas. Luc had immediately transformed his into a robot suit. No matter how many times Cesar begged to wear it, Luc wouldn’t let him.
Olivia had accused him of always having to be in charge, like Greer. At the time he’d laughed off her comment, but he wasn’t laughing now. Without Luc realizing it, Cesar had grown up to be one of the world’s great Formula I drivers and a successful businessman in his own right.
But he was a lot more than that. Luc realized he was looking at the greatest brother a man could ever have. If it hadn’t been for Olivia…
“How about taking a ride with me for a change, mon frère?”
There was a palpable silence while Cesar’s gaze searched his. He must have seen the pleading in Luc’s because he suddenly broke into a grin.
“I don’t know. It’s been a while since you’ve sat behind the wheel of a car, but I’m willing to risk it considering it’s you.” The last came out in a husky tone.
Luc studied his brother. He didn’t deserve this second chance, but because Cesar was the better man, Luc was getting it. “If I’ve forgotten how, I know I’ve got the best there is to help me.”
“Etienne? I’m taking off with my brother!” Cesar shouted with the kind of excitement Luc hadn’t heard in years. “Don’t plan on seeing me until you see me!”
“…so what do you think? Try to picture them polished smooth.”
Piper stared at the rocks laid out on the counter in the kitchen. Then her glance shifted to Olivia. “They’re pretty.”
“No, they’re not. You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
Her sister cocked her head. “In theory I think your idea to sell them for paperweights is terrific. Tell you what. Let’s get in the car and go to that lapidary shop on Decater Avenue. We’ll ask whoever’s in charge to give us their honest opinion.”
Olivia lowered her head. “They won’t be honest. They’re out to make money and will probably tell me the end pr
oduct will look like jewels.”
Piper poured them both a glass of milk to drink with their sandwiches. She brought them to the table. “You know what I think?”
“What?” Olivia asked before biting into her bologna and cheese.
“You’re beginning to sound as cynical as someone else I could mention.”
“I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Then how come you brought home his cane?”
The last bite Olivia took tasted like sawdust. “It’ll serve as a reminder of my terrible judgment. Did I tell you I’m never going to Europe again?”
“In a year’s time you won’t feel so awful.”