that he believed this would somehow bring me back to
him someday. Whatever his reasons, it certainly made
our switch of identities far more possible.
I turned to call Beau and then stopped, realizing
the biggest problem of all.
"We can't do this, Paul. It's impossible." "Why?"
"Pearl!" I said. "If I'm Gisselle, what happens to
her?"
Paul thought a moment and then nodded. "With
you supposedly seriously ill and with our nanny gone
to care for her own family, I will take her to live with
her aunt and uncle until the ordeal at Cypress Woods
ends. For the time being, it will serve as a good cover
story."
I was overwhelmed with his quick thinking.
"Oh, Paul, I don't deserve this kindness and sacrifice.
I really don't," I cried.
He smiled coolly. "You'll come visit your sick sister from time to time, won't you?" he asked, and I understood that in this strange way, he hoped to keep
me tied to him.
"Of course, although Gisselle wouldn't care." "Be careful," he warned with another grin.
"Don't be too nice or people will say,. . what's come
over her? She's not herself these days."
"Yes," I said, realizing how great the challenge
ahead of me was. I had very little confidence in
myself. For now, I would have to be happy with only
desire, the desire to be with Beau as his wife forever.
Maybe that was enough. For Pearl's sake and mine, I
prayed it was.
Book Two
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