“Which means, of course, something did happen,” smirked Emily. “And what would that something be?”
Her phone rang again. Her heart hammered until she realized Henri was calling. Grateful for the reprieve, she answered quickly.
“Henri… I’m so sorry I couldn’t come. How’s Anna-Laure?”
“She is okay. But I am calling for you. What happened? Gherring told me that there was a car accident. Your father? What happened?”
“He’s alive, but in intensive care. And I’m so sorry. The timing was awful, and you wasted all that money on a plane ticket for me.”
“The money is nothing. I am so glad your father is okay. And you? Are you okay? You must have been very afraid. If I were there I would give you a hug. Like you gave me a hug. You give very good hugs.” She could almost picture his smile over the phone.
“Yes, I was terrified, but I’m okay now. We’re on the way to the hospital, me and the girls. But tell me about Anna-Laure. Has she started chemotherapy?”
“She had a treatment today. She was très courageuse. Brave, she was brave. And it did not make her sick. Tomorrow may be worse.”
“I’m praying for her every day.”
“Me too,” said Charlie.
“And me,” said Emily.
Anne smiled. “Charlie and Emily want you to know they’re praying too.”
“We need all those prayers—every one. When will you go back to New York?”
“I hadn’t really thought about it. But if Dad is doing well, I guess I’ll go back on Sunday night. I really have a lot of work to do, especially with my new job and still having to do the other stuff. And I’ve got to work out the final details for the company Christmas party.”
“I think I will still come to New York. I have a ticket already for that weekend. If I think that Anna-Laure will be okay without me. I would like to see you.”
“That’d be great Henri. I’d love to see you, but I’ll understand if you can’t come because of Anna-Laure.”
“I hope I can come. I need you, mon bel ange.”
“My gosh, Mom,” said Charlie as they walked into the hospital, “Henri’s voice is so sexy, with that French accent. I don’t know how you can resist him.”
“A problem made easier by the fact there’s an ocean between us. But you may be right. Who knows what would’ve happened if I were in Paris right now?”
“You see, I told you we needed to have ‘The Talk.’” Emily waggled her eyebrows.
“Really though, Mom, you’re so strong. You’ve never even dated anyone since Dad died. You must be amazing at resisting temptation.”
“Or maybe she’s terrible at it, and that’s why she never dated.” Both girls chuckled at Emily’s comment. But Anne cringed at how close to the truth Emily had come.
She rushed to change the subject. “I’m so worried about Grandpa—I’ll feel a lot better when he’s awake and we can talk to him.”
“He’s conscious and he doesn’t like the tube in his nose. I hope you can help him calm down a bit.” The attending nurse frowned in obvious disapproval of his antics.
“Daddy?”
“Annie, baby,” he croaked. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t make it to the airport to get Charlie.”
“I’m here, Grandpa.” Charlie arrived on the other side of the bed.
“And me,” said Emily.
“Do you know what happened, Dad?”
“I remember the car sliding sideways, but nothing after that. What about Gandalf?”