“No, my angel. I felt you respond to me before. This time…”
A lump swelled in her throat. “I’m sorry, Henri. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
He crossed the car to put his arm around her. “Je suis d'accord. I am okay.” He patted her shoulder and sighed. “There is this nurse. From the hospital. And maybe I like her. She is very good to Anna-Laure.”
She chewed he lower lip. “Really?”
“Maybe. We will see. But I suspected already this might happen. From Switzerland. From our phone calls.”
“Then what was all that back there with Mr. Gherring?”
“The pig! He thinks he knows something. He tries to make me look like a fool. He has talked to Michelle.”
“Michelle?”
“Yes, Michelle came to see me last week. She told me she still loved me. And I realized…” he spoke with wonder on his face. “I realized I felt nothing for her. I do not trust her anymore. But she thinks it must be someone else—maybe you or the nurse. She cannot believe I would not come back to her, unless there was someone else.”
“Good riddance, Henri. I don’t trust her either. You can do better.”
“At least you still believe in me.”
She sighed. “What a mess, Henri. What about tonight, the expensive restaurant? And tomorrow’s Christmas party?”
He gave her the old devilish grin she’d grown accustomed to. “Tonight, I will have my angel on my arm, and we will both forget our worries. N'est-ce pas?”
Saturday
As the streets came to life Saturday morning, Anne was already up, strolling along the sidewalks. After lying awake in bed from three a.m. to five, she’d finally given up trying to sleep. She’d made it to her favorite coffee shop so early the doors were still locked, so she’d walked the streets trying to clear her head.
She’d finally found someone for Steven, someone who’d might actually make him happy. He’d never have to be alone again.
Ellen was sweet and selfless. And her association with Steven was already helping her career. It was ideal. Everything was perfect. And Anne was the one responsible for making it all happen. Another matchmaking success story.
So why did she feel so miserable?
She heard a voice call from behind her. “Hey Anne! Where are you going? Aren’t you coming in for coffee?”
Mr. Hamilton was leaning out the door of his shop and motioning for her to come back. She hesitated a moment, not really feeling up to socializing, but couldn’t bring herself to disappoint him.
“I can’t stay long today, Mr. Hamilton.”
“Oh?” he asked with a broad smile. “Do you have a hot date?”
To her complete horror, she suddenly burst into tears. He gasped, but quickly responded, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
“Anne, honey, what’s wrong? What happened?”
He continued to hold her and pat her on the back. As she caught her breath, she let him lead her to a chair. Seated in front of her, he handed her a tissue and waited patiently for her to look up from her hands as she wrung them together in her lap.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I should be happy everything worked out so well. You know, I think maybe he’s really in love.” She paused to take a deep shuddering breath.
“He’s been so miserable and alone, and no one understood him before. He hides himself in his business and never lets anyone get close. He thought he was so self-sufficient, but I knew he needed someone who could break through all those barriers. Someone who could really love him. Someone who could understand who he really is. Someone who would love him for himself and not for his money or his power.”
She stopped to wipe her tear-streaked cheeks. “I’m so happy for him.”
“Are we talking about Margaret’s grandson, Steven?”
“Who’s Margaret?” Did his face turn red?