Having the Frenchman's Baby

Luc’s throat swelled with emotion because they, too, wanted so much more from her than that glassy-eyed stare. They wanted her back, fully alive and whole.

“Does this mean she’s waking up?” Madame Brouet cried with tears running down her face.

The doctor’s solemn gaze took in all of them. “I see no brain-wave activity. There’s been no verbal or motor response. But she has opened her eyes.

“Whether because of pain, or because Yves was speaking to her, or because she did it on her own, we don’t know yet. We’ll have to wait and see if there’s more response.

“In the meantime I’ll instruct the staff to keep her eyes moistened. I have rounds to make, then I’ll check on her again.”

After he left the room, Paulette’s mother turned to Luc. She grabbed his forearms. “Forgive me for fighting you all this time. Thank you, mon fils, for not giving up!” she cried before hugging him with surprising strength.

She hadn’t called him her son for so long. Luc’s arms closed around her. She was a little thing like Paulette.

How strange that at the moment Paulette’s mother was starting to believe in miracles, he had the presentiment there wouldn’t be one in Paulette’s case.

When he’d been a boy about seven or eight, he’d found an injured bird in the vineyard after a storm. He’d picked it up and run to his father who had been able to fix anything.

But his parent had just shaken his head and said, “He’s gone.”

“But his eyes are open, Papa.”

“Sometimes that’s the way it is.”

“We’ll all stay here for the rest of the night and pray for another sign,” Paulette’s father announced, jerking Luc back to the present.

There’d be no flight to London this evening.

Rachel held the digital camera screen in front of her grandfather’s eyes so he could look at Solange and Giles.

“I see a strong resemblance to Louis.”

“When you get better, you can tell her that in person.” She put the camera on the bedstand. “Do you want one of the truffles I brought you from Switzerland?’

“Maybe lat—” He broke off, coughing.

Rachel was in shock to see that, in two weeks, he’d gone downhill.

“What’s the matter, my sweet girl? You left for France with a light in your eyes. Now it’s gone.” His coughing shook the bed.

“I detect all the signs of a man. I’ve wondered when it was finally going to happen.”

She bowed her head to hide her anguish, but it was too late. Her grandfather knew her better than anyone. His compassion found that secret place inside her where all her pain was locked up. Suddenly she was convulsed.

“As soon as you’re able, tell me what he did to bring you so much pain.”

She lay her head on his arm. Throughout his episodes of coughing and the sobs that shook her body, she unburdened her soul to him. When she’d finished, he patted her head.

“This could take some time to sort out.”

Rachel rose up. She wiped the tears off her chin. “It’s over, Grandfather.”

“Don’t be so sure. Life is full of surprises when we least expect them. In the meantime I have an idea.”

“What is it?”

“When Dr Lloyd tells me I’m well enough to travel, let’s get on a plane and go visit Rebecca. It’ll be just the three of us. I’ve missed her and know you have, too.

“When you were little, you were inseparable and told each other everything. You two need each other.”