“When the doctor told me our baby didn’t make it, I felt something die inside of me. But just now I came back to life when you told me we’re expecting a baby.”
Unaware of his own strength, he tightened his fingers around hers, giving her physical evidence of the magnitude of emotion driving him.
“You’ll never want for anything and I promise to look after
you and our child for as long as I live. You’ll have no regrets—I’ll make sure of it. I need to be a father to our baby, and I need you there to help me. Don’t deny me that joy.”
When she felt his lips kiss her forehead, her heart let out a little death gasp.
For better or for worse, she would have to take this man for her lawfully wedded husband. Now that he’d borne his soul to her, she couldn’t possibly do anything else.
He finally released her, then paused at the door. “I’m leaving so you can get some sleep, but I’ll be back in the morning to drive us to the airport. Considering you came to me as soon as you could, I’m confident you’re not going to disappear on me. Dors bien, ma belle.”
Knowing his family wouldn’t be in bed yet, Luc drove to his mother’s home and let himself in the back door.
He was glad to discover the adults congregated around the kitchen table drinking coffee. While the women talked, Jean-Marc dipped the end of his baguette in the hot liquid before devouring it.
The second Luc’s grieving mother saw him, she got up.
“I was hoping you would come over. We’ve been trying to reach you on the phone.” Her arms went around him. “Where did you go after you left the Brouets’? I’ve been worried sick about you.”
“Do you want coffee?” Giselle piped up, anticipating that he wouldn’t like their mother fussing over him after a day like today. But this was one time his sister needn’t have worried. Their mother’s question had given him the perfect opening.
“Non, merci, Giselle.”
He guided his mother back to her chair. After she sat down, he kept his hands on the back of one of the empty chairs.
“I’ve just come from Colmar.”
Three pairs of dark eyes fastened on him in surprise. He could read their minds with ease.
“Rachel Valentine was there.”
As his mother gasped he saw Giselle give her husband a secret look.
“I’m flying to New York with her in the morning. That means you’re in charge, Jean-Marc.”
While his brother-in-law stared at him in astonishment, his mother erupted on cue.
“Have you lost your mind, mon fils? Does she have no scruples? You just buried Paulette. I absolutely forbid you to go anywhere with that woman!”
“Be careful what you say, Maman. When we come back from our trip, that woman will be Madame Lucien Chartier, your new daughter-in-law.”
At the stunned expression on her face he added, “We’re expecting a baby on the third of March. You’re going to be its grand-mère.”
Giselle pushed herself away from the table and ran around to hug him.
“I’m so happy for you I could burst!”
“I knew I could count on you,” he whispered.
Jean-Marc nodded at him with genuine affection. “Congratulations, Luc. I’m very happy for you. Does Giles know?”
“Not yet.”
“The news is sure to please him. He said if you let her escape, he would marry Mademoiselle Valentine himself, if he were younger and she would have him.”
Luc smiled. He knew the old man had a crush on her.