Relieved that she didn’t see his car outside, she rushed in and took a quick shower. After she’d put on a green skirt with a lighter green blouse, she brushed her hair and caught it back with a light green scarf.
He still hadn’t come when she started the chicken crepes and prepared a strawberry and cream dessert. By five thirty she started to worry. The thought of him not coming caused her more misery than she should be feeling for this man.
While she was making coffee, she heard a knock on the door. She hadn’t heard him drive up. With her adrenaline gushing, she rushed to open it. “Dominic?” she cried.
“I’m afraid not.”
Oh!
She’d just come face-to-face with a man who bore such a strong family resemblance to Dominic in looks and coloring it was unbelievable. She reeled and clung to the door.
“Mademoiselle Fournier?”
“Yes?”
“I’m Etienne Fontesquieu.”
She’d already guessed as much and was stunned. He had Alain’s eyes too!
“My brother asked me to stop by in person since he couldn’t reach you on the phone.”
That’s right. She’d turned it off so it wouldn’t wake Alain this morning. Her body was shaking. “Please, come in.”
“I’d better not. I’m getting over a cold.” She could hear it. “Dominic wants you to know he’s been unaccountably detained and is aware you’ve gone to a lot of trouble to make dinner.” She’d been living for tonight. “He asks your forgiveness and will get in touch with you.”
Dominic...
“That’s very considerate of you, especially since you’re not well.”
“I sound worse than I am.”
“Please let your brother know I understand. Thank you.”
“Thank you for doing such a good job for us. Gregoire tells me you’ve caught on fast. I’m impressed. Have a good evening.”
He turned and walked back to his silver Mercedes. From a distance, his tall, lean silhouette reminded her of Dominic. She let out a troubled sound. Good heavens—had she gotten it wrong and Etienne had been Antoinette’s lover?
Nathalie shut the door and sank down on the couch in shock. If she’d met Etienne first, she would have thought he could be Alain’s father. At this point she was convinced she’d lost her mind.
After this experience she’d lost her appetite too.
What if Dominic’s distrust of her had prompted him to send his brother here to check on her a
nd find out what she was up to? Maybe Etienne didn’t trust her either. Once she’d gathered her wits, she put the food in the fridge.
After driving back to La Gaude, she flew into the house. “Maman?”
When there was no answer, she tiptoed to Alain’s room. Her mother was looking down at him in the crib. When she saw Nathalie, she put a finger to her lips. Nathalie went back to the living room to wait.
In a minute her mother walked in. “What’s wrong? You sounded upset when you called out.”
“I am. I met Dominic’s brother, Etienne, today.” Nathalie launched into the reason why he’d stopped in to see her. “They share an amazing family resemblance. Alain could be Etienne’s son.”
A small cry came from her mother. “That does it, Nathalie. You’ve got to give this up. I think you should quit your job at the vineyard before you do something that will cause irreversible damage. You’re tampering with other people’s lives. It’s something that is out of your hands. Don’t you see what is happening?”
“Yes.” Meeting Etienne had thrown her completely. Worse, she’d fallen for his brother, a man who was still a mystery to her and could have been Nathalie’s lover. “But as I told you last night, I learned Dominic had been to the Guinguet several times in the past. I need to find out when. Tomorrow night I’ll ask him if he ever met a girl at the bistro named Antoinette.”
“He’ll demand to know why you want that information.”