“Fleur?”

  Her mom had come home.

  “I’m in the kitchen fixing dinner.”

  “Something smells good.”

  She smiled. “I hope you like chicken stir-fry. It’s Deline’s recipe. I used to make it a lot in Paris.” She would miss her friend.

  Her mother walked in. “I’m sure I’ll love it, but first I’ve got fantastic news for you. Maureen said she’d be happy to hire you as a favor to me in order to help me. The job starts tomorrow.”

  Fleurine ran over and hugged her. “She must think the world of you.”

  “Since I was hired, my specialty breads have been selling out. That’s what did the trick.”

  “I’m not the least bit surprised.”

  “Guess what’s the best seller?”

  “The cinnamon stollen?”

  “You’re close. It’s the mannele.”

  “Raoul’s favorite,” she whispered.

  “That’s right. And I found out his assistant on the estate bought some yesterday.”

  Fleurine pressed her hands to her heart. “If Raoul happens to notice, he might co—”

  “He already did, ma fille. Earlier this evening I discovered Raoul out in back of the boulangerie waiting for me in his truck.”

  A gasp escaped Fleurine’s lips.

  “He said he wanted to know why I hadn’t returned his phone call because he had news about Garber. I lied and said I’d been out playing dominoes with my friends and turned off my phone.”

  “Uh-oh.”

  “Don’t worry. He didn’t mind, and he gave me the best news I could have heard. Your father will be facing the judge next week instead of months from now. That’s all because of Raoul and his family’s influence. It won’t be long before he begins his prison sentence.”

  “That’s a miracle.”

  “It is.” Her mother wiped her eyes. “But another one is about to happen too.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He recognized my recipe for mannele. The next time he comes to get more because he can’t resist, he’ll find out you’re working there too. Anything can happen after that.”

  Fleurine took a shaky breath. “Still, you don’t know the damage I’ve done to him.”

  “I think I do. He asked about Marti and Emma but didn’t mention you while we talked. That was the surest sign he’s still fighting to get over you. I know it’s not too late. You came home in time to fix this situation.”

  “I don’t have your faith, Maman.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “The fact that you’re home, working in the boulangerie, of all places, instead of solving software problems in Paris will once again upend his universe. This time with the right results. Mark my words.”

  “I’m going to pray for that.”

  “We both will. Now, I’m hungry. Let’s eat.”

  * * *

  Mid-October brought Raoul and his brothers to the courtroom of the Ministry of Justice for criminal proceedings in Paris. The day they’d all been waiting years for had arrived. Fleurine’s father would be sentenced for crimes committed against the monks of the Church, the property, his family and Raoul.

  The judge read each charge. After he’d finished, he ordered the defendant to stand. “It’s the finding of this court that Garber Dumotte will receive consecutive life sentences and be remanded to La Santé Prison in Paris, without the possibility of parole.”

  At that pronouncement, the three brothers hugged each other before they embraced Claude Giraud and George Delong, the two men who’d helped put Garber away.

  Raoul watched old man Dumotte being led out of the courtroom in ankle chains and handcuffs. As wretched a creature as he was, he had to remember that Garber happened to be Fleurine’s father.

  When the side door closed behind Garber, Raoul felt it as if a sonic boom had pronounced the end of an era. Now a new one was beginning, but he didn’t know what that looked like. Today they would fly home and let their father know the outcome. Beyond that, all Raoul could do was take it one day at a time.

  They took a limo to the airport and left for home. By evening their father and the whole family had gathered around the dining room table to hear what had gone on in court. After Raoul had given an account, he turned the conversation over to his father, who had the last word before dinner was served.

  “I’m grateful this day has come, and I only have one thing to say. We reap what we sow. Let us all try to sow the best of ourselves.”

  “Amen,” everyone murmured, and they started eating.

  Corinne eyed Raoul. “Nic said that none of the Dumotte family were in court for the sentencing today, not even Fleur who’d helped give earlier testimony against her father.”

  Raoul had to clear his throat. “That’s right. Simone told me last week that it would be too painful for all of them.”

  “I can’t even imagine it,” Yvette interjected. “Come to think of it, my friend Marie said she saw Fleur at the Beauchamps boulangerie in La Racineuse yesterday. I thought she lived and worked in Paris.”

  Raoul almost dropped his cup of coffee. He wished to heaven his sisters would get off the subject of Fleurine, but it was impossible. “She does. Marie had to be mistaken.”

  “No,” she argued. “Marie said she heard someone call her name, but after ten years she hardly recognized her because she’s absolutely gorgeous.”

  Anne, another Causcelle sister, nodded. “Fleur and her sister are lovely girls.”

  His brothers flashed Raoul private messages of commiseration. The news that Fleurine was on the estate had taken the three of them by surprise, and they knew he was in pain. Certainly, he hadn’t had any idea she’d come home.

  No doubt she’d wanted to keep her mother company during the sentencing. It made sense that she’d visit her at work. Raoul reasoned that in a day or two Fleurine would be back in Paris. Once she’d left, he’d check on Simone.

  No longer able to tolerate sitting there with Fleurine the subject of conversation, he got up from the table. “If you’ll all excuse me, I’m afraid I have a backlog of work to deal with before bed.”

  Once outside the chateau, he got in his car and found himself headed for the office. But halfway there, he made a left turn toward the Dumotte house. Fleurine had probably flown here or taken the train. He was crazy to go by there when he wouldn’t be able to see her.

  Nor did he want to.

  Her rejection would haunt him to the grave. Soon he came to the road in question and slowed down.

  What in the hell was he doing?

  Had he gone out of his mind?

  In the next breath he started to turn his car around. That’s when he spotted a green Peugeot parked behind Simone’s Renault. He slammed on his brakes.

  Fleurine had driven here?

  Why would she do that?

  With his torment off the charts, he took off for his office. It was the only place where he could have a meltdown in private and attempt to catch up on a ton of work. He’d put everything on hold because of Fleurine, but he couldn’t allow himself to flounder any longer.

  While on the jet flying home, he and Nic had volunteered to help on the construction of the house Jean-Louis and Françoise were building on the property. Between that project and his estate work, it would keep him busy and save his life for a while longer. Beyond that he didn’t dare speculate.

  * * *

  A week later Raoul had to go to town on an errand and decided to drop by the boulangerie to see Simone. to his frustration, Maureen wasn’t there, and a salesclerk he didn’t recognize told him it was Simone’s day off. Not about to be put off, he would run by her house on the way home.

  “May I help you?”

  “Please. I’d like a dozen mannele.”

  “They disappear as fast as they’re made. I’ll see if there are any more in back.”

  While he checked his phone messages, the woman returned to the counter. He lifted his head and found himself staring into a pair of violet eyes he could never get enough of. His heart thundered. “Fleurine! What are you still doing in town? Why are you wearing that apron?”

  Her expression fell, as if she were upset by what he’d said. “You knew I’ve been here?”

  “Yes.” He fought a losing battle with his emotions. “At dinner last week my sister told me her friend saw you in here. How’s your mother?”

  She bit her lower lip, drawing his attention to her exquisite features and that mouth he craved waking or sleeping. “Doing better than I could have imagined.”

  He shifted his weight. “Are you all right now that your father has gone to prison?”

  “Like Maman, I’ve never been happier, knowing he can never hurt any of us again.”

  This was agony. “Our family will be glad to know how you feel.”

  “But not you?” She sounded devastated, and her unexpected question felt like a stab.

  “What do you mean?”

  A look of sadness crossed over her face. “You’ve known I’ve been here for over a week, but you never came in.”

  He couldn’t figure her out. “What’s going on with you, Fleurine? We said our goodbyes in Ischia. I made a promise. Why would I come near you at this point?”

  She avoided his gaze. “You wouldn’t, and of course you’d have every reason not to. But I’ll admit I’ve been praying every day that you’d walk in here. You see, I’ve been hired as Maman’s assistant pastry chef.”

  Her admission came at him like a bolt of lightning. “You mean she asked you to help her?”

  “No. I resigned from Aire-Tech and have moved home for good.”

  He ran trembling hands through his hair, trying to assimilate what she’d just said. “That means you’ve come because your mother is ill.”

  “No, Raoul,” she countered. “This is a permanent move on my part for my own reasons.”

  Beyond bewildered, he stared hard at her. “Then, it’s you who is ill. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here. Do you have cancer or something else life-threatening and need her to care for you? All you have to do is let our family know and we’ll cover the cost.”

  Tears filled those glorious eyes. “Only you would say that, because you’re the most generous man in existence. I don’t have cancer. It’s something much more serious. Worse, there’s just one treatment to cure what’s wrong.”

  His body grew cold. “What are you saying?” He was ready to explode in pain.

  “Look... I’m still working and can’t talk about it right now. In fact, I shouldn’t have said anything at all. I’m so sorry I did.” She started to turn away.

  “Oh, no, you don’t, Fleurine!”

  She stopped in her tracks and looked back at him.

  “You can’t drop a bomb like that and leave me to disintegrate.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “That’s the last thing I meant to do.”

  There it was...that old sweetness. But he refused to be taken in again.

  “I want an explanation, Fleurine. I’ll go around the back of the boulangerie so you can let me in.”

  “Don’t do that, please,” she begged. Wringing her hands she said, “Since the mannele won’t be ready until later today, I promise to bring it to you when I’m off work. Tell me where, and I’ll be there.”

  His hands formed fists. “How do I know you’ll keep your promise?”

  “I—I guess you don’t,” she said uncertainly. “But if you knew the truth, you’d understand that my whole life depends on talking to you about what’s wrong.”

  “Now what are you saying?” He couldn’t take any more.

  “Shh! People can hear us. You have to leave,” she whispered. “I swear I’ll meet you wherever you say.”

  He didn’t have to think. “Come to my office at seven. We’ll be alone.” His office had turned into his cave.

  “I’ll be there. Honestly, I will.” She kept swallowing hard. “Thank you.”

  * * *

  Fleurine hurried back to the kitchen, so excited she felt sick because she’d be seeing Raoul at the end of the day. But on the heels of her euphoria came fear because she’d done such a thorough job of pushing him away. How would he ever be willing to listen to her and understand why she’d said those cruel things to him?

  She’d treated Raoul like a child who’d played with a favorite toy until she didn’t want it anymore and carelessly threw it away. Fleurine was mortified by what she’d done. The only reason he’d agreed to meet with her after work was because he believed she was on the verge of dying.

  Fleurine worked hard for the rest of the day, struggling not to break down. Tonight would be her one and only chance to lay her heart at his feet. But the question remained. Could she truly expect him to want her after the way she’d thrown his proposal back in his face? Her father hadn’t been the only monster living in the Dumotte home.

  When the time came for her to leave work, she flew out the back door with a box of mannele and drove straight home.

  “Maman?”

  “I’m in the bedroom!”

  With tears gushing, she rushed in and flew into her mother’s arms. “Raoul came in to the boulangerie and found out I worked there. I’d hoped he would realize why I’d come home and be convinced I’d given up everything for love of him.” She shook her head. “Nothing could have been further from the truth.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “When he learned I gave up my job and had been here over a week without telling him, he jumped to the conclusion I’d come home because you were terminally ill.”

  “What?”

  “Of course I told him no. That’s when he assumed that I’m the one battling an incurable disease and came home so you could take care of me! But here’s the amazing part.” More tears flowed. “Even though I know he’ll never take me back, he still offered to pay the medical costs.”

  “That Raoul is a saint, but what he said still doesn’t sound like a man who has lost all hope.”

  “His innate goodness has nothing to do with love. He came to earth that way.”

  “I agree.”

  “Maman, I was dying to tell him everything right then, but I couldn’t talk with customers around. He assumed I’d been talking about an illness, and he wouldn’t leave. I could tell he didn’t believe me, and I begged him to go. I promised to meet him later and explain. When he still hesitated, I told him that my whole life literally depended on being able to talk to him about my condition, but it had to be in private.”

  “That poor man must be twisted in knots.”

  “No, Maman. I’m the one in that state. He finally told me to come to his office at seven, but I can’t imagine him wanting to start over with me again after what I’ve done.”

  Her mother patted her arm. “In that case there’s only one thing to do. Since you started this by coming home from Paris in the first place, you have to be the one to end it. No matter your fear of the outcome, I suggest you honor your promise to him this evening and bare your soul. You owe him that much.”

  “I owe him everything,” she said, her voice shaking.

  “He needs to hear that. It’s the only way either of you is going to get on with your lives.” Her mother glanced at her watch. “You’d better hurry if you’re supposed to be there by seven.”

  Fleurine dashed into the bathroom to shower and wash her hair. Later, as she stood in front of the mirror to style it, she remembered that afternoon years ago when she’d gone to the barn to meet Raoul. She’d wanted to look beautiful for him but had been forced to wear one of those awful dresses and leave her hair long. No makeup, no perfume.

  This evening she would pull out all the stops, hoping to erase his Cinderella image of her. At five to seven she was ready to leave wearing a new knee-length sky-blue dress ruched at the waist with three-quarter sleeves. Her heart raced so hard she felt sick.

  She found her mother in the kitchen and gave her a kiss. “Pray for me, Maman.”

  “I’ve never stopped. Neither should you.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  SEVEN MINUTES AFTER SEVEN. Fleurine wasn’t coming.

  Unable to take anymore, Raoul shot up from his desk. Who knew what was wrong with her. He couldn’t handle it right now. The only thing to do was leave La Racineuse and move to the other side of the planet as Jean-Louis had suggested.

  He flew out the main door and headed for his truck parked in front. But he’d only made it halfway when a blue Renault pulled up behind it. He came to a stop.

  Simone? Something serious must have happened. His heart almost failed him.

  As the driver’s door opened, a shapely female vision in soft blue emerged. In the twilight he realized it was Fleurine! Grâce à Dieu. She hurried toward him, and he caught the flowery fragrance of her perfume in the night breeze.

  “Thank you for still being here. I know I’m late. Please don’t leave.” Her heavenly eyes implored him. “I was afraid you’d think I wasn’t coming.” She looked in perfect, amazing health but sounded out of breath. “My car wouldn’t start so I had to bring my mother’s, the one you gave her.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s growing cooler, and you’re not wearing a coat.”

  “I didn’t want one because I was in too big a hurry to talk to you.”

  Raoul made an instant decision. “I’d rather not go back in the office in case Damond decides to do some work. Let’s drive to the chateau where we’ll both be more comfortable.”

  A look of alarm broke out on her gorgeous face. “The chateau?”