At the Chateau for Christmas

by Rebecca Winters

  “Was she your first love?”

  “No. I had several relationships over the years before our accident.”

  “What happened that you didn’t end up with one of them?”

  “Though my parents are happy enough, I wanted a marriage like Maurice and Irene’s. Somehow the reality never lived up to the spiritual essence I was hoping for.”

  “Until you met Dorine.”

  “Ours was more a meeting of the minds.”

  This trip to Nice had taught Laura one invaluable truth. She knew that when she went back to San Francisco, she was going to end it with Adam. Theirs was not that one heart, one soul mating, the kind Nic had just referred to when he’d talked about their grandparents.

  “I’m surprised you aren’t married yet,” Nic murmured. “That means you’ve turned down a lot of men already.”

  Her brows lifted. “You think?”

  “I know.” His husky tone sent shivers down her spine.

  “By high school I had my sights set on the corporate office. Mother told me that if I wanted to make it in business, I shouldn’t let romance distract me. She told me I had years before I needed to worry about marriage. When I started working there and saw the number of fouled-up office relationships, I made up my mind to put business first.”

  His eyes gleamed in the semidarkness. “How long have you known Adam?”

  She sighed. “He was moved into the accounting office from San Jose about a year ago. We were introduced and—”

  “That was it for him,” Nic broke in. “Is that when you amended your decision not to get involved?”

  “No. I didn’t start dating him until October. On Thanksgiving he took me to meet his parents. Adam comes from a fine family. His parents are so stable.”

  “But what about your feelings for him?”

  She averted her eyes.

  “I shouldn’t have asked that question, but you remind me of myself when I was trying to decide whether to marry Dorine or not. I enjoyed her family very much. And family—or the lack of it—is of vital importance, as we both know.”

  “You’re right.”

  “So tell me, what are the qualities that attract you to Adam?”

  The questions were painful because Nic was getting closer and closer to the truth about her feelings for Adam. “He’s attractive and clever. I can tell he’s ambitious, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing for business.”

  “Maurice would agree with you. To make a company succeed, you have to have fire in the belly, but sometimes that quality is hard on personal relationships.”

  Laura nodded. “My mother feels he’s a little too eager beaver.”

  “You’re a Holden,” he blurted. “She’s entitled to want to protect her only chick from the fortune hunters out there.”

  She stopped eating. “You saw right through that, didn’t you.”

  “Don’t forget I’m a Valfort. Fortune hunters come male and female.”

  “Yet you knew that wasn’t the case with Dorine.”

  “My wife was raised with the good things in life and had more than money on her mind.”

  Laura smiled at him. “You’re talking about her brain, the kind that understands what you’re talking about. You two had your own private club. How wonderful.” She closed the carton she’d emptied, envious for that kind of loving relationship. “I’m so sorry for what happened to you I can hardly fathom it.”

  “Though I didn’t think it possible at the beginning, I’m doing better these days. Your coming to Nice has helped in remarkable ways. No one in my family will talk about Dorine. They’re afraid of hurting me, and that’s understandable. But it’s felt good to open up to you.”

  “I’m glad. One of my friends married a soldier who returned from Iraq with PTSD. They’re the ones who have the little boy I spoke about. Through counseling she learned that he needed to talk about his experiences. It helped him a lot once he could share the pain with her, no matter how hideous or traumatizing. Not talking about it is the worst thing you can do.

  “The counselor explained that PTSD doesn’t just happen to soldiers. You’ve gone through a life-altering experience, Nic, and need to talk about it and your life with her. How are her parents holding up?”

  “They’re strong, and they have each other. It’s the waiting for news of any kind that’s been hard on them.”

  “Of course. Do you talk to them every day?”

  “Not as much during this last year. Their lives are busy.”

  “I’m sure you’re a great comfort to them. I know you have close family, but I assume you and Maurice have relied on each other the most for emotional support.”

  He put his empty carton back in the sack. “Always. Let’s hope he and your mother are going to find relief before the night is over.”

  She rested her head against the window. “I wonder how it’s really going with them.”

  “So far no phone call.”

  “I know. It has to be a good sign, doesn’t it?”

  His gaze wandered over her. When he looked at her like that, she found it hard to breathe. “You’re anxious. Do you want to go back home?”

  No. But much as she wished they could stay right here and keep on talking, she knew it was for the best that they leave. What had happened on his cruiser could easily happen again if she gave in to her longing for him. “Maybe we ought to, just in case.”

  She had the impression he didn’t want to go anywhere, either, but after hesitating he started the engine. Nic was riddled with guilt. She could feel it, and she loved him for his devotion to his wife. Their situation was impossible. “By the time we get there, your mother might call you. Fortunately the villa’s not that far from the estate.”

  The villa was his home. And Dorine’s. But there was a problem, because Laura had started thinking of it as home, too. When she imagined returning to her condo in San Francisco, the realization that Nic wouldn’t be there filled her with an emptiness that refused to go away.

  While they drove back, she couldn’t help staring at his compelling profile. “I meant what I said the other day. I’m going to give the summerhouse back to Maurice. He needs his own place. I believe it will be a great comfort for him to continue living where he knew such happiness with Irene. As long as he has his health, he needs his independence. You know very well he doesn’t want to live with your father and mother. Not yet, anyway.”

  He glanced at her. “I would ask you how you got so smart, but then I remember you’re Irene’s granddaughter.”

  “In the morning, will you go with me to get the legal work done?”

  “Since I can see your mind is made up, I guess I don’t have a choice.”

  She smiled. “Good. With that fait accompli, Maurice will be able to get on with his life. He can continue overseeing the Valfort empire from the summerhouse. Set him up with a computer that’s linked to the mainframe. Depending on the longevity of the Valfort genes, he could conceivably be running the company for years yet.”

  “Better watch out,” he murmured. “He might decide to steal you from Holden headquarters and give you a prominent position as his executive assistant.”

  Don’t hold out that idea to me, Nic. We can’t think that way. We can’t have a future.

  “He’d never do that to your family. It would start another war.”

  Lines marred his handsome features at the thought. Little did he know her body quickened at the very suggestion she work for his grandfather. To live here in Nice and be so close to him... But it was impossible.

  “I’ll be perfectly happy to remain his American granddaughter.”

  “Neither of you will feel that way if you’re on the other side of the Atlantic, out of reach.”

  She wished he hadn’t said that. Didn’t he realize th
ere was no hope?

  While she was waiting for her mother’s call, Nic’s cell phone rang. After he answered, the conversation went on for a few minutes. She’d been nervous enough, but now she feared the meeting between her mother and Maurice hadn’t gone well. Her body tensed in apprehension.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked the moment he hung up.

  “Are you prepared to learn that a miracle has happened? Maurice showed her the DVD before they began talking. Your mother was so overcome by it, she asked him to tell her the truth of everything the moment it ended. It was quite a conversation. After he showed her the letter Susan had sent to Auguste, she broke down and begged his forgiveness. Their meeting couldn’t have gone better.”

  “Thank heaven.” It was Laura’s turn to fall apart with relief.

  “Your mother asked if she could talk to his family. He made a call and then drove her to the château, where she met with my parents and Auguste.”

  Hot tears trickled down her cheeks. “I—I can’t believe it.”

  “They’ve all been talking, and now she wants us to come and get her.”

  She sniffed. “I’m surprised Mom can even function.”

  “I don’t think I am,” he said on a solemn note. “You have Irene’s strength. It seems that having heard the truth, your mother does, too. This has made a new man of my grandfather. I could hear it in his voice.”

  The next hour turned out to be a revelation. After they arrived at the château, Maurice introduced Laura to the assembled group. At last she met Nic’s family, who seemed genuinely sorrowful for the part they’d played in judging Irene.

  His parents were very gracious to Laura. They commented on her strong likeness to Irene. Interestingly enough, Nic only faintly resembled his mother and father. He was Maurice’s grandson in every way.

  As the night wore on, one glance at her mother and she could tell Jessica was almost ready to faint from all the strain. Nic saw it too and suggested it was time to leave.

  Maurice walked them out to the car. He gave Laura a tender hug while Nic helped her mother into the backseat. Finally Laura climbed in next to her. “Talk to you tomorrow, Gran’père,” she called out.

  All was quiet after they started down the drive, but Laura’s heart thudded with anxiety.

  “Mom?”

  “I’m all right, darling.” She grasped Laura’s hand. “The question is, how do you feel, and can you ever forgive me?”

  “Now that we know the truth, there’s nothing to forgive. We owe Maurice everything because he never told Nana about Susan. I’m glad I didn’t know about it until now, and I love him for sparing all of us that horror.”

  “Mother was right. He’s a wonderful man. She said that when we all meet in heaven one day, we’ll throw our arms around each other and all will be forgiven.”

  “Oh, Mom.” Laura hugged her for a long time.

  “I’ve already forgiven Susan and know you have, too. She’s not in her right mind. Susan was always different, but I never suspected her problems went so deep. I don’t think the videos or the letters would be helpful to her in her condition.”

  Laura kissed her mom’s cheek. “I agree.”

  “Tomorrow I’m flying back to San Francisco and will talk to a psychiatrist about the best way to handle her. Are you coming with me?”

  She couldn’t leave Nic yet. Not yet... “I can’t. Tomorrow I’m going to see an attorney and have papers drawn up to give the summerhouse back to Maurice.”

  Jessica didn’t fight her on it. “Your nana knew what she was doing when she left it to you.”

  “I’m sure she hoped this would be the outcome. When I’ve packed the things she gave me, I’ll fly home.”

  “How soon do you have to be back at work?”

  “Not until after New Year’s.”

  Her mother squeezed her hand harder. “Because of Susan, I judged Maurice and Mother, and will always be sorry for keeping you from her. But it’s not too late for me to ask your forgiveness for judging Adam. He’s in love with you. Forget what I said about him. If you love him, then so do I. That’s all that matters.”

  On a burst of deep emotion, Laura held on to her mother until they reached the house without saying anything. It was over with Adam.

  The only man she loved was Nic. She couldn’t imagine a future without him, but she would have to deal with that reality, because he was still married. If by some miracle his wife were returned to him unharmed, it still wouldn’t change her feelings for him. Unless another man came along who could make her forget Nic Valfort, she was doomed to go through life alone.

  * * *

  Jessica’s sentiments to Laura drifted forward to torment Nic. The only thing that saved him was the knowledge that Laura wasn’t going home tomorrow. Hopefully the legal matter would take several days to resolve, delaying her departure for as long as possible.

  He drove them back to the villa. While Laura got her mother settled in the other guest bedroom, he went to the den to check his voice mail. No call from the detective yet. His assistant, Robert, had called to ask for a few more days off because extended family was still visiting. Nic phoned and told him to take all the time he wanted. Right now he intended to spend every second possible with Laura.

  There was a second call from Yves, his good friend from childhood who’d gone through a nasty divorce two years ago and was still trying to recover. He suggested they get together over drinks before the holidays were over. Yves had helped in the search for Dorine. Nic owed him and still had a Christmas gift for him.

  Why not set things up for tomorrow night? He’d invite Laura to go with him. It would be a legitimate way to take her out for an evening. Yves would probably bring a girlfriend. His friend wouldn’t think anything about Laura being with Nic when he learned she was Irene’s granddaughter. In fact he’d see the resemblance, since he’d been at the summerhouse with Nic many times over the years, before and after Nic’s marriage.

  Once he’d made the phone call, he walked back to the living room, where he found Laura waiting for him.

  “I wanted to touch base with you before I go to bed. Mother has made arrangements with the pilot to fly out tomorrow morning at nine. She’ll phone for a taxi. I just wanted you to know I’ll go with her to see her off.”

  He frowned. “Would she rather I didn’t drive her?”

  Color rushed into her cheeks. “No—” She put her hands out. “It’s nothing like that. She doesn’t want to intrude on your hospitality any more than necessary.”

  “It’s no intrusion. She’s Irene’s daughter and your mother.”

  “I know, but don’t forget how terrible she feels deep down. She needs time.”

  Nic nodded. “In that case, take my car. I have another one in the garage if I need it. To make it easier, I’ll make myself scarce in the morning.” He pulled out his keys and took the Mercedes key off the ring.

  Her blue gaze looked darker than usual before she reached for it. Their fingers brushed. If her emotions were in as much turmoil as his, then she was barely holding on. “You belong to a family with a forgiving nature. They couldn’t have been kinder to Mother or me. Now I know why you’re a prince.”

  “Laura—” His voice came out sounding husky to his own ears.

  “It’s true.” Her eyes clung to his. “A miracle happened to the Valfort and Holden families tonight, but I’m greedy because I’m praying for another one. The one that brings your lovely wife safely home to you. I mean that with all my heart. Good night.”

  He stood there long after she’d gone to bed, trying to get a grip on his feelings. Nic had no doubt she meant what she said. It might have only been a few days, but he’d learned enough about Laura’s character to know she would never entertain an affair with him. Whatever physical and emotional bond they’d forged out on t
he boat, she wouldn’t act on it, because she wasn’t that kind of woman.

  He wasn’t that kind of man.

  If Dorine were never found, it would be four more years before she would be declared legally dead. Four more years before he could even think about getting married again to any woman, if that’s what he desired.

  But after four years Laura wouldn’t be available, let alone still wanting to be with him.

  No matter how he looked at it, a relationship with her was out of the question. Deep down in his gut, he realized she’d just sent him a coded message. Without saying the exact words, she’d told him that she intended to go home soon. And whether or not she married Adam, she’d keep her distance from Nic.

  He turned out the lights and headed for his bedroom, knowing sleep might not come to him tonight.

  * * *

  After taking her mother to the airport the next morning, Laura returned to the villa. She found Nic at his desk in the den on the phone. Realizing he was busy, she started to walk out, but he motioned for her to stay where she was. His all-encompassing glance sent her pulse off the charts.

  “How was your mother this morning?” he asked after hanging up the phone.

  “Anxious to get back and meet with a doctor who knows how to treat a situation like this. Mom has needed therapy for years. Now she’ll get it.”

  “What about you? How are you holding up?”

  “Now that there are no secrets, I’m doing better than I would have thought. You’re the one I’m worried about.”

  He shook his dark head. “You don’t need to be. From here on out things are going to be different in my family. Vastly improved.” One black brow lifted. “That’s a relief only you could understand.”

  “A weight has been taken from both our shoulders, but you sustain a pain that doesn’t leave you alone.”

  “I’ve been living with it for three years. And don’t forget I have my work, which is flourishing.”

  “I don’t doubt it.” She sighed. “Speaking of work, I’m facing mounds of it when I get back. I’ve implemented some new marketing incentives at a few hotels around the state and need to follow the results closely. It means I’ll be traveling for a while.”