“That is correct. My invention…well…it blew up while the model was wearing the bathing suit, and she was very frightened—but she wasn’t hurt, and my boss fired me.” A trill of laughter convulsed her, and she bent over her knees, giving into a fit of giggles.
Gilbert patted her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Trying to control her laughing, she wiped away tears. “I was pretty upset when it happened, very disappointed actually, but now, it’s pretty funny. The invention kept pumping air and wouldn’t stop. The tubing swelled to the size of a car tire, and I had to destroy the contraption.”
“Being fired is not a good thing, is it?” Luca asked.
“No, it’s not a good thing, Luca. But I think I tried way too hard, and it is best that the invention didn’t work because if it had, I wouldn’t have met you and Onc.” She tapped her finger on Luca’s nose. “And I’m very glad to be here with you both, now.”
“Bien.” Luca’s smile reassured her.
So what if she lost a job of twenty-three years? The court would settle David’s estate after the holidays. She didn’t need to worry about finding a new job for a month. Tightness crept up her spine. David should have included Luca in his will. Now that she knew about Luca, she had to inform the attorney and set up a trust for Luca. But when she informed the court that David had a son, the estate would be sent to probate court again, blocking money she needed for another year.
The tightness spread across her shoulders. Who would hire a fifty-year-old woman who’d been fired? She couldn’t even collect unemployment. How would she pay for health insurance? And the taxes on the house? And the airfare to France she’d charged? She shook herself and focused on appreciating the stunning scenery.
Gilbert turned on the radio, and Nat King Cole crooned his chestnut song.
Luca sang along and Gilbert joined him.
“Why are all the Christmas songs American? Surely there are French carols?”
“The Christmas markets, restaurants, hotels, and radio stations play American songs because they are universally recognized and popular. The French carols are played in churches and in homes.” Gilbert beat his thumbs against the steering wheel in time with the music.
“We have French words to some of the same carols,” said Luca. “Guess which one this is, Mon beau sapin, mon beau sapin—” he sang
“Oh Christmas Tree?”
Luca slapped the car seat. “You are a very fast learner.”
She didn’t tell him she recognized the song from the melody rather than the words.
As they passed the sign for Riquewhir, a miasma of emotions churned in her. Fear had disabled her from experiencing this joy with David. She deeply regretted preventing him from being a full-time, well-loved father, yet at the same time, anger gnawed at him for keeping the joy of loving this child a secret. She chewed at her chapped lip. Why?
“We go to a Winstub—wine bar.” Luca skipped ahead. An ancient, half-timbered, tilting building decorated in white lights and teddy bears, and silver ornaments claimed a busy corner.
As they entered a cavernous dining room, a cacophony of conversations, clattering dishes, and Burl Ives bellowingA Holly Jolly Christmasfilled the wood-paneled room. White pine chairs, with hearts carved out of the chairbacks, surrounded tables sporting red-and-white-checked cloths.
Luca followed the hostess and pulled out a chair. “Madame Clair? S’il te plaît.”
“Merci.” Claire raised her eyebrows at Gilbert who smiled.
Luca sat next to her. “So, you speak French!”
“Only a few words.”
Gilbert sat at Claire’s other side, plucked up her napkin, and placed it on her lap. She was surrounded by two charming French gentlemen.
Afternoon light streamed through arched stained-glass windows and sparkled in Luca’s eyes. “Then I teach you. I taught Papa David, and he taught me English. So, I teach you French.”
David had pretended not to be fluent in French to give his son the opportunity to teach him. She could have sobbed at David’s kindness, his thoughtfulness, his unselfish love. But why not share this with her? Did he not trust her to accept his donorship? Did he fear she’d divorce him? Before she’d met Luca she might not have been so understanding of David’s decision. Their marriage was based insometrust, but their trust only went so far, on both sides.
Gilbert patted her arm. “Claire may not want to learn.”
Luca frowned. “You like me to teach you?”
“Oui!”
“Bon. That means, good.”
