Luca placed the box of cookies on her lap and kissed both her cheeks. “You make us very happy, Madame Claire.”
Tears threatened. “Me too.”
“We say, ‘Moi aussi.’”
Luca’s earnestness warmed her. “Moi aussi. À demain.”
Luca nodded. “You are a very fast learner.”
Waving, they departed.
How on earth had she jumped into a river, much less saved Luca? She couldn’t swim, could she?
Chapter 24
ClairedialedMarti.
“Jeel-Bear told me,” her voice boomed. “I’ve been worried sick. I was about to book a flight to come and get you. How are you feeling?”
Claire held the phone away from her ear. “Oh, Marti, I love you. I’m so sorry you were worried. I’m okay.”
“No, ‘okay’ is not the answer I am looking for. You jumped into an ice-cold river and saved your husband’s son! I’m not only worried about your physical health, but also your mental stability.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do. Are you nuts? Weren’t there other people who could have gone in after him?”
“I knew Luca was going in after that dog before he did. He’s a little boy, a good-hearted little boy who loves animals, and he wanted to save that dog.”
“Where was Gilbert? I wanted to ask him, but I didn’t want to be rude.”
“He needed to use the restroom after the boat trip.”
“Boat trip? You hate boats! You hate the water!”
“I wanted to spend time with Luca, and he wanted to take a boat ride.”
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeek! I’m tearing my hair out.”
“Take deep breaths. Come on, do it with me. Inhale…”
Marti’s laughter boomed. “You sound like a shrink.”
Claire laughed with her. Her laughter released the pressure and tension in her chest, and it felt so good. “Do your teenager patients give you this much grief?”
“No. And that’s saying a lot.”
“I’m so sorry. But please help me.”
“Gilbert sounds like he’s very concerned about you and very helpful. Is he as handsome as he sounds?”
“More than you think.”
Marti crowed. “Don’t sit facing the sun. Sit with your back to the sun when you’re across from Gilbert.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Sunlight shows your wrinkles.”
