Claire clamped her hand over a sob. Tears of relief sprang. “Marti wanted me to wait until after the holidays to find Luca, but I was terrified something could happen to him at any time. David must have sent me to save his son.”
Gilbert smiled. “Maybe so, but he certainly didn’t expect you to save him twice. You’re a—Americans say, ‘rockstar?’”
Claire picked up a spatula and, pretending it was a microphone, mouthed the words toSanta Claus is Coming to Town.
Gilbert laughed and took away the spoon. “I have a question for you.”
She loved the warmth cascading through her.
His eyes searched hers. “Would you like to work here at the winery and stay with Luca and me?”
“For Christmas?”
“For Christmas, and the new year, and—beyond.”
Joy bubbled up in her, and she floated on its buoyancy until she remembered Seattle. She put her hand over his. “What would I do for a job?”
“I am a good vigneron, but Sophie was the vintner. I don’t know if my wines will be as good as those Sophie created. But, with your palate I believe we would come very close to those award-winning vintages. The winery needs your palate. And Luca and I need you.”
“Wouldn’t I have to go through a lot of red tape? Get a Visa…”
“It would be a simple process since you’d already have a job offer.”
“What does Luca want?”
“It was his idea.” Gilbert’s smile was broad. “His and Remy’s.”
She smiled and searched his blue-gray eyes, surrounded by lines wrought by years of laughter and worry and sorrow and joy.
“And if the wine doesn’t work out, we can redesign this place together.” His eyes were sincere, kind, trusting.
She was falling in love with him, and she didn’t want to live five thousand miles away. “Thank you. You are very thoughtful. It is a wonderful offer and opportunity. I’ll need to think about it. But I can assure you, that’s all I’ll be thinking about.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
Chapter 30
SnowflakesswirledoutsidetheFrench doors and draped the vineyard in a sparkling white duvet. The twinkling white lights of the Christmas tree bathed the great room in a soft glow. The Yule log snapped, and through the speakers a children’s choir sangIl est né le divin enfant.
Puppies of different breeds were printed all over Luca’s pajamas. He snuggled next to Claire, his arm around Remy, who snoozed on the couch beside him.
Claire had expected Luca to be uncontrollably excited on Christmas morning, but she sensed his heart was heavy, missing his parents. Gilbert, too, was quiet. She missed David and, although she’d never met Sophie, Claire missed her, too. At that moment she was surprised she had forgotten that her and David’s anniversary had been the day before, and she’d not acknowledged it. She thought it odd that as she was getting to know more about David, his presence seemed to dim. Was that because she was getting to know Luca? Or was she letting David go?
They sipped their café au lait, watched the snow, listened to the music.
“Are they singing about baby Jesus being born?” she asked Luca.
He nodded. “It was Maman’s favorite carol.”
Claire pressed him to her, hoping he felt safe, cared for, loved. Oddly, she felt those same emotions just by holding him close. She’d not known what she was missing as a child, and she pitied her mother who never had this experience. Loving Luca was also loving the child she had been.
“Did Papa David tell you that he and I were married in, how do you say the name of the town near here that starts with an ‘R?’”
“Riquewihr?” His eyes brightened.
“Yes. In the tiny chapel.”
“Madame Claire, it is a difficult word, but you are a fast learner, you can say it.REE KA-veer.Try.”
