Lottie nodded, sniffling.
“But you also have come to care deeply for the doctor.” Grandmère traced a finger down Lottie’s cheek. “And . . .lovinghim comes at the cost of betraying Margaret and Freddie.”
Lottie swallowed.
Loving him.
Of course, Grandmère would see the true state of Lottie’s heart.
But even knowing this . . .
Even if shewerewilling to forsake Freddie and Margaret in order to unite her life with Alex . . .
None of it supposed that Alex wished something similar. Marrying her would mean accepting the marquisate, and she did not know where he stood on that point at the moment. She could not force his hand.
Was there any way forward that did not cause harm?
Oh, what a mess this was!
Tears tumbled down her cheeks.
Grandmère pressed a handkerchief into her hand.
“Unfortunately, there will be no harmonious outcome with this situation,” Grandmère continued, plucking Lottie’s thoughts from her head. “You will have to sacrifice something. That is why it is calledune crise. It is a crisis with painful consequences.”
Lottie hiccupped.
They sat in silence for a few moments. Grandmère slid further onto the bed, pulling Lottie into her arms as she had when Lottie was little.
“Sometimes,ma puce, family is not only a thing of blood.” Grandmère stroked her hair. “Sometimes, family are those who put your interests first. They are the ones who stand by you even when life becomes difficult. You are concerned about honoring your father’s legacy and that is an admirable goal. He wanted his grandson to inherit. But do you truly believe that your father—were he here right now—would care if that son were Margaret’s or yours?”
Lottie bit her lip, licking at the tears that continued to fall. “P-papa would not care. You are r-right. ButIcare. I simply cannot b-betray Margaret and Freddie. They are t-too much of my heart.”
“Yes, your lovely loyal heart, as Gabriel was fond of saying. Your dedication to those you love is admirable. But I fear somewhere in your allegiance to family, you have begun to think of their future as having more weight than your own.”
“But it feels so s-selfish to only think of my own wishes and desires.”
“You love so fiercely,ma puce, but you need to extend a bit of that love to yourself. You need to stand firm in the knowledge of your own worth. In short, you have neglected a few important truths.”
“Truths?” Lottie sniffed. “Like what?”
Grandmère smiled, continuing to run a hand over Lottie’s curls. “Basic truths,ma petite. Such as . . .youare the only one who can live your life. Just as Margaret must live hers. Just as Freddie must live his. Your lives are not tethered together . . . not really. One of life’s greatest ironies is this—we travel it alone. I have experienced enough loss to know this intimately. Even though others may surround us, in the end, the journey of life is a solitary one.”
Lottie hiccupped, licking tears off her lip once more.
Grandmère pulled a handkerchief out of her sleeve and dabbed at Lottie’s cheeks.
“Another truth—we do not choose the family of our birth. We do not choose the children that come to us.” Grandmère tucked her handkerchief into Lottie’s hand. “But in between those two points, we choose to makeoneperson family. One person to tie to our side and walk the path of life with us. I know this truth feels dichotomous to my first point—that we are ultimately alone—but that is life, I suppose. Full of paradoxes.”
Grandmère took Lottie’s hands in hers.
“I don’t know what to do, Grandmère,” Lottie whispered. “I fear my heart will break in two.”
“Oui, thiscrisewill cause you pain. That is the way of things.” Grandmère gave her a tired smile. “Several years ago, you faced a similar decision. Your family or marriage to Theo. In that instance, you chose family. And I do not think you have ever regretted that choice.”
“No. I have not.”
“So now, you face a similar decision. If you choose family, will you regret letting the doctor go? Will you mourn his loss like a death? Or will it be like Theo, a mild bit of heartache?” Grandmère gave a decidedly Gallic flick of her hand. “If, however, the doctor’s loss threatens to tear you apart—if you realize you deeply love Dr. Whitaker, and he loves you in return—then perhaps it is time toact. To create a family that is wholly yours and shape a future that is uniquely your own.”
