What was he saying?They had no future?Surely he hadn’t brought her all the way to France to break up with her.
She stepped away and raised her chin.“What do you mean?”
His harsh expression softened.“Only that I should have walked away when I had the chance.But I never had the chance.One look at you and I’d found the other half of my heart.”
Such beautiful words, spoken so seriously and with such emotion.“I’m glad you didn’t walk away.”
Humor shone in his eyes before it fizzled.“I knew when I brought you here you would lose your job and I’m sorry.But I can’t let you stay in Milwaukee.Not after two unexplained accidents.I had to bring you somewhere safe because I won’t lose you again.”His voice trailed off and he looked away.
“I don’t care about the job.”She laughed but it was more of a nervous stutter.“It’s my dad I’m worried about.Moving him will be hard.He doesn’t take well to change and it might set him back.”
He looked away and his jaw flexed.“About your father.”
The blood suddenly rushed from her head.“What’s wrong with my father?Is he sick?Did something happen to him?”
He took her hand and pulled her closer.“No, love, nothing like that.I didn’t mean to frighten you.Your father is safe.”
She willed her heart back to normal.
“Don’t be angry, Madelaine.”
“Why would I be angry?”
“I knew you would be worried about paying his bills, so I took care of him before we left.He won’t ever have to be moved.He’ll remain safe and secure in his nursing home for however long you want him there.”
Her gaze wandered back to the view of the countryside, but she didn’t see the rolling hills studded with lavender.She was looking inside herself.She didn’t want to accept Christien’s generosity.She should be able to take care of her father on her own.“His entire life was spent working for me,” she said softly.“So I could have the things I wanted.”She pressed her lips together to fight the tears.“I didn’t appreciate it when I was younger.I was just as selfish as any other teenager, I guess.It wasn’t until later, when the government put pressure on him to sell, then outright took his land, that I discovered just what type of man he was.”
She reached for Christien’s hand and wound her fingers through his.Tears escaped and rolled down her cheeks.“You would have liked him and I think he would have liked you.”
“He sounds like an honorable man.”
“He was strong, honest, hard-working.A man who would give someone the shirt off his back if they asked for it.And then… Then everything was taken away from him.”She brushed at her tears with her free hand while Christien held tight to the other.“I tried to help him fight, but I was one small voice against the big engine of government and the governmentreallywanted that highway.”
“You did what you could.Your father would be proud.”
“My father’s mind broke when his land was taken away from him.An Alexander had farmed that land for the past one hundred years.”She turned to Christien.“Don’t you see?I owe it to him to take care of him.”
“And yet, wouldn’t you still be taking care of him by accepting my help?Don’t let pride get in the way of what’s best, Madelaine.”
She smiled.“We Alexanders are a proud people.”
“I understand pride and I also understand when to accept another’s help.”
She needed to do what was best for her father and while not having a job wasn’t the best, Christien’s humble offering was.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said, swallowing her damn pride.“You’ve never even met him.”
“He’s your father, Madelaine.The man who formed you into the strong, beautiful woman you are today.He’s special to you and special to me because of that.Besides, I hated you working for Giselle.You deserve better.”
She laughed, surprised she was able to through the tears clogging her throat.“I won’t argue with you there.But seriously, Christien, thank you.You don’t know how much it means to me to know Dad’s in a place he loves and he won’t ever have to leave.”
She blinked the tears from her eyes, her heart bursting with love for this man.She was halfway around the world, with what looked like the entire country of France spread before her.People were after her if Christien was to be believed.She’d been hit by a car, drugged and relived the lives of two people who’d died seven centuries ago.And she knew without a doubt she would do it all over again if it meant being with Christien.
“I love you,” she whispered, unable to keep the words inside her.“Thank you for taking a chance on me.”
He looked startled and she had a moment of fear that her words would drive him away.But this was Christien.He didn’t run easily, if ever.“Madelaine Alexander, I would walk through the fires of hell for you.”He pulled her against his solid chest and she rested her head above his heart, feeling the steady beat of it.“Je t’aime,my Madelaine.”
Chapter Eighteen
