‘Your poor sister!’
‘Yes. Once, we planned that when I get the business, I will take her on as a partner and then leave. But I think this might kill my papa.’ He shrugged. ‘Sometimes people are set in their ways, and you know there is nothing you can do about it.’
‘Has he got any idea? About you? About your sister? Any of it?’
He shook his head. ‘My father is not the easiest man to talk to.’
She nodded. ‘Families can be difficult.’
‘Oui,’ he said raising his glass. ‘And you are very wise.’
Assuming he was raising his glass for a clink, she thrust hers forward. But instead, he lifted his to his lips. Unable to stop the motion, she ended up sloshing wine onto his sleeve. ‘Oh God. Sorry.’ She picked a napkin from the table and began to dab at the spill, her cheeks flushing.
A waiter, eyes wide, rushed over with a large linen napkin and began dabbing too, muttering under his breath.
‘Non, it is OK, it is OK,’ Henri said.
The waiter retreated, looking troubled. Clearly they were not used to customers slinging wine around during meals.
But it was hard to take it all seriously, especially after a lunchtime drink, and Bella found herself grinning. Looking at her, Henri laughed. ‘Why do I find myself laughing so much when I am with you?’
‘I don’t know. Because I’m an utter disaster.’ His white shirt now had a damp stain which would probably dry yellow.
He looked at her with earnest eyes. ‘But you are the opposite of this. You are so refreshing. In my world – my father’s world I suppose – everyone has an image to maintain. Everyone is serious and businesslike and they only show part of themselves to others. But you? You are not complicated like this.’
‘I’m not?’
‘Non, Bella. With you, I know exactly where I am. You are honest. It is refreshing.’
‘Right,’ she said with a thin-lipped smile.
‘Maybe I also see a future with you,’ he said softly. ‘One day, when we are grown up.’
‘You do?’
He nodded, all seriousness.
It was a knife to the heart. Things were working right now because she’d told herself it was just a fling. He didn’t need to know the truth about her.
But if he was imagining a future, she could no longer pretend to herself that what she was doing was harmless.
He probably wanted to travel, live his life. Have kids, but not yet. Her biological clock was beginning to tick, and she’d have to make the decision about her own fertility sooner rather than later. It wasn’t fair to keep him in the dark if they weren’t on the same page.
She didn’t want to think about shrivelling ovaries or broken hearts. Not today at least. And not while eating a seafood platter that looked fresh enough to be released back into the wild.
But she would have to soon, she thought, looking at Henri’s hopeful face. Because one thing was for sure: he didn’t deserve to be hurt.
24
NOW
To: Isabella Baker
From: Claudine Dupont
Re: Bio approval
Dear Isabella,
