‘And ruin all the fun?’ she asked.
Mia laughed; she couldn’t help it. ‘Well, I want you to know that it was all your son’s idea, but still, I’m grateful that you invited me to lunch. It’s been one of the best Saturday afternoons I’ve had in a long time.’ It had been more than great; it had made her heart sing just being part of such a larger-than-life, loving family, even if she was just an observer. But they’d made such an effort to welcome her, and she imagined it hadn’t been easy for them all having to converse in English for her sake. ‘I just couldn’t pretend any longer, not when you’ve been so kind.’
‘Oh, I’m well aware it would have been Joe’s idea. I can just see how clever he thought he was being, distracting us with a lovely English rose.’
Mia swallowed, and she wished that she were standing in this woman’s kitchen because shewasdating her son. She missed her own mother terribly, and it was at times like this she wished they lived in the same country, instead of on opposite sides of the world. But when Mia had spread her wings and thrown herself headfirst into her career years earlier, her mother had done the same and started to travel, ending up falling in love with an Australian and never coming home, other than to return to pick up the pieces and care for her in the months after Ethan had passed.
‘Well, thank you,’ Mia began. ‘I just couldn’t continue without saying something, and I really have had the most wonderful time.’
‘It’s been our pleasure to have you, and I must say, ruse or not, I’m invested in your journey now,’ she said. ‘But there’s no need to let my son know that I’m on to your little secret.’
Mia met her gaze and saw that his mother was enjoying this as much as anyone.
‘I don’t know if I’ll even see him again after today,’ Mia said. ‘I mean, he’s…’ She wasn’t quite sure what she was trying to say, and it was his mother she was speaking to, after all.
Marguerite patted her hand. ‘Something tells me this isn’t the last time I’ll be seeing you, Mia. It’s been more than a few years since Joe brought a female friend anywhere near his family.’ Her eyes seemed to brighten. ‘Besides, there’s so much we need to discuss about your family history. I think you’re going to find out more than you expect.’
She squeezed Mia’s hand and gave her a knowing smile, which left her wondering what on earth had just happened. Was she meaning that Joe might really be interested in her? She glanced past his mother through into the living room, seeing Joe spread out on the sofa, laughing at something his sister had said. He was handsome and funny, but he’d also experienced a loss not unlike hers, which made her feel even more drawn to him.
When he looked up and caught her looking at him, Mia froze. His mother had busied herself with food preparations and breezed past her with a large cake, and Mia stood awkwardly. But Joe didn’t seem fazed, waving her over, and instead of letting herself be embarrassed, she went towards him.
‘I hope my mother has been behaving herself,’ he said, patting the spot beside him and speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear. ‘She’s known to be extremely badly behaved at times.’
His mother made a noise from the other side of the room that sounded more snort than laugh, and Mia chuckled. If they’d had a moment alone she would have leaned closer and whispered tohim that his mother was in on their secret, but before she could, they were being beckoned to the table for dessert. It had been a feast like she’d never seen before, and it hadn’t finished yet.
‘Mia, how long are you in Paris? I never did ask you,’ his mother queried.
‘I’m supposed to return to London in a few days.’
‘Ah, such a shame. Is there any way you could extend your stay, if you discovered more about your aunt?’
Mia looked between Joe and his mother. ‘Well, yes. My plan is to stay on if I manage to find any more clues.’
When his mother looked up and met her gaze, she realised Marguerite had no intention of letting on that she knew about Joe’s white lie.
‘I actually heard back from an old family friend, and he thinks you should travel to the Jura Mountains to visit an old distillery there. It’s been owned by the same family for generations, and the great-grandfather is still alive.’ She gave Mia a knowing look. ‘If your aunt was selling absinthe in Paris, depending on the scale of the enterprise she was involved in, he could have some answers for you.’
‘You truly think they might know something?’ she asked. ‘I’d very much like to visit them, if you think they’d be open to having me.’
‘I already took the liberty of making a call, since I know how passionate you are about finding answers to your questions,’ she said, her smile widening as she turned to Joe. ‘When I told them that my son would be accompanying you, they were most receptive.’
Joe coughed beside her, his fork hovering as he appeared to almost choke on his cake.
‘What could be more romantic than a trip to the countryside, darling? I thought you’d be over the moon to have a few days offwork and take your lovely Mia there? There’s nothing quite like the fresh air of the countryside for young lovers to enjoy.’
Mia bit down on her lip to keep from laughing. His mother had played her son without even breaking a sweat, and from the single raised eyebrow she was giving Joe from across the table, she was making it very clear that she was calling his bluff.
‘What do you say, Joe? You’re awfully quiet,’ his mother said, her eyes positively glowing with delight. ‘Do younotwant to take darling Mia on a trip? I think we’d all like to uncover the story of this fabulous aunt of hers, and it would be yet more special if you were by her side.’
Joe slid his arm around the back of Mia’s chair, but she could hardly even glance at him. She was equal parts amused at his mother’s plan and horrified that he might actually decide to go through with it.
‘What a wonderful idea, Maman. If Mia wants me to accompany her, that is? I wouldn’t like to be presumptuous.’
‘Mia?’ his mother asked.
She looked at her, their eyes meeting across the table as her stomach fluttered with anticipation. His mother was giving her the choice: she was asking her if she wanted to spend time with her son or not. She was calling Mia’s bluff just as much as she was calling her son’s.
So she took a deep breath and said the only thing that came into her head, before she lost her nerve.
