Angel looked up, a serene yet slightly scary smile on her face. ‘Michel is here.’
‘I can see that,’ Hayley stated, stepping closer.
‘Hello, Hayley,’ Michel greeted, putting the pad down and standing up. He stepped forward and quickly kissed her on both cheeks. Angel started to clap and Hayley shot a look to Dean for some help.
‘So, Angel, let’s go find Randy and Vernon and take them for a walk,’ Dean offered, taking his niece by the arm.
‘But I don’t want to. I want to stay here,’ Angel protested, pulling a scowl.
Hayley swallowed. ‘Angel, please, go with Uncle Dean.’
Michel had walked into this situation with absolutely no prior warning. She needed to tell him in a controlled way, so he had a chance to react to it without Angel being here. He deserved that at the very least.
Angel folded her arms across her chest and looked indignant. ‘It’s not fair.’
‘Double waffles and hot chocolate?’ Dean tempted. ‘Let’s get your coat.’ He shepherded Angel from the room and Hayley collapsed into the chair opposite Michel. How did she begin?
When she eventually found the strength to meet his eyes, he was gazing back at her.
‘You have done something a little different with your hair,’ he started.
‘You haven’t.’
He smiled, put a hand to it. ‘It has been a long time since we saw each other last.’
‘You do remember then?’ Hayley asked. ‘One wild night under the influence of wine and vodka.’
‘But, of course. It is impossible to forget someone who wore a neon-pink dress and danced so crazy.’
She blew out a breath. That was something. Not that it would make it any easier. ‘You changed your name.’And it was agony trying to find you, she wanted to add.
‘Yes, for my job. It was a suggestion from my agent. He thought Michel Arment had more appeal.’
‘Wow,’ Hayley stated. ‘An agent.’
‘So, you live here now? In New York?’ he asked her. ‘With the man that was here?’
She shook her head. ‘No. Dean’s my brother. I’m just visiting.’ She swallowed. ‘I still live in England.Welive in England.’
He nodded. ‘I have travelled quite a lot. I go back to Belgium for a time, then to France, but I come back here two years ago. My art goes well here; people like it and they buy it.’
‘That’s good,’ Hayley nodded.
She watched Michel’s eyebrows knit together as he looked at her. ‘You want to catch up? To go out together?’ he asked. ‘That is why you try to find me?’
She shook her head. ‘Not exactly, no.’
‘Then…’
She squeezed her eyes tight shut. If she could pay someone to come in and deliver this news for her then she would. Like a kissogram service but not. He was here. It was what she’d wanted. She needed to get it over with.
‘There’s no easy way to tell you this.’ Hayley drew in a breath that had her ribs bursting for relief. ‘Our night together all those years ago… we didn’t just make love, Michel; we made a baby.’ She screwed her eyes shut again. ‘I got pregnant and I had your baby.’
There. It was done. Out in the open. The only thing to be afraid of now was his reaction.
She dared to open one eye and watched the colour fall from his face. He leant forward, put his face in his hands, dragging his fingers down the skin, eyes wide with shock. He wet his lips and opened his mouth to speak. ‘The girl who was here…’
Hayley nodded. ‘Yes, that’s her. That’s Angel.’
