My mouth dries.
Grandpa Antoine narrows his eyes. “The other vase was on the table as if nothing had happened. How come it didn’t fall down and break?”
“I… I’m not sure.”
“Is it because you caught it?” He peers at me. “Come on, kid, I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
I fix my eyes on the floor, considering. It’s not that I don’t trust his word, but I don’t want him to think poorly of Henri, who already has a bit of a reputation in the family.
I shake my head. “It was me.”
Grandpa Antoine studies me for a long moment, muttering something under his breath that sounds like “mature for his age.” But I might’ve misunderstood it.
Then, he ruffles my hair. “You’re a good sort.”
What?
“When you grow up,” he says, “you’ll make this family very proud, Antoine. I know it like I know the sound of my name.”
I’m only nine, but I understand what he means. I’m the responsible one. I can be entrusted with a legacy because I’m solid enough to carry it. I’m the one who holds things together and who isn’t allowed to fail.
A knock on the door interrupts my trip down memory lane.
I open it. Celeste walks in. Her expression is soft as she gazes at me as if she can sense the bizarre state I’m in even though I haven’t said a word.
“I’ve been doing some digging,” she says.
“Oh? For ancient pottery or prehistoric bones?”
She laughs. “No, metaphorically speaking. About Laura.”
“And why would you do that?”
“Because I could?” She shrugs. “With my family connections, it wasn’t difficult.”
I harrumph.
“It looks like your mother’s theory wasn’t far off.”
“Which theory?” I ask. “She has many.”
“Laura is back with her ex, the pop singer.”
I keep my voice unemotional. “Why do you care?”
“Because you do, Antoine,” she replies without artifice. “And it’s time we addressed the elephant in the room.”
“There’s nothing to address.”
She ignores my denial. “I think we should invite them to dinner.”
I blink. “Excuse me?”
“The four of us,” Celeste articulates. “A good meal. A friendly chat.”
I scoff. “Even if I was on board with this absurd plan, Laura has no desire to visit Mount Evor. And her boyfriend is not cleared for it.”
“Then we’ll have dinner in Paris.”
