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“Stephen,” exclaimed Annie, and struggled to get up before Jean-Guy hauled her to her feet.

Armand and Reine-Marie stood at their places while the younger ones greeted Stephen, then were corralled back to their seats by Margaux in an effort to unblock the aisle in the tiny restaurant.

Daniel gestured for more wine, while Stephen placed his phone on the table in front of him and nodded to the barman. His usual.

The martini arrived along with a fresh liter of red.

“A toast,” said Armand, when they’d all ordered. “To family. New”—he nodded to Annie’s belly—“and very, very—”

“Very,” they all joined in and turned to Stephen, “old.”

Stephen raised his glass and said, “Fuck off.”

“My father’s a man of few words,” said Daniel when the laughter stopped.

“Yeah, you don’t know him so well,” said Jean-Guy. “Just wait ’til he starts reciting ‘The Wreck of the Hesperus.’”

“Just for that,” said Armand. He cleared his throat and looked very serious. “It was the schooner Hesperus—”

Everyone laughed. With one exception. Out of the corner of his eye Armand caught the scowl on Daniel’s face. He clearly did not like being told, even in jest, that Beauvoir knew his father better than he did.

Stephen had also noticed the look on Daniel’s face and gave Armand the slightest of nods before glancing at his phone.

Then, turning to Annie and Jean-Guy, he asked, “How’re you feeling?”

They talked candidly for a few minutes.

“If you need anything,” said Stephen, and left it at that.

“Maybe some ice cream at the Lutetia?” said Annie.

“That I can do,” said Stephen. “After Monday. We can all celebrate.”

“What’s happening on Monday?” asked Jean-Guy.

“Just some meetings. Speaking of which, how’s your new job?” Down the table, Armand was saying to Daniel, “Wonderful news about your promotion. A whole new department, too.”

“It is,” said Daniel. “Venture capital. Already made one investment.”

“What’s that?”

“Can’t say.”

Can’t, Armand wondered, or won’t?

“So, you do a lot of risk assessment?” he asked.

“Exactly.”

His father listened closely, asking questions. Gently pulling information out of Daniel until his son relaxed and began speaking freely, even enthusiastically.

Reine-Marie watched as Daniel, after a few minutes, leaned closer to his father.

They were so much alike, in so many ways. They even looked alike.

At six foot two, Daniel was slightly taller than his father. And heftier. Not fat, but there was meat on the bone.

As there was with Armand. But slightly less so.