Page 80 of Right With You
He lowered himself into a chair in the sitting area of his suite and gestured to a vacant seat next to him. I complied, unsure of how to behave on this alien planet where my grandfather was visibly human.
“I’ve wronged you.”
My breath caught and I stilled, the small cup full of black coffee only partway to my mouth.
“I thought it was all a ruse. Thought your Elise was a smoke screen. Thought you were just acting out, another version of Japan or the Army or that time you pretended you broke your arm so you wouldn’t have to attend the cotillion classes.”
I huffed a surprised laugh and set the cup back down. He would’ve been right before. And I had every right to refuse him. But now, saying Elise was anything but everything I wanted would be the lie.
“I’d made promises to Bernard and Cynthia, but I have no loyalty to them. I’ve spent my life attempting to instill devotion to family and here, I’ve abandoned it.” His forehead furrowed and he looked at me from under his silver brows. “When I saw her face, her devastation, and it hit me what I’d done… when I saw you and your regret… I knew how deeply I’ve failed you, Jean-Luc, and for that I am sorry.”
Emotion cinched my throat closed as I processed words I’d never dreamed of hearing. In all the back and forth conversations, all my resignations to him mentally and even in real life, I’d never imagined he’d admit wrong, let alone apologize. And yet here he was, truly saying it. And it seemed, truly meaning it.
“Thank you. I’m sorry I couldn’t do what you wanted me to.”
He shook his head, regret fully bloomed on his face. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen.”
I huffed at nearly the same time he did, both of us holding any further outward show of emotion at bay. I didn’t know what this meant going forward, but it gave me hope I hadn’t had for years regarding this man who’d been here all my life in the only way he knew how.
His eyes met mine. “Please. Forgive me.”
“Of course.”
He leaned in, and we embraced for a few seconds before releasing one another.
“Will she forgive you after what I did?” he asked, what looked like genuine worry threaded in his tone.
“After whatIdid, ultimately. And… I don’t know. I hope.” I couldn’t stop hoping, even if I wasn’t sure I deserved the forgiveness.
“I’ve gotten everything wrong here, and I fear your father has wronged you, too, though I don’t know if we’ll ever see him long enough for him to admit it.” He frowned, deep regret etched into the lines of his weathered face. “But you’re right about me on that count, as well. I didn’t let your mother in. I didn’t allow for how she loved him. I didn’t see how losing her was destroying him, and now that I do, I so feared it happening to you. I didn’t want you to love because love hurts. A marriage that’s a business deal… you can protect your heart in it.”
I nodded, my heart aching. “I thought I could protect myself. Keep myself from that full-force love we Devereaux men seem to fall into.”
He laughed softly and shook his head. “Ah, you always were a stubborn child.”
I laughed, too. “I didn’t mean to put you through everything I did. But I didn’t know who I was. And when you called weeks ago, it felt like when Mom died all over again. Like you were ready to tell me who I was. But I know now.” I swallowed hard, the clarity utterly crystalline. “I’m Jean-Luc Devereaux. I love my family, and I love the people who’ve adopted me into theirs.”
Eyes shining, he nodded.
“And I love Elise.”
“Très bien,” he whispered, and I rose, eager to get back home, or maybe stop by and see if I could talk to Elise at her shop.
“Me, too, then. Of course you don’t need it, but you have my blessing. And the trust is also yours. I’ll have it released once I’m back on French soil,chez le notaire.”
We hugged again, and I left feeling confusingly lighter, but heavier at the same time. One major part of my life had just improved—it’d broken open in a pivotal way. But the part that’d rapidly become the most precious thing to me… that was still broken. And I might’ve been a patient man, but I couldn’t wait.
I went to Glazed and found Marisol at the register.
“Sorry, Luc. She called me last night and asked me to open.” Her wide smile was kind, if a bit perplexed.
Yeah. Logically, I would know. I’d been with her nonstop lately. Everyone knew we were together and only the people closest to us knew it was fake—or that it’d started that way.
“Thanks, Mari. Have a good day.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised she’d called out. In fact, I was glad she had. She needed rest and I’d placed extra demand on her life this last while with all the dinners and familial obligations. Hopefully, she’d been able to sleep last night and had slept in.
By the time I arrived at her apartment complex, I’d promised myself I’d text her and wait a few minutes. Sitting in my car and feeling more restless than I had all night, I sent a message. After three minutes, I got out of the car and paced on the sidewalk.
