He seemed to be weighing her words.
“You should speak to Jean-Paul about it. He went to Paris for school and stayed.”
“That’s because his dad used to beat his mom and everything.”
“He did?”
“Yeah. He was a drinker, too, like my dad. But at least my dad didn’t hit my mom. He just hits me, every once in a while, when I drive him really crazy.”
“Is he the one who gave you that black eye?”
He shrugged. “I asked for it.”
“Johnny,” Cady began, realizing that if everyone thought she was meddling before, this was even worse, “your father shouldn’t hit you. If you need—”
“Seriously,” he said, cutting her off, “it’s fine. We’re fine. Weunderstand each other. And it’s been hard for him, since my mom died and everything.”
“I’m sure it has.”
“But... maybe you’re right. Going to university could be cool, maybe.”
“Maybe. Talk to Jean-Paul.”
“I don’t know if I could even get in.”
“There’s no way to know until you try.”
He nodded and looked out the window.
“So, what happened to Jean-Paul’s father?”
“He got cancer and died pretty fast after that. I got the feeling no one really minded. I heard he beat Jean-Paul up really bad one time, when Jean-Paul tried to defend his mom. Not too long after that was when Jean-Paul went to live in Paris; my mom said he stayed with some relatives there so he wouldn’t have to come back home on vacations.”
“Was this Madame Martin?”
“Maybe. I forget the names.”
They had arrived at Château Clement. The tires crunched on the gravel as Cady pulled down the drive and around the back.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?” she asked. “I went shopping earlier.”
“Nah,” Johnny said. Fabrice had opened the back door and was standing on the threshold, Lucy beside him. “I think Fabrice has seen enough of me lately. But thanks.”
“Anytime. At least wish Fabrice a good night before you go, will you?”
They got out of the car, called asalutto Fabrice, and Johnny helped Cady to unload the supplies into the carousel building.
Then he bade Cady good night and went over to speak to Fabrice. Cady lingered, lining up the supplies just so and giving the two a moment alone. It pleased her that they didn’t just exchange a quick word but conversed for several minutes. Maybe Johnny really did just need a little friendship, a little guidance. And Fabrice, too, for thatmatter. Could she have actually accomplished some good with her stay in Saint-Véran?
But Johnny gave her an odd look when he left—part guilty, part embarrassed—and then quickly shifted his gaze away and loped down the drive.
Cady read bleakness in Fabrice’s eyes before he turned his back to her and limped toward the château.
“Fabrice, is everything okay?” Cady called out.
He ducked into the servants’ entrance.
Cady trailed him inside. He continued down the narrow corridor without looking back, the rhythmic tapping of his cane on the old stones seemingly counting down to... what?
