Their eyes held for a long moment. Cady searched for a response, but finally looked back to the pool without speaking.
“I have something in the car for you,” said Jean-Paul.
“What is it?”
“Someone named Olivia Gray sent you a large, heavy package from the U.S. There’s a rabbit drawn next to the address.”
Her heart sank.Thanks a lot, Olivia.
“It must be my rabbit. My friend knew I was working on the Clement carousel.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Okay, I’ll get it from you and take it back with me. But... you tracked me down to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse just to give me my package?”
“Not exactly, no,” he replied. “Fabrice is here. He couldn’t make the climb with his ankle, but he’s sitting on a bench by the Sorgue. Waiting.”
“Waiting for what?”
“For you.” Jean-Paul put his hand out to her. “Trust me?”
She shook her head. “I saw the carousel estimate on your table, Jean-Paul. You kept telling me you weren’t interested in selling the château for parts, but you were planning on cashing in on the carousel?”
He blew out an exasperated breath. “I told you that I’ve been trying to come at the château restoration from several different angles. Yes, the carousel could offer us a special kind of attraction; it might give a bank the confidence to give us a loan. And it turns out that Fabrice has some money set aside that he’d like to put toward restoration, and my motherand even my grandfather have agreed to go in on it with me. We’re still talking... but it just might happen. And you’ve been part of that. I can’t believe that you ran away just because of this, without talking to me about it. Especially not after what happened between us.”
“It wasn’t that.”
“Then what?”
“I overheard you and your family talking. I know I’m...” She shook her head, trailing off, looking down into the dragon’s cauldron. Even after her revelation in the hotel room, it came to her, almost like a mantra: “I know I try too hard. I’m too much. People don’t want me.”
“Cady, I wish you would believe this: You’renottoo much. You’re a little... different, but different doesn’t have to mean bad. We French enjoy a more rarefied taste in many things.”
She managed a smile. “But your family’s right when they say that Château Clement isn’t my home, and the Clements aren’t my family.”
“That doesn’t always have to be the case.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that sometimes these things can change.” He held his hand out to her again. “Please take my hand, Cady, and let me bring you to Fabrice. In a very rare move, he has an apology he would like to offer you. It’s only fair to let him give it to you in person, and if you still want to leave, then I will give you your rabbit, and you can go.”
They descended the hill and found that Fabrice had moved from the bench to a nearby café, where outdoor heaters kept the terrace warm. Just the sight of his tousled gray hair and hawk eyes filled her with a sense of nostalgia, as if he really were a long-lost grandfather.
He hoisted himself to his one good foot as she approached. On the table was a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and three glasses.
“I ordered oysters,” Fabrice said before she could even sit down.
“I... to tell you the truth, I’ve never had oysters.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Never? This is a scandal. You are in France, so you must try them now, fresh from the Mediterranean. You will love them, as I loved your garlic bread. And Jean-Paul insisted thatChâteauneuf-du-Pape is your favorite wine, though red doesn’t usually go with oysters.”
“Fabrice, didn’t you want to apologize to Cady?” Jean-Paul suggested, his voice gentle.
Fabrice nodded, but looked away. When he spoke, his voice was low and gruff. “Cady, it’s possible I overreacted. I’m sorry.”
“I hadn’t agreed to do the book project, Fabrice,” Cady said. “I did pitch the idea, but I wouldn’t have gone through with it unless you granted me permission. And I was pretty sure I would never get your permission. I just got so excited.... I liked the idea of including photos of the château, and restoring the old carousel, but I wasn’t going to expose you.”
“I think I knew that. Afterward, when I thought about it. And then Jean-Paul told me you left your film rolls at his place. I just...” His voice trailed off with a shrug. “I guess I always expected another betrayal. Jean-Paul here tells me I need to change my way of thinking.”
As Jean-Paul poured the wine, Cady decided she was sick to her soul of secrets.
“There’s something else,” she said carefully. “I think Gerald’s side of the family is right. At least, partly.”
