Page 17

Hugo was patient, listening, then gently trying to redirect my energy, showing me around the lodge and out on the porch, asking how far along I was and what the doctor had said about how my baby was growing.

But I was feverishly obsessed with one thing only.

What evidence would convince Étienne?

That first day began and ended with only Hugo and I, and no word from anyone else. Would Étienne change his mind? Would my brother reject how he had spoken to me and demand Étienne let me go?

The next day my heart leaped to see a big SUV at the gates.

It was my husband! He had found evidence that the test was wrong! He was here to bring me home!

But as I clutched the windowsill with anxious, feverish hands, wondering whether to run and beg him to believe me, or stay inside and wait, I saw it was only Placidie and Mano.

Mano.

Why had she brought him with her? And how could I get him to tell the truth?

“Interesting that my mother would come here with this particular son,” Hugo said as soon as they entered.

Placidie only shrugged. “He is not to blame for the conduct of a loose woman.”

My face burned with the injustice of her comment.

“I am not a loose woman! You should know I only love my husband!”

“I’m here to talk to Hugo.”

“What were you doing in my bedroom?” I demanded to Mano. Why haven’t you told Étienne the truth?”

Mano looked unconcerned. “I told him you came onto me. I only went there to see if you really would whore yourself out.”

Hugo got up from the table, wincing in pain.

“Why were you in her room?”

“Pussy, big brother. Sweet, pretty pussy.”

“Well, you weren’t ever going to get that from me!” I flared angrily.

I felt angrier than I ever had been in my life, but I couldn’t make myself tamp it down.

Placidie stepped in between the three of us, lines tightening around her lips.

“Hugo, has she been crying to you about this nonsense? Léonie here was caught trying to whore herself out to her own brother-in-law and the paternity test showed her baby isn’t even Étienne’s. She’s just lucky she isn’t cast off into the mountains like she should have been. So if she tries to whine about that, tell her she should’ve kept her legs shut.”

Hugo raised an eyebrow.

“I believe her.”

Placidie’s hands tightened like claws around the pad of paper she was carrying.

“What is it with Bastide men and this Pinoteaux witch?” she bit out. “It’s like she has you all under a spell.”

“The Bastides are full of bullshit,” Hugo said bluntly, making his mother stiffen angrily. “Did you see the results yourself? You’re going to take Mano’s word for what happened?”

Placidie shot an irritated look at me.

“If you are asking if I saw the cells under a microscope, no I did not. Why would I disbelieve the doctor?”