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Grace squeezed her arm. “Mimi, why don’t you and Antoine go and talk in private? You can use my apartment. It’s just up the stairs.” She handed over a key. “I think you need some time together.”
Would he want that?
She’d just confessed that she’d had a child and hadn’t told him.
Maybe that was something he wouldn’t be able to forgive.
She felt lost and vulnerable and it was Antoine who took the key from Grace.
“Now I know we’re related, you will be forced to keep in touch when you return home.” He kissed Grace on the cheek, warm and gracious, and Grace hugged him.
“I’ve always wondered about the identity of my grandfather. I’m so very happy it’s you.”
Antoine turned to Mimi. “We have a lot to talk about. So much to catch up on. I have things to tell you, too.”
She looked at his face, nervous of seeing condemnation or anger, but all she saw there was love.
Grace was watching her anxiously and she knew she would have so much explaining to do, but for now she was content just to be with Antoine.
She’d assumed she was too old for a new adventure, but maybe she’d been wrong about that.
Grace
“I leave you alone for five minutes and you gain a whole new family member.” Audrey rummaged for the key to the bookstore. “I can’t believe Toni is your grandfather. That’s both weird and very cool. Honestly, I’m a bit jealous. I’ve never had a grandpa. Or not one that’s present in my life that I can hug.”
“It is romantic.” Grace’s head was still reeling. What a day. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what Mimi and Toni were talking about upstairs in the apartment. After revelations like that, where did you start?
Audrey locked the bookstore and turned the sign on the door to Closed. “Mimi never mentioned him?”
“Not once. She led me to believe she’d never been in love. I had no idea she had a secret like that.”
“Everyone has secrets.” Audrey grinned at her. “Except us, of course. You pretty much know everything there is to know about me. And I know where all your bodies are buried.”
“Don’t ever say that in public. You make me sound like a serial killer.”
“I just mean we have a great friendship. So was Toni mad? I mean, it must have been a shocker finding out you had a kid, and then she died—” Audrey pulled a face. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. You’re right, it must have been a shocker, but he didn’t seem mad. He didn’t even seem surprised. It was as if he knew Mimi so well, and loved her so much, nothing needed explaining. As if everything she did, he was willing to accept as part of who she was.”
Audrey dropped the key on the desk. “Well, that’s what everyone wants, I guess. Someone who loves you even when you fu—mess up. Did you see what I did there? No swearing. Are you proud of me?”
Grace smiled. “Very.”
“Ron seems to have forgiven my mum, and Toni has forgiven Mimi, so all that’s left is for you to decide if you’re going to forgive David.” Audrey nibbled the corner of her nail, her eyes on Grace. “So what do you think?”
“I really don’t know. I’m meeting him on the bridge in half an hour, and I have no idea what to say.”
“Well, if you want to talk it through—” Audrey shrugged “—you can call me anytime. Because I’m an expert on relationships, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
Grace laughed. “You are?”
“Yeah, I mean, I’m the reason you got in touch with Philippe, right? And okay, maybe that didn’t exactly work out, but you had some fun and you got concert tickets. And I got concert tickets, too. And right now my family feels as close to normal as it has ever been. That’s not saying much, of course.”
“And Etienne?”
Audrey blushed. “He is whisking me away to the South of France to meet his mum and sisters. Not sure if that’s exciting or scary, but it sounds a bit jet-set, don’t you think? I’m thinking of a suitable hashtag. And Elodie says it’s fine for me to have some days off, so don’t worry. I’m not about to be fired a second time. Her niece is staying with her for the next week and she is going to be working here, so we’re all good.”
“That is good.” Grace felt a pang. “I’m going to miss you.”
