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Val paused, looked into the waiting green eyes, and shook her head. How many more times would she be asked that question? “No, but we do care about each other a great deal. I’m not convinced love is needed in a marriage.”
“If you’ve never known love, I suppose it isn’t, but I’d be lost without Rai in my life. Granted there are times when I want to hang him on a clothesline because we’re both opinionated and stubborn. In fact, I’m pretty upset with him even as we speak.”
Valinda was surprised by the confession and wanted the details but knew it would be rude to ask.
At that moment, Raimond LeVeq walked into the parlor. He was wearing a dark suit that seemed to accent his build and handsomeness. “Morning, Valinda.”
She nodded, noting the way Sable eyed him with displeasure.
“Still angry I see,” he said to his wife.
“You can’t go around punching people in the nose, Raimond.”
“The little runt deserved it,mareine.”
Val didn’t understand the French but by the soft intonation, sensed it was an endearment.
Sable’s response was just as soft. “Stop trying to sweet-talk me.”
“Is it working?” he asked. The amusement in his eyes was very reminiscent of Drake’s.
Valinda cleared her throat. “Um. Maybe I should leave you two alone.”
Raimond shook his head. “Not necessary.” He then turned to Sable. “Bijou, when you have a wife that you absolutely adore, and are constantly challenged by a runt calling himself a poet who keeps declaring his love for the wife you absolutely adore, you can choose not to punch him in the nose. I chose differently. Be glad I only broke his nose.”
Sable shook her head in response to his defense.
He asked quietly, “Did you hear the part about how much I absolutely adore you?”
“Aren’t you late for a meeting?” she asked, looking partly skeptical and partly amused.
“They’ll wait. How about after we come home from Henri’s dinner, I get down on my knees and—beg your pardon.”
She met his eyes, and said to Valinda, “Be glad you’re not marrying into the House of LeVeq. The men are incorrigible.”
Rai walked over to where his wife sat. “Would you like that? Me, on my knees?” he asked again.
A blush bloomed over Sable’s golden cheeks. “Go to your meeting, Rai.”
“You’re going to be very pleased when I’m done begging your pardon.”
She pointed to the door and a laugh slipped free. “Out, outrageous man.”
Grinning malely, he leaned down and kissed her so softly and thoroughly, she melted into the emerald settee. Valinda tried not to stare.
He straightened and, after slowly tracing his thumb over her bottom lip, said, “I’ll be back around six.”
He headed to the door. “See you this evening, Valinda.”
After his departure, Sable said, “As I was saying, a clothesline.”
But Valinda knew she didn’t mean it. She also knew she’d just witnessed something she’d never seen her parents share; something she and Cole would never share, either. Passion.
Val spent the balance of the morning with the children, which freed Sable to handle some business in her office. They read to her and she read to them. She joined them in a rousing game of tag, searched the edge of the pine forest for colorful rocks and insects, and sat with them at the trestle table to eat lunch. It was fun and made her think back on the conversation she’d had with Drake. It had been years since she’d played and she had to admit all the laughter and being so carefree lightened her spirit and banished her nightmare.
After lunch, it was quiet time. Some of the younger ones napped, while the older ones read, painted pictures, or simply lay on their backs outside in the field and contemplated the clouds—an activity a young Val had loved to do.
Val and Sable took their quiet time on the back porch.
