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She gives me a knowing look. “You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
Unable to deny it, I nod. “Silly of me, but I can’t help it. I know I’ve always thought this with every man I’ve dated, but I really thought Miles wasthe one. We have so many things in common, and he made me happy.” I push back my tears. “I guess it was just my silly girl fantasy again, hoping I’d found the kind of love Mom and Dad share.”
She squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up, Gigi. Love is a beautiful thing when you find it, but it’s not for everyone.”
I eye her. “How do you stay so aloof at such times? How do you get into a purely sexual relationship and keep your feelings out of it?”
She shrugs. “I simply remind myself that it’s only sex. Once I start feeling something other than desire to yank off the man’s clothes, I know it’s time to move on.”
Smiling, I reply, “Is that how it is with Robert?”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, please don’t start. I told you it’s just sex.”
“He sounded as if it was more and—”
“Girls, we’re waiting!”
She laughs and sticks her tongue at me. “Saved by Dad.”
I stick my tongue out at her too, and we laugh.
“The next time Miles calls, I suggest you answer him and hear what he has to say. And when you get back to New York, please tell him you’re pregnant. Regardless of how he reacts, just know that you have me and everyone else in this family.”
“Thanks, Jo.”
We hug before returning to the dining table. We enjoy the cake, and then my mom hands out chocolates to everyone. We open our presents. Maddie, although sleepy now, is excited by her gifts. We sing a few Christmas carols, and Gabriel carries Maddie to bed.
I cozy up to my dad on the sofa while my mom and Jo clean up. He puts his arm around me, and I lean closer, feeling like a little girl.
“Dad, I hope you’re not disappointed in me about the baby,” I say after we sit in companionable silence for a few minutes.
He tips his head back to look at me. “Disappointed in you? Of course not.” He kisses my forehead. “I’m proud of you, sweetheart. You’ve worked hard to get to where you are today. You’re a conservator now, just like you’ve always wanted. And now, you’re growing an addition to our family. It’s a shame that the father of your baby isn’t in the picture, but that’s his loss.”
“Oh, Dad.” I throw my arm around him to kiss his cheek. “Thanks. I feel so loved.”
“That’s because we love you, and we’re a family regardless of anything.”
The others return to the living room, and my dad makes a toast to celebrate the news of a new baby arriving in our family.
Their beaming faces make me feel like I can do anything.
CHAPTER23
MILES
“Iknow you’re busy, but could you please call me back? I’ve been trying to reach you since you left for Paris. How is it going at the Louvre? Is it anything like the Met?” I’m rambling again like in all the messages I’ve left her lately, and I end the voicemail with a frustrated sigh.
At least, she hasn’t blocked this number. Yet.
I angrily throw my phone on the sofa and run my fingers through my hair. Everything I’ve done to try to get in touch with her has failed woefully. After my talk with Gabriel, I decided to give her some time to cool off and hopefully, miss me terribly and remember all that we’ve shared. Regrettably, it didn’t turn out that way.
When I tried visiting again, I discovered she had told the doorman not to let me up. Not even promising the man a better job in my company would get him to let me see Giselle. Such loyalty and dedication to one’s job is admirable, but I found it frustratingly annoying. Reaching her on the phone proved futile. She refused to pick up my calls, even when I used another number to call her. Every time I’ve tried to reach her since she left New York, my calls have gone to her voicemail.
A thought crosses my mind, and I whirl around to grab my phone from where I flung it. Eagerly, I search through my contacts for a friend’s number who recently moved to Paris to be with his ailing mother. He also works at the Louvre.
I sigh with relief when I find it.
“Hello, Louis,” I say gaily when he picks up the call.
