CHAPTER ELEVEN

THEMEETINGAT the park on Wednesday was an emotional one for Nathalie. Her mother had been bowled over by Raoul, who'd come alone to meet her and Minerve. They planned to go to the hospital on Thursday at noon for the DNA tests. It wouldn't be long before Alain became the newest official member of the Fontesquieu family.

Nathalie was thankful Dominic had gotten the message and didn't accompany his cousin. She couldn't have handled seeing him today.

This time Raoul had brought a little toy car for Alain, bringing a smile to his adorable face. The two of them proceeded to throw more food to the ducks. Already Nathalie could tell a bonding was taking place between father and son.

When her mother and Minerve started walking Alain to her mother's car, he didn't want to go. He'd been having too much fun with his papa.

Raoul helped him in the car seat, then asked Nathalie to stay for a minute after they'd driven off. "Before you go, there's something else we have to talk about."

Nathalie knew what it was. Her heart sank. "I'm sorry, but I've got to get to the pharmacy. Denis is alone right now."

"Can you give me five minutes? This is an emergency."

"If you mean Dominic—"

"You know I do," he interrupted her. "He came home last night a shattered man. You can't do this to him. Your fear about being unable to have children is unwarranted when it comes to Dominic."

"You don't know that. The man I thought I would marry couldn't handle it."

"You don't know Dom. He loves you, and your rejection of him without giving him a chance to tell you how he feels about your condition is crucifying him. In time it's going to crucify you. I know what I'm talking about. If you shut him out, you're making the worst mistake of your life."

She switched her gaze to him. "What do you mean?"

"I had to tell your stepsister the truth when I found out Sabine was pregnant. There was no altering the outcome. I felt like a monster who didn't deserve happiness. But your situation is entirely different. Let Dom tell you what's in his heart. More than anyone in the world, I want him to be happy. He adores you, Nathalie."

Raoul's words rang so true, the tears coursed down her cheeks.

"I couldn't fix my situation, but you have every chance to find happiness with Dom. Just let him in. I'm begging you. I also believe in my soul Toinette was urging you on to find me."

"You can honestly say that?"

"As God is my witness. Dominic was the conduit. Don't you think she's been in heaven suffering because she refused to tell your family about me?"

Her heart leaped. Was that true?

"You've been an answer to prayer and I'll spend the rest of my days being the best father I can be to our child. I've been given a second chance to redeem myself, all because of you. I love you for what you've done for me and Alain, Nathalie. You were there for him all that time. His wonderful aunt."

By now she was sobbing.

"Before you leave, remember there's another man out there who loves you body and soul. Don't be afraid. Have faith in his love for you. If you don't, that would be the real tragedy. Dom told me it was love at first sight for the two of you. That good old coup de foudre. It caught me and Antoinette too. The four of us are a lot alike."

She nodded. They definitely were.

"Don't you think it's time you let Dom out of his prison? He's the reason my miracle happened to me. I'm pleading with you not to let him spend another night in hell. That's where he was last night. I know because I was with him and felt utterly helpless to comfort him. He's waited twenty-nine years for a woman like you to love him."

Nathalie kept wiping her eyes. She wanted to believe him.

"I have one more piece of good news. My court date is in ten days. When it's over, then I'm taking a needed vacation so my son and I can be together twenty-four/seven. I've put money down on a house for us."

He and Dom had both been house hunting. The knowledge sent another thrill of excitement through her body.

Raoul gave her a hug and left for his car on a run.

Nathalie drove to the pharmacy in a daze. Last night she'd filled out an application to be a pharmacist in Menton in order to put distance between her and Dominic. But Raoul had said so many things she couldn't dismiss, she had difficulty concentrating at work. When it was time to close the pharmacy, she went out to her car and headed home at top speed.

As soon as she walked in the house, she saw her mother and Alain sitting on the living room floor playing with his building blocks. Nathalie got down with them.

Her mother smiled at her. "Today Raoul called you an angel. I agree. Your desire to find him means our Alain is going to have a wonderful life with his papa.He told me everything about his heartbreaking choice back then. I have real compassion for him considering the kind of family he's come from."

"I can't blame him either, Maman." She put another block on Alain's.

"Antoinette could have looked all over and never found a man more exceptional. He's so crazy about Alain already, it's extraordinary. I can only think of one other besides your father who's his equal."

They stared at each other. "You mean Dominic."

"You know that's who I mean. You never gave up and he never let you. If that isn't love, then I don't know anything."

"You know a lot."

"Then stop worrying you can't have children. We've been through a lot of sadness and grief over the last two and a half years. It's time we filled this house with real happiness. Finding Raoul is just the beginning."

Nathalie got to her feet. "Do you have Raoul's phone number?"

"Yes. He gave me his business card with his cell phone number. It's in the kitchen on the counter."

"Thanks." She tousled Alain's curls before walking in the other room. Once she'd put the number in her own phone, she texted him.

Do you know where Dominic is tonight?

Raoul answered back so fast it took her by surprise.

Dom and I have a meeting with Etienne at the Tour de l'Est. There's been a problem with the latest batch of wine. We'll be on our way in a minute. I'll keep you posted.

In her mind's eye she knew the location of the Tour de l'Est. It was a massive round tower on the property. In her readings she'd learned that the land deeded to the Fontesquieux contained some battlements from the fifteenth century. Since they'd cleared out the old weapons and munitions from the east tower, its eight-foot-thick walls with rooms on four floors had been used to store their wine.

Now that she'd found the courage to talk to Dominic, she groaned to think he wasn't available.

She sent another text.

Thanks. Please don't tell him I asked about him.

In came his response.

Your secret is safe with me.

The blood hammered in her ears as she made the decision to drive to Vence tonight and take a look at the tour. Maybe she'd be able to catch him. After putting on one of her favorite dresses, she hurried into the living room.

"Maman?I'm leaving for the vineyard. I might be late."

Her mother smiled at her. "I hope you are. That man has brought a light to your eyes that has never been there before."

She took a quick breath. "I love you, Maman."Nathalie leaned over to kiss them both and raced out the front door.

Dominic had just left the office for the Tour de l'Est with Raoul in his Jaguar when he received a call from their grandfather.

Raoul darted him a glance. "Aren't you going to get it?"

"No. The old man's furious because I ended it with Corinne. All that money could have come to the Fontesquieu treasury. I don't live in the same universe as our grand-père."

"Does anyone?"

Nathalie had shown Dominic what life had to offer if you were lucky enough to meet your soul mate. He hadn't believed such a thing existed until she'd entered his world. In the short time he'd known her, she'd taught him what it was to lay down your life for someone you love. In her case, her stepsister's son. She'd risked the unknown with nothing to go on but a hope and a prayer of uniting a father and son.

Tears stung his eyelids. She might not want to be with Dominic right now, but he had to have faith that in time she would change her mind. They were meant to be together whether she could have his baby or not. He felt it to the very depths of his being. Otherwise there was little sense to life.

Raoul drove them past the winery where they could smell the fermentation before reaching the tour. A dozen cars and trucks filled the parking area. They got out and walked inside the double doors of the old battlement.

"Hey, bro." The two of them entered the vaulted conference room on the ground floor. Etienne was already there talking with a group of storage workers and managers. "Where's the fire?"

Etienne handed them each a bottle of wine. "It's always a fire with Grand-père. He insisted the three of us meet. Sorry you had to come. These bottles have undergone six rackings over thirty-day intervals and still have a problem. Take a look."

Dominic examined his. "You're right. The wine has failed to clear."

"As I indicated on the phone, it's definitely nonspecific. I don't think any bacterial contamination is at work. In my opinion it will probably clear, but it may take up to a year or so."

"Unfortunately Grand-pèredoesn't want to wait that long." Raoul had checked his bottle. "He's always in such a damn hurry. There's one thing we can do right now."

Dominic nodded. "Arrange for the wine to be moved. Store it in a cooler place for several weeks. All that's required is a drop in temperature of ten degrees. If nothing changes, we'll come up with plan B."

"That's the route I'd go."

"Then we're all in agreement." Etienne gave the group instructions and they left. He walked back to Dominic and Raoul. "I'll let the old man know what we decided as soon as I get home so he won't have a fit. Sophie's come down with a cold. I need to spend some time with her before bed. Thanks for coming. See you later."

After he left, Dominic stared at his cousin. "Pretty soon you'll be able to tell everyone about your son and you'll be putting him to bed in your new house. Just think. When Alain grows up, he might become a wine expert like you."

"He might hate the wine business."

"Maybe he'll become a pharmacist like his grandfather Gilbert."

"True. I can promise you one thing. I'll allow Alain to find his own way in life, whatever it is."

"You think I don't know that?"

Raoul nodded. "The divorce can't come soon enough for me. How about we go to the Guinguet before we go home? That's where I met Toinette and want a night to reminisce."

Just the mention of it reminded Dominic of his conversation about red wine with Nathalie. Everything reminded him of her. He couldn't deal with any more pain. "I don't know, Raoul. I'm lousy company."

"I'll take your lousy company over anyone else's. Come on. We could use some noise and music." They walked out to the car in the cooler night air. The beginning of the harvest had brought Nathalie with it. Now the grapey fragrance meant the harvest was almost at an end and the fruit was being turned into wine. The thought of it being over with her was untenable. He wanted her so badly, he was in agony.

Soon they arrived at the bistro where many of the Fontesquieu employees hung out. Unfortunately, Nathalie dominated his thoughts. His cousin had the right idea to keep him occupied until he went to bed. But nothing could be done about the empty nights.

"Tonight calls for a celebration." Raoul called the waiter over. He ordered some tapas and their best rosé wine. Dominic had never seen him so jubilant. After such a tragic marriage, he understood his cousin's euphoria. But he hoped the family wouldn't get wind of anything until after the divorce was final. One word about Alain could bring new pain to Sabine and make things uglier.

In a few minutes their waiter came to the table with their order, but he also placed a small goblet of white wine in front of both of them.

Raoul shook his head. "I didn't order this."

"It's compliments of la blonde exquise.She's overat the bar."

They both turned around. Dominic almost went into cardiac arrest to see Nathalie walk toward them in a filmy violet dress, holding a similar goblet. His gaze collided with the jewel green of hers.

"Welcome to the Guinguet, messieurs. I thought you might enjoy the special Guinguet wine made by the famous Fontesquieu family. I'm buying this evening. It's an acquired taste to be enjoyed for a very important occasion. You two fine-looking specimens appear to be able to handle its unique flavor."

She leaned over to click each of their goblets with hers. "Here's to a harvest with unexpected bumper crops. Our family historians will be forced to add two new names to our family trees. Salut."

"Nathalie!"Dominic cried as her words sank in.

She smiled into his eyes. "Drink up, mon amour."

He watched her put the goblet to her lips before he had the presence of mind to drink his. For the first time in his life, the sour wine tasted like ambrosia.

With a secret glance, Nathalie wordlessly acknowledged Raoul's departure from the bistro. Then she slid into the chair he'd just vacated. After she fed Dominic a tapa, she ate one. Suddenly Dominic reached across the small round table for her hands, grasping them for dear life.

"What happened since the last time you claimed you couldn't be with me?"

"Your cousin spoke to my heart. He said there was a man out there who loved me body and soul. To quote him, ‘Don't be afraid. Have faith in his love for you. If you don't, that would be the real tragedy.' I knew it was true and came as fast as I could to find you."

Dominic's black eyes burned with love for her. "Let's get out of here. I need to hold you so I can believe this is really happening."

He got up and pulled her to her feet. Still gripping her hand, he drew her through the crowd to the outside of the bistro. "Where's your car?"

"Around the corner."

"How did you know I was at the Guinguet?"

"I followed you and Raoul from the tour after I'd texted him earlier. He told me you would be there."

A painful squeeze of her hand told her how happy that had made him. They were both out of breath when they reached the Peugeot. "Mind if I drive?"

"I want you to. I'm shaking too hard to get behind the wheel."

Dominic helped her in, then hurried around and got in the driver's seat. He had to adjust it to accommodate his long, powerful legs. She handed him the keys. Within seconds he'd started the engine and drove out to the street.

Nathalie didn't care where they were going. She clung to his hand, dying to get in his arms and stay there. As he drove them to the heights of the city, she knew where they were going. The moon shone down on the beautiful site of the white villa surrounded by the dark cypress trees.

"I've bought the place, so it means we're private here."

"You already did?"

"Yes. No matter how long it took for you to come back to me, I wanted it for us."

"Darling—"

He pulled into the driveway and drove up to the side of the villa. In the next breath, he turned off the car and reached for her. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for this? I'm only going to say this once. We'll adopt as many babies as we want when we decide it's right. What matters is that we'll be man and wife. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, darling."

He lowered his mouth to hers in an explosion of needs they'd had to repress.

She moaned aloud. "Dominic... I love you so much you can't imagine," she cried, giving him kiss for kiss until they were devouring each other.

Time became meaningless as they attempted to appease their hunger, but the fire kept building. Over and over again their passion engulfed them. He was such a gorgeous man in every way, no amount of love she could shower on him would ever be enough. Every touch of his hands and mouth ignited her senses.

From the first moment she'd looked into his eyes at the interview, he'd brought her alive. Until then she'd been in a deep sleep, but no longer. He was the answer to her existence.

"You're the most beautiful thing to come into my life, mon tresor,"he murmured, kissing her with abandon. "I'm so crazy in love with you, I don't know how long I can wait for our marriage."

"I feel the same way and never want to be apart from you again."

He cupped her face in his hands. "Let's have a wedding as soon as possible with your mother as witness."

She fingered his luxuriant black hair. "What about your family?"

"I'm afraid we'll have to leave them out of it. Tell me you understand."

"Of course I do," she cried without hesitation. Eleven years away from his family was explanation enough.

"You're incredible," he cried, kissing her with increasing hunger.

"Tomorrow I'll tell Mamanwe're getting married right away."

"How about Sunday, four days from now?"

"If only we could."

He kissed the base of her throat, then her mouth. "I know a justice of the peace whose funds I've managed on the side since my return from Paris. Andre Godin is now a wealthy man. When I ask him to marry us at your house, bypassing the usual waiting time, he'll do it."

She hugged him harder. "I'm convinced you can do anything you wonderful, wonderful man." Nathalie could cry for joy over what was happening.

He gave her another long, hard kiss. "I'm thinking that while we furnish the villa, we'll stay at a hotel in La Gaude so you're close to Alain during the transition and can go on working at the pharmacy."

"Mamanwill love that."

"When Raoul's divorce is final, we'll have a big party for all our families and friends. Whether my family shows up or not will be up to them. After that we'll take a honeymoon. For now it will be enough to be your husband."

It sounded like heaven on earth. Beyond words, Nathalie covered his mouth with her own. Again they were lost in the thrill of knowing they would become one in just a few days. Nothing else mattered.

"I know you need to get home," he eventually whispered against her lips. "I'll drive us to the chateau for my car and follow you home."

"I'll be fine."

"Let me be the judge of that. You're the most precious thing in my life. If anything were to go wrong now, I wouldn't survive. Do you hear what I'm saying?"

"Yes. Oh, yes!"