Raoul got to his feet with restless energy. “After two years of marriage without results we consulted Danielle’s OB. He said to keep trying because he could find nothing wrong with either of us. If she didn’t conceive within six months, he’d refer us to the fertility clinic.
“After four years I was ready to try in vitro, but Danielle fought me. At first I couldn’t believe it. When I talked to Chantelle about it, she said she had the strongest suspicion my wife had been lying to me about wanting children.
“Once that seed was sown in my mind, I confronted Danielle. It was a nightmarish scene I wouldn’t have an enemy live through. The moment she cowered from me, I knew. When she realized she was caught, it all came out. She’d been on the pill long before our marriage took place and had never stopped taking them.”
Laura shook her head. “Why?”
“She said we had the perfect marriage without children. She had friends whose marriages had failed because of children. Danielle didn’t want that to happen to us.”
A cry escaped Laura’s throat. “I don’t know how a woman could be that cruel. A lie like that would have turned me inside out, too, Raoul. I’m so sorry.” It explained why he’d been so horrified over Chantelle’s lie. “She had no right to do what she did.”
“Danielle was too narcissistic to think beyond her own view of life.”
“No wonder you lost your trust. Four years wasted when you could have divorced and married someone else who wanted children.”
He rubbed the back of his neck absently. “At least when you went into your marriage, you and your husband both knew that you didn’t want children.”
Laura jumped out of the chair. “You’re mistaken about that, Raoul,” she cried. “I’ve always wanted children. Little Paulie made me want them more than ever. But soon after I married Ted, I fell out of love with him. There was no way I would bring a baby into a loveless marriage. It deserves the love of two parents who are madly in love with each other, like Chantelle and Guy.”
Raoul looked stunned. “Is Ted still fighting your divorce?” he asked with new urgency.
“No. I won my divorce decree last week, August 15 to be exact.”
A noticeable pallor appeared. “You mean you’re free and clear of him?”
“Yes. I even had my name legally changed back to Aldridge. After Guy asked me if I would try to befriend Chantelle, it turned out to be an added blessing for me because Ted didn’t know where I was.
“He broke into this apartment while I was away, and my friend Cindy across the hall documented it for me so I could take it to court. Because he ignored the restraining order and harassed me at my jobs, the judge granted the divorce without a problem.” Her voice shook. “It was nice to know not everyone was in lockstep with the Stillmans.”
“Laura—”
“Yes?” Her pulse was skidding off the charts.
“Do you want to have a baby with me?”
“Yes.” She didn’t have to think.
He blinked. “You just said yes.”
She nodded. “I’m in love with you.”
“That’s what Chantelle said, but you couldn’t be––”
“You mean after all the terrible things you’ve said and done to me?”
“I treated you so abominably, you have every right to throw me out.”
“True, you have, but when you love someone the way I love you, you can forgive them anything.”
“When did you know?” Now he was the one trembling.
“Well, it was lust at first sight in Guy’s living room the night of his party and went downhill from there. I saw Mr. Adonis staring daggers at me. He was standing there with Maurice. I said to myself, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I want to belong to that man forever.’ And that was before I even knew if you were available or not.”
He moved closer. His incredible black eyes were smiling. She’d only seen them do that a couple of times.
“It’s your turn to tell me what I’m dying to hear.” She smiled back at him. “But I’ll let you off the hook. I don’t think you can even say the words yet. It doesn’t matter. I know what I feel. Anytime you want to get married, just tell me. I’ve been practicing writing my name in my sketchpad like all silly girls in love.”
She walked over to the desk where it was lying and handed it to him. “Here. Take a look.”
His breathing shallow, Raoul lifted the cover. She’d filled the first page with twenty lines of script. All said something different. “Madame Raoul Laroche.” “Madame Laurel Aldridge Laroche.” “Monsieur et Madame Laroche.” “Madelaine Laroche.”
He darted her a glance. “Madelaine? That was my maternal grandmother’s name.”
“Chantelle told me. That’s if we have a girl. If we have a boy first, then we need to think of something very special because he’ll have such a special father.”
Raoul put the pad down before pulling her into his arms. He rocked her for a long time. In his arms she felt she’d come home at last.
“I’ve been staying at my apartment in Switzerland since the day you flew here. Day before yesterday I walked in after work and realized that a life without you wasn’t a life at all. I no longer cared if you didn’t want children. As long as you loved me and only me, I’d deal with it.
“Make no mistake, Laura. I’m in love with you. You have to marry me soon. We’re so good together.”
“And so bad apart,” she whispered against his lips before devouring them.
“You’re so good.” He ran his hands up and down her arms. “Guy saw the sweetness in you before he ever brought you into his home. The whole family loves you. I adore you.” He kissed her fingertips.
“I love them.” She slid her arms around his neck. “Kiss me, darling,” her green eyes implored him. “Bring me back to life again.”
Raoul needed no urging because she was his life.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3574-2
THE BROODING FRENCHMAN’S PROPOSAL
First North American Publication 2009.
Copyright © 2009 by Rebecca Winters.
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The Brooding Frenchman s Proposal Page 15