Chapter 59

Somehow, Luc managed to get between Julie and the doorway, blocking her way onto the veranda. With startling gentleness in contrast to his attitude, he pulled her back into the bedroom.

“Oh, all right!” She jerked away from him. “Did you think I was going to the garage and steal a car or something? Don’t worry. When I leave here, it won’t be by sneaking out in the middle of the night.”

“Let’s not talk about that.” He sat on the bed.

“Make up your mind,” she snapped. “A moment ago, you wanted to talk. Now…” She gave a heavy, theatrical sigh. “All right…what do you want to talk about, then? I’d think the fact that your wife just told you she’s leaving you, as well as the reason for it, would be a very important topic of conversation.”

She walked over and stood in front of him, talking one of his hands. His fingers tightened around hers but this time there wasn’t any threat in them. Now, they clung as if she were some kind of lifeline.

“Ignoring the facts won’t make them go away, Luc.”

“I’m well aware of that.” Though it was said in a low voice, there was the sound of betrayal in the words. “Oh God…” He released her hands, his own clenching into fists. “I did enough of that after Maman died.”

“Would you like to talk about when your mother died?” Julie was agreeable to anything if it would calm Luc.

Old Dr. Mark wanted him to have therapy. I couldn’t put Luc through that. Maybe that was what Luc needed. She dropped onto the bed beside him.

Avoiding her eyes, he shook his head and bit his lip, that sullen childish look returning to his face.

“Would you like to tell me how you felt?”

Luc took a deep breath, the sound someone makes before he jumps into deep water. “No one’s ever asked me that before.”

In one swift moment, he got to his feet, staring down at her, but this time there was no menace in the way he towered over her. Instead, there was despair on his face, and heartbreaking grief.

“Just afterward, I tried to talk to Gran’père, but he always changed the subject. Michel…I couldn’t talk to him. He was still a baby. No one wanted to listen. My soul was screaming out to them, and no one would listen.”

To Julie’s horror, Luc fell to his knees, covered his face with his hands and burst into tears.