“Oh, no—” Nathalie cried.
“It’s in the past and I’m getting a divorce.”
Nathalie shared a worried glance with Dominic. “Raoul—there’s something vital you need to know. It’s the only reason I’ve been looking for you.”
“What is it?”
“Antoinette died of a staph infection over sixteen months ago.”
Raoul went white as a sheet. Dominic rushed over to him, but he shot to his feet. “She’s gone?”
“Yes.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking totally shattered.
“She’s buried in La Gaude. But what’s more important right now is the fact that she had your baby before she died.”
Raoul staggered backward. “My baby?” The man had received too many shocks.
“Yes.”
“I—I can’t believe it,” his voice faltered.
Nathalie smiled. “He looks like you, but he also resembles your two cousins.”
“He?” Raoul cried.
“Yes. Alain is almost seventeen months old now. My stepsister named him that before she died. My mother and I have been raising him since my stepfather died.”
“Toinette called our son Alain?” Suddenly the pain on his face gave way to joy, answering the most vital question for her. “That’s a name in my family’s line. We talked about having children.”
Nathalie stood up with a smile. “Well, you got your wish. I have no proof he’s yours, not without a DNA test. But here’s a picture of him.”
When she handed it to him, he took one look and sank back down on the couch with a low sob before studying it.
“I’m going to leave now, Raoul, and give you a chance to think about everything.” She needed to get away before she broke down in tears too.
“Please don’t leave yet, Nathalie.”
“I have responsibilities at home. Dominic knows how to get in touch with me when you’re ready. I’ll see myself out.”
She might have known Dominic would follow her to the car. After she climbed inside, she started the engine before looking up at him through the open window. “I pray I’ve done the right thing. A man has the right to know he’s a father.”
He reached in to brush the tears off her cheek. His touch sent a quiver through her body. “Equally true, a son has the right to know his father. Because of you, that’s going to happen.”
Dominic’s words sank deep into her soul.
“You’ve done something so courageous and honorable, my cousin will be down on his knees to you when he sees the boy he and your stepsister created out of love.” She felt his breath on her mouth before he gave her a brief kiss.
She lowered her eyes. “You should go back in. He needs you.”
“Nathalie—”
She heard his cry, but couldn’t remain there. After putting the car in gear, she headed for the entrance to the estate. The touch of his mouth remained with her all the way home. How wonderful it would feel to be able to give him a son or daughter...
Twenty minutes later she reached the house. Her mother had already put Alain down for the night. Nathalie found her cleaning the high chair and putting things away.
“Maman?”