“Gran.”
“I’m anxious to meet her.”
“She feels exactly the same way.” Nathalie lowered Alain to the grass. “Let’s walk over to the bench where we left our bag and feed the canards.”
Alain toddled alongside her in his sandals, clutching his toy. He had a lean build like his father all right. Anyone at the park would think father and son were enjoying the sunshine with Nathalie. Once more Dominic thanked providence that she’d never been with his cousin.
She pulled out a bag of wheat grains provided by the park. Raoul took some and threw them near one of the ducks. It was eaten immediately. That prompted Alain to do the same thing.
While the two were happily occupied, Dominic walked over to Nathalie and put his arm around her shoulders. “This is a moment my cousin will remember all his life, and you’re the reason for it.”
She lifted those light green eyes that were filled with unshed tears. “They look wonderful together, don’t they? If only my stepsister could see them.”
He pulled her closer. “Maybe she can,” he murmured against her neck. “After all, you were given divine inspiration to find him. Thank heaven for a woman like you who was willing to pick grapes on enemy territory to achieve a result like this. My heart almost stopped beating when this exquisite woman handed me her application. I haven’t been the same since.”
“Mine almost stopped too,” she admitted. “I couldn’t believe I was looking at the man I thought could be Alain’s father.”
Dominic sucked in his breath. “Raoul lost his raison d’être when he had to give up Antoinette and then lose his child, even if he found out Celine wasn’t his. You don’t know it yet, but learning he has a son has made him feel reborn. He’ll praise you forever for what you’ve done.”
They could hear Raoul’s chuckle before Alain came running back to Nathalie and wrapped his arms around her legs. She smiled down at him. “Did you have fun?”
Raoul followed with a smile that filled his handsome features with happiness. “I want to see him every day.”
“I want you to,” Nathalie cried with excitement.
“I could come every lunch hour.”
“That would be perfect! Minerve, the nanny who takes care of him while my mother and I are at the pharmacy, could plan to meet you here. She drives a red car. We’ll tell her about you. If you come here tomorrow at noon, I’ll take off work so you can meet her. He’s already seen you today, so it won’t be a surprise for him tomorrow.”
Raoul tousled Alain’s curls. “I don’t know how to begin to thank you for what you’ve done, but I’ll find a way.”
“After close to seventeen long months it’s been my joy to unite you at last. Now if you’ll forgive me, I can tell he’s hungry. I need to take him home.”
“Understood.”
Dominic watched his cousin hunker down to look at Alain close up. The love in his black eyes was alive. “I’ll see you tomorrow, mon fils.”
Nathalie put the sailboat in her bag, then picked up Alain and waved to them. Alain copied her. Raoul walked with her and helped put Alain in his car seat. After Nathalie drove off, Raoul strode to Dominic’s car with an illuminated expression of joy.
When he climbed inside, he turned to him. “Tell me I didn’t dream this up. It’s like having a part of Toinette back. Tomorrow I’ll talk to Nathalie about a DNA test. I already love him in a way I didn’t know was possible.”
That was the way Dominic felt about Nathalie.
“I’m beyond happy for you, Raoul. That rose-colored villa with the swimming pool we saw is looking better and better. I can see a little boy and his father having fun out there with a bunch of colored bats.” They both laughed. “Why don’t we stop by the Realtor on our way home?”
“You’re reading my mind, Dom. I want to put in an offer before anyone else takes it off the market. Sabine plans to wipe me out, but no matter what, I have a son to love and raise. Because of circumstances, I’ve missed out on Toinette’s pregnancy and seventeen months of Alain’s life. Never again. There’s no way I’m letting the div
orce rob me of another second to be the father my son needs.”
While Dominic waited for him outside the realty office, he texted Nathalie.
I have to see you tonight. Will you be at the pharmacy?
Her answer wasn’t long in coming.
No. I’ll be home.
That was good news.