“Neither do I.” Tasha lowered her eyes and stared at the document on the table. Giving her the whole of Mont Claire had been a grand gesture, but it wouldn’t fix things. It would only turn the tables.
If only he’d given her half.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
WHEN TASHA WAS SIX MONTHS ALONG, Claudette and Camille threw her a baby shower at Belle Vallee. Family friends came from all over France and Europe, and Tasha’s parents came from the U.S. Of course, Jim Gordon hung out with the men at Pacifique de Lumière, while the women played their party games and stuffed themselves with cake in Avignon.
Tasha had quickly tired from all the reverie, and had claimed a comfortable chair in the west salon, where the shower had taken place, vowing not to get up again. She gazed at the table stacked with gifts still in their wrappers, all very fine things, she was sure. But right now all she wanted to do was take a nap. She rubbed her bulging belly with her left hand. Andre’s rings glittered on her ring finger.
Claudette slipped gracefully into the chair at Tasha’s side. “You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. What’s on your mind?”
“I’m just thinking about how close we came to losing this house, not to mention Mont Claire.” Tasha sighed heavily.
“Cecily Garceau was a determined woman.” Claudette glanced around. “I suppose all this can induce people with very few scruples to do all sorts of things.”
Tasha nodded and then shrugged. “She seemed so adamant that her great grandmother had been wronged.”
“I’ve done a little research on that score.” Claudette patted Tasha’s arm. “Jacques and Claire Renault were Andre and Julian’s great-great grandparents. Jacques’ sister Emilie was Cecily’s great grandmother. Jacques’ fortune was founded on diamonds in South Africa, then he moved into real estate among other things. His sister married a man who was, by all accounts, thought of as a scoundrel. He was an Englishman, Marvin Bishop. Anyway, Jacques gave Marvin one million dollars right after he married Emilie. Marvin blew the entire dowry within two years and then came back for more. Jacques Renault was not a man to throw money away, but he had his sister to think about, so he offered Marvin a job. Marvin declined, and in fact was very angry that Jacques would not just give him more money. He forbade Emilie to ever see her family again. The poor girl was in love.” Claudette shrugged. “And the rest is history.” Claudette shook her head. “So you see, Jacques Renault did everything he could, short of becoming Marvin Bishop’s personal bank account, to take care of his sister. She could’ve left Marvin. Jacques would’ve taken care of her, but she chose not to. I can understand though, how her descendants would have grown up hearing a distorted version of the truth. They say Marvin carried a great chip on his shoulder for the rest of his life…and it was a very long life. He lived well into his nineties.”
“I feel better knowing Cecily’s claims are unfounded,” Tasha said as her entire body relaxed. She’d hate to think Andre’s ancestor had thrown his sister to the wolves.
“Hey, listen…” Claudette tapped Tasha’s arm. “I’m going to see if I can direct some of these people into the idea that the party’s over.” She moved to the edge of her chair, looked at Tasha, and said, “You look a little tired.” She didn’t wait for Tasha to say anything, she just got up and moved to the nearest group of guests.
In a way, Tasha felt sorry for Cecily. It must be a terrible feeling to think you’d somehow been robbed of something. She was determined that would not be a legacy she and Andre left their descendants.
Tasha sat there for at least fifteen minutes thinking about Emilie’s plight. It’s too bad the girl had been so blinded by love. Tasha hoped she and Camille could teach their daughters—if Tasha ever had a daughter—to be more selective in their choices of men.
Camille came to her side and sat down in the empty chair next to Tasha. “I do believe the crowd is beginning to thin out.”
“I hope so.” Tasha had no doubt that Claudette was responsible. Her mother-in-law knew how to get things done.
“You feeling okay?” Camille asked.
“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”
Camille nodded. “I remember feeling tired, especially during the last months.”
“I’ve resigned myself not to complain, though.” Tasha used to worry about losing the baby, but these days she was getting better about being optimistic. “Not even about Andre.”
“If Andre is anything like Julian, then you deserve a medal for not complaining about his hovering and overprotective ways.” Camille laughed, and Tasha joined in.
Neither Tasha nor Andre had signed the divorce papers. They were once again living as man and wife. He’d put up a fight at first when she’d suggested a solution to their problem, but he’d relented when he realized that it was the only way for them to carry on. Tasha and Andre became equal partners in Mont Claire Enterprises.
Andre poured two more scotches and headed toward his father-in-law, who was standing by the window overlooking the east gardens. “Jim,” Andre said, offering one to him.
“Thank you.” Jim took it and smiled. Both men sipped their drinks and stood silently for a time. Jim was the first to break the ice. “Andre, I wanted to thank you.”
“For…?”
“For taking care of my daughter. For treating her like a princess. For loving her.” He saluted and took another drink.
“The pleasure has been all mine.” Andre raised his glass. “I promise you, she’ll never want for anything.”
“What she wants is love. And I don’t think anyone could give her more than you.” Jim was appreciative and his words and expression showed it. “I think that Nola wants nothing more than to stay in Avignon until Tasha has the baby.”
“I’ll talk to Tasha about it. I’m sure she’d love to have her mother here these last few weeks.”
“Well…” Jim laughed. “You might have to referee once in a while.”
“Not sure I’m that brave.” Andre chuckled.
“Tasha’s grown up a lot in the past year or so.” Jim looked away, but Andre could still see the far away sadness crossing his eyes. Andre could imagine he was thinking about when Tasha was a little girl. It made Andre eager for the birth of his own child. Jim looked back at Andre, “I think she’ll be able to handle her own now…even against her mother.”