REACHING for a towel, Vincent Rolland stepped from the shower of his London hotel suite having made the decision to fly to Paris after his business lunch later in the day. This weekend heâd be taking his twins home to St. Genes. He couldnât wait.
The chateau had been like a tomb without them. Though thereâd been phone calls and visits, the nine month school year had been too long a separation.
It was Thursday. They werenât expecting him until Friday, but he wanted to surprise them. Tonight they would celebrate the end of school together before flying home to their chateau tomorrow.
While he was shaving, he heard his cell phone ring. It was probably one of the children calling him now.
He hurried into the other room to answer it. A glance at the caller ID told him someone from St. Genes was ringing.
Hopefully nothing was wrong.
âOui?â
âBonjour, Vincent.â It was the housekeeper. She sounded in good spirits.
âBonjour, Etvige. Howâs Pere Maurice?â
âDonât worry. He and Beauregard just left on their morning walk.â
That was reassuring; with the twins away, his grandfather and the dog were becoming devoted to each other.
âMonsieur Gide at the bank in Paris called you. Heâd like you to phone him as soon as you can. Hereâs his number.â
Monsieur Gide? Vincent hadnât talked to him since heâd set up an account for the twins last fall.
He wrote it down. âMerci, Etvige. Tell Pere Maurice Iâll call him from Paris.â
Once theyâd hung up, he punched in the number and was put through to the bank manager.
âThank you for getting back to me so quickly, Monsieur Rolland. You did say to phone if the need arose.â
âOf course. What can I do for you?â
âI wanted to let you know that two days ago your son wrote a check for a large sum of money. Before I put it through, I thought I should call to be certain you approved.â
âHow large?â
âEighty-seven hundred Eurodollars. Thereâll be nothing left in the account.â
On hearing the bankerâs words, disappointment swept through Vincent that his children hadnât waited for him before they spent it.
âItâs all right, Monsieur. I promised them a car if they did well in their end of year exams.â
âA car? Iâm afraid this check was made out to Rue Vendome Fine Jewelry.â
Jewelryâ
A shudder passed through his body.
Just hearing the word was like an echo from the blackest period of his life.
âHold the check until Iâve made an inquiry.â
âVery good, Monsieur. Hereâs the number.â
As soon as Vincent hung up, he called the jewelry store.
Vincent couldnât imagine what this was all about. On the whole his children had always exercised good judgment and were trustworâ
âBijoux Vendome.â
âBonjour, Monsieur. Iâd like to talk to the manager please.â
âSpeaking.â
âThis is Vincent Rolland.â
âOh yes, Monsieur Rolland. Just the other day your son was in to buy an exquisite ring for the woman he intends to marry. He is very much in love and insisted on the finest aquamarine to match her eyes.â
âMon Dieu,â Vincent whispered in agony.
He gripped the phone tighter. History was repeating itself. Like father, like sonâ¦
âHallie?â
Hallie Linn had just left Tatiâs department store in Paris where she worked when she heard a familiar voice. She glanced to her left. A taxi had pulled up alongside her and the rear door was flung open.
In the back sat Monique Rolland, the vivacious French girl whoâd attached herself to Hallie over the last school year.
âWhat are you doing here?â
âWaiting for you. Itâs your birthday! Weâre going to celebrate!â
Birthday? Sheâd completely forgotten about it.
Furthermore, Hallie had already said a final goodbye to Monique and her brother Paul two days ago. Hallie was sure that this was just another excuse to get the three of them together before the twins went home to the Dordogne region of France for the summer.
Moniqueâs unexpected presence outside Hallieâs work meant the motherless teen still couldnât let go and was feeling the wrench of separation.