Page 78 of Dagger’s Shield

“The protocol is six cycles of chemotherapy,” I continued. “She’ll be done before the wedding.”

The clock ticked. Another three minutes passed, but I had no intention of leaving. I had more to say, and he’d hear it whether he wanted to or not.

“When is the first treatment?” he asked, barely loud enough for me to hear him.

I could have stood and shaken his hand for the question. I answered it plainly instead. “January. The doctor will set the date once he gets the results of the tests she had Monday. Maëlle will be with her, and so will I.” Then I added, “There’s room in the car for a husband.”

He came away from the window and sat down. Again when he didn’t speak, I did.

“You and Maëlle need to talk, but not today. Wait until after the party, when you’ve both had a chance to let go of your anger.”

He nodded once, then rested his chin on his hand. “After the party.”

“That’s all I came to say.” I stood to leave.

“Wait. There’s one more thing I need from you.”

“What’s that?”

“I’d like you and Maëlle to stand with Chantal and me to receive our guests. You will be introduced as our daughter’s friend from London. Nothing more. The news of the engagement is mine to announce.”

“Understood.”

I was almost to the door when he spoke again.

“Rourke. Does my wife know you came to see me?”

“No one knows.”

“Keep it that way.”

We left for Beaune at two.

“How was my father when you left him?” Maëlle asked once the gates were behind us.

“Reading the same page of the ledger he’d pretended to read when I arrived.”

“That tells me nothing.”

“He asked when your mother’s first treatment is.”

She was quiet for several seconds. “He won’t go.”

“You may be right, but I’d like to believe he will.”

Madame Nolette had six cases of Ravel’s wine stacked inside the front door. She kissed Maëlle on both cheeks, patted my arm, and refused the extra euros I tried to leave on her counter.

When we arrived at the cottage, smoke rose from the chimney.

“We have company,” Maëlle said. “As Blackjack promised.”

The door opened before we reached it. The man filling the frame was as tall as I was but half as wide.

“Givre.” He kissed her cheek when we stepped inside.

“Preacher. You look terrible.”

“Vaduz in December. It does that to a man.”