Page 60 of The Paris Roommates: Dean
“But it was to the gold digger, so it doesn’t count,” Madison added.
“I’m ignoring both comments,” Kyle said, laying his hands flat on the table. “How far has Jacqueline gone in setting up her dream business? Has she submitted the proper papers? Bought a space?”
“I don’t know, Kyle,” Dean said with a little heat, sitting up straighter. “I was trying to be a good date and not a full-on James Bond spy.”
“We’re getting off track here,” Madison cautioned, catching Nanine’s eye.
This was her moment to intervene. “Yes, we are. Let us all talk about this rationally without throwing barbs at each other.”
Dean tapped his chest. “I’m sorry I can’t be completely rational. I’m falling for Jacqueline. Hard. And I think she feels the same way given what she said tonight. I don’t think there’s a right answer here. If I let you guys down, it will crush me. If I let her down, it will crush her.Andme.”
Nanine took his arm gently, sensing his inner battle. “Dean, we love you as family does, and there will be no crushing.”
“I agree,” Thea chimed in. “Jean Luc, isn’t there anything you can do?”
Nanine made sure to keep her hand on Dean to settle him down. She used to do the same with Bernard when he would become passionate or upset about something, usually because of the way Adrienne had treated her. Her heart, still healing from the heart attack, filled with pain at the thought. The shock of what had happened had lessened, but she still couldn’t fathom how her daughter had pretended to reconcile with her, using her precious granddaughter as bait, in order to scam her. She probably never would. Surely, Adrienne’s husband had been involved in the planning, but at the very least Adrienne had agreed to it…
“Does she already have a lawyer?” Jean Luc asked.
“It sounds like it,” Dean said as Thea put his café in front of him. “Thanks for the coffee, Thea.”
“Sure thing,” Thea said, impulsively kissing his cheek.
“It is not my legal area, but inheritance battles in France are notoriouslycompliqué, especially when it involves legitimate and illegitimate children. One thing is certain, the courts are slow, and I expect Jacqueline is right and Madame Beaumont is depending on this. Also, I seem to recall she works in Belgium now. If that is her place of residence and not France, it makes things even more challenging.”
Nanine was painfully aware of how people who understood how to use the system could benefit from it with no legal repercussions. Hadn’t that very thing happened to her?
Dean hung his head. “So she’s screwed.”
A lull fell over the room, and then Thea was saying, “I know it seems hopeless but have a little faith. We’re here for you, Dean.”
Nanine sent her a smile. First Course could always be counted on for her kindness, something they all clearly needed now. Another family’s feud was not going to disrupt Nanine’s family seated around this table.
“I know you guys are here for me,” he said, glancing around the room. “So perhaps it’s time to tell you the plan I concocted at the end of my date. Okay, here goes. I think we should still go after the cave…”
That shocked Nanine, and from the gaping mouths around the table, she wasn’t the only one. She put her hand up to cover her mouth, knowing the others were watching her carefully for her reaction.
“Here I thought you were going to ask us to call off our bid because of Jacqueline.” Kyle gave a lopsided grin. “Well, Dean, keep going. You have everyone’s attention now.”
To say the least, Nanine thought.
“I decided I was thinking too small.” Dean forced a winning smile, which Nanine knew was cover for his inner turmoil. “Here’s how I see it. We need a cave for Nanine’s. I found this one, but there might be others out there.”
“Highly unlikely from our research,” Brooke broke in.
“Yet I did find one,” Dean continued, a pleading light in his eyes. “I could find another. I’m going to try. In the meantime, we bid on the Beaumont cave. We might win it, and we might not. If we do, maybe you guys would be willing to split it, with half going to Nanine’s and the other half going to Jacqueline—”
“Now I see where this is going,” Brooke said, shaking her head ruefully.
Nanine did as well, and her diaphragm clenched as she waited for him to finish.
“I know it’s not the whole cave, but it will still impress the Michelin people, which is our goal.” Dean put his fist on the table, looking resolute. “Deep down, I think Jacqueline will understand if I tell her why we need it. The real reason. Especially with her own complicated family dynamics.Afterwe win it, of course, because why say anything if we don’t.”
Tell her?The whole sordid affair of how her own stupidity had nearly cost her everything? How her own daughter hated her enough to steal from her? Nanine’s heart started racing. This was her worst nightmare.
She did not want anyone to know what had been done to her. She would look old and stupid, in her personal circles as well as her professional ones, and worse, a disgrace as a mother.
“Dean,” Brooke put in, “I’m going to say subterfuge isn’t a healthy way to start a relationship.”
