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She jumped up from the couch and put the mug on the end table. “I don’t need to because I have a solution of my own. As I told you before, I’ll bring Philippe to Chamonix several times a year for a visit from now on.”
He eyed her steadily. “Then that’s a solution for you, not Philippe.”
Crystal made a betraying motion with her hand. “He’ll adjust in time. He’ll have to.”
Raoul leaned forward. “Did you know your son thinks you hate it here and that you hate me?” Her color faded a little, letting him know she did. “Is it true?”
Her hands formed fists at her side. “You of all people have to know that nothing could be further from the truth. After yesterday, how can you even ask me such a thing?” Her voice throbbed with feeling, convincing him she’d been as honest as she knew how to be.
They’d got past the second hurdle. Now for the third.
This was the crucial one. If she took the bait, it would tell him he was way off base. That’s what he’d told Des and his friend had agreed.
“Then for all our sakes I’d like to see you prove it by coming to work for the family business.”
Her translucent blue eyes darkened with some unnamed emotion.
“Eric may not be alive, but you are. I’ve already told you you’re a world-class skiing celebrity in your own right with your own legacy to hand down to Philippe. With him in school full-time, you could devote some of your time to your own ski school here.”
“A ski school—”
“Yes. People would flock to classes taught by the one and only famous Crystal Broussard, the Colorado bronze medalist. You could start a brand-new Broussard tradition on your terms and still be a full-time mother to Philippe. It would be the best of both worlds for the two of you.”
“You’re not serious.”
He stood up. “You know I am. You’re a former champion and have too much to give to let it all go. If you joined our staff, you’d be given your own office at headquarters and determine your own schedule. You can consider this an official offer, but take your time to think about it. You’ve got till next year, or didn’t you mean what you told Philippe earlier about not going back to Colorado until then.”
After a pregnant silence, she said, in a dull voice, “I meant it.”
“Then give it some serious thought. You could buy a house here and get your old things out of storage. Several times a year you could fly to Colorado to be with your parents and they could come here. The important thing is that Philippe will have that sense of belonging he’s been missing since you left, and you will capitalize on all your years of training.”
“That’s a very generous offer, Raoul,” she said, sounding far away. “I realize other skiers would kill for such an unprecedented opportunity. Have you spoken of this to anyone else?”
“No.” Except for Des. “If you decide to do this, then I’ll tell Papa, who will be overjoyed, not only from a personal standpoint but a business one. Whatever Philippe intends to do with his life after he’s grown up, such a legacy will ensure his future.”
His proposal appeared to have put her in more turmoil. He hoped it was tearing her apart. If she turned him down, that would be the answer he was praying for.
“Speaking of your son—” He put his hands on his hips. “I told him we’d all be together after school to welcome his Grand-père home. I’ll go with Maman to bring him back from the hospital.”
“I’ll pick up the children so Vivige can go with you.”
“Bon. Later you and I can talk some more. What do you say we make this a memorable Christmas for the whole family? We all need a release from grief.”
He watched the struggle she was having before she lifted her head and gave him a smile that masked whatever she was really thinking. “That’s exactly what we need. With the weight of the whole company on your shoulders right now because of Jules’s illness, it’s a miracle you could take the time to fly to Colorado. You brought Christmas to Philippe. For that I’m very grateful.”
But I didn’t bring it to you. Is that what you’re saying, Crystal? Was Raoul wrong thinking what he’d been thinking? He’d given her a lot to ponder and knew better than to help her on with her parka or ask her to stay longer.
“There’s the whole holiday ahead of us,” he reminded her. “Thankfully, I’m pretty much off until the New Year unless an emergency arises.”
After a slight hesitation she said, “That has to be a great relief for you. I’ll see you at your parents.” In a jerky motion, she reached for her hat and parka. “Now, I’ve got to get home.”
“Bonne nuit, Crystal.”
His good-night followed her out the door. Crystal had prayed he wouldn’t walk her out to the car. To her profound relief she’d gotten her wish. Whenever they were together, wherever they were—be it inside or outside—she had trouble taking a deep breath and walked around with a suffocating feeling in her chest that refused to go away.
The memory of the way he’d looked when he’d walked into the living room a little while ago wouldn’t leave her alone. In the semidark interior, he’d stood near the coffee table with one hand casually resting on the back of a chair. Wearing a white sweater and dark slacks, his virility had been too potent for her.
Taking a job that would keep them in contact with each other on a daily basis was unthinkable. Even though it would mean the world to Philippe, her instinct was to get as far away as possible from Raoul.
During the short drive to her in-laws’ house, she had to admit a part of her was in shock he’d actually offered her the position. He really was trying to get her interested in her career again. Was that all he was interested in?
She pulled up in the drive with a shudder and buried her face in her hands. She really was a walking disaster and couldn’t go on like this much longer. After a few minutes she pulled herself together and let herself in the house. The place was quiet. Arlette must have already gone to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a big day with Jules coming home. It served as a reminder that he was the reason she and Philippe had come back to France in the first place.
Now that he was getting better, it was important that peace reigned in the Broussard household. She hurried up the stairs to the bedroom. Until she took Philippe back to Breckenridge, she wouldn’t fight her son. Hopefully she could get Philippe to go skiing with her. She’d take all the kids. It would be fun.
Once Christmas was over, she’d find a way to convince Philippe that the world hadn’t come to an end because they were going back to Breckenridge. Maybe she’d take him to a travel agency and have the agent make out two round-trip tickets for her and Philippe—to prove that she’d be bringing him back over the Easter break. If he had something tangible in hand like an airline ticket so he could plan for the future, it just might work. It had to.
But it would require Raoul’s cooperation, too. Since he’d insisted that he’d always be there for her and Philippe, she would put him to the test. He would have to help her convince Philippe that he’d be very busy until Easter and wouldn’t have the time to spend with his nephew. They would have to make him see that Christmas had been different because Jules had been ill and everyone in the family had taken time off.
Crystal got ready for bed, but she spent a restless night tossing and turning. In the morning she awakened early in order to greet Philippe when he came home to get dressed for school. At seven-thirty he arrived with Raoul.
“Mommy?”
“In the kitchen.” A totally happy boy came running and hugged her.
“Did you have a fun sleepover?” The question was unnecessary, but she asked it anyway.
“Yes! Can I do it again tonight with Albert?”
“If it’s all right with your uncle, but right now you need to change. Your clothes are laid out on your bed.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
Once again she was alone with Raoul, who’d dressed in one of the company’s dark green parkas with its alpine logo. Every color suited him. “Would you like some coffee? I made it fresh.”
“I’d like it if Philippe and I hadn’t just finished breakfast.” His dark blue gaze slowly appraised her in her jeans and knit top. “You’re really all right about him staying at my house again tonight?”
She darted him a glance. “It’s where he wants to be.”
“Thank you, Crystal. Philippe’s being here has made a huge change in Papa, in everyone.” His eyes darkened with emotion. “Last year I didn’t bother with a tree.” She heard a bleak tone in his voice that was so disturbing she couldn’t bear it.
Avoiding his eyes she whispered, “Last year was a painful time for everyone.”
“Would it surprise you to know Crystal Broussard has made my Christmas by being here?”
His words started a tremor inside her.
“Bonjour, tout le monde.” Crystal lifted her head in time to see Arlette walk in the kitchen with Philippe.
Raoul kissed his mother. “I’ll be by for you at eleven-thirty and we’ll bring Papa home.”
“Hooray! Tell Grand-père I’ll see him after school.”
“Of course I will. He’s living for it.” Arlette gave Philippe a big hug, then helped him on with his parka and ski hat. “Have a wonderful day.”
“I will. ‘Bye, Mommy.”
“See you later, honey.”
Crystal was shaken as she watched them leave. “What can I do to help you?” she asked Arlette after they were alone. She needed physical activity to deal with the excess energy Raoul had created with that last comment.
“I thought we’d go to the marché and get some things Jules loves.”
“Excellent idea. When we get back I’ll make him some Hello Dollies. He and Philippe both love those cookies.”
Arlette squeezed her arm. “Vivige was over last evening and commented that a week ago she was sick with worry and feared things were going to get worse. But the opposite has happened. Your being here has turned everything around and injected the happiness that’s been missing.”
“I know what you’re saying. My little boy is behaving like his old self, too.” That was Raoul’s doing.
“Forgive me for wishing you lived here all the time?”
Her comment was too much of a reminder of what she’d be giving up by refusing to accept Raoul’s fantastic offer. But she couldn’t live in his sphere.
She clutched the nearest chair back. “There’s nothing to forgive.” Needing to get past this moment she said, “I’ll just run upstairs for my coat and purse. I want to buy some flowers for Jules, too. If we get to market early enough, we’ll have our pick of the ones we want.”
Later in the day Jules remarked on the bouquets as Raoul had helped him in the house. Arlette insisted he go straight to his bed, where he could rest until the family congregated for dinner. While Raoul visited with his father, Crystal and Vivige stayed busy in the kitchen to help get everything ready, then Crystal picked up the children.
Jules was all choked up when they gathered around him in the salon after they’d eaten. He gave Philippe back the little Père Noël ornament.
“I knew he’d make you better, Grand-père.”
Crystal’s heart melted on the spot. While they were all engrossed, she slipped out to the kitchen with Vivige to do the dishes. In time, Bernard was the one who finally broke things up because everyone needed to get to bed, including Jules.
When Raoul was ready to drive the boys to his house, Philippe hurried over to Crystal to hug her good-night. This time she’d packed clothes for him to wear to school in the morning. “Guess what? Tomorrow we’re going to get our angel costumes to try on.”
“How exciting!” She helped him on with his parka.
“Do you know how much I’m going to miss you? This will be two nights in a row you’ve slept away from me.”
Suddenly Philippe whispered in her ear. “Can you sleep with us?” That was the third time he’d tried to get her to be with him and Raoul.
“I think I’d better stay here with your grand-père just barely home.”
“Okay.”
Over his shoulder she sensed a pair of dark piercing blue eyes staring at the two of them. Their intensity left her reeling. “Be good for Madame Fillou tomorrow.”
“I’m always good.”
She kissed his cheek and let him run to the man who’d become Philippe’s raison d’être.
Soon the house had emptied. Crystal said good-night to her in-laws and went up to bed, but she was haunted by her son’s eagerness to get her and Raoul together. He was too young to have an agenda, so it meant that in his pure, simple way, he wanted the three of them to be together.
That spelled agony for Crystal, who couldn’t find any peace. Maybe a long soak in the tub would help. Hoping to get her mind on something else if only for a little while, she started reading. But as absorbing as the mystery was, she kept remembering the way Raoul had stared at her earlier. She soon found herself reliving every moment with him and realized she’d get no reading done tonight and shut the book.
After getting out of the water, she got ready for bed and climbed under the covers. She could only hope sleep wouldn’t elude her, as it had last night, but her mind had become a torture chamber of emotions she couldn’t shut off.
When her phone rang, she assumed it was her mom and was glad for the distraction. But her senses whirled when she reached for her cell on the bedside table and saw Raoul’s name. Uh-oh. Maybe he was having a problem with Philippe. She couldn’t comprehend it, but no one knew all the things going on inside her son. She clicked on. “Raoul?”
“Sorry to bother you, Crystal, but I’ve been called out on an emergency and have to go. The boys are asleep. Could you come over now?”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She shot out of bed and started getting dressed. “What’s happened?”
“One of the guides took out a small party this morning for a day climb, but never returned. There’s been no word from him. We know where he was headed. I’m going out with a search party, but it’s anyone’s guess how long I’ll have to be gone.”
Her hand almost crushed the cell phone she was holding. If anything happened to Raoul … “I’m heading out of the house now. See you in a minute.” She hung up and got in the car.
On the short drive over she had to remind herself Raoul had been going out on emergencies for years. He was the most sought-after mountaineer in the Alps. But he wasn’t infallible. Eric’s horrible death during the downhill had taught her that a champion of champions was still susceptible to the dangers other mortals faced.
By the time she’d pulled up in the drive, he appeared at the side of the car and opened the door for her. Dressed in all his gear for a night climb, her heart did its own version of a tremor.
“Thanks for getting here so fast.” His voice sounded an octave lower than usual. “The guest bedroom is waiting for you.”
She nodded. “Please be careful.”
“I’m always careful, ma belle.”
“Don’t joke, Raoul. Not about this.”
“Are you telling me you’d miss me?”
Her heart was in her throat. “You know very well how we’d all feel if you—” She couldn’t say it and said instead, “If you got into trouble. It could happen.”
“I’m not talking about how everyone else would feel,” he growled. “I’m talking about you.”
Heat swept into her cheeks. “Of course I’d miss you.”
“That’s all I wanted to hear. Keep thinking about my offer and we’ll talk about it when I’m back.”
She’d already thought about it. It was more out of the question than ever.
“I don’t want to be in the program if Uncle Raoul isn’t going to be there.”
The school Christmas performance was about to begin. Philippe had no idea the kind of agony Crystal was in right now dealing with two crises, both of them of earthshaking proportions. The thing she’d hoped would never happen, had happened.
No one had seen or heard from Raoul since Thursday night. Though it didn’t alarm the family because dealing with emergencies was a part of his life, her son didn’t understand that. As for Crystal, she was in turmoil fearing that something awful had happened to him.
It was now Saturday afternoon. She’d had a struggle getting Philippe in the car so she could drive him to school to get ready. “You have to carry on, honey. Your teacher has been so nice to let you go to class with Albert. If you were to let her down, that wouldn’t be fair to her.”
