All the Devils Are Here(80)

Reine-Marie lowered her croissant to her plate, staring at him. To say it was a shock would have been disingenuous. But still, if she’d thought about it at all, she’d have said Stephen would leave Annie and Daniel small bequests. And them nothing at all.

And certainly not the whole thing.

“His estate would be split equally among Annie, Daniel, and you and me.”

Before she could ask, or fight the temptation to ask, he volunteered the information.

“According to Mrs. McGillicuddy, after taxes and fees, it will come to several hundred million each.”

Reine-Marie’s mouth opened slightly, and her lips went pale. Armand wondered if she was about to pass out.

“Armand,” she whispered. “We can’t—”

He nodded. That had been exactly his feeling, too. But there was a solution to that.

“If you want, when the time comes, we can start a foundation. Annie and Daniel can decide if they want to contribute.”

“Yes, yes,” said Reine-Marie. “Oh, I know. A home for wayward cats. And financiers.”

Armand laughed. It felt good. Then he called Daniel, who answered on the fourth ring. Yes, they were home and he could go over.

Armand could hear the chill in Daniel’s voice. He knows, thought Armand. Or suspects.

“Do you want me to come with you?” asked Reine-Marie.

“No, better if I do this myself.”

“Are you sure?” She searched his eyes. “You’re prepared for whatever Daniel will say? You won’t …”

“Make it worse? I’ll try not to.”

It was a pretty low bar, but still, Armand wasn’t completely confident he could get over it.

“What’ll you do?”

“It’s Sunday. The Archives nationales will be closed. Which is a perfect time to go. I’ve already contacted the head archivist. She’ll meet me there at ten. Are you going to tell Daniel about the will?”

“No. Nor Annie. Not while Stephen’s alive.”

She tied a scarf at his neck, and kissed him, and sent him back into the rainy day. And didn’t say what he already knew.

It would not be long.





CHAPTER 27




Armand spent some time on the floor playing with his granddaughters, who were still in their Canadian pajamas and were insisting on being called Bloom and Dawn.

“What does Mommy’s name mean?” Bloom asked as she climbed on her grandfather’s back.

“‘Roslyn’ means ‘rose,’” he said.

“And Daddy?” asked Zora.

“Your daddy’s name is Daniel,” said their grandfather. “It means ‘The Lord is my judge.’”

That silenced them. Florence was back on the ground, and Zora was now pouring tea for her grandfather.

“What about your name?” asked Florence.

“Do you know my name?” he asked, accepting the imaginary cup poured from the imaginary teapot.

“Papa.”

“Exactly,” he said, and, putting out his little finger in a gesture that always made them laugh, he sipped his tea.

“His name’s Armand,” said Roslyn.

“Armand,” said Zora, looking at him in that disconcerting way she sometimes had. So pensive.

“It means …,” said Roslyn, tapping her phone to find out.

Getting to his feet and brushing off his knees, Armand turned to Daniel. “Maybe we can get some fresh air?”

“In the rain? No, here is fine.”

“Please. A little walk, maybe find a café. Just us?”

Daniel looked at Roslyn, who nodded.

“Fine. Where do you want to go?” he asked as they headed for the door.

“You decide. Anywhere. Except the top of the Eiffel Tower.”

That made Daniel laugh, and he relaxed. A little. This was something they shared. A fear, a terror, of heights.

Armand had first discovered his when he was a boy and Stephen had taken him up to the second level of the tower. Excited, Armand had raced out of the elevator, right to the edge, and, curling his fingers around the wire fence, he looked out across Paris.

And almost passed out.

His fingers tightened until they were white, and he stiffened. Petrified. Stephen came up behind him and was pointing out landmarks. It took Stephen a minute or so to realize what was happening.

“Armand?” But there was no answer. The boy stared straight ahead, barely breathing, almost comatose.

Stephen knelt and, prying his fingers loose, he turned his godson so that he faced away from the edge. And hugged Armand to his chest, holding him tight. Whispering, “I’ve got you. You’re safe. You’re safe.”

Daniel discovered his own fear of heights while hurtling on a toboggan down the huge ice slide during carnaval in Quebec City, with his mother and sister. While Dad waited down below.

Where Reine-Marie was laughing and Annie was shrieking with delight, Daniel’s wail was completely different. A gut-wrenching sound Armand immediately recognized.

When they reached the bottom, Armand swept the terrified boy off the still-moving toboggan and held him in his arms.

Whispering, “You’re safe. You’re safe.” And feeling the heaving sobs against his own chest. As though they were one. While Annie and Reine-Marie looked on. Baffled.