In the Age of Love and Chocolate (Birthright #3)(61)

“I can believe that,” I said.

“Can you? Most people look at me like I’m insane when I defend that man…” She shook her head. “Do you know what? I am done listing Charles Delacroix’s attributes. I’ve been defending him nearly my whole life. To my friends. To my parents. To our son. I am done.”

“We spoke of you quite often in Japan. He still loves you, you know.”

“Yes, but that isn’t enough. I’ve been disappointed in him for twenty-five years. I am finally done with that, too,” she said.

“I think Mr. Delacroix has changed.”

“But then the election will happen and he’ll go right back to the way he was before.” She nodded to herself, then she took out her phone. “Have you ever seen a picture of Win’s sister?”

I shook my head and looked at the screen. She had light brown, wavy hair, and blue eyes like Win’s. In the photo, she was rolling those eyes. Aside from the expression, I didn’t see a resemblance.

“The problem with meeting new people is not that you might not like them, but that you will like them too much. Now that I know you, I’ll worry about you in the city, Anya,” Ms. Rothschild said. She clasped my hand in hers.

“I’ve been on my own for years. I’ll be fine.”

She looked at me, then she brushed my hair away from my forehead. “I’m certain you will be.”

* * *

When I went back to our room, Natty wasn’t there so I went outside to look for her. I found her crying in the gazebo. “Please, Anya, leave me alone.”

“What is it, Natty? What has happened?”

“I love him,” she said.

“You love who?” I asked.

“Who do you think?” She paused. “Win. Of course, Win.”

I considered this information. “I knew you had a crush on him when you were a child, but I had no idea you still did.”

“He is so good, Annie. Look how he has been this summer, trying to make you feel better, even after so much time has passed.” She sighed. “He still sees me like a kid, though.”

“How do you know? Have you spoken to him?”

“I’ve more than spoken to him. I tried to kiss him.”

“Natty!”

“We were picking apples for his mother. The first ones are starting to come in. And he looked so handsome, standing there in his blue-checked shirt. I’m sick with loving him,” she said.

“Natty, I had no idea you felt this way.”

“How could you not know? I’ve loved him since I was twelve. Since the moment we met him in Headmaster’s office.”

“What did he do when you tried to kiss him?”

“He pushed me away, and said he didn’t think of me like that. And I said I was seventeen, and that was hardly a child. And he said in fact it was. And I said you met Anya when you were sixteen. And he said that was different because he’d been young then, too. And then he said that he loved me like a friend and like a brother and that he would always be there for me. But then I pushed him away. I told him I didn’t want to be loved that way. I can’t even stand to look at him anymore.”

She sobbed with her entire body—her shoulders, her stomach, her mouth, and all her other parts were aligned in a unified display of misery.

“Oh Natty, please don’t cry.”

“Why shouldn’t I? I told him what you said at the beginning of the summer. I told him that you said that you would never get back together with him, but I think maybe he still has hope. Maybe if he knew there wasn’t any hope, he could love me instead. We’re not so different.”

“My darling Natty, would you honestly want some boy to love you because he thought you were like me?”

“I don’t care why. I wouldn’t even care! That’s how much I love him.”

“I don’t think Win thinks that we’re getting back together. But do you want me to try to talk to him?” I wanted her happiness more than my own.

“Would you?” Those eyes were wet and hopeful.

“I will make sure he understands,” I said. “And before summer is over, too.”

* * *

After dinner, I asked Win if he would go on a walk with me.

We wandered into the orchard, where the last peaches of summer were dropping from the trees. Win found one still on the branch and picked it. His torso was long and lean as he extended his arm to reach it. He offered me the peach, but I declined.

“I want to talk to you about something,” I said.

“What is it?” He took a bite of the peach.

“My sister,” I said.

“Yes, I thought that subject might come up.”

“She has the idea that if you knew that I didn’t think we were ever getting back together that you might be more open to … I’m sorry, this is awkward.”

“Perhaps I can help. She thinks that the reason I don’t want to start a relationship with her is because I still have feelings for you. And to answer your query, she’s wrong. I think she’s smart and adorable and everything a girl should be, but even if there were no Anya, Natty would not be for me. Are you sure you don’t want a peach? They’re very sweet this time of year.”

“Then why have you spent so much time with her? You can understand why she might have gotten the wrong idea.”