His Fresh Start ✔ (Book Three)

Chapter 25

I'd fail if I had to make an estimate of the number of meetings I’d had in my bistro over the last week. Lots of them revolved around Aiden, who finally talked to me. Like Louise and I thought, there was no trust fund. Not even a house. He didn’t have money to start over, and his so-called father was accused of fraud. The articles Louise showed me portrayed Aiden as his father’s copy, effectively ruining his chances at a job in the city. 

And to make everything even gloomier, Ellie accepted the offer to study at a prestigious Art school in Paris. Except Aiden thought it was in Rome. Steve lied to him, confirming my suspicions that Lou’s uncle had zero good intentions when it came to Daniel Kennedy’s son. My patience around Steve was so thin I feared it’d crack like the ice covering a pond in spring each time another jab at Aiden left Steve’s mouth. The silver lining was, detective Donovan would go back to London soon. 

That was the only positive something. Although Leo, Marco, and I joined efforts to help Aiden recover, I had no clue what to do with him once he was done with his exams. With Ellie far, he’d have no choice but to move on, and it was a tough task in the city where his reputation had been marred by a bunch of sensation-seeking vultures.

The boy was on my mind all the time. Images of him crying in the guest room at my place and memories of the evening we almost lost him to the raging ocean fueled the guilt I felt despite knowing I couldn’t have done more. 

I gave him a place to stay, and Leo assured me the sessions he had with Aiden would help him. Hiding the truth from Lou ate at me too, but I didn’t trust Steve, although he seemed to have convinced both Lou and Ellie of his lack of involvement in everything Aiden-related.

I arrived at the bistro early today. Neglected paperwork awaited me in my office, and I busied myself with orders and invoices as soon as I sat behind my desk.

When my phone rang, that something happened to Aiden was the first thought that crossed my mind. A glance at the gadget told me it wasn’t the case, but my heart pounded, regardless. Jean’s wife never called me, although we’d spent enough time together to treat each other like family.

“Chloe,” I said, “ça va bien?”

She sighed. “Non.”

I sank further into the leather armchair and pinched the bridge of my nose while Chloe told me Jean had a heart attack. My worry ebbed some after she assured me his condition wasn’t critical, but I’d be way calmer if I could talk to Jean.

“When can I call him?” I asked. 

“Tomorrow. I just wanted you to talk some sense into the stubborn man. He’s already asked the doctors to let him go back to work because he worries about his bistro.”

I groaned. “Mon Dieu. Don’t tell me he doesn’t have an assistant.”

“The man is still learning, and you know how things are here in spring and summer.”

“Weddings, celebrations… I get why Jean’s concerned, but his health should always come first.”

Chloe chuckled. “You’ll have to tell him what you’ve just told me. Maybe he’ll listen.”

“Unless…” I picked up a pen from the desk and twirled it between my fingers. “How long does Jean need to rest? What do the doctors say?”

“At least a couple of weeks. A month would be amazing, but that’s less likely. Why?”

“I could travel there. Help run things at the bistro and lend his assistant a hand while Jean is recovering. Would that be alright?”

“More than. Oh my God, you’d make us so happy. We haven’t seen you in forever.”