“He meant some of it,” Louis replied. “But something happened. Someone’s either lying to him or he’s holding back. That was not Rene. Honey, that man loves you.”

Sylvie was almost certain of it. “Can you take her home? I think I’ll stop by his office and see if he had any visitors. Cricket, you need to think about how you want to talk to Rene. You can’t let him handle everything and then tell him he means nothing.”

“That’s not what I said,” she replied.

“But it’s what he heard.” Sylvie sighed and wrapped her arms around her mother-in-law. “And you, Louis, need to convince him you love his mother and you’re not here for the cash. He’s spent his whole life being told to protect his family. You can’t expect him to toss that out now.”

“He’s trying to toss you out, too,” Cricket hiccupped.

“No, he’s not. He’s trying to get me to run.” What had he said? This made it all easier? “He’s going to find out I’m not much of a runner. But I am a fighter.”

And it might be time to fight for her marriage.

*   *   *

Rene looked around the two-story house that the town of Papillon offered up as the mayor’s home. It was one of the perks Sylvie got for all the hard work she did.

She should probably find a better job, because this house was not a palace.

He’d never been inside. He’d lived in this town all of his life and he’d never once been inside the mayor’s house, because when they met with the mayor, the mayor came to Darois House.

Because his father and his grandfather had been the kings of the town.

It looked like he was about to lose his crown. And his wife.

He sighed and hoped the power was still on. He rather thought it was. The house was still here for the use of the mayor. Now it would be a hidey-hole for the mayor’s husband to mull over his bad life choices.

Rene, what is going on?

He could still see her face as she asked him the question, still feel the hurt coming off her. And the offer to get through this together. That had been implicit in her every word. She’d been trying to fix things, but she couldn’t. He’d made his choice in that moment.

Her. He’d chosen her. He’d forced himself to ignore the impulse to tell her everything and let her talk it out with him. He couldn’t because she would never protect herself. She would let it all come out and make the sacrifice, and she deserved more.

He found the lamp on the entry hall table and flicked it on with a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn’t be in the dark all night.