He mentioned a name, and I wondered if it was the one on King Street where the French lady, Sylvie, worked. She and I often ended up getting coffee at about the same time at Armand’s Coffee Shop. We didn’t know each other well, but over time, we’d started to greet each other and make small talk, which was how I knew where she worked. “I think I know it.” It felt odd to know he’d been in my hometown, walking my streets. So close. No, not odd. Destined. My insides squeezed tight at the thought he’d been there before I’d known him. As if there was a break in the timeline of my life somehow. Like I should have known. How could I have had this strong a reaction to him from the very second of meeting him and not known when he’d been near me before? Which was all ridiculous really. I shook my head, grabbed my water glass, and took a long sip, turning my attention to Dauphine’s drawing of a mermaid. “She’s beautiful,” I said.

Etienne Pascale shook his head with a light snort as if what I was saying was somehow amusing.

I frowned, lost and uncomfortable, this time by the odd tension that thrummed between father and son.

“Papa, can Josie take me down to the beach now?”

“Of course, mon chou.” Xavier sounded relieved.

Etienne Pascale leaned sideways and hauled out a fat brown wallet from his shorts. “Tenez,” he said to me and Dauphine and held out a large denomination of euro bill. “For ice-cream.” He switched to English.

Dauphine snatched it.

“It’s a bit much, don’t you think?” Xavier grumbled.

His father chuckled. “Let an old man spoil his only granddaughter.”

“Merci, Papie! Come,” she said to me, and I was all too eager to leave.

“Bathroom first,” I said, and I grabbed our shared beach bag. “Nice to meet you,” I said to her grandfather.

He stood as I did, and when I offered him my hand, he took it and brought his mouth down to meet my skin again. “Pleasure is all mine. And I apologize for messing up your name … Josie.”

At my side, Xavier was rigid. His leg that I could still see under the table froze as he reached calmly for his water. I glanced at his face and saw nothing but sunglasses and a placid smile before he stood too. Ever the gentleman. “Text me and let me know where you set up on the beach,” he said to us. “I’ll join you when I am done here.”

I nodded.

“Will you swim with me, papa? Please?” Dauphine came around me and gave her dad a quick squeeze and kisses on both cheeks.

“Bien sûr,” he murmured. Of course.