Valerie gave a dry chuckle. “Humour? From my serious Maxime?”
I shook my head slowly. “I’m notyourMaxime. And I don’t intend to waste another moment.”
Valerie opened her mouth, like she might argue—but then she simply sat back. “What do you mean, waste another moment? It seems like you’ve beenverybusy.”
I bit at my bottom lip, pressure building in my chest. “Ihaven’t been a good father. I’ve spent twelve years just being grateful for any scraps you threw my way—any time you let me have with my daughter. Sometimes I didn’t speak to Sophie for weeks. But that’s over. I want more.”
I pressed my hand flat to the table. “No—I’mdemandingmore. I’ve proven I’m serious. I have the club. Sophie loves it here. She’s thriving. And if you won’t give me more time with her willingly, then I’ll see you in court.”
Something flared in Valerie’s eyes and her brows knit together.
“Courts are expensive, Maxime.”
I paused. “And money can’t buy everything, Valerie.”
I sighed and reached out, running my palm over the back of her hand
“I’m sorry. That was unnecessary. We used to be good friends once. I promise you, getting involved with Chloe was never my intention. Lord knows I fought it. And I know I should’ve told you before you met her. But as you once said, you can’t help who you fall in love with.”
Valerie blinked. It was what she’d said to her parents the day we’d told them about us. About Sophie. It wasn’t a day I liked to remember, but she’d been right.
“Can I ask you a question?” Valeries’s voice was so quiet, I had to lean in to catch her words.
“Sure. I think it’s time we were brutally honest with each other.”
“Areyou in love with her?”
My stomach knotted like invisible fingers had wrapped around it. Was I? She was the first thing I thought about in the morning. The one thing that occupied my thoughts as I waited for fish on the boat. She was the warmth that had infused through the house, and through mine and Sophie’s lives. She’d brought us together. And she was the last thing I thought aboutat night, laying alone in my bed as the breeze from the water made it through my window.
If that was love, then I was in deep.
I took a slow breath, meeting Valerie’s gaze. “I am.”
Her eyes widened for just a second before her usual veil of hauteur descended. She nodded. “And is it mutual?”
Her question made my gut churn. “Honestly? I don’t know. But even if it isn’t, there are things you and I need to discuss.”
Valerie removed her hand from under mine, folding her arms across her chest. “Like?”
“I want more than just holidays and phone calls. I want quality time and a say in decisions that affect my daughter.” I shifted in my chair, staring at the woman I once adored. “It’s time you let me be a father to Sophie.”
30
MAXIME
Iknocked on Sophie’s door, and after her quiet “come in,” I entered her room.
The sight that greeted me bowed the corners of my lips.
Sophie was curled up on a mound of cushions. A book rested over her face like a tent. Bean lay at her feet, sprawled in the heat of the sunbeam pouring in from the window, probably catching up on his tan.
I crossed to her bed and sat, lifting the book from her eyes. “Is there anyone under there?”
“Allo Papa.”
Her smile and the weight of those two simple words spread warmth through my chest.
“Are you okay?” she whispered.
