Having the Frenchman's Baby

WHEN Rachel saw a silver Maserati careen around the bend of the narrow road and head straight for her, she yanked the steering wheel to the right, praying to avoid a collision.To her shock, the dark-haired, Italian-looking driver slowed down and waved, as if to thank her for getting out of his way."You lunatic!" she shouted at him, and received a white smile for her effort before he cruised on.Craning her neck out the window, she cried, "Lunatic!" But he'd sped up again and was out of sight before she could get her rental car started again.The incident had left her so weak, it took a minute before she felt composed enough to continue on.Within five minutes she arrived in the little town of Thann, France, and found the hotel where she would be staying for the night.Before she freshened up and went out again, she had an important call to make. But the fear of her twin sister's rejection always put a knot in her stomach.Their estrangement had gone on for too many years.It was a tragic situation Rachel wanted to fix if she could find the courage. Maybe this phone call could be the first step.Yesterday was the anniversary of their mother's death. Normally Rachel would have flown to New York to put flowers on the grave, but this year her work prevented it.To her relief the sexton at the cemetery agreed to accept the florist's delivery and place the flowers against the headstone.If Rebecca had been able to visit the cemetery, she could tell Rachel if she'd seen the flowers. After six rings she heard, "Rachel?"So her sister was in New York... "Hello, Rebecca." She swallowed hard. "I wasn't sure if I would even be able to reach you.""I've been in Wyoming, and only came here briefly on business. What is it?""H-how are you?""I'm okay." Was her twin's voice shaking too? Or had Rachel just imagined it. "And you?""I'm okay too." She bit her lip. This wasn't going well. It never went well. "By any chance did you notice some flowers on Mother's grave yesterday?""If you mean the potted rose tree, then yes.""Oh, good."After a tension-filled silence, "Is that all you wanted to know?"Rachel clutched the receiver tighter. No...it wasn't all, but she didn't know where to begin. "Look, Rachel, I'm in kind of a hurry and have to go." She nodded. "So do I.""Where are you?" Rebecca asked at the last second."France.""Then I guess I should sayau revoir."Tears stung her eyes. "Goodbye, Rebecca."After her harrowing ordeal on the road a half-hour ago, this pain was all she needed.Wiping her eyes, she got up to wash her face. Once she felt a little calmer, she went down to the front desk."Could you please tell me which vineyard is the best in the area?"Without hesitation the concierge said, "That would be the Domaine Chartier et Fils,mademoiselle."If you take the road west from the town center and follow it three miles, you will come upon a fifteenth-century convent which has been owned by the Chartier family for generations. You can't miss it."Rachel thanked him and went out to her car parked on one of the quaint side streets.Thousands of tourists flocked to Alsace, the northeastern province of France bordering Germany and Switzerland. Now that it was June, she'd had trouble finding a place to squeeze in.After putting her black attacheacute; case in the front passenger seat, she slid behind the wheel. But she wasn't quick enough to prevent a couple of guys from enjoying the view of her long, elegant legs. The skirt of her white business suit had ridden up her thighs.Ignoring their interested gaze, she leaned over to close the door. The action caused her dark, glossy hair to swish against her shoulders. Quickly she started the car and pulled into the narrow street.She'd passed through the town center a little while ago, having driven a portion of the village-studded wine route from Colmar, a city forty-five minutes from Thann.Blessed with aWinters, Rebecca is the author of 'Having the Frenchman's Baby', published 2006 under ISBN 9780373182503 and ISBN 0373182503.