Follow Your Star, Jennifer Bohnet [best fiction novels to read txt] 📗

parked in the driveway. Mathieu himself opened the front door to them.

‘How’s Zac?’

‘He’s been in a coma since this morning,’ Jean-Claude replied quietly. ‘What are you doing here? Do you have some news? A problem?’

Mathieu shook his head. ‘No problem. But I wanted you to know that Boris was finally allowed to post bail today and he’s out on remand. He’s had to surrender his passport, of course, and must report to the police every day.’

He looked at his father. ‘As far as he’s concerned I’m still helping him so the pretence goes on for at least a few more days. I’m hoping that he’s finally going to give me the name of his contact in Brazil who organizes the diamond smuggling. I can hand the completed file over to the police then.’

‘Does Boris know about Zac?’ Jean-Claude asked.

‘Yes. He’s asked me to let him know as soon as there is any change. He says he and Zac still have some unfinished business.’

‘The stuff I put in the safe!’ Nanette gasped. ‘Do you think it’s still there?’

Mathieu shrugged. ‘Who knows? Maybe Zac moved it on before he left for the French Grand Prix. The unfinished business could be something to do with setting up Vacances au Soleil.’

Nanette spent a restless night in Jean-Claude’s guest suite, unable to sleep, fearful that the phone would ring summoning her back to Zac’s bedside.

Early morning sunlight was streaming in through the French doors of the sitting-room when she went downstairs. Jean-Claude was in the kitchen, listening to the news on the radio and preparing a breakfast tray for her.

‘After you eat, I’ll take you to the hospital,’ he said, pouring her a large mug of coffee.

Nanette smiled her thanks and cupped her hands around the bowl. Information about Zac’s accident was dominating the local radio stations’ news bulletins and Nanette tensed as the voice of the woman he’d rescued came down the air. Praising his actions and calling him a hero, the woman sobbed with gratitude as she publicly thanked Zac for saving both her and her baby daughter and wished him a speedy recovery.

Silently, Jean-Claude leant across and switched off the radio. ‘Breakfast, ma chérie, then we leave for the hospital.’

There was a small group of journalists hanging around the main entrance to the hospital as they arrived. One of them clearly recognized Nanette, but a glare from Jean-Claude and a sharp warning ‘Non’ stopped him in the act of pointing his camera at her.

Zac’s room was full of doctors and nurses and a worried Nanette and Jean-Claude had to wait outside for some time before they were allowed in.

‘Is there any improvement in his condition?’ Nanette asked.

‘Monsieur Ewart had a stable night,’ a young nurse informed them, ‘but he remains unconscious.’

It was early afternoon when Zac stirred briefly and returned the gentle pressure as Nanette held his hand. That hardly felt squeeze filled Nanette with hope, but the rest of the afternoon passed without any further progress in Zac’s condition.

At eight o’clock, as Jean-Claude suggested they should think about preparing to leave for the day, Zac unexpectedly opened his eyes and looked at them. Nanette felt her heart skip a beat as she smiled down at him.

‘Hello Zac.’

‘Nanette. Sorry. Shouldn’t have lied.’

The words were spoken so softly that Nanette could barely hear them. She bent over him, anxious to catch anything else he might say.

‘Please forgive me.’

‘Of course, Zac. It’s in the past. Just get well.’

Nanette glanced up as the machine started to emit a series of quick peeps and a nurse bustled in to check it.

‘Would you mind leaving and coming back tomorrow please?’

As she turned to go, Zac murmured her name.

‘Nanette – thank you.’

‘I’ll see you tomorrow, Zac.’

Moving towards the door where Jean-Claude was waiting for her, she turned to smile and mouthed ‘goodbye’ at Zac and caught the whispered words ‘Be happy, Nanette’ before his eyes closed again.

Jean-Claude held her hand tightly as he quickly led her past the journalists still waiting in the foyer.

‘Any news?’ one called out.

‘Non,’ Jean-Claude answered shortly.

To Nanette’s surprise Jean-Claude didn’t drive straight back to the villa instead he drove down to Cap D’Ail and parked the car.

‘Come on, a walk along the beach to blow the cobwebs away,’ he said. ‘You need some fresh air before we go home for supper.’

Strolling along with Jean-Claude’s arm around her shoulders holding her tight, Nanette felt strangely detached from reality. The last thirty-six hours had passed in a blur. Only now was she beginning to comprehend what had happened.

Zac’s delirious ramblings had taken her to his bedside out of compassion and in remembrance of their past love. Now, as the breeze off the Mediterranean ruffled her hair, she thought about that love. How Zac’s actions had changed it – how she had changed in the aftermath of her accident.

‘If – when – Zac comes out of hospital, he will still need a lot of care for some time,’ Jean-Claude said quietly, interrupting her thoughts. ‘Round the clock attendance probably.’

Nanette nodded. ‘I’ll find the best for him. We’ll nurse him back to health. Thank goodness he can afford all the care and help we need.’

At her words, Jean-Claude stopped walking and turned Nanette to face him. ‘You are going to help nurse him?’

‘No, not nurse him, but I’ll organize his day-to-day needs.’

‘How do you think he will react to the scars he is clearly going to have? Modern plastic surgery can do so much, but I’d hazard a guess that Zac’s good looks have gone forever.’

‘He’s never been a bitter man – arrogant and self-seeking maybe,’ Nanette answered slowly. ‘I think once he knows the extent of his injuries, he’ll get on with improving what he can and simply accept what he can’t. He’s always been very strong like that.’

‘And you, ma chérie?’ Jean-Claude gazed at her intently. ‘How strong are you? How will you cope with a damaged Zac Ewart in your life?’

‘JC, I can’t just walk away from him.’ Like he did to me, she