Rising Tides by Emilie Richards Page B

Gulf Coast Steamship to its knees. But he didn’t count on one thing. As part of his plan, he was determined to make Aurore fall in love with him. But despite himself, he fell in love with her, too. She be came pregnant, and they planned to run away together. For one instant, Raphael thought he had it all. Lucien’s downfall. Marriage to Aurore. But it all fell apart. She discovered what he’d done. Not why, but what. Lucien died, and Aurore disappeared to have the baby.”
    “Disappeared?”
    “By then, Aurore knew who Raphael really was. She knew that his father was a mulatto, and that her child would have mixed blood, too. She hid so she could have the baby and give it up. But Raphael found her and took their daughter to raise himself. That daughter was Nicky.”
    “ Grandmère let him take her?”
    “She thought she had little choice.”
    “But that’s impossible to believe. She was a devoted mother. She would have given up her life at a moment’s notice for her children.”
    “She gave Nicky to Raphael, then she set about re storing the fortunes of Gulf Coast Steamship. Only there were no steamships by the time the creditors had finished with them. Raphael had done his work well. So the company became simply Gulf Coast Shipping. And when she couldn’t find anyother way to get it back on firm financial footing, she married Henry Gerritsen, a man who could help her do it.”
    Dawn was silent, trying to drink in the entire story. Part of her wanted to tell Phillip he was crazy. But a bigger part, a much bigger part, knew he was telling the truth. Everything added up. His presence here. Nicky’s presence here. And the bits and pieces of history that she’d always known. “Did Grandmère ever see Nicky again? Did she know anything about her when she was growing up?” she asked at last.
    “There’s a lot more to this than I’ve told you. And that’s why your grandmother had me write it all down. Aurore initialed every page.” He smiled, with no humor. “She knew there would be some here who wouldn’t believe it.”
    “You mean you have this manuscript here with you?”
    “No. Spencer has copies to give everyone, but apparently not until this little beach party is completed.”
    “Does Spencer—”
    “Spencer can verify everything I’ve told you. He’s known the entire story for many years. And so has Pelichere.”
    The sun had risen higher before she spoke again. “I’m going to have to tell my parents, Phillip. How are you going to tell Nicky?”
    “Maybe I should have told her months ago. Aurore left it up to me to decide when.”
    “Why didn’t you tell her before Grandmère died? They might have had a chance at a reunion.”
    “That’s why I didn’t. I was afraid that nothing good could come of a meeting. I couldn’t bear to see either of them hurt more.” He slid off the car and stood. “There’s more than I’ve told you. Don’t judge my decision until you know it all.”
    She joined him on the ground and took his arm when it seemed as if he was going to walk away. “Thanks. I guess.”
    “For what? For telling family secrets you’d probably rather not have heard?”
    She tried to think of a way to explain her own con fused feelings. “I’ve spent the last year of my life trying not to be a part of this family.”
    He moved away. “Well, now there’s even more family that you can try not to be a part of. And not the kind you’re probably dying to have.”
    She let that go. “Listen, have you ever stood on the Mississippi River bank when the fog was rolling in?”
    He frowned.
    “Try it sometime,” she said. “I did it a lot as a little girl, and I still remember. At first the fog is appealing, soft and cool and deliciously mysterious. Then you begin to realize there are people nearby, and boats on the river. You hear snatches of conversation, whistles and bells, and sometimes you even hear laughter. But nothing is clear, and you can’t find anyone or anything without