The wait staff at Chou Chou fussed over Gilly as they always did, bringing out a high chair for her, as well as glass of milk and a basket of warm, fragrant miniature brioches. Ian conversed easily with their waiter in fluent French, ordering a glass of Bordeaux for himself and one of sparkling lemonade for Tessa.

As she perused the menu, Tessa glanced about the warm, cozy bistro, already filled with diners on this chilly November evening. “I always love coming here,” she told him. “It’s like being in someone’s house rather than a restaurant.”

He nodded. “I agree. And the food is exceptional as well. Speaking of which, what will you have this evening, love?”

She grinned, setting her menu aside. “The usual, of course. I shouldn’t even ask for a menu when I come in since I always get the same thing.”

Ian laughed. “Me, too. As for Miss Gillian here, we’ll just have to see what the chef prepares for the princess this evening.”

They both ordered a bowl of cheesy French onion soup, and the equally delicious beef bourguignon. Gilly was presented with a bowl of gruyere mac and cheese, as well as an assortment of finger foods - pommes frites, miniature quiches, bite-sized cream puffs filled with chicken salad. She dug into her meal with gusto, causing diners at nearby tables to smile at her indulgently.

“Is everything all right, Ian?” inquired Tessa about midway through their meal. She placed a hand on his forearm. “You seem a little preoccupied tonight.”

He patted her hand reassuringly. “Everything’s fine,” he told her. “But there is something we need to discuss. Specifically, a phone call I received this morning from my father.”

Tessa was instantly concerned. “Is he all right? I know the last time I spoke to your mother that he wasn’t feeling very well.”

“Father is fine. And that time you spoke with my mother, he was just suffering from indigestion. He does need to lose fifteen pounds, cut down on his drinking, and stop eating too many rich meals. Which are all goals my mother intends for him to pursue when he finally retires next year.”

Tessa sat up a little straighter in her chair. “I thought he was already supposed to be retired. Or at least semi-retired.”

Ian scoffed. “He was. But my father’s idea of being semi-retired still involves going into the office four days a week and working six to eight hours a day, instead of his usual ten to twelve. This time, however, it’s for real. He’ll be giving up his position as co-CEO, and will only go into the office for board meetings on occasion.”

“I’m sure your mother will be very happy when he does that. When is all of this supposed to happen?”

“He’s being somewhat flexible with the dates at the moment, but ideally during the first three months of next year. It will all depend on a variety of factors.”

Tessa nodded. “Like who’s going to replace him for a start.”

“Well, that part’s already been decided. Since Hugh’s the oldest, it was always understood that he would move into the co-chairman’s role when either Father or Uncle Richard retired. And Hugh will be perfect for that position, no one knows more about the company than he does. No, what needs to be decided at this time is who will move into Hugh’s current position.”

Tessa set her fork down, and Ian knew immediately that she had more or less guessed what he would say next.

“It’s you, isn’t it?” she asked quietly. “Your family expects that you’ll move back to England and take over Hugh’s job as director of the European region.”

He gave a short nod. “That’s also been understood for some time. But things - circumstances - have changed over the years, and I’m not so sure any longer that it’s what I want.”

“By circumstances you mean me, of course. And Gilly. And our life out here.”

“Yes,” he affirmed, reaching over to take her hand. “All of those things, plus others as well. It’s a huge decision to make, Tessa, one that will have a considerable impact on our lives if we decide that I should take the job.”

She worried her bottom lip, a sure sign that she was troubled. “Aren’t all of your jobs more or less equivalent to each others - yours, Hugh’s, and Colin’s, that is?”

“More or less. We have the same amount of responsibility, earn close to the same salary. But at the same time we all know that the European region is really the crown jewel. That’s where our oldest and most prestigious hotels are, where the company was first started, and where we’re still best known. And since the director of that region works out of headquarters in London, the position has always been unofficially considered at the upper echelon of management.”

“And it’s something you’ve always wanted for yourself,” she stated quietly. “Something that you’ve worked very, very hard for all these years. Well, there’s really nothing to consider then, is there? You deserve that position, Ian, and of course you’re going to take it. And I’m sure your family will be ecstatic to have you move back to England. I know how much you’ve missed them.”

“Of course I have,” he agreed easily. “But that in itself isn’t a reason to pack everything up and return to England. There are a lot of factors to consider, Tessa.”

The waiter took away their dinner dishes and brought out a pot of tea, as well as a plate of assorted cookies, macarons, and miniature French pastries. Gilly munched happily on a cookie, while Tessa suddenly seemed to have lost her appetite.

“We don’t have to do this,” Ian told her gently. “I’m not under any sort of obligation to accept Hugh’s job. And if I did take it, there would be any number of complications and inconveniences that went along with it.”

“Like what?” inquired Tessa as she brewed them each a cup of tea.

“For one thing, we’d be packing up and relocating during the last trimester of your pregnancy,” he pointed out. “You’d be giving birth to our son within a couple of weeks after moving to England, would be in an unfamiliar hospital, with a doctor you didn’t know. And then you’d have to cope with an infant and a toddler while we find a place to live, unpack, learn your way around the city. It’s a staggering burden to bear, Tessa, and I can’t imagine putting you through all that.”