One Night in Paris

by Kate Sweeney

  “Who was in Paris?” Mrs. Burke looked from one woman to the other.

  Maureen took a very deep and angry breath. “Listen to me, woman. I don’t have time to argue with ya. This is not a game. Now you’ll do as I say and be done with this.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do. I’m a grown woman and I can take care of myself. Don’t be a fool. Now think of another plan, Einstein,” she said sarcastically and grinned.

  Mrs. Burke choked back a laugh. “Einstein. Him I know.” She continued chuckling as she walked over to the stove.

  Maureen blinked several times. “You listen to me. I got ya into this and I’ll get ya out, but ya will do as I say. What kind of fool do ya take me for?”

  Annabel sported a smug grin. “I’m not sure. What kind of fool do you fancy yourself as?”

  A very small chortle was heard from the stove. Maureen, angry and now embarrassed, stood quickly and loomed over Annabel. “Don’t push me too far,” she said as she glared down at Annabel, who glared right back.

  Annabel knew she couldn’t stand without looking like an idiot, which was probably just what Maureen wanted. That set Annabel off. She was not in the mood to be submissive.

  “Don’t try to intimidate me,” she exclaimed and angrily kicked Maureen in the shin.

  Maureen let out a cry of pain and stumbled back, giving Annabel enough room to stand.

  “I lived with three older brothers who tried it,” she yelled, watching Maureen bounce on one leg as she rubbed her shin. “On a daily basis!” She roughly pushed Maureen out of her way as she stormed to the hall. “And they got the same thing!” she called over her shoulder.

  Maureen fell back into a kitchen chair.

  “I’m assumin’ it was Paris, France?” Mrs. Burke asked with a grin. She motioned toward the door. “And she was Francesca?” She sat back and laughed. “Just what kind of a game were you two children playin’?”

  “Jaysus Christ!” Costello ignored her and rubbed her shin. “I think she broke it!” she exclaimed helplessly to Mrs. Burke.

  “Ya deserved it, I’m thinkin’, dear,” Mrs. Burke whispered and sat across from her. “She’s got a temper, that one.”

  “Temper? She’s insane!” Maureen’s voice squeaked as she rubbed her aching leg. “I’m just tryin’ to get her out of this.”

  “Ya’d better go talk to her,” Mrs. Burke said. “I don’t know what you’re into….” She stopped and put a hand up to Maureen, who was about to say something. “And I don’t want to know, but ya need help.”

  Maureen slumped back against the chair and put her head back, staring at the ceiling. “Annabel won’t do as I say, and I can’t stay here. We have to go,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry for getting ya involved, ma’am.”

  “Nonsense, this is more excitement than I’ve had in years.”

  Maureen laughed quietly, then looked down the hallway. Taking a deep breath, she stood. “I’d best go to her,” she said as she walked out.

  Annabel was standing at the window, arms folded defiantly across her chest, staring out into the early evening. She heard Maureen come into the living room, but she did not acknowledge her presence.

  Maureen stood there for a moment, watching her. She smiled in spite of the situation and shook her head. This woman wouldn’t let her go. Why? Why would she want to help me? she thought, then raised an eyebrow. Why do I want her to?

  All her life, she’d been on her own. No ties, no family except for her younger brother, Michael, who got her into all this trouble. She just wanted him to be safe. Both of them growing up together, no family, wandering around Ireland, how else could the poor boy turn out? Gangs, fighting, drugs. It was his way of fitting in. Now he was in it deep, and Maureen had vowed to get him out.

  She was tired of being alone, tired of protecting Michael. She was just plain tired. She now looked at this woman, who wanted to help, who wouldn’t leave, and Maureen ached to know her. She wanted desperately to tell her everything, to take the weight off her shoulders for just a while. How selfish can ya be, Costello? Dump all your shit on this poor woman? God, you’re an ass.

  With her fears and vulnerability once again pushed back deep in her soul, Maureen took a deep breath.

  “I don’t suppose ya would listen to reason?” she asked angrily.

  Annabel turned to her then and gave her a sad look. Maureen felt like someone reached in and twisted her heart with her bare hands.

  “Fine, Maureen. It’s your life and your problem. Don’t let anyone help, don’t let anyone in,” she said in a quiet voice, then chuckled. “You owe me nothing, really. We’re strangers. I just wanted to help. I’ll call the police in the morning. That will give you plenty of time to get wherever it is you’re going. I hope everything turns out all right and you don’t get yourself killed in the process,” she said honestly, damning the tears that burned in her eyes.

  Maureen stood there, her hands shoved deep in the pockets of her jeans. She shivered violently as Annabel walked up to her.

  “Thanks for the adventure. Please take care of yourself.” Annabel looked up into the green eyes. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed her soft cheek. “Goodbye,” she said in a quivering voice and quickly walked away.

  Maureen stood there shaking, unable to move. Her brain told her to take the keys and leave. Her heart told her to take the keys and Annabel and leave. The war raged between the heart and head for several minutes. Finally, Maureen took a deep breath and walked back into the kitchen.

  Annabel sat there, wiping her eyes with a napkin. Mrs. Burke sat across from her with a tired, sad look in her eyes. Maureen stood in the doorway. For the first time in her life, Maureen Costello’s heart won out.

  “We’ll have to ditch your car. They’ll find it. I’ll figure out where to get another, but we can’t stay here tonight. It’s too risky,” she said firmly.

  Annabel shot a look of astonishment at Maureen. Mrs. Burke just smiled into her teacup.

  “So get your bags. I haven’t got all night,” she said gruffly and cleared her throat.

  Annabel grinned and shot past Maureen, who slid out of her way and grumbled under her breath.

  “I’ll be right back,” Annabel said breathlessly. “You won’t leave?”

  A ghost of a smile flashed across Maureen’s face. “No, I won’t leave. I should, but I won’t.” She watched the crazy American dash out of the kitchen. It was quickly replaced by a concerned frown. “This is not a good idea.”

  “It’s a very good idea,” Mrs. Burke said confidently.

  “I hope you’re right, ma’am. It doesn’t matter. She’d probably drive all over Ireland to find me,” she said in an exasperated voice.

  Mrs. Burke chuckled quietly. “She is determined. I’ll give her that,” she said and busied herself at the stove. “I think Dr. Mitchell’s needs might be very much your own, Miss Costello. God has a way of throwing people together.” She laughed quietly. “I guess all young people in this country must be gay.”

  Maureen snorted and leaned against the doorjamb. She was afraid to sit down. Afraid she’d feel too comfortable, too safe, perhaps too loved.

  “God has an odd sense of humor,” Maureen said seriously, and Mrs. Burke laughed heartily.

  Annabel dashed into the kitchen and ran right into Maureen, who let out a grunt.

  “Sorry,” she said breathlessly.

  Maureen gave her a disturbed look as she watched the face flushed with excitement.

  “Here, this is something for later.” Mrs. Burke handed them a small basket. “Wherever ya wind up, ya can eat it cold or heat it up.” She then held up her hand. “Wait.” She opened a cabinet, taking out a bottle of wine, blowing off the dust. “I was savin’ this for a special occasion. I think this is it. Though it may be vinegar by now.”

  “Which would be only fittin’,” Maureen said.

  “Thank you,” Annabel said, ignoring Maureen. She kissed Mrs. Burke on the cheek.

  “Not at all. You two
be safe. Ya have my number. Anything at all, just call,” she said and pulled Maureen down to her and kissed her cheek.

  “Take care of each other,” Mrs. Burke said, then put her lips to Maureen’s ear. “Let her take care of you, lass,” she whispered and let her go.

  Maureen nodded and gave a noncommittal shrug as she pulled back. Mrs. Burke rolled her eyes and pushed her toward the door. “Ya got your hands full with this one,” Mrs. Burke said and finished with a wicked smile, “Francesca.”

  *******

  “What in God’s name is that?” Annabel asked as Maureen pulled up to the cottage.

  At one point, it was probably white and thatched properly. Maureen looked around and shrugged as she retrieved the basket.

  “We used to play here as children. It’s been like this forever. No one ever comes here. No one will find us. We can stay here for the night,” she said and opened the heavy door. It smelled musty and damp.

  “And to think I could have called Trevor and we’d be staying in a big cozy house in the country right now. I don’t suppose we can—?”

  “No, sorry. After I explain, you’ll understand.” Maureen lit several lanterns.

  Annabel looked around the cottage. It had almost no furniture, except for a small table and two rickety chairs. In the corner by the fireplace was a small bed, more appropriately a cot.

  “Does anyone live here?” She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her arms to get warm.

  Maureen glanced at Annabel, who shivered slightly. She picked up a few bricks of peat and started a fire. “Give it a minute, it’ll warm ya. Sit down…” She pulled the chair over close to the fireplace.

  Annabel obeyed and sat down. The earthy aromatic peat bricks warmed the cottage just as Maureen said they would.

  “I’ll be right back,” Maureen said quietly.

  Annabel whirled around. “Where are you going?”

  “Just parkin’ the car behind the cottage. Just in case. I’ll be right back,” she assured her and slipped out the door.

  In a few minutes, Annabel heard the back door of the cottage open. Maureen walked in shaking off her leather jacket. “It’s rainin’ again,” she said as she ran her hands through her damp hair. She looked up to see Annabel watching her, her eyes wide. Maureen noticed fear in her blue eyes.

  She winced awkwardly, knowing Annabel deserved an explanation. She pulled the other chair up and sat next to her.

  Annabel said nothing as she watched the glowing fire, mesmerized by the flames of the peat.

  “I’m not sure where to start. I just have something to finish. I…” She stopped, knowing she sounded foolish.

  Annabel looked at her then. “How do you know of this cottage?” she asked in a quiet voice, hoping Maureen could start.

  Maureen took a deep breath and looked around. The memories flooded her mind as if it were yesterday.

  “We’ll be safe here, Michael. Don’t you worry,” Maureen assured. “We’ll rest here tonight, then make our way back to Kevin Martin. He’ll help us.”

  “All the way to Galway? Maureen, it’ll take forever,” Michael complained. Maureen brushed the long red hair away from her smudged face. “We’ll make it. I won’t let them split us up. Now you go to sleep.”

  Michael lay on the cot and pulled his jacket around him. “I won’t go back to those people.”

  “No, we won’t. I won’t let him hit ya anymore. Trust me, I’ll take care of ya,” she assured him as she watched him fall asleep.

  “I’ll never let anyone hit ya again, Mick. Never…” she vowed as she kissed his dirty forehead.

  “Maureen?”

  She blinked, shaken from her reverie, and looked at Annabel. “Sorry…I was rememberin’. My brother and I came here a few times,” she said with a shrug. “Just kids, ya know, playin’.”

  Annabel raised a wary eyebrow. “Just playing, hmm?” she said and shrugged. “Okay.”

  Maureen avoided her and picked up the basket. “Hungry?”

  “Sure, why not? Might as well eat.”

  They sat and ate in silence. Maureen stole a glance at her companion every now and then. “Mrs. Burke can certainly roast a lamb. It’s good, even cold,” she tried to make conversation. Annabel smiled and nodded.

  Silence once again. Maureen actually tasted nothing. She opened the bottle of wine. “Sorry, no glasses,” she mumbled as she handed the bottle to Annabel.

  “It’s okay. I have nothing catching. How about you?”

  “No. I’m clean. And I’ve always liked a bit of sarcasm with my wine.” Maureen watched Annabel, then took the offered bottle. “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  They regarded each other for a moment, then laughed outright. Maureen shook her head as she took a healthy drink from the bottle. “You’re an odd woman, Annabel. May I call you Annabel?”

  “Yes, you may since I’m about to get personal…” She ignored Maureen’s irritated growl and jumped right into the fire. “So where is your brother now?”

  Maureen hesitated for a moment. “Just outside Dublin,” she said and took a mouthful.

  “Married? Or happy?” Annabel asked lightly.

  “Neither, I’m afraid.” Maureen chuckled quietly.

  There was a definite feeling of doom in the cottage. Annabel watched Maureen, absently eating a bit of lamb as she stared into the fire.

  “Please tell me what trouble you’re in. I may not be able to help, but I can surely listen.”

  Maureen set down the basket of food and picked up the bottle of wine, taking a healthy drink or two. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her thighs, rolling the bottle back and forth between her hands. She stared into the fire for a long minute or two.

  “Michael got himself into trouble with the wrong sort of people. I’m tryin’ to make sure they don’t do this to anyone else.”

  “Do what?” Annabel asked softly. The faraway look on Maureen’s face was heartbreaking. She watched her inner struggle. “I know you don’t want me involved…”

  “It was hard for Michael growing up. We…he had no father to set him straight. No mother to love him. I did my best, but the kid grew up angry and wantin’ to fit in somehow. He just picked the wrong people. I tried to get him out, tried to help him, but the money was too good and he wouldn’t listen.”

  “Is it drugs?”

  Maureen shot her a look, then ran her fingers through her hair and nodded, taking another long drink from the wine bottle.

  “What happened?”

  She took a long deep breath. “He was takin’ the drugs he was supposed to sell and squanderin’ the money and the drugs. They had him in so deep. I tried to give them whatever money I had. I-I know I should’ve gone to the police, but it was my brother.” She looked at Annabel, begging her to understand. “They took my money but didn’t let Michael off the hook. Six months ago, he was at some party in Galway. From what I can gather from his…friends,” she added with an ugly laugh, “he had taken somethin’ bad.” She stopped, taking another drink. By now, she had nearly finished the bottle all by herself.

  Annabel refused a drink that Maureen offered. She knew Maureen wouldn’t go into any details about her brother, so she reached over to touch Maureen’s arm. Maureen flinched and quickly walked over to the fire, staring down into the flames.

  “I vowed to stop the people who got Michael involved in this shit. I’m close to keeping that promise. I have one more thing to do, then it’s done.” Annabel noticed the slight slur in her voice as she drank the rest of the wine. Maureen let out a rude chuckle as she turned the empty bottle upside down and shook it. “Ah, well.” She shrugged and placed the bottle on the mantel.

  Annabel watched in silence as she stared at the glowing flames. She whispered something Annabel couldn’t hear. “Maureen, you need to sleep, and I need to take a look at your side,” she said softly. Maureen turned to her and shrugged. “Come on, lie down.”

  Maureen stumbled just as she
sat on the small cot. “I’m fine. It isn’t bleedin’,” she assured her in a slurred whisper. Annabel gently pushed her against the pillow as Maureen let out a contented groan. “God, I’m tired.”

  After checking the wound on her side, Annabel took the cloth and dabbed at the cut on her lip. She winced apologetically when Maureen flinched. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You’ve a gentle touch, Annabel,” Maureen said in a soft voice as she watched her. “Why?”

  “Why what?” Annabel cleaned up the first aid arsenal.

  “Why Francesca?” Maureen asked in a sleepy voice.

  Annabel blew out the lanterns, the cottage now basking in a glow of the peat fire. She sat on the edge of the bed. “No reason,” she said with a shrug. She heard Maureen’s grunt of disbelief. “I guess I wanted to be someone else. Someone attractive, sexy, and alluring, like…the Frenchwoman you were with,” she finished in a quiet voice.

  Maureen watched her and grinned. “So that was you out on the terrace?”

  Annabel groaned and buried her face in her hands.

  Maureen reached over and gently took a hand away and held it. “Don’t try to be anything else but what ya are. That’s alluring enough. You’re kind and compassionate. Ya’ve got it all over Leiza, believe me.”

  Annabel smiled. “Leiza, hmm? She is beautiful.”

  Maureen matched her smile and nodded. “She is, but she has no soul. Trust me, I’d take Francesca or…Annabel any time,” Maureen said, completely amazed at how easily she said this.

  Annabel looked into her eyes and grinned adorably. Maureen chuckled and shifted on the cot. “And that’s enough—how do you Americans say it—schmaltz for one night. Sleep with me, Annabel,” she whispered so softly that Annabel almost missed it.

  For an instant, Annabel thought she’d break something trying to get onto that cot, but she calmly kicked off her shoes and lay at Maureen’s side. She reached down and pulled her jacket over both of them. This was the oddest sleeping arrangement she had ever had. Maureen raised her arm, and Annabel quite naturally nestled against the warm lean body. Maureen let out a small sigh as she draped her arm around her, pulling her close.