“Same thing you are.” He grinned as Alan and Betty joined them. “We’re here to see Marcel Marceau.”
Puzzled and slightly unhappy, though she could not have said why, Janine performed the introductions. Alan, in excellent French, suggested that after the performance they should all meet and go somewhere for a drink. To Janine’s surprise, Helene and Jacques immediately agreed. As they separated to go to their seats, Helene explained, “We must make the acquaintance of your Sandy.”
Janine managed to shake off her uneasiness as she became absorbed in the performance. As Jacques had said, Marcel Marceau’s genius for pantomime was even more evident on stage than it had been on television. Perhaps it was because of his obvious rapport with the audience.
Her uneasiness flooded back, however, when the performance was over. In spite of Janine’s silent prayer, Sandy, Alan, and Betty were waiting outside for them. Several feet away she could hear Sandy’s voice sneering at something. Fortunately, it was impossible to understand what he was saying from that distance. Then Sandy saw them. “Hi, folks. How did you like the show? Hey, Alan tells me there is a place we could go over to on the ChampsElysees. Then we wouldn’t have to worry about finding new parking places ‘cause we could just walk over and leave the cars where they are.”
Helene quickly translated this to Jacques, who nodded. No one bothered to ask Janine her opinionthey simply assumed she would agree. A moment later, Sandy put his arm around Janine, propelling her forward. It was a fraction too tight around her waist and Janine realized Sandy was upset. She was afraid she knew why and hoped he would not react by being rude to Helene and Jacques. So far he was only talking too loudly.
The place Alan had chosen was not, as Janine had hoped, a cafe, but a bar with dancing. But at least it was not full of smoke and the music was reasonably soft. Sandy took charge of the coats as Alan shepherded them to a table. He managed to get Janine aside long enough to tell her, “You’d better watch Sandy. For some reason he’s really annoyed at your friends.”
Janine nodded her thanks and quickly sat next to Helene as she saw Sandy coming. It was as bad as she had feared if Alan were right. But at the moment Sandy seemed amiable enough. “My treat,” he said as he sat down. “What will you have?”
“Courvoisier,” Janine, Helene, and Jacques agreed.
Sandy shrugged and when the waiter came Alan ordered three whiskeys and three Courvoisiers. Helene broke the uneasy silence that followed by asking, “Did you enjoy the performance?”
Sandy snorted. “What performance? A grown man dressed up as a clown jumping all over the stage, not saying a word! Pretty stupid, if you ask me.”
Janine could feel Helene stiffen. Under his breath, Jacques muttered something and Janine wondered if he had understood what Sandy had said or if he were just reacting to the tone of voice. “C’mon, Betty,” Alan said nervously, “let’s dance.”
Coward! Janine thought. The others stared at each other. Finally Helene spoke again. “Janine tells me you are in business. Is that why you are visiting Paris?” she asked Sandy.
Sandy shot a questioning look at Janine, then answered, “Not really. My father asked me to take care of a couple of things for him, but mainly I’m here as a tourist. You see, my father owns the business and I’ll be running it after he retires. So he sent me to Europe to acquire a broader outlook on things. But he’s going to be surprised to learn I’ve also acquired Jenny, here, as a wife.”
“It is all decided, then?” Helene asked politely.
“Sure. Of course Jenny’s still a little timid, but we’ve got time. She’ll marry me, no question about it!” Sandy grinned and hugged Janine.
Before Helene could respond, Alan and Betty returned warily to the table. “Hey, everyone’s still alive!” he said with mock surprise. “I was sure a French-American war was about to break out.”
“No, sir! We’re all friends!” Sandy said boisterously.
Everyone else took refuge in his drink at this point. But Sandy was in no mood for silence. “Hey, Alan, I was telling Jenny’s friends that she and I are getting married. I’ve even got the ring picked out and-”
“Sandy,” Janine broke in with quiet desperation, will you dance with me?”
“Sure, kitten.‘Scuse us.”
On the dance floor, well away from the table, Janine said, “What do you think you’re doing, Sandy? You have no right to be rude to my friends.”
“Aw, I’m sorry, kitten. I just wanted to make sure that French guy didn’t get any ideas. I love you and I can’t stand the thought of anyone else feeling that way about you,” he explained.
“He’s just a friend, Sandy, and I expect you to be nice to my friends.”
“I said I’m sorry. When we go back I really will be friendly. Okay?” Sandy pleaded. “Please don’t be angry with me, kitten.”
Relieved, Janine began to relax and enjoy the music. By the end of the dance she was almost convinced that everything would be all right. Sandy could be quite charming when he wanted to be, and he had promised to be friendly, hadn’t he?
When they returned to the table, Sandy kept his promise. He was nice to Helene and even addressed one or two comments to Jacques. The only indication that he was still annoyed was that he kept ordering whiskey. After the third glass, Sandy began to talk about what was wrong with France. Immediately Helene said, “We must leave now.”
“Sure, sure.” Sandy waved at them. “Nice meeting you.
Janine spoke quickly, “Could you take me home, Helene? I’m not feeling very well.”
Helene nodded. Sandy broke in, “I’ll take you!”
Janine shot Alan a pleading look. “It’s Alan’s car and I’m sure they’re not ready to leave,” she said.
Sandy shrugged sourly. “Suit yourself.”
Stiffly, the three walked out. ` Incroyablel” Jacques muttered.
None of them felt like talking, and it was a silent ride back to rue Bonaparte. At last, however, they were there. “Are you really so tired you cannot talk for a little while?” Jacques asked.
“Non,” Janine replied shakily, reverting automatically to French, “we can go up to my apartment and I will fix some coffee.”
“No,” he said firmly. “That is too much trouble for you. We will go to Les Deux Magots and find a quiet corner. It will be better so.”
Janine agreed with relief
As promised, Jacques found them a quiet corner and ordered coffee. It was Helene, however, who spoke first. “Jacques is right, my friend. You must not marry this man Sandy.”
Janine felt miserable. “I am sorry for the things Sandy said. I do not understand. I have never seen him this way before. Usually he is very nice, very sympathetic, very polite. You must not judge him by tonight.”
“But which is the true Sandy?” Jacques asked gently. “A man who is so nice cannot behave as he did tonight.”
“I think,” Helene said quietly, “this is another Phil, yes`? He reminds me much of the man you wrote me about. The one has hurt you, especially your pride, so when this other one, Sandy, says that he wants you, your pride is soothed. And you accept him. But neither, I think, is for you. If your pride had not been hurt you would soon have tired of Phil and understood this.”
“That’s not true!” Janine said hotly. “They are very different men!”
“Perhaps,” Jacques interrupted. “I do not know anything about this Phil, but it does not matter. I simply can not understand why you wish this Sandy. Even if he is not often as he was tonight, he can be and you could find a better man.”
“Who?” Janine flung back bitterly.
Jacques spoke calmly but he was irritated. “Don’t be a child. You are very pretty. You are intelligent, wellbred and, I think, capable of much love. There are many men who would want such a woman.”
Janine regarded Jacques warily. His description of her was absurd but he truly seemed to believe it. She was startled by its generosity but also by the implication that he had spe
nt much time thinking about her. Helene intervened, “It is, of course, your choice, Janine. But at least do not rush into anything with Sandy. Perhaps you are right that he would be good for you. I do not think so.”
“Don’t worry,” Janine replied grimly, “I have no intention of rushing into anything!”
“Good,” Jacques said quietly. “Now it is late, and perhaps you would like to go home?”
“Oui!” Janine said emphatically.
“We will walk you back to your apartment,” he added.
They left her at the foot of the stairway to the apartment. As she watched them leave, Janine wondered if she would have a chance to see them again before she left Paris. She really should begin traveling soon. With a sigh, she turned to go up the stairs. “So you felt sick!” a voice thundered at her elbow.
Startled, she turned to see someone standing in the shadows. “Sandy! What are you doing here?”
“I was worried about you,” he said cuttingly, “only it seems I needn’t have bothered. You weren’t too sick to go somewhere with your French friends.”
“We just stopped for coffee,” she replied wearily.
“Coffee? For an hour?”
“We were talking.”
“What about?”
“If you must know, we were talking about you, Sandy. I was trying to explain to Helene and Jacques that you’re not always as rude as you were tonight.”
“I was rude?” Sandy asked incredulously. “What about the three of you? How do you think Alan and Betty felt when you just walked out as if our company wasn’t good enough for you?”
“Sandy, I’m sorry,” Janine began.
“And what did your friends say about me?” he asked as if he hadn’t heard her. “Well? Why don’t you answer me, Jenny? Never mind. I can guess. Jack doesn’t like me so he tried to cut me out with you, right? He probably told you I’m not good enough for you, and he probably told you a lot of nonsense about how tall blondes can have any guy they want. And that Ellen probably backed him up!”
Janine didn’t answer. She was frightened by the look on Sandy’s face. After a moment he continued, “And you probably fell for everything they said.”
Rage began to overwhelm Janine’s other reactions. “I am quite capable of thinking for myself,” she said. “Don’t try to lay the blame on my friends for any trouble between us.”
Sandy’s tone became soothing. “It’s just that we’ve never had trouble before tonight, kitten. So naturally I wonder if it’s because your friends were there. Don’t be mad at me, kitten. I love you.”
“Do you?” Janine asked quietly.
“Of course I do. Look, Jenny, we’re both tired. Let’s get some sleep. In the morning it won’t seem important. But don’t go to sleep angry with me, Jenny,” Sandy pleaded.
Janine started up the stairs. Over her shoulder she said wearily, “I’m not angry with you, Sandy. Good night.”
Janine woke shivering from a nightmare. She couldn’t remember much of it except that she had been very frightened. The clock read seven A.M.Knowing it would be hopeless to try to go back to sleep, Janine swung her feet out of bed. It was too early to go get croissants, but at least she could have a cup of coffee.
She winced as the coffee grinder began its highpitched whirring, and made a mental note to buy herself a hand grinder if she ever needed one. But the fresh-ground coffee was worth the noise. Over the steaming cup, Janine was able to relax. Ralph, the porcelain cat, was regarding her calmly from the other side of the table. That reminded her of Rena. “I wish,” she thought aloud, “I were with you in Switzerland. Knowing you, I’d have a great time and I’d have a chance to sort out how I feel about Sandy.”
The more Janine thought about it, the better the idea sounded. She could find out Rena’s current address from Mark and be there in a few days. Monday she would find out about trains. She wondered if they were very crowded this time of year. Probably.
Suddenly the phone rang. Janine jumped, spilling her coffee. She mopped at the mess rapidly as the phone continued its insistent noise. At last she growled, “Allo?”
“Kitten! Good morning. Did I wake you up?” Sandy’s cheerful voice responded.
“No,” Janine said cautiously, “I’ve been up for a while.”
“Good. Listen, I want to apologize for last night. And to tell you I love you. Also, if you want, I’ll come spend the day with you going to museums. Then we’ll have dinner somewhere nice,” Sandy offered.
“That’s sweet of you,” Janine replied, “but I know you hate museums. Besides, you know I spend Sundays with Mark.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot. Of course I understand. I was thinking…you seemed to enjoy the theater last night. Maybe I could get us tickets for something for Friday or Saturday.”
“That would be nice only I’m thinking of going to Switzerland to see Rena and I don’t know when I’ll leave.” Janine faltered. “I mean, I thought it was about time I saw the rest of Europe.”
“That’s a great idea!” Sandy said.
“You think so?” she asked with some surprise.
“Absolutely. Listen, have a nice day and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“All right,” Janine said with relief
Still puzzled, Janine replaced the receiver. She didn’t quite know what reaction she had expected to her announcement, but it certainly wasn’t enthusiasm from Sandy. Perhaps he understood more than he seemed to. If so, he was being awfully sweet. With a sigh, Janine picked up her coffee cup and took it to the kitchen. It was time she got dressed anyway. Mark would probably arrive soon. He actually seemed to enjoy getting up early and only consideration for Janine kept him from appearing before nine-thirty on a Sunday morning. I’m glad, Janine thought, that I’m not the one who’s going to marry him. I couldn’t stand facing a cheerful smile over the breakfast table every morning at six or seven A.M.!
She had just finished dressing when the doorbell rang. She looked at the clock and noted that, as usual, Mark was precisely on time. “Coming!” she called, glancing around the apartment quickly to be sure everything was in order. “Hi! Come in.”
Mark brushed past her and walked over to the table where he set something down. “I picked up croissants on the way over. I figured you probably hadn’t had time for breakfast yet. Besides, I could do with a cup of coffee.”
“Yes, sir. Right away, sir,” Janine teased. “Actually, I’ve been up for hours, though I admit I haven’t had anything to eat yet.”
Mark drew his eyebrows together. “Don’t tell me it was noisy here on a Sunday morning.”
“No, though I did get an early phone call from Sandy.”
“I see.”
Janine sighed. The coffee was almost ready and she couldn’t hide in the kitchen much longer. She carried the pot into the living room. “Actually,” she said lightly, “I’ve been thinking of doing some traveling. Starting with Switzerland. You know…maybe join Rena for a bit, then go on to somewhere else.”
Mark stared at her without saying a word. Janine sipped her coffee uneasily. At last he said, “Isn’t this a rather sudden decision?”
“Does it matter?”
“Perhaps not,” Mark conceded, “but have you considered Rena’s point of view?”
“What do you mean?”
It was Mark’s turn to sigh. “Janine, I have the feeling Rena might not welcome your company.”
“Why not?”
Mark hesitated, wondering how much he had to tell her. Finally he plunged on. “Rena’s letters have seemed rather odd since she left Geneva. A few weeks ago I was sufficiently worried that I wrote her saying I planned to come to Switzerland to join her for a short holiday. Well, she wrote back saying I shouldn’t come. In fact, Rena said rather bluntly that she wanted to be alone for a while. So I wrote again and asked if you could go and stay with her and-”
“You what?” Janine demanded.
“I was worried about Rena. I thought that if she agreed I could ask you to
go, even offer to pay your expenses if necessary,” Mark said unhappily.
“Why on earth didn’t you ask me first?” Janine persisted.
“Because I was pretty sure she would refuse and I figured it would upset you if you knew,” he explained.
“You’re darn right it upsets me!” Janine said hotly. “Did she give any reason?”
“Just that she wanted to have fun without her sister tagging along.”
Janine stared at Mark in shock. Gradually the shock gave way to hurt resentment. Often when they had been younger Rena had gone off alone saying she didn’t want a sister tagging along. As if Janine were five years younger or something! The memories only reinforced her resentment. She forced herself to speak but could do nothing about the stiffness in her voice. “I see. Well, that ends that idea, doesn’t it?”
Mark looked uncomfortable. “Janine,” he began, “I…No, dammit, there’s nothing I can say to make it sound any nicer. You know Rena as well as I do. Anyway, I’m sure now that she’s okay. I guess she just wants to kick up her heels a little before we set the wedding date.”
“Yes, I know Rena,” Janine repeated in an odd voice. Then she looked at him sharply, noting the slight catch in his voice. “You’re awfully tolerant, aren’t you?”
“Our relationship is none of your business!” Mark said roughly. “Finish your coffee and let’s go.”
“No,” Janine said calmly.
Mark looked thunderstruck. “What do you mean`no’?”
“Just that. As you ought to know by now, I have an aversion to being ordered about. I also have an aversion to bad-tempered ogres. So, unless I’m sure you’re not going to be like this for the rest of the day, I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Very well, then…good-bye!” Mark answered, getting to his feet and striding to the door.
Janine watched him calmly over her cup of coffee. She was not at all disturbed as the door slammed shut behind him. She was still sipping her coffee when the door quietly reopened. “It doesn’t close without a key,” Mark said unnecessarily. Then, somewhat sheepishly, he added, “Was I really being a bad-tempered ogre?”
Paris Summer Page 11
