by Melanie Ting
Perfect skin, check. Blue eyes, check. Blonde hair in a sleek asymmetrical bob, check. And elegance up the ying yang, like every French woman ever.
Her casual navy linen blouse and dark jeans made me regret the sateen shift dress. Damn, why didn’t I wear my usual shirt and dress pants? Now I looked like someone’s overdressed mom. I felt old and frumpy, and I tried to shake it off.
“Leo,” she said and they did that double cheek kiss thing. Was I going to have to do that too? Because I always messed up and bumped into the other person’s nose halfway. Also, she said his name differently: Lay-o. Great, I’d been pronouncing my boyfriend’s name wrong for months.
“Hi, I’m Wes.” My hand was grasped firmly, and for the first time I noticed the man with Sophie. He was very tall, muscular in a lanky way, and very tanned. His hair was naturally sun-bleached in that way that Wendy spent hundreds to achieve at the salon. Wes’s warm smile and relaxed manner made me feel better. I could do this. I pulled on my corporate wife persona.
“Hello, Wes. It’s lovely to meet you. I’m Jackie.”
Sophie leaned over and shook my hand with a dazzling smile. “Ahhh, Jackie. Enchantée.” She shook her head at Leo. “Why do you deny you have a girlfriend when she is so pretty?”
A scowl passed over his face. “Sophie, that was months ago. Jackie, this is Charlotte.”
“Hello,” I said. I felt unreasonably disappointed that Leo hadn’t told his ex about me. But it was a two-way street. I’d never said a word to Brent, and apparently the kids hadn’t either.
Charlotte looked up at me from under her long bangs. “Nice-to-meet-you,” she said in a polite rush, then leaned against her dad. I didn’t pressure her with any further questions.
We all sat down at the table. Charlotte stayed on her father’s lap. The waitress came and took our orders and then there was a brief silence.
Leo turned to his daughter. “How was the plane ride?”
“We had little TVs,” Charlotte replied. “I watched three movies!”
“Half of three movies,” Sophie corrected. “She doesn’t like the sad parts.”
Awww, Charlotte was very sensitive. Tristan had been like that as well. He hated any tension, and once the two of us had to leave a movie in the middle while Brent and Hannah stayed. And it was only one of those Air Bud movies. Now he was able to watch zombies and killer robots without any problem.
The drinks arrived, and I proposed a toast to the newlyweds. We clinked glasses.
“How did the wedding go?” I asked.
Wes grinned and reached for Sophie’s hand. “It was perfect.”
She shook her head. “Mais, le mauvais temps…rain, rain, rain. Just like Vancouver.”
He laughed easily. “Good thing we didn’t do an outdoor ceremony like I wanted. So what if a few people got wet on the way in? You looked like an angel, and the ceremony went great.”
Sophie looked up at him and smiled. The affection between the two of them was palpable, and I smiled too.
Once the food arrived, Sophie began updating Leo on people he knew who were at the wedding. She wove French and English together, and I couldn’t keep up. I turned to Wes.
“Do you speak French?”
“Not one word.” His teeth were extra white and shiny, possibly because he was so tanned. Wes had a rugged, outdoorsy look. “Looks like you’re in the same boat.”
I nodded. “I regret all the times I skipped French class. So, you’re from California?”
“Yup, born and bred. But I travel a lot for my job, so I can pretty much live anywhere. I’ve been staying in Montréal between projects, otherwise Soph and I would hardly get a chance to see each other.”
“What is it that you do?”
“I install monitoring systems on yachts.” At my completely blank look, he continued, “If you’re going on an extended cruise, you don’t want to get stuck in the middle of the ocean without the part that needs replacing. I go through the boat from stem to stern and record every piece of equipment, then input it into a database to calculate maintenance and replacement. That way the yacht owners can stay on top of their maintenance schedule. And now we’re beginning to install monitoring systems that actually inspect parts for unusual wear and tear. It’s like having a whole boat crew of your own!”
Wes was very enthusiastic about yachting, a subject I knew zero about, but it was a chance to get to know him. It was puzzling that Sophie had once married someone as intelligent and intense as Leo, and now was moving on to someone as relaxed and Zen as Wes.
In the short time I’d seen Leo and his ex together, it was clear to me that splitting up was her idea. Knowing how much he doted on his daughter, it was hard to believe that he would do anything to jeopardize their relationship. Not that there was anything wrong with Wes, he was the ultimate California dude: good-looking, laid-back, and super friendly. Maybe that was better. From what I’d seen, both Sophie and Leo were stubborn and strong-willed. A marriage of two strong-willed people could be brutal.
“So, tell me about your honeymoon,” I said.
“Well, we’re flying to Hawaii first. Soph’s got some hotel thing lined up there, and we’ll stay a few days. Then a buddy of mine wants to sail his forty-footer from Maui to San Diego, so we’re joining him and his crew. It’ll take a month, but it’s going to be incredible.”
“Wow, that will be a huge adventure. Is Sophie an experienced sailor?”
We both looked over at her. In her chic, accessorized outfit, she hardly looked like someone who could swab the deck or whatever it was that you did on a boat.
“No, the only boat she’s been on is the cruise ship where we met. But my girl’s a good sport. She’s willing to try anything.”
“Cheri, are you talking about me?” Sophie reached over and squeezed Wes’s hand. She was so beautiful, and against all my best instincts, I felt a flutter of jealousy. I really needed to work on my higher self.
“Always,” he replied. Then they exchanged a look so sugary that I gained two hundred calories just being in the crossfire.
She turned to me and smiled. Caught in the golden gaze of her attention, I felt half-seduced too. No wonder every man at this table wanted to put a ring on her. She was a queen.
“Tell me about yourself, Jackie. What is your profession?”
“I have a few jobs,” I replied. Unfortunately none of those jobs really had an impressive title. Bargain shopper? Stay-at-home-most-of-the-time Mom? Aspiring artist? Art store clerk? “Uh, mainly in arts and design. What do you do, Sophie?”
“I work for Group Germaine, the hotel chain. I am in corporate marketing.”
“Wow, that sounds impressive.”
She laughed. “Well, it was certainly hard to get so much time off. Certainement, this voyage, with Wes, it’s once in a lifetime.”
“It sounds incredible. I can’t even imagine what it would like to be a boat trip that long.”
Wes answered, “Being on the ocean gives man insight into his soul.”
“Is that a quote?” I asked. Wes didn’t strike me as a literary type.
“Nah, I just made it up.” He laughed, and Sophie smiled.
She turned back to me. “You have children?”
“Yes, two.”
“What are their ages?”
“Hannah is twelve and Tristan is ten.”
Sophie smiled. “Bon. Charlotte, you will have built-in playmates here.”
Charlotte didn’t look exactly pleased at that idea. In fact, she looked worried.
“Well, that will be up to Charlotte to decide,” I said.
“But it is unavoidable, is it not?” Sophie asked.
I looked at her, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Are you not looking after Charlotte when Leo is working?”
“No, of course not. What gave you that idea?”
Leo interrupted. “I’ve hired a nanny. Her name is Noelle Nowak.”
Was this something we should be talking a
bout now? I could see that Charlotte was listening very intently.
“Ahh, I see,” Sophie said. She turned to Leo. “Noelle, c’est la femme qui va s’occuper de ma fille cet été. Peut-être que c’est Noelle que tu devrais inviter à diner au lieu de cette femme-ci.”
Leo’s face was completely unreadable, but the pulse on his temple was throbbing. “Don’t, Sophie.”
I had no idea what she said, but Noelle’s name was mentioned. I rushed in to reassure her that she would do a good job. “Noelle has worked as a camp counsellor and a soccer coach. She’s very experienced with kids. She was recommended to me by two different people.”
“C’est pas grave.” Sophie shook her head. “You must excuse me. I’m spoiled because both Leo’s mother and mine have always been able to babysit Charlotte. We’ve never had to leave her with a total stranger.”
“I understand, but Noelle’s a lovely girl. And I’m here as back-up if there any problems.”
Sophie smiled. “How kind of you, Jackie.”
Wes changed the subject back to their upcoming ocean voyage, and Leo jumped in with some logistical questions. I tried to figure out why there was so much tension after Leo mentioned Noelle.
The three-hour time difference was hitting Charlotte; she began to nod off, slumped against her father.
“Maybe it’s time to get Charlotte off to bed,” I suggested.
Leo nodded. “Yes. I’ll take you guys back to your hotel and pick up Charlotte’s bags.”
“What about Jackie?” Wes asked, as we rose from the table.
“I have my own car,” I said.
Leo carried Charlotte out, with Wes right behind him. Sophie and I were the last ones out, and I put a hand on her arm.
“Sophie, I’m sure it must be stressful for you to have to leave your daughter for so long. I know I’d be going crazy. But please don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on her, and I’m here if Leo needs help.”
Her blue eyes fixed upon me. “He will need help. Did he tell you he has never once looked after her by himself? I almost changed my mind when I found out that he would not be in Montréal for the summer.”
“Leo adores Charlotte. He has been planning for her visit for months. He wants everything to go perfectly.”
Sophie laughed harshly. “But things never go perfectly when it comes to children. All women know that.”
I nodded. “I can’t disagree. But that’s what back-up plans are for.”
“Bien sûr. Leo always has back-up plans.” She stared at me hard, like she was trying to read my mind. “Good thing that he’s dating someone who is a mother. Thank you for your concern, Jackie. I am trusting my greatest treasure to you. Be good to her.”
“I will be.”
It wasn’t a hard promise to make. Charlotte’s shy sweetness made me want to know her better. But I could see that it would have to be on the little girl’s own terms. We had all of July to get to know each other better.
23
Daddy’s Girl
Leo
I took Sophie and Wes to their hotel and picked up Charlotte’s suitcase. Actually, two large suitcases.
“A lot of stuff for a little girl,” I commented as Wes put them in the trunk.
“She’ll be here for a month,” said Sophie. “Come here and give me a hug, darling.”
Charlotte gave her mom a drowsy hug and began to cry. “Maman, maman,” she wailed over and over. She was exhausted and overwrought.
Sophie began to cry too. She held Charlotte and stroked her head. “Don’t worry, ma cherie. I’ll be back soon. And you’ll be with Papa.”
Finally Charlotte’s sobs turned to hiccups. I whisked her into the car and drove off. In the rearview mirror I couldn’t tell if she was sleeping or staring, but she didn’t say a word all the way home. But once we walked into my place, she was wide awake and curious. I took her on a tour, and she loved her new room.
“Oh Papa, purple walls! Purple is my favourite colour.”
“I know that. This room was decorated just for you.”
I hesitated to mention that Jackie had painted the walls because I didn’t want to be shoving my new girlfriend down her throat. Charlotte hadn’t liked many of the women I’d dated.
“Good thing you didn’t choose the paint colour,” she said with a cheeky grin. I tickled her side, and she squirmed away. She continued her exploration of her new room.
“Look! Cat paintings!” She started hopping up and down to see them better, so I picked her up and moved her closer. “Oh, so cute. Are these mine? Can I take them home?”
“This is your home too.”
“Yeah. I forgot.” Her shoulders drooped a little. She knew that she wouldn’t be spending that much time here, it was too far away.
“They are yours though. So wherever I go, those darn cats will be there.” I assumed that I could take the paintings; Jackie got them specifically for Charlotte. If not, I’d buy them from the leasing company.
“You should get a real pet.” This was Charlotte’s favourite campaign.
I put her down. “I’m too busy to take care of a pet. Now, let’s get you unpacked.”
“If you got a cat, I could take care of it while I’m here. And I saw this machine that releases cat food on a timer. You wouldn’t have to do anything at all.”
“What about the stuff that comes out the other end?” I opened up her two suitcases. Sophie had packed way too many clothes, even for a month’s stay. I handed the folded piles to Charlotte to put away.
She giggled. “Eww, Papa, that’s gross. Oh, I know! I could teach the cat how to use the toilet. I’ve seen videos of cats who can do that.”
“Jackie has a cat.” I had to change the subject before Charlotte had transformed my place into an automated cat care paradise.
“She does?” Charlotte was carefully separating her tops and bottoms into different drawers. She took after me when it came to organization. “Do I have to meet her kids?”
“Do you want to meet them?”
“I guess.” Her face was solemn. “They’re older. Sometimes older kids are nice and sometimes they’re mean. I wish Dani lived here.”
Dani was her best friend in Montréal. When I grew up, our house was always full of kids, but Charlotte hated too much stimulation.
It didn’t take long to get her unpacked and ready for bed. She could barely keep her eyes open by the time I tucked her in. But sometime in the night, she woke up and slipped into my bed. I debated taking her back, but decided to let her stay. The sweet smell of my little girl was something I’d missed. Even though we talked nearly every night, she was always different and new when I saw her in person. I worried that someday she would outgrow her straightforward adoration of me. And in the darkness, I felt a new sensation—almost like fear. This was the longest I’d ever looked after Charlotte on my own. And I had to work too. Was it all going to be okay?
Noelle was the college student that Jackie had found to look after Charlotte. There were two candidates, both with references, and Noelle was the smarter, more energetic one. Although it was the first time I’d interviewed anyone unrelated to hockey and I had no idea what the right questions were, so I asked her about overcoming adversity.
On Monday morning Noelle was late, and Charlotte’s anxiety was beginning to rise.
“Is she nice, Papa? What if I don’t like her? Can I call you and you can come home again?”
“Sure. You have your phone, right?” Sophie gave Charlotte a cellphone, which was ridiculous at her age, but it came in handy for situations like this. “But you have to give her a chance. There’s been lots of people you didn’t like at first, but you liked later.”
“Like who?”
“Like, uh, Anita.” She was my girlfriend in Albany.
“I never really liked Anita. She was too grabby.” Another of Charlotte’s quirks was that she only liked certain people touching her. “Maman thinks you should settle down.”
“Really?”
&
nbsp; Charlotte nodded. “She thinks you’re too old to keep having so many girlfriends. She says it’s bad for me to form attachements to people who are gone in a few months.” That seemed to be a direct quote right down to the mixed French and English that Sophie used when she was stressed.
“And how do you feel?” That was the most important thing.
She swung her legs from the kitchen chair as she considered this. “I feel like I don’t want to like the nice ones because they’re going to be gone soon. But I don’t have to worry about the yucky ones.”
Then Noelle arrived, full of apologies about transit problems. I had already prepared a schedule for her, so I handed it over, hugged Charlotte, and rushed off to work.
In the middle of a strategy meeting with Lucky, Swanny, and the coaching staff of the Millionaires, I noticed that I had three missed calls from Charlotte. I excused myself and went out in the hall to call her back.
“Papa, I want you to come home. Now. Right now,” she whispered into the phone.
“What’s wrong?”
“You said you’d come home if I needed you. Please, please.”
“Where’s Noelle?”
“She’s out in the kitchen. But she wants to go outside all the time. She doesn’t know any inside games. She’s not one of us, Dad.” That was Charlotte’s expression for people who understood her.
I debated getting Noelle on the phone and telling her to stop making Charlotte do physical activities if she clearly didn’t want to do them. Then I looked at my watch. I’d be here another thirty to forty minutes, and I’d go right home, and we could straighten things out.
“Okay. I’m in a meeting now. But I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I could hear sniffling on the other end of the phone.
“Are you crying? What’s wrong, mon p’tit chaton?”
“You always say that, but then you take hours to get here.”
Then she hung up.
Charlotte sounded so desperate that I called Jackie. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m in a meeting right now and Charlotte’s freaking out.”
“Oh no, what’s wrong?”
“She doesn’t like Noelle. I’m not even sure why, but she’s in her room crying. I can’t get home for at least an hour. Do you think you could go there and calm things down?”
