“So what do you think?” Simon said.
I made a face into the phone. “I don’t know. Part of me feels like I should just stay here and flush out an idea for an article I want to pitch.”
“Oh come on. You can do that anytime. Perhaps a visit to the underbelly of the City of Light might inspire you. I bet the bones of some very intelligent people are resting down there. Their souls might find you.”
I needed to do my own soul search. What the hell was I going to do about Cooper? I looked down at the table where Simon’s glass of wine still sat. Absently, I picked it up and traced my finger around the top.
“What time is it anyway?”
“9:10. Mark made me wait until a socially acceptable time to call.”
I laughed and quickly calculated that it was the middle of the night in New York. It’s not like I could call Cooper now, anyway. Besides, he made me wait three months. I should at least make him wait a day.
“Okay, I’m in. Let me go ask Tess.” I hit the mute button one more time and walked back into the room.
Tess was climbing back into her bed and looked at me through hooded eyes. “Morning. Who was on the phone?”
“Oh, just Simon.” I rolled my eyes in response to the slow smile that spread across her face. “He wants to know if you and I would like to sightsee with them today.”
Tess’s eyes grew wide. “Like a double date?”
“No, not like a double date. More like a double hang.”
“Or a pick up where you left off?”
I drew in a breath and gave her a sideways look. “You know what? Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”
“It’s a great idea!” She jumped to her knees, suddenly wide-awake, and clasped her hands together. “Say yes.”
“Okay, fine, but, just so you know, the only reason I’m going is because I know how much you like Mark.”
“Oh, whatever,” Tess said, rolling her eyes. “You didn’t exactly look miserable yourself, last night.”
“No more of that.” I held up a finger. “Now shut up,” I whispered as I unmuted the phone.
“Hey Simon. We’re in.”
“Cool. Dress warm. I’ve heard it gets pretty chilly down there.”
I hung up the phone and looked over at Tess who was already rifling through dresser drawers.
“I have no clothes,” she whined. “What does one wear to an underground cemetery, anyway?”
“Well, it’s not like we have too much to choose from. Plus, Simon said we should dress warm. So, I’m going to go with leggings. I may even use the very same ones I wore to bed, as a scarf. And make no bones about it!” I laughed.
“Stylish. Why don’t you wear this, instead?” Tess pulled a thin chocolate brown knit scarf from her backpack, rolled it up into a ball, and tossed it to me from across the room.
“I made it, so technically it’s not a real scarf either, but it’s probably a little better than wearing a crotch around your neck.” She chuckled and turned her attention back to her own clothing crisis.
When I caught the scarf, it unraveled to reveal thin multi-colored swirls that blended into little circles. They were made of pale pastels and the pink, green, and yellow hues really stood out against the rich brown background. My mouth was agape as I marveled at my niece’s handiwork.
“Aunt Lu, we really need to shop. It’s so hard to live out of a backpack in the fashion capital of the world.”
“No kidding,” I mumbled. I wrapped the scarf around my neck and looked in the mirror. I’d definitely pay money for this.
“Well, we’ll be back amongst our peeps again in two days,” Tess sighed, focusing her attention on her backpack. “I’m sorry we already paid for the hostel in Germany.”
“You and me both,” I replied with a chortle. “Although I think we could probably swing the thirty dollar loss.”
Tess didn’t reply, and from the way she was just staring into her bag, it looked as if she had been instantaneously sucked into a vortex of dreamland.
“However, maybe in the meantime,” I said, giving her butt a playful swat, “you can whip yourself up another one of your homemade skirts. Show those Parisians what a real designer can do.” I wiggled my eyebrows as Tess turned to face me with a smile.
Never one to take a compliment, her cheeks had turned a deep pink. She glanced at the scarf around my neck.
“Ooh, that looks good on you. Do you like it?” She crunched her nose as she waited for me to respond.
“Are you kidding? I love it. You know, Tess,” I paused thoughtfully and caressed the soft fabric on my cheek. “You could probably make a career out of this.”
“Please.” Tess said with a wave of her hand, “I’m a teacher. Well, I will be if I ever find a real teaching job.” Her face grew solemn and she looked at me in alarm. “Aunt Lu, what if I never find a job?”
I frowned. “I know it’s what you went to school for, but have you ever considered trying something else? Is that the only thing you want to do?”
Tess shook her head. “I don’t know,” she said with a sigh. “I’ve been saying that I wanted to be a teacher ever since I was old enough to play school.”
“I remember. I spent many, many Saturdays in your school.” I smiled fondly at the memory of the makeshift classroom that Landon and Tess had set up in the basement of their house. “You were a very impatient teacher.”
Tess grinned. “Well, now I’m learning I’m a very impatient nose wiper. As a matter of fact, I’m beginning to wonder if teaching is what I really want or just something that I think I want?” Tess groaned as she picked up a towel that hung from her bed.
“Or was it another one of your mother’s suggestions? Something that she might have reinforced over the years?” I said with an eyebrow raised.
“Hmph.” Tess nodded thoughtfully.
I felt a stab of disloyalty towards my sister and immediately regretted opening up that can of worms. “Well, who knows,” I said quickly. “But what I do know is that it’s normal to be confused at your age. If it makes you feel any better, I’m still confused.”
“It does. Thanks for the support, Aunt Lu. Jack’s eyes would glaze over whenever I talked about this.” She rolled her eyes and stretched her arms overhead. “That’s why I sew. It takes my mind off the job stuff and mellows me out after those exhausting days at the daycare. And speaking of jobs, how much do you love being on vacation? It’s been so nice taking a break from reality.”
“It really has,” I replied with a smile. Especially from the reality I’d been living in.
“I’m going to take a quick shower.”
I sat on the bed and leaned back on my hands, smiling to myself. I could still feel Simon’s presence in the room from the night before. There was a definite aura of happiness hanging around, and I sure was going to miss it there. That room had nothing but good memories—with the exception of the not-so-special delivery.
I looked at the flowers and felt a knot form in my stomach again. Just when I was finally on an upswing, Cooper had to come and torture me. I walked over to the flowers and pulled them from the vase, wrapping my hands around the stems.
“Dum dum dee dum, Dum dum dee dum.” I hummed the wedding march and stopped in front of the garbage can. It seemed to have beckoned to me. I paused for a moment and then stuffed the flowers, with all thoughts of Cooper, straight into the receptacle with vengeance.
Chapter Eight
Feeling the love at the Louvre!
Facebook Status June 10 at 1:00pm
“I feel like we’re still at the Musee d’Orsay. How is a subway station just as nice as a museum?” I said to Simon as we entered the Cite station stop.
We had been walking around Paris for hours and had seen everything from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe. Moments ago, we had stumbled upon the ornate Art Nouveau metro entrance, and it had lured us like an exquisite menu on a restaurant wall.
Orange globe lamps surrounded the entrance and loomed over th
e Metropolitain sign, like two flowers in bloom. A cast iron balcony enveloped the staircase that led underground to a sea of shiny white beveled tiles. Mass transit never looked so good, and it wasn’t just because we were tired of walking. My eyes surveyed the station.
“Well, I’ve read the subway stations in Paris are often works of art,” Simon commented. “Apparently the Abbesses Station is a spectacular sight. Like graffiti-covered walls—done on purpose. I think Hector Guimard also designed this one.”
“I think you might be right.” I nodded but had no clue what the hell I was talking about.
I’m sure Simon couldn’t spot the difference between a real Fendi and a fake one, but he probably could sniff out a phony person. So what if he’d been rattling off all sorts of cultural trivia today? And that I barely understood any of it. How the hell did he know so much, anyway?
I followed Simon as he walked towards the tracks. Old-fashioned glass bulbs lit up the tracks as far as we could see. The ceiling and walls looked as if they were covered with thousands of tiny prisms as light particles radiated from the tiles.
“Hey, I thought this was supposed to be a subway station,” I heard Mark’s voice behind us. “Where’s all the litter? The homeless?”
I turned around and saw him approach with Tess.
“Yeah, it doesn’t quite remind you of Chicago, does it?” Simon said to his brother. “Marko, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
At that moment, I spotted a homeless looking man who happened to be rummaging through the garbage. Simon followed my gaze, and we shared a smile. He and I locked eyes, and a moment of intimacy passed between us.
Mark held up a hand. “Hey, take it easy, bro. Don’t disparage our great city. They’ll never come visit.”
I glanced at Tess and once our eyes met, she quickly looked away. The corners of her mouth turned up, and she pressed her lips together, probably in attempt to wipe off the silly grin that threatened to take over her entire face.
“Oh, please. You can’t scare us. I’ve actually seen a homeless man doing numero deux.” I laughed and held up two fingers. “These walls would never make it in New York. In no time, they’d be covered with urine and God only knows whatever else.”
“Gross,” Tess replied, wrinkling her nose.
“Very gross, but very true,” I said as I walked down the track to a bench. I plopped down and stretched my arms overhead. “Speaking of which, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m pooped,” I called out.
Simon laughed and took a seat beside me. “Oh?”
“You Anderson brothers take sightseeing to a whole new level. Who makes a pit stop at the Louvre?”
“Well, when we were at the Eiffel Tower, you declared you desperately wanted to see Mona. What’s a guy to do?” Simon tossed his hands in the air.
“I didn’t mean right then and there.”
“Well,” he shrugged, “I wanted to be the one to see her with you.” He opened up a bottle of water and held it out to me.
“You’re the best.” I gratefully accepted the bottle and sipped. I paused and held the bottle mid-air. “Note to self: I must watch what I say. I also happened to mention I wanted to see the top of the Eiffel Tower. That didn’t mean I needed to walk to the first and second levels. I feel like death.” I handed Simon the bottle and watched his Adam’s apple bob as he took a big gulp.
“Perfect timing. We’ll be at the Catacombs in no time.” Simon’s cheeks formed perfect dimples as he smiled.
He patted my knee and let his hand linger there for a moment. A tingle swept over my body and I felt anything but dead. My racing pulse reminded me how very much alive this guy made me feel.
I looked over at Tess and Mark who stood close together at the track. Tess turned her head in our direction, and I jumped up with a start, causing Simon’s hand to fall from my leg.
It had been like this all morning. Simon would reach for my hand and I’d shift sideways to stay out of his way. When he met us in the lobby at the hotel, I thought he was about to lean in for a hug or kiss, but thinking of Cooper’s flowers and Tess and Mark watching, I just couldn’t add anymore fuel to my mental fire. I simply gave his arm a pat and said, “Let’s go. Can’t wait to see the sights!” Tess had given me a strange look, but I just couldn’t go there with Simon this morning.
“I think I hear the train,” I sang.
“You must have bionic ears,” Tess cried. “We see lights in the tunnel but can’t even hear a sound.”
“Interesting,” Simon said with a wry grin.
Not knowing how to respond, I smiled awkwardly at him and walked towards the track.
The train pulled into the station, and as it slowed down, the only sounds that could be heard were the whispering from its rubber tires and the whine of its brakes. We hopped on and a short ride later, we reached our destination. After we walked up the stairs and stepped onto the street, I stopped to catch my breath and survey the neighborhood.
The area definitely was different from the one where we were staying. Markets and cafés replaced the upscale stores. Instead of Hermes or Christian Dior—boutiques, cheese shops, bookstores and antique shops filled the streets. Bohemians replaced the stylish. Despite the people that loitered, there was a sense of calm in the air.
“Is it just me or is everything abnormally peaceful here?” I said. “It even smells relaxing.” I took in another breath and a strong scent of lavender filled my nose and lungs.
“Well, we are on top of a cemetery.” Mark laughed.
“Creepy.” Tess shivered and buttoned up her sweater. A sudden gust of wind blew her hair over her face.
“Where did that come from?” she demanded.
“Must be the ghosts,” Mark said. “They don’t like to be called creepy.”
He gave Tess’s ribs a gentle jab with his elbow. She swatted at his arm and in turn, he grabbed her hand. Simon shot me a quick glance and took a guidebook from his back pocket.
I pulled myself into my jacket like a turtle and kicked around a coin that lay on the ground. Using my toe, I flipped it over and wondered if I’d hurt his feelings when I knocked his hand off my knee earlier.
“It says here to enter through a green ticket office,” Simon murmured from behind the book. He lifted his head and squinted across the street. “Voila.” He pointed his finger to a green hut.
The streetlight changed and Tess and Mark began to walk ahead of us. Still hand in hand, they laughed together as they walked in step.
“Hey, how come you don’t let me hold your hand?” Simon asked, giving me a slight nudge.
I swallowed and shoved my hands into my pockets. “You didn’t ask,” I said with a forced chuckle.
Once we had safely crossed the street Simon took hold of my elbow and turned me to face him. “Are you okay today?” His eyebrows were furrowed together.
“Yeah, why? Do I seem weird?” I opened my eyes wide and waited for him to respond.
“Well ... last night we seemed one way and today, well, you seem a bit distant. I thought I pulled out my best moves, but you don’t seem to bite.”
I looked into Simon’s eyes and took a deep breath.
He reached out and cupped my shoulders with his hands. “Lucy, I wanted to kiss you so bad before.” He began to massage my shoulders with a soft pressure.
“When?” I swallowed. I had wanted him to kiss me so bad too.
“All morning,” Simon said softly. My lips parted as he took the words right out of my mouth. I pressed them together.
“I wanted to kiss you hello when we met in the lobby, as we crossed the Pont des Arts bridge, when we were in the Eiffel Tower... Let’s see when else?” Simon paused and tapped a finger to his lips. A blush swept across my face as a smile teased his lips. “Now?”
I paused for a moment and chewed my bottom lip. I stole a quick peek over his shoulder at Mark and Tess. “I’m sorry. It’s just that...”
Simon took his hands off of my shoulders and cra
cked his knuckles.
“I feel a little weird with PDA in front of my niece,” I concluded.
Simon crinkled his nose and shook his head. “Why?”
I gazed at the newly coupled couple now locked in a tight embrace. Simon followed my glance and gave me a sideways look.
“Tess doesn’t seem to mind. Shouldn’t she be the one who feels weird?”
“You would think,” I said with a nervous giggle. “You see,” I paused to take a breath, “part of the reason for this trip was to get my mind off of the fact that I was supposed to have gotten married.” I looked up at Simon and cringed.
Simon took a step back. “Oh.”
“Yeah.” I nodded and closed my eyes before they flew open as I realized what he must be thinking. “Wait, Cooper, my ex has nothing to do with my weirdness.”
A look of relief crossed Simon’s face. “That’s all you?”
“That’s all me.” I smiled and waved a hand over my body.
“Well, that’s good to know. I mean, you mentioned an ex-fiancée, but I didn’t realize he had earned the title so recently.”
My jaw tightened as I clenched my teeth. “Oh, he didn’t earn the title. He chose the title. I guess you can say things got a little messy, which is why Tess and her mother, my meddling sister, banded together to get me on this trip. They’ve been treating me like a wounded bird.” I scoffed and picked at one of my fingernails.
“Are you? A wounded bird?” He sipped water as he waited for my answer.
I inhaled, hoping the lavender-scented air would calm my nerves. This time it was laced with an aroma of coffee wafting from a nearby cart. “I was and then I wasn’t and then now...” I gazed into Simon’s warm eyes and faltered. Why did I need to tell him this?
Screw Cooper and his stupid flowers. “I’m doing great.” I smiled and much to my surprise, it actually felt genuine. I still may have had a way to go, but Simon was definitely chicken soup for my f’d up soul.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that. I’ll just have to steal you away from your niece for a bit,” Simon said with a wink.
“I know it sounds silly.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “I just think that it’s best to keep my private life to myself on this trip. Tess is a hopeless romantic and will conjure up her own ridiculousness. The next thing I know, my sister will be calling for the scoop. That’s all I need, for them to start yapping that we’re having a thing.”
Tales From a Broad Page 13
