* * *
The evening was a blur of dancing and fascinating chats, at times in English and others in French. Luc was a charming companion in every way. He conversed easily, displayed a quiet refinement, and had a sense of humor that kept them both laughing. For the first time in many years, Nora felt like an attractive woman out with a handsome, intelligent man who enjoyed her company.
Luc was open about his friendship with Giselle, and offered their history without any prodding from Nora. She was surprised to learn that Giselle was a Professor of Philosophy at the Sorbonne. Luc had previously been a student of hers, and their friendship spanned many years.
“Giselle enjoys the company of younger men, and I love her joie de vivre! She is gracious, wise, and great fun. I’m never aware of our age difference. I also know she has many male friends, and I’m glad I am one of them.”
Nora was dying to know more delicious details, but Luc was respectful, and she knew the rest would be left to her imagination.
The evening ended up being more delightful than anything she could have dreamed. Luc brought her home at one in the morning, and said goodnight at her door with a sweet bise. Friendly and affectionate. Nora felt no awkwardness at all and thanked him for another remarkable adventure.
“We will do this again. If you wish, of course.” Luc’s voice was low and inviting but not inappropriate in any way.
“I would love to,” she said, the glow in her eyes still lingering from the hours they had spent together.
“Magnifique. Why not the same time next week?”
Nora twirled around like a schoolgirl after she closed the door. She flung her shoes off and flopped on her back on the sofa, closing her eyes and grinning as if living in a wonderful dream. Had the evening really happened?
Spending time with Luc was wonderful and bewildering. If she had ordered a perfect date, he’d fit the bill. He seemed to genuinely enjoy her company and, in his gaze, she felt more confident and attractive. Their conversation was relaxed and filled with laughter. And the tango? What could she say to this new, exciting experience?
There was no need to question where their friendship was going. It just was what it was: effortless, natural, and undeniably enjoyable. She didn’t have to overthink it. At least not yet.
Knowing she would be unable to sleep, she changed into her nightgown and settled at her computer in the studio.
She listened to her recordings from her terrace stops, which vividly described the young man and the waitress who had spurred her imagination. She wondered if those ideas would resonate with her now. To her amazement, they gently unfolded into words on the paper. Her thoughts, which had been so fragmented recently, began to flow without coaxing.
She wrote far into the early morning. Did she dare think her muse was back? Hopefully it would stay.
ChapterThirteen
A light morningmist hung over the streets at six thirty Sunday morning as Nora and Chloe climbed into an Uber to go to the Gare de l’Est. Olivier waved them off with a grin.
“We’re having a guys’ day! I’m looking forward to it,” he’d said after Nora had given Atticus a kiss on his head and instructed him to be a very good boy.
At the station, they went straight to the renowned pastry shop, Maison Pillon, and picked up a croissant for Chloe and a pain aux raisins for Nora to eat on the train. They had time for a quick espresso before they needed to board the highspeed TGV, Train au Grande Vitesse, in time for its seven o’clock departure.
“We can relax with another espresso on the train,” Chloe said. “And we could get things to eat, but they won’t be as good as these pastries.”
The seating on the train was spacious and more than comfortable for the two-hour-and-twenty-minute ride. After leaving the industrial area outside Paris, it wasn’t long before they were watching the countryside of Champagne and Lorraine whiz by. Fields, small towns, and forests became blurs as the train picked up speed.
Chloe was eager to hear about Nora’s tango evening with Luc.
Nora laughed as she described how she’d felt like a young woman in Luc’s company. “Honestly, it was kind of crazy, but I just rolled with it. Can you believe that?”
Chloe shook her head. “Incredible. So not like you to roll with it! What’s happening, Maman? You’re falling under the French Effect, just like I hoped!”
Holding her hands up in surrender, Nora grinned and rolled her eyes. “I never would have believed it… And my tango dancing is not bad at all. Still basic but not bad. I love it.”
After they had gone over every detail of Nora’s date night, Chloe kept her entertained with a full description of the beauty of Strasbourg in December and the fabulous Christmas offerings in the markets. “OMG, Mom. You are going to love it! I predict you’ll be right back in your Mrs. Claus persona within minutes.”
Shaking her head, Nora said, “I don’t know. I think those days belong in my ‘been there, done that’ compartment. It was fun while it lasted…” Her voice trailed off and Chloe noticed she had a nostalgic look in her eyes.
Chloe put her arm around Nora’s shoulders. “Hmm. You’ve been saying that about a lot of things in your life in the last couple of years. Turning fifty did a number on you, and I want you to stop it! You aren’t old! Keep remembering how you felt last night with Luc!”
“Advice from my optimistic young daughter,” Nora murmured, leaning into Chloe and giving her a kiss on her cheek. “But I assure you, spending evenings dancing tango with a handsome man who may be twenty years my junior is not going to become a habit.”
“You never know, Maman…” Chloe said with a sly grin.
