“I’m joking. Honestly, it’s fine. But I hope he won’t hate me all throughout our Christmas visit,” Nora said.
Olivier kicked at a pebble on the sidewalk. “Even if he is still crabby, you will love the rest of my family. Don’t judge us all based on my dad’s current behaviour, please. There really is another side to him.”
“Oli, dear. I’m not judging anyone. I feel sad that your dad is so unhappy. But perhaps all the festivities of the season will cheer him up. I’m so excited! I can’t wait to go!”
Olivier smiled at her. “We can’t wait too. We thought we would leave a little earlier. Like next Monday instead of Wednesday. Is that okay with you? We will take the TGV—Train à Grande Vitesse—to Avignon, and one of the family will pick us up there. It’s less than a half hour to our farm. There are lots of cars for us to use when we are there.”
“It’s entirely up to you, but it sounds like a fine plan. Atticus and I can be ready any time.”
Chloe jumped up and down, performing her usual ritual of excitement. “We’re taking the extra days off! We decided there’s so much to show you we didn’t want to rush the visit.”
Nora gave her a big hug. “That’s so wonderful! Thanks!”
Then she looked concerned. “Oh, but what will I do with my blé de Sainte Barbe? It’s growing so thick and tall. I don’t want to lose the good luck it promises.”
Chloe chuckled. “No worries. Give it a good drink before we leave, and I’m sure it’ll be fine when we get back. Trust me, there will be a healthy crop at the farmhouse. I only gave you one saucer, but normally each household has three, and they are placed in the crèche. You’ll see.”
* * *
Friday night promised to be extra special. Chloe and Olivier planned to join Nora and Luc at the dance club, and suggested they all meet there a little earlier to catch an hour or two of swing dancing.
Nora put up with being teased by Chloe about it all week. Chloe knew her mom loved to jive, as they called swing dance back in Nora’s younger days. Chloe had vivid memories of her parents jiving around the house to golden oldies and often joining in. Nora had been thrilled when Chloe first met Olivier and learned he loved ‘le swing’.
“Just wait until Luc discovers you’re a wild one on the swing floor! I can’t wait,” Chloe chortled, as Nora waved her away.
Luc insisted on picking them up. Nora and Chloe both brought an extra pair of shoes so they had a different pair for each session. “I definitely cannot jump around in stilettos,” Nora said. “But I bet there are French women who can.”
“Pas de question. No question,” Chloe agreed.
* * *
Nora laughed at Luc’s look of surprise when she leapt up first and took his hand to go to the dance floor. The music was mainly classic swing from 1930s and ’40s big band orchestras. Tunes by Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Fats Waller, and others kept them hopping.
“Nora,” Luc exclaimed, “you are the best! This is your style, no question!”
Nora laughed. “I love this! I’m happy to show you I’m not just a beginner with this kind of music. It makes me feel better after stumbling around at tango at first.”
“You did not stumble for long, ma chérie. But this is such fun.”
They switched partners with Chloe and Olivier from time to time, as often as they switched speaking French and English. Nora’s comfort zone was growing because of it, as well as her vocabulary. The laughter-filled time passed quickly. They had all agreed to have just one glass of champagne until the swing time was over and planned to pop a bottle when tango began.
When Chloe and Nora were alone for a few minutes, Nora said, “I have to admit, I had no idea my time in France would involve so much champagne. Now I’ve come to expect it, and I truly enjoy it.”
Chloe nodded. “It’s just one of those French ‘things,’ I agree. I had only consumed champagne at New Year’s and weddings until I moved to France. It just seems to go with everything.”
Nora raised her glass. “Now I understand that F. Scott Fitzgerald quote, ‘Too much of anything is bad. Except champagne–too much is just right.’”
They were both laughing when Luc and Olivier returned to the table with an impressive cheese platter. “We have probably worked up a bit of an appetite,” Olivier said.
As they relaxed, the conversation turned to Nora’s meetings with Marie-Louise. They were all interested in how her project was going.
“It’s definitely the most meaningful writing I have undertaken. To be in Paris and spend time on the streets where her story unfolded just brings it all to life for me. I’ve never felt anything like it, and I hope I can do her story justice.”
She received encouragement from all three. Luc shared some stories from the Occupation, as some of his family had lived in Paris and Normandy during that time, as well as in Provence. Nora was once again touched by the dramatic history experienced by past generations of so many French families.
“In North America, we simply haven’t had our lives impacted by anything even remotely comparable. Hearing such personal memories in the places they were experienced is adding a different dimension to my stay.”
After they’d relaxed for a bit, the tango music called to them. Chloe and Olivier went home after an hour, claiming exhaustion.
