“I’ve taken Chloe to that village square for coffee. You should ask her about it,” Olivier said.
Chloe appeared in the kitchen, not realizing the serious nature of the ongoing conversation. “Pierre just texted that we should come to the goat barn now. The dogs are with him, and he’s letting them go off for one more run before we leave after lunch.”
Olivier opened his mouth as if to tell Chloe what they were discussing, but Papi motioned him to be silent. “For today, it is enough for all of us. Go now and enjoy laughter. Nora, we are grateful to you and appreciate your respect.”
Nora’s heart ached with a deep sadness. It wasn’t just from the facts she’d heard, but also the overwhelming weight of the war’s human cost. She’d had the same feelings when she spoke with Marie-Louise. It was almost unbearable guilt she existed in a world that had never suffered like this. There was a sense of helplessness in her. No words could bridge the gap between listening and having lived through it.
Mami took Nora’s hands in hers. “Thank you for your desire to tell these stories, ma belle.” Papi had his arm around Mami and nodded, his eyes reflecting his appreciation.
Nora had been working hard at holding back her emotions. Her voice was soft and reverent as she said, “Thank you for sharing this history with me. I am so humbled.”
There was quiet in the room for a moment.
Mami and Papi shooed them toward the door. “We will have a light buffet lunch at noon with what you call leftovers from last night. Les restes is not part of our tradition, but Chloe taught us about it.”
Mami gave Chloe a hug as she pointed her to the door. “You see, Nora, she has even taught me to hug.”
Nora grinned.
As they walked to the goat barn, Nora took Chloe’s hand. “Now, that conversation was seriously emotional. It was so good of them to talk with me about the past and so hard to hear it. To think this kind of horror went on everywhere we walked on our visit. To imagine what happened right here on this property.”
Chloe said, “Yes, you are so right. It is so difficult to process. I’ve heard stories through the years. It means a great deal to the French to make certain people from other countries, as well as the next generations everywhere, understand what happened. Thank you, Mom. I’m so grateful to you for helping in this.”
The dogs appeared out of nowhere. Atticus ran up for some attention, and their mood lightened. A moment later, he and Fantôme headed off through the vineyard.
“He’s going to find his walks back home terribly boring after the past few days,” Nora said.
“No kidding! I don’t think Giselle has ever had him out in the countryside before. She likes to stick to the city, but I know she takes him to parks a lot. Hardly the same as being wild and free here, though.”
The kids put on their uproarious show for Chloe and Nora. “It’s simply pure glee,” Nora murmured. “I’ll look at these videos when I need a laugh.”
“You better send them to the Girls too,” Chloe said.
“It goes without saying. Instant therapy is what this is!”
Olivier and Pierre had entered the pen and stood together behind the women. They chuckled at Nora’s comments, getting the women’s attention.
Olivier turned to Pierre and gave him a light punch on the arm. “I guess that’s why we boys from Provence grow up to be such easygoing men. N’est-ce pas, papa?”
Chloe snorted, while Pierre knitted his brows and gave Olivier a questioning look. One of the nanny goats came up behind the men and butted each of them in the behind.
Then they all burst out laughing.
That’s what goats do for you, Nora thought.
* * *
During lunch, it became obvious the dogs had not returned. Pierre went outside a few times to whistle for them but to no avail, which was most unusual.
As the time drew closer for them to leave for the train station, Atticus and Fantôme were still MIA. Chloe and Olivier stayed inside to clean up and bring down the luggage while Pierre, Papi, Mami, and Nora went outside to call the dogs. They walked in different directions to cover more of the area where the dogs might have wandered.
Nora became increasingly anxious about finding Atticus. There had been no reason to worry about him throughout their visit, since he had stuck by Fantôme, and they had always come home on their own or responded to Pierre’s whistle.
The time came where a decision had to be made. Nora was now beside herself with concern. Atticus was her responsibility, and to think something might have happened to him was more than she could bear.
She told Chloe, Olivier, and Pierre they should leave for the train station because they had responsibilities back in Paris and Normandy in the next few days. Mami and Papi assured her she could stay as long as it took for the dogs to return.
She thanked them and promised everyone she and Atticus could take the train back to Paris on their own. She felt a bit of anxiety about the prospect, but quickly pushed it aside. Atticus had behaved very well on the trip down.
