The waitress, who lingered at a discreet distance seemingly aware the conversation was serious, now appeared to take their plates and announce their dessert special.
“Crêpe Suzette,” she told them.
Nora began to refuse, but Pierre reached over and took her hand. “Impossible! You have never tasted the way they make them here. You must have them.”
Nora experienced a moment of surprise at the gentleness of Pierre’s touch, which had been so completely unexpected.
The delicate crêpes were coated with a rich, orange-flavored butter and Grand Marnier sauce. Then the waitress ignited a ladle of cognac, with great theatrics, and poured the liquid over the crêpes to flambé.
They applauded, and the waitress gave a small bow as she proudly served them.
Nora was aware of Pierre’s attention. She lifted a forkful of delicate dessert to her lips. The thin crêpe glistened with sauce—an irresistible combination of sweet and tangy with a faint crackle of caramelized sugar. Her eyebrows lifted and her eyes widened in sheer delight.
“You were right,” Nora breathed with pleasure. “I needed these.”
Pierre smiled with quiet satisfaction as he seemed to savor his dessert as much as Nora.
They relaxed with an espresso after the plates had been cleared, and Nora excused herself to find the ladies room. She discreetly asked the waitress for the bill, only to find Pierre had given her his card when they’d come in.
When she got back to the table, Nora graciously thanked Pierre but also chided him, saying she had wanted to treat him as thanks for all his help and for driving.
He simply shook his head, saying, “Pas de problème.”
The waitress wished them a bon voyage and gave Atticus a pat on the head as they left.
Nora thanked Pierre for the entire experience. “Out in the middle of nowhere! Amazing.”
“C’est la France,” he replied.
Nora thought to herself,Or as Chloe would say, the French Effect.
They chuckled about the garlic aromas they would have to live with in the van for the rest of the journey. Their comments now had an air of intimacy about them, and Nora felt even more of a cautious sense of friendship.
ChapterThirty-Two
As Pierre had predicted,they drove onto Rue Lepic just in time for apéros at six p.m. When he turned off the ignition in front of her apartment building, Nora reached over and put her hand on his arm. “I can’t thank you enough for everything. My visit to your family home was unforgettable.”
He replied with the warmest smile Nora had seen from him. “It was a pleasure to spend time with you and so nice to know you as part of our family now.”
“And I know Atticus is sorry about the vomiting,” she added. Pierre gave her a rather puzzled look, and Nora wondered if she’d made another faux pas.
The dog’s ears perked at the mention of his name, and he sat up on her lap where he had been sleeping.
Pierre gave Atticus a head scratch. “Pas de problème. I have grown to like this dog very much. There is a special aspect of sensitivity to his personality.”
Nora, startled by his comment, said, “I guess I should apologize for being so hysterical when I thought he was lost.”
Pierre shook his head. “Non! That was a time to be worried. As I was also.”
“Your patience and help with finding Atticus are something I will remember always. Mille mille mille mercis.”
Pierre opened the car door. “Je t’en prie. I’m thankful it all worked out. I will see you when I return from Normandy to load up the artwork. Chloe has been trying to convince me to stay in Paris for a skating party on the thirty-first.”
Chloe and Olivier had been waiting in the apartment foyer and ran outside as the van pulled up. Nora had texted them along the way and given them a heads-up when they were about to arrive.
They joyfully greeted Atticus first, relieved he had been found. Then Chloe took charge of him as Olivier helped with the bags.
Pierre had a light overnight bag, as he planned to leave first thing in the morning for Normandy. Olivier gave an exaggerated show of staggering as he lifted Nora’s bag. “How many santons did you buy?” he joked.
