In the elevator, they chatted about the drive. Chloe stood behind Pierre and gave Nora questioning looks.
Arriving first at Nora’s apartment, they were startled to see a dazzling floral arrangement in front of her door. Overflowing with breathtaking white amaryllis blooms, creamy peonies, icy blue hydrangea, and white roses, the effect was magical. It was highlighted by wintery details of frosted pinecones and long sprigs of juniper with blue berries and cedar boughs arcing outward. Wisps of curly willow rose above the florals and gave the whole thing a sense of windblown abandon.
“Oh my God,” Chloe squealed. “How unbelievably beautiful! How did we not see this get delivered? It wasn’t here when we went downstairs.”
Oli reminded her they’d taken a box down to their cave, the underground stone storage space,before they waited in the foyer. “It must have come then.”
Nora stood open-mouthed and a little embarrassed at the arrangement’s extravagance.
“Mom! Open the card! Who on earth sent this?”
Nora put her key in the lock and pushed the door open. “Someone who knew when I was returning to Paris, for sure. I’ll look once I’m inside.”
She reached to pick up the arrangement, but Olivier insisted. “It’s big. Let me get it.”
Pierre left them and moved quickly toward Chloe’s door down the hall. Chloe called out to him, “It’s open!”
After Olivier dropped Nora’s bags inside, Chloe suggested he join his dad and said she would be along in a moment.
As soon as he left, Chloe turned to her mom. “So? Are you two friends? Or more? Is there a spark there now? Seven hours on the road can be a challenge.”
Nora’s brow furrowed. “Oh Chloe, you still can’t give that a rest? You really must!”
“I don’t want to!” Chloe said, her pout returning. “I’m not giving up.”
“I have to say, the trip was just fine. Pierre couldn’t have been kinder or better company. We had good conversations, listened to music we both liked … or at least pretended to. And he helped take care of poor Atticus.”
With a look of concern, Chloe went over to the dog’s bed by the window. He had gone straight to it and settled right in. She gave him a rub and murmured in a comforting voice, “Yes, poor baby. What a scare you gave us at the farm.”
Atticus lay still. His ears drooped, and his eyes were without their customary brightness. His tail gave a few feeble wags. “He’s certainly not himself,” Chloe said.
“He’s getting better now, thank goodness. Pierre thinks they ate scraps from the neighbor’s lamb roast that didn’t go down well. He checked with Denise, who is looking after the farm while everyone’s gone, and Fantôme was sick today too.”
Chloe grimaced.
Nora continued. “We had the most amazing lunch in a small café in the middle of nowhere. The waitress gave Atticus her special remedy for sick pups. It was very sweet of her, and I think it helped. And the meal! I’ll never forget it. So, to answer your question… Yes, I believe we are friends.”
“And he wasn’t mean or grumpy?”
“Not at all. When we arrived here, he said he was happy to welcome me into the family. Which isn’t mean at all, but it doesn’t exactly sound like a love affair to me either.”
“But look how jealous he seemed just now. He sure took off like a bullet when he saw these spectacular flowers!” Chloe said. “Ooo, open the card please.”
Nora opened the envelope, which read:
Bienvenue chez toi et Bonne année! Vendredi, 3 Janvier, pour tango? Je t’embrasse chaleureusement. —Luc
Chloe read over her shoulder. “Oh, that man! How divine! ‘Chaleureusement’ is quite a romantic term! And tango again next Friday. Will you go?”
Nora’s face flushed, which Chloe noticed. “You kind of like him, don’t you? Can’t say I blame you … even if you are robbing the cradle. Maybe if it isn’t Pierre, it’ll be Luc who sweeps you off your feet.” She giggled and pinched Nora’s cheek.
Nora shook her head and threw her hands up in the air. She was not going to let Chloe’s obsession with her love life irritate her anymore.
“My dear daughter, Luc is simply a good friend. Of course I will go on Friday. He’s turning my stay in Paris into something I never imagined. And yes, he is younger than I am, but he doesn’t seem to notice … and so neither do I. He’s looking after me as Giselle asked, and besides, I only have two more Fridays before she returns and I leave.”
She decided not to mention she was meeting Luc for a tour of Notre Dame on the following Tuesday.
Chloe let out a soft laugh and threw her arms around her mother. “Who says you have to leave just because Giselle is back? Maybe you can rent the van Gogh apartment—that’s what I call it. It’s been vacant forever. Let’s look into it! I can’t imagine anything better!”
