“I wanted to be the one to take you to see the restoration and was getting worried you would run out of time.”
“Je vous souhaite, et aussie Dominique et Mathilde, meilleurs vœux pour la nouvelle année,” Nora said. “Did I get it right and wish you all a Happy New Year?”
Luc laughed. “Très bien fait! You are speaking like you belong here!”
“Luc, I want to say how much I respect your life with Mathilde and Dominique. You are a fine man.”
Their eyes met, and the emotion they both felt was obvious. But it was emotion that perhaps would never be acted upon.
As they parted, Nora said, “Luc, the news about Giselle is so difficult to accept. I will not be able to do anything until she calls, and I will let you know after we have talked.”
Luc nodded solemnly and they touched their foreheads together before he turned and left.
ChapterThirty-Seven
Just after fouro’clock that afternoon, Giselle called Nora for a video chat. She sat in a garden surrounded by the most vivid purple bougainvillea and looked like someone in the best of health. Her eyes sparkled and her vibrant red hair tumbled in soft waves to her shoulders.
“Bonjour chérie!” she sang, her voice as lively as always.
“Giselle! I’m so happy to see you.”
“And I know also … so unhappy to hear my news.” She followed her words with tinkling laughter and a wave of her hands.
Nora nodded, surprised by Giselle’s light-hearted manner, but didn’t have time to reply, as her friend continued. “As you Canadians say, it is a bummer! I learned that word from Chloe. And really, my dear, we do not need to talk about it. It is what it is, and I’m certain darling Luc gave you the details.”
“He did, Giselle. Yes, this news is truly a bummer. My heart is with you.” Nora felt awkward speaking in such a casual way about such a serious situation.
They chatted for several minutes, and Giselle basically repeated what Luc had said. But then her mood changed to become more somber.
“I need to be here for another month. Is there any chance you can stay longer with our sweet boy Atticus?”
This was so unexpected. Nora’s natural resistance to being impulsive began to rise within her. But one look at Giselle’s pleading expression changed her mind. More than anything, Nora wanted to help.
“It’s not a problem. I’m happy to help in any way possible. Chloe will be devastated to know why, but?—”
Giselle interrupted. “Let me tell you some good news. Staying here an extra month gives me more time to continue the treatment, and honnêtement, it is working … just like last time. Amazingly, I still have not lost my hair ... now that would be a disaster!”
“That is such good news!” Nora agreed, trying to sound light-hearted, when she really was feeling shattered.
“Yes, it seems I can keep going for some time by coming here for two months every year. At least that is how it looks at the moment. As we know, nothing is certain with these nasty diseases. I feel good, and hopeful, and I need to get back to Atticus and my beloved Paris and my painting.”
Nora asked if she was painting there, and Giselle walked her through the magnificent garden to a spot where an easel held a work in progress. “En plein air, ma belle! Isn’t this gorgeous?”
“Stunning! It’s so you! Luc told me he and Dominique had a wonderful Christmas with you.”
Giselle’s face lit up as she spoke lovingly about their visit and all the special memories they had made. “Dominique is such a force, a wonderful young woman. And her dad adores her. We had such fun!”
She asked question after question about Nora’s visit to Oli’s family home in Provence and laughed uproariously when she heard about the kids and nannies. “Oh, that is the best! Please send me the videos you took.”
Nora decided it wouldn’t do any good to mention Atticus getting lost and the worrying situation it had caused.All’s well that ends well, she thought.
Nora promised she would send the videos, and then Giselle said she had been speaking with Marie-Louise over the holidays. “Nora, you have been a gift to my dear aunt. I cannot express how happy she is to be sharing her story with you. She said it is such a load off her mind, even though she had not been aware of it.”
“Yes, she kept those memories buried for a very long time.”
They talked for quite a while about the difficult challenges Nora experienced as she worked on the story. Nora described how conflicted and deeply sad she felt at times. “It truly is a journey for me. But I’m so happy to help her, and I know your entire family will hold her memoir deep in your hearts. She’s such a wise woman and an example of how one can overcome the most drastic of experiences. I’m learning so much from her.”
“She is a treasure,” Giselle agreed. “She has always been the guiding light in our family, and after our many efforts to convince her to tell her story, it’s like a miracle you came to Paris when you did.”
