“What the hell is going on?” her father bellowed, heading for the dining room.
“What are you doing here?” asked Marlow, grabbing the sheet to cover herself.
“We came to ask you the same thing!” said Iris.
“Oh Marlie,” said Noah, laughing, “you never fail to disappoint.”
“I believe I will take some air,” said Guillaume, heading outside to join Aubin.
“Luc’s an artist. He’s painting me,” said Marlow. “Shall we step outside?”
“Not like that you won’t,” said Bill.
“I’ll get dressed first.”
“At least you haven’t completely lost your mind,” said Iris.
“I’m thirty-nine,” said Marlow. “I can pose for a portrait if I want to.”
“Naked?!”
“How many nudes are hanging in the Louvre?” said Marlow.
“I hardly think this painter is going to end up there,” said Iris.
“And I will also take the air,” said Luc, heading outside.
“Don’t be rude, Mum,” said Marlow. “We are in Luc’s house.”
“Is that his name? You didn’t introduce us.”
“Sabine, take everyone to our house. Put on some coffee.”
“It’s too late in the day for coffee,” said Iris.
“Too bad,” said Marlow. “Noah, find something to give to them. I’ll be right over.”
Now clothed, Marlow emerged from Luc’s to find him and Guillaume chuckling and shaking their heads.
“Apparently, I like to keep it exciting,” she said. “How’d they get here?”
“They took a taxi from Neufchâteau to the winery,” said Guillaume. “On the drive here, they thought you and I might be together.”
“Ah,” said Marlow.
“I had hopes you and I might soon get there,” he said. “I told this just now to Luc.”
“Oh, yes?” said Marlow, senses tingling.
“And I said I thoughtImight be with you,” said Luc.
“You said you didn’t want a situationship!” said Marlow.
“I also said I wanted you.”
“I’m sorry,” said Marlow. “I thought I’d cleared things up by, well, to put a fine point on it, only sleeping with you, Luc, once, and only sleeping with you, Guillaume, after Luc said he didn’t want to keep it up. Not keep it up! You know what I mean.”
“We slept together several times, if I recall, over one night,” said Luc.
