She often saw him for an espresso or tea in the kitchen—but the visits were fast, and Madame Klein was usually there cooking, so there was no time to really talk. Only once in the last few days had they had a moment alone, but both had had pending meetings. Frustrating.
“Tell me three things fast,” she said, eating the chocolate layer off of aPetit écolierbiscuit from a plate Madame Klein had left on the counter. “That way, we can say we actually talked even though we had no time.”
“I’m furious with Aubin for being part of the Escape to Paris scheme,” he said, reaching over for the biscuit layer she was not going to finish, and popping it into his mouth. “I have boughtmy flight for California in September. I think about you all the time even though I am working and you are working. Having you close is making me a littlefou.”
“That’s four things,” she said, reaching for another biscuit.
“And you?” he replied. “Three things. Or four, to make us even.”
“I appreciate you being furious with Aubin, but I urge you not to do anything. There’s one.” She pried the chocolate off the biscuit. “I’ve decided to give Sabine the space and trust she’s asked for, and Aubin is part of that. Two. And three: even though you refused to finish our conversation last week about why you only do situationships, I think about you somewhat, too.”
“Somewhat?” he asked, leaning in to take the remaining biscuit bottom from her hand. “You think of mesomewhat?”
“I only have two more minutes before my next video call with Oscar. I beg you to tell me why you haven’t settled down with one woman.”
He ate his biscuit and thought about it. She could see his jaw working as he chewed. Strong jaw.
“My parents have cautioned me against settling down with anyone. They want me to be absolutely sure. For the woman to have a perfect character. They’d in fact rather she came from money, so that it was clear she was not how do you say, a chaser of gold?”
“Gold digger.”
“And there have been a few, to be honest,” he said, “some from money, some not.”
“That makes sense.”
“If you do this for long enough, however, keep from joining your heart with another, it becomes the only way you feel comfortable.”
“That makes sense, too.”
This time, he reached for a biscuit and ate the bottom cookie part off the chocolate, prying it off with his tongue. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him.
“But I like you enough,” he said slowly, “that I will take youina situationship, ornot ina situationship. I will take you either way.”
“Take me?”
Their eyes locked. A million stars and planets collided in that moment. Celestial bodies in motion. Unharnessed energy everywhere.
And then her cell phone alarm rang. “Shit. I have a meeting.”
“Have this for sustenance then,” he said, passing her the remaining chocolate. She took it and let her fingers touch his for just one moment … Then popped it in her mouth, and headed back to her office.
That night, she headed back to Mirabelle, where she, Luc, and Lali’s family feasted at Madame Belleville’s. Then Marlow retreated home, exhausted but satisfied. Luc frequently left his door ajar, candles lit, even after the hydro people came and restored the power. Marlow resisted the temptation.
This night, though, she sat on her bed and stared at her phone. It had been seven days, and Sabine had not texted once. Luc, wearing only pajama bottoms, spied her through their bedroom windows.
“I leave my door open, but you don’t come,” he said.
“I’m trying to be good.”
“What about being with me would not be good?”
“Very little. But you said you weren’t into situationships. To get back into it would just confuse things.”
“I respect that.” He sat on his window ledge, taking her in like she was some great beauty. “On another note, I wonder if you might consider letting me paint you.”
“Naked?” She immediately thought of all her imperfections.
“If possible. Three or four sittings, an hour or two each.”
