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"Why?"
"Nothing, except I know what you think of children."
"You don't know everything about me, Pauline," I snapped in my best Gisselle tone of voice.
"Excuse me?"
"You're excused."
"I just meant . . ."
"I know what you meant. Look, I don't have time to waste on the phone with stupid gossip right now. I have some major responsibilities."
"I'm sorry I won't bother you."
"Fine. 'Bye," I said, and cradled the receiver.
"That was incredible," Beau said. "For a moment I thought you were Gisselle and I had really taken Ruby back to Cypress Woods."
Even Pearl was looking up at me with an expression of confusion.
I breathed relief. Maybe, I thought, this wouldn't be as hard as I had imagined. In fact, Beau was so impressed with my performance, he decided we should go to one of the fine restaurants he and Gisselle often frequented and let the New Orleans social community learn the story as soon as possible.
Butterflies beat small wings of panic in my stomach. "Beau, should we? Maybe it's too soon."
"Nonsense," he said with confidence. "You settle in, choose something to wear, something Gisselle," he added pointedly, "and I'll take care of some business. Welcome home, darling," he said, kissing me softly on the lips. My heart fluttered as he hurried out and I turned to look at my sister's wardrobe.
12
Body Double
.
Our first evening out as Beau and Gisselle
Andreas was a great success. I wore one of Gisselle's strapless outfits with a tight-fitting bodice. Beau laughed at my reaction to my image in the mirror. Almost all of her dresses had the same low necklines, so they revealed more cleavage than I would have liked.
"Your sister always pushed to the limits when it came to what was and was not socially acceptable," Beau said. "I think she enjoyed outraging high society."
"Well, I don't."
"Still, you look enchanting," he said; stepping back with a sensual smile painted on his face. He laughed. "There was nothing Gisselle liked more than walking into a fancy, expensive restaurant and having heads turn her way in astonishment."
"I'll be blushing so badly, everyone will know who I really am!"
"They'll just think it's Gisselle's way of flirting," Beau replied.
Heads did turn when we entered the restaurant. Beau carried Pearl, who looked adorable in the little sailor girl outfit we had bought her. I tried to imagine Gisselle's arrogance and swagger, but when people's eyes met mine, faces smeared into one giant blur and I instinctively looked down. However, none of the people we met who were acquaintances of Beau and Gisselle's displayed any suspicions. Whatever nervousness or uncharacteristic behavior they saw in me, they attrib
uted to the current tragic situation. Gisselle was always willing to let people know how much she suffered. Nevertheless, I noticed that most people showed their sympathy more to Beau than to me, and I realized quickly that those who were friends with Beau and Gisselle were friends with them mainly because of him.
Beau cleverly announced anyone's name in greeting before I had to say anything.
"Marcus, Lorraine, how are you?" he would cry as they approached the table.
"Whose lovely child is this?" almost everyone asked.
"My sister's," I replied with a smirk. "But for now and maybe forever, she's my responsibility."
