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"You're like a bird who has lost all her feathers," Manon finished, "You sink into the sea.*
Everyone nodded, each woman's eyes dark. It all made me feel very sad.
"Daddy!" Manon cried suddenly. "Come and meet our newest Palm Beach resident. Willow De Beers, Thatcher Eaton's fiancee."
The announcement brought the room to silence again as Henri Florette, a distinguished-looking, handsome man in a blue sports jacket that picked up the blue in his eyes, came toward our table.
"Enchante," he said, reaching for my hand. "Welcome to Club Florette and to our little
community." He turned to Manon,
"She is as beautiful as they described. Mais oui, cherie?"
Yes, Daddy."
"Please, give my congratulations to Thatcher and tell him for me, he is a very lucky man." he said to me, then to all of us, "Enjoy." He moved on, visiting the members at each and every table, working the room with his charm like someone who could sell happiness in a bottle.
The waiter returned to our table and the conversation turned to food, but the real reason they had invited me never left my mind while I was there, nor for some time afterward. On one hand. I thought of it as a deceit, doing something very sneaky behind Thatcher's back, and that wasn't the way to begin a marriage and a life together: but on the other hand, their logic and their purpose was appealing.
I promised them to give it all serious thought, but even that promise made me feel guilty. Life was only simple for the blind and the deaf because they saw no evil and heard no evil. They lived in a state of trust. They never knew when they were being betrayed or laughed at and mocked. But they never saw the sunset and they never heard the songs of birds and that was too high a price to pay, especially for happiness that was totally dependent on the kindness and charity of others.
I told myself that perhaps I could join the Club d'Amour as part of my psychological research. It could become very valuable to me later on in my studies. It sounded like a great reason, but it also had the hollow ring of rationalization. After all, I didn't want to admit to them and especially to myself that I had any doubts about Thatcher. How could I do that and still love him?
Or was it impossible to love anyone that completely?
On my way home, I could hear Daddy step into the room of my thoughts.
Can you live with someone and or love him that completely? he asked.
I don't know. I haven't any way of knowing yet. It's all too soon and happening too fast. But you did. Daddy, didn't you?
You were there, Willow You tell Me. Was I happy?
I don't think so. But later, with my mother, you were. Did you have that complete trust?
You know a great deal about it How What do you think? I think you did. and I think she did, too.
Even if that is so, that was us. I've taught you that everyone is different. One size doesn't fit all, Willow.
But you provided something, a goal to which I should aspire, didn't you? You were perfect.
No one is perfect, Willow. Remember that.
Then love can't be perfect.
Does it have to be? Maybe real love is knowing its imperfect but still going on, still pursuing and supporting it with all your heart.
You're talking about forgiving.
You're trying to get Linden to see that, aren't you? You know you can't have love without it.
Yes.
Should you hold up a mirror for someone else to look into if you are afraid to look into it as well, Should you ask him to accept a world you can't or won't accept?
No. Daddy.
Then you have your answer, Willow, Don't you? Maybe. I don't know.
