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"Of course. It's no problem." Ruby is secretly relieved at the thought of wandering around this gorgeous, historic city with just Dexter and Banks in tow, but she is genuinely concerned about Julien. No one likes to see a sick kid, and as a mother, Ruby can sympathize with how Etienne must be feeling.
"I'll text you later on and check in," Etienne says. "Enjoy." She leads Julien away and they cross the street together, walking towards the pharmacy.
"Okay, men," Ruby says. She claps her hands together. "We have a city to explore. Where should we start?"
"You lead the way, Queen Ruby," Dexter says with an impish grin. She can already tell that he's not going to let it go easily that two American men called her their queen.
Ruby reaches out and swats Dexter on the arm. "You better watch out, or the queen will have you beheaded."
Banks follows along behind them at a reasonable distance, keeping a slow enough pace that Ruby and Dexter can stroll and talk privately.
"So," Dexter says. "We have a whole village here to explore. Are you hungry? Can I interest you in a croissant or a glass of wine or anything at all?"
Dexter is wearing a black crossbody bag over a thin blue sweater that brings out the color of his eyes, black jeans, and beat up Doc Martens. As always, he looks gorgeous and casual and Ruby feels like she's walking next to someone important. She looks up at him.
"How about if we go into that tiny art gallery," she suggests, pointing at a doorway beneath a stone arch. "And then ask around for the best place to have lunch."
"I'm game for anything."
The gallery is filled with Impressionist works by famous French, English, Spanish, and Russian artists, and Ruby meanders through the small space, hands clasped behind her back as she admires the variety of paintings. There are beach scenes and gardens and nude women bathing in copper tubs, and the wooden floor is uneven and creaky, which makes her feel as if she's walking around in someone's basement, admiring their personal collection of art.
"Want me to buy you one?" Dexter whispers, coming up behind her and standing over her shoulder. He's so tall and the ceilings of the gallery are so low that it feels like he's a giant stuffed into a miniature setting, but it adds to the quaintness of the gallery.
"I think I want that one," Ruby says, pointing at a small, square painting of a little boy standing next to an elephant at the circus. "I'm sure you could just put it on your credit card."
"Oh, definitely." Dexter leans in closer. "It was painted in 1875. I'm sure it's cheap."
Ruby is chuckling as Dexter's phone rings in his back pocket. He slips it out, glances at it, and frowns. "Excuse me," he says, holding up the phone. "I actually need to take this. Be right back."
"No problem at all," Ruby says, smiling at him as he ducks through the too-low doorway and walks out onto the sidewalk. She can see Banks out there, standing with his back to the window as he keeps his eye on the comings and goings of the gallery. Right now Ruby is the only person in the tiny space except for the gallery owner, who is standing quietly behind a desk, focused intently on a computer screen. The woman has either clocked Ruby's presence and is entirely unimpressed, or does not know that a former First Lady is wandering through her small gallery, admiring the artwork.
"Hey," Dexter says. He's slightly breathless as he ducks back under the doorframe and walks over to Ruby. "It's not really worth explaining in detail, but I did a freelance piece recently that needs to be rewritten pretty much immediately."
"Oh!" Ruby is impressed. The world of journalism and its inner workings are mostly foreign to her, aside from being the one who is always interviewed and featured in articles and news stories. "Sounds serious. And important."
"Well," Dexter smiles wryly, shrugging. "I'm not sure if it's super serious, but the article is set to go to print tonight, and some of the major facts have changed. Again--blah blah blah--not worth explaining. But I do need to work on it."
"Yes, of course," Ruby says. "Do you need to head back to the house? I'm sure Etienne would be fine with it."
"Actually, I was thinking of finding a cafe here and just working for a bit. Should take me an hour, maybe two. Are you okay with that? I know we have things to discuss and that a lot is going on right here," he says sweeping a hand around to indicate the gallery, the street, the village, maybe France itself, "but if I can just get this off my plate then I'll be all ears and ready to hear what your thoughts and feelings are about this trip so far."
"You should go and do some work. Definitely. I've got Banks out there," Ruby says, glancing out the window, "and he and I will just give ourselves a tour of Saint Émilion. Please don't give it another thought."
Dexter smiles at her gratefully and adjusts his messenger bag, which she knows holds a notepad or two, several pens, and an iPad with a keyboard attached. "Great. I'll text or call you when I'm done and we can meet for lunch or wine, yeah?"
"Absolutely."
Ruby has seen most of the gallery, so she wanders back out onto the sidewalk and walks over to Banks.
"I guess it's just you and me," she says to him, putting her hands into the pockets of her pink corduroy blazer. Around her neck is a floral scarf made of the lightest linen fabric, and her faded jeans are tucked into brown leather boots. Ruby leans her shoulder into Banks, bumping him lightly. "We've been ditched by everyone else, so what do you say to you and me having a look around?"
"Anything you'd like to do is what we'll do," Banks says, turning just his head so that he's looking Ruby in the eye.
The sun has gone over the tops of the buildings, leaving the main street in a cool, damp-feeling shadow. Spring has sprung, but reluctantly, and Ruby is glad for the blazer over her ivory cashmere sweater.
"Well, everyone has scattered to the wind, and I'm actually a little hungry. Would you have lunch with me? My treat?"
Banks frowns. "Are you sure you don't want me to stand outside and we can find you a cozy spot where you can read a book or something?"
