Chapter Two Page three

Stacie stood to her feet announcing, “That’s enough Cathie.  It is time to go.”

Then I saw him coming right towards us, just as I knew he would.  He parted the crowds of people like a synchronized act.  His handsome good looks took my breath for a moment.  His eyes were right on mine like we were alone in the room.  As he neared the table I couldn’t wait any longer and I jumped to my feet.  “He’s here!”  I proclaimed as I leapt from my spot into his personal space.

My movement was so quick I almost missed noticing how his eyes were not on me anymore.  Instead his eyes were expectantly scanning the room on past me.  Although, when I suddenly approached him, his eyes lit up with the flecks of gold that I love so much.  His hands were full of drinks so I smiled sweetly then swung my arms around his neck.

“You made it!  I missed you.”

“Hmm.  Well,” he stammered out. “That is a wonderfully special greeting.  I guess I missed you too, Cherie.”  His thick and drippy English accent rolled off his tongue right into the only soft corner of my heart.  Most of the time I am reserved and cautious but when he speaks to me I melt.  That one special place that is only reserved for him overpowers the rest and in his presence I am a new person.

I released him and offered to take one of the drinks from his hand.  Turning to place it on the table I was accosted by Stacie’s fired up green eyes.  They almost glowed with anger; or concern?  As we stood still with our eyes locked for a split second I could read from Stacie’s expression that she was not approving.

Through gritted teeth she spoke her anguish.  “What in the world are you doing?”

There seemed no need to address her infantile reactions so I sat down.  I turned towards him and inquired which drink was mine.  He stood speechless for a moment then with a look of uncertainty teased with a hint of intrigue he shrugged his shoulders.  “Well, Cherie, you may take whichever one you want.  I will trade it for the chance to join your table.  Then he motioned to Stacie, “Allo.  Choisi.”

Stacie gave him a nasty glare and then grabbing my wrist she announced loud enough for the neighbouring tables to turn, “Sorry.  We’re leaving.”  Her sarcasm was completely interpreted as rude.  Yet it didn’t seem to bother him in the least.  He just smiled his ‘knock-em-dead’ smile and shrugged.

I stood by the force of Stacie’s pull on my wrist.  Then, however I managed to stop her in her tracks.  “I am not leaving.  But you may.  You are being rude anyway.”  Then I gave her the ‘thanks-a-lot’ glare.  

She leaned towards me.  “What are you doing?  You don’t even know this man and you are all over him like a  ... a ...”.  As she scrambled for an appropriate word I flopped back into my chair mortified that she would act like this.  “Cathie!”  She said, gaining my attention.

My mind was grasping for an explanation.  Usually Stacie was the encouraging and supportive one.  She had even slipped into a routine of annoyingly so since Mitch’s passing.  Her words and actions seemed an impossible fit for my present circumstances.

“Cathie, this is dangerous behaviour.  You don’t know this man or anything he might do!”  She glanced quickly down at him and offered a weak apology. “Sorry, no offence.”

He chuckled and responded bravely.  “None taken.”  His mouth twisted into a sly smile as he watched our little dispute.

A fog had settled in my head and with all the commotion of people everywhere and the pounding music I felt the room begin to swivel.  Attempting to shake it off I asked Stacie to sit down so we could talk for a few minutes.

Once she was eye level with me I took her hand and held it from across the table.  “Stacie, I don’t understand why you are acting like this but please just listen to me.”  I motioned towards the breathtaking statuesque man beside me.  “This is Quinn.  You know him and so do I.”

Stacie’s mouth dropped open and her eyes scanned between the two of us.  As I was about to finish my statement I glanced at Quinn and saw the exact same look on his face. I did a double take ending with my eyes pouring over his facial confusion.

“How did you know my name, Cherie?”  Thankfully, his quirky smile and cocked head gave away his teasing.  At least, I hope he is teasing me.

A gentle slap to his arm on the table beside me made Stacie jump.  “You’re not helping the situation any, Dear.”  I said with a hesitant smile.  The emphasis on dear came out a little more sarcastic that I had planned.

 

For a brief moment my mind considered the ramifications of what was happening.  Suddenly I was feeling faint.  My sister, the dearest person in the world to me was looking at me like I‘d fallen off a cliff.  No, change that to jumped.  Then the look on Quinn’s face had me questioning everything.  Despite how I assumed he was joking with me his face did not completely testify to that.

“Alright you two,”  I spoke with a cautious jesting, “what are you up to?”  I leaned all the way back into my chair and crossed my arms over my chest.

Stacie looked at Quinn and he looked back at her.  After a moment of awkward silence she leaned over and asked me if I was feeling alright.  Her eyes were drowning in worry.  It was her look I knew way too well.  Even though I hadn’t seen her a lot since she moved overseas, I had become far too familiar with it as I grieved the loss of my husband.  How could she be giving me this look now?  Not now when I had Quinn in my life?

Just then Quinn rose to his feet and tried to politely excuse himself.  “Wait!”  I grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down to my level.  “Don’t go.”  His topaz eyes studied mine very closely for a moment.  His smile never left his face but it morphed a few times as he pondered his options.  Then in his perfect tone and drawl he asked, “Why should I stay, Cherie?

How odd to ask me that?  We’re in love, why wouldn’t he stay? “Well for the first reason I want to spend time with you.”  His smile deepened at my words.

“Then the second reason is I have been looking so forward to hearing how Anna is doing with her treatments.  And for the third reason I ...”.  I stopped there because both Stacie and Quinn leaned in closer to the table with looks of utter panic and confusion.  They watched me like I was an alien.

“What?”  I asked now very self-conscious.

“Who's Anna?”

Stacie’s response was right on top of Quinn’s question, “How do you know my sister?”

My first response was a smile thinking I was on Candid Camera; only Stacie had never been a good actor before and she was completely believable tonight.

“What is going on?”  I insisted.

Stacie barked back at me, “That is exactly what I want to know!”  Then we both managed to look over to Quinn, who had to wipe off his sexy smile for the first time this evening.

“Well, don’t look over to me for answers.  I just got molested by a beautiful woman so I decided to sit down.  Now I am really confused.”

Before he could sneak away I pulled him closer to me.  “So, you aren’t joking ... you don’t know me?”  The question feared me only for the answer I might receive.

His face softened and I could see inside his eyes to a depth of character that I had not recognized before.  “Non, Cherie.  I am sorry, but I have never met you before.”  Then he paused and it felt like he looked deeper into my soul.  He moved in another inch towards me and whispered, “At least I don’t think I have.  There is something very familiar in your eyes though.”

“Alright that’s enough.”  Stacie parted our precious moment of connection with her hands.  “I think it’s safe to say that Prince Charming can move along then.”

As Quinn slowly stood up I remembered what I needed to tell him.  “Oh before you go Quinn, I wanted to tell you that Dean will be at Anthony and Jane’s dinner party tomorrow.  So you may wa...”.

Quinn’s hand shot over to my chin and he lowered himself onto his haunches.  “What did you say about Dean?”

I stumbled for the right thoughts because it had come out so naturally I hardly knew what I had said.  “Well, I said that Dean will be at --“.

Quinn interrupted my sentence as his eyes shifted from fun and intriguing to frightening.  “How do you know Dean?  Do you work for him?”  He stood, grabbing my wrist so hard it pulled me up to standing.  “You can tell Dean that I won’t be played with any longer.  I will have his money by the end of next week.”  Then with one last flash of fury in his eyes poured out on me, he turned and walked away.

Stacie finally let her lungs take in a breath.  “What just happened?” Her voice shook with intensity.

“I don’t understand.”  My head shook from side to side in slow motion.  “He doesn’t remember me.”

“Cathie!  You do not know that man and you have never been here before.”  Stacie reached for her purse.  “I need to take you to the hospital I think.  Let’s go.”

Like a mannequin, she pulled me through the throngs of happy people out to the sidewalk.  I was so overwhelmed by my own feelings that she could have led me off the end of a pier and I wouldn’t have noticed.  Lord, I am so confused.  How is it that Quinn doesn’t know me?


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Chapter Two, Page two

Soon the city lights began to flash before my eyes.  The beauty was unmistakable.  In fact, pictures stored in my head from movies or magazines did not do much justice.

Stacie drove me past many amazing sights as we made our way south through Paris.

At one point we passed an architecturally stunning building and the voice revisited me again.

I have a plan for you.

Instantly I could picture a hotel room with long rich drapes.  I was sprawled out across a massive duvet covered bed that was shadowed by mirrors along each wall.

“Stop Stacie.”

“What?”  She turned to me.  “Are you feeling ill?”

“No.  You passed my hotel.”  The words weren’t exactly mine.  I mean, they were but I had no idea of them until they tickled my lips.

Stacie slowed her car as her eyes fixated on me.  “Your ... what?” 

One of the most unusual sensations I can ever recall washed over me.  I felt strong and empowered.  It was not that Stacie’s disappointment meant nothing to me, only that I was convinced of my course of action.

“Sorry Stac.  I just figured I would get a hotel room.  You don’t mind too much do you?”

There was silence from the driver’s seat.

“The way I see it, I can do some sightseeing while you are working.  And besides, maybe you can stay in my room with me for a couple nights.  That is if Neale won’t mind?  Are you mad?”

Finally Stacie broke the silence.  “I’m not mad Cathie.  I-I am just shocked you didn’t mention it.”  She flicked her signal light on.  Moving her car over towards the curb, she spoke soft with hesitation.  “I just wish you would have told me.  Then I could have gotten you a room closer to me.”

There was nothing said after that until we were each out of the car. 

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay with us, Cathie.  Neale and I have been looking forward to your visit for so long.”

When I turned my head to see her face to face I was overwhelmed by the darkness in her eyes.  Their usual bright green glimmer was absent.

“Are you upset with me?  I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”  I said.

She lowered her eyes from mine.  “I’m not upset, just ... well I had hoped to make you supper tonight and visit with you some more.  But, I will have to wait till tomorrow, I guess.”

“Well, I don’t have to check into my hotel yet.  Let’s go find a place to grab a bite to eat and then you can bring me back here later.”  I swung around without waiting for her answer and loaded back into The Thing.

Stacie hesitated on the curb before following my lead.

She started the car up and slowly joined the flow of traffic.  We drove in silence around several blocks and then she turned her car along a boulevard with many night clubs and restaurants.

“Stop the car!” I said as my head rubber-necked to watch a brightly lit establishment fly past.

“What now, Cathie?” She blurted out in anger.

“Just stop the car please Stacie.  There is something I need to see.”  My enthusiasm was not mirrored in her expression.  The corners of her eyes tightened with a wrinkle.

I jumped out of the car as soon as she parked and began crossing the busy street.  “Come on Stacie.  Trust me.”

She had barely left the side of her vehicle by the time I crossed the street.  I eyed the line up of men and women waiting for a turn to enter the establishment.  My eyes followed the dark brick work of the building up to the neon sign above their heads.  It read La Soubrette Bleu in bold sapphire lights.

By now Stacie was reluctantly by my side.  “You aren’t serious, are you?”

“About what?”  I said as I grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her along behind me. 

We walked right past all the waiting people, right up to the thick stump of a man leaning on a bar stool at the doorway.  I could hear Stacie’s whispered pleading behind me.

“Bonne soir, Monsieur.”  I greeted the man.

He eyed me up and down for a second.  “Oui.”  He motioned with his head for us to enter through the double wooden doors.

As the door swung heavily towards me, I was accosted by the smell of smoke, the hypnotically flashing lights and the pounding of Jazz music echoing in my chest.  It felt invigorating.

Stacie pulled back on my hand but I didn’t allow her to deter me.  I knew I was in the right place.  Now all I needed was a seat for us while we waited.

“Tell me again why we are here, Cath?”  Stacie let the words stumble out of the corner of her mouth while scanning the joint for all the exits.

“Lighten up a little.  He should be here soon.”  The music was speaking to me and I couldn’t stay still on my seat.  My eyes were scanning the room like Stacie’s, but I wasn’t looking for a way out.  I was looking for him.

Stacie touched my hand that was pounding out a beat.  “Did you just say ‘he’ will be here soon?”

I looked over to her long enough to assess the lines on her face as worry.  Since Mitch’s death three years ago she had been trying to get me to go out and experience life.  Now she is trying to shut it down.

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Chapter Two page One

Chapter Two

The fading sun gave the French countryside a vibrant glow.  Soon we'd reach the city which would come alive with a night life I have only read about.  My bland and predictable life back in Quebec would not fit in here, even if I can speak their language.

Stacie directed me down a row of vehicles of various sizes and colours.  There were many shiny and tailored cars and smooth and shapely SUVs.  Planted deep within the eye candies, was Stacie’s car.  I had seen pictures and heard stories of this car.  I knew it was hers before she motioned me towards it.  The four door car had earned a name from Neale and Stacie.  The Thing.

There was a trail of rust holding up the bottom strip of the car beneath the door frames.  It contrasted nicely with the odd mint green colour.  I am sure that in its day, The Thing, was a sight to behold.  In fact, lined up with the beautiful vehicles in the parking lot, it still is a sight to behold.

Stacie unlocked her door and reached under her steering wheel to pop the trunk.  I remembered her story of how the lock on the trunk door ate her car key.  If I know my sister, the tiny remnant of that key is still wedged inside the lock.

As I approached the trunk to toss my suitcase in I braced myself for the scene I would find.  Stacie, bless her heart, never had a clean car a day in her life.  Unlike mine, that I was proud to admit you could eat a picnic off.  When I heaved the suitcase up in the air I nearly lost my grip on it.  The trunk was spotless.

“Stacie?  What happened here?”

“Oh stop your fussing.  Just put your suitcase on top of all the junk.  I promise it won’t get eaten.”  She started up her car and flipped her radio on.

“No Stac.  You haven’t seen this?”

“Seen what?”

I leaned around the side of the trunk to the driver’s side.  “Words cannot fully express.”

She huffed as her door creaked open.  Her heavy footsteps made their way to the rear of the car.  “Don’t tease me about my mess.”  Then her eyes froze in a wide-eyed stare as she saw the immaculate trunk.  “You can’t blame me for that.”  Her high pitch voice burst into a laugh as it finished.  “That must have been Neale.”

“That much I know to be true.”  I laughed back.

I dropped my matching red suitcase and carry-on bag into the empty trunk.  As I moved to close the trunk I nearly hit Stacie who still stood gaping at the pristine view. 

“Enough already.  You can give Mr. Amazing a sloppy kiss for all his hard work as soon as we get there.”  I shoved her back an inch and made my first attempt to close the hood of the trunk.  From Stacie’s vibrant stories on the phone, I knew it might take me several tries.  It did.

Stacie and I giggled over her car tales as she manoeuvred her way out of airport parking and joined the busy traffic flow heading into the city.  Neale and Stacie settled in a small, modest home in the south portion of Paris.  The house is located only a short walk from the Hospital Saint Michel in the 15th arrondissement.

“Our drive will be about an hour, so you can put your seat back and rest, Cathie.” 

“Why?”

“Because you are tired?”

 

For a moment I couldn’t fathom why she would think that.  Then the reality of the last twenty-four hours flooded my mind.  “I guess I should be.”  I leaned against my passenger window to watch the lights of Paris inch closer to me.  “However, you only see Paris for the first time once right?”

“Maybe you should close your eyes now and we can see it for the first time tomorrow.” 

I shook my head with determination.  “Not a chance.  You are driving me right through the centre of it tonight.  I have waited too long for this, Sis.”

Stacie let out an agreeable huff of air and a nod.  “You are the bossy older sister, after all.”

The time went by quickly as Stacie rattled on about all the plans she has for me over the next ten days.  It made me tired thinking about it all, but I knew we would cherish every moment we could together.  

When Stacie met Neale at a Youth For Christ missions conference five years ago, I said a tiny prayer.  ‘Lord please don’t let him take her from me.’

However Mitch and I were so happy and lost in each other I hardly let the words rest.  After Stacie married Neal and moved overseas to his home, I felt the tinge of fear and sadness return.  Yet, how could I deny her the happiness I experienced with Mitch.  Besides my sister’s adventurist spirit needed an outlet.  Our home town lacked inspiration and intrigue.  I had always known Stacie would end up somewhere exciting.  I guess the Lord knew that too.

So it wasn’t until Mitch’s death three years ago that I fully became aware of the hole Stacie left in my heart by leaving.  I do not blame Neale for taking her from me.  Or God, for that matter.  I only wish I had half of her sense of adventure.  If there ever is another man in my life he will have a horrendous time even changing the brand of dishwasher detergent I buy.  


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