Gemini Rain (21 page)

‘Thank you,’ he returned her grip
with a hug
.

The tension disappeared and the friends got back to the business of enjoying dessert. By the time coffee was served Lauren knew everything and how Paul came to realise the path his life was leading to, how for the first time in many years h
e felt totally happy, satisfied and
content
with everything currently happening in his life
.

‘So why hide it?’ Lauren asked. Times were changing, especially in Ireland and there were others in the political ring just like him, it was like leaving unfinished business, never bothering to return to it, ‘why run away from the truth Paul?’

‘Like you have,’ Paul looked at Lauren.

She was stuck for words and it wasn’t something she expected him to say.

‘Paul!’ Marie was flabbergasted, ‘how can you say such a thing! Des tell him to apologise right now.’

But Des was
also
dumbstruck not knowing what to say as he glared at Paul. Paul ignored the others continuing to watch Lauren as he smiled.

Realisation dawned on Lauren, he knew about Peter. Of course he did! He had his sources, his advisors so that’s why he didn’t attend the funeral. Was the company being investigated, watched, Lauren needed to talk to him more but not now, not in front of Marie and Des.
‘
If
you were a
blonde Lauren,
’
she scolded herself,
‘
I’d call you
a
dumb
one
. Cop on, how could you have been so stupid?
’

Paul knew by Lauren’s face that she comprehended what he was trying to sa
y to her
quickly he apologised and changed the subject. Later when Des and Marie were talking to each other he slipped her a note it simply read,
‘
Phone me tomorrow 10am
’
the time and his cell phone
number were underlined. Lauren dropped it into her bag and looked up, straight into the eyes of Claude.

He was
being led to one of the tables and he was in the
company
of a beautiful young woman
. She was a little taller than Lau
ren with a shining mane of blonde
hair. ‘Christ, I think I’ve had enough surprises for tonight,’ she said aloud.

‘What?’ Paul looked at her puzzled following her gaze. He watched as a well-dressed man walked to their table and took Lauren’s hand, she sto
od up, they embraced and kissed
Lauren spoke in French to him then made her introductions explaining Claude couldn’t speak English. Paul was impressed how quickly she was learning, but then he
realised he
should know by now how determined Lauren could become in anything she took on.

As Lauren sat back down again and Claude returned to his table she noted that he didn’t tell her who his companion was or even invite her over to be introduced, looking over in their direction they were deep into conversation and it looked
serious, feeling slightly
confused, she shrugged
it off
deciding it was best to forget the meeting. 

After some time musing over more coffee, the friends decided to move on to pastures new and maybe try some of the nightlife that was on offer in Marseille. Lauren got up with P
aul helping her with her jacket
she smiled to him thinking how he never lost that charm and knowledge in knowing how to make a girl feel like a lady. Paul held out his arm for her which she gladly accepted, walking past Claude’s table he called to her asking if she could join them for a moment. Nodding to her friends to go on Lauren
sat down as Claude introduced
Helene
, Lauren broadly smiled to her, a smile was shyly returned.

‘I’m sorry I didn’t introduce you earlier but I was uncertain of what to say, you were the last person I expected to see here,’ Claude sounded apprehensive but
continued, ‘I…’ he looked at
Helene
, ‘w
e need your advice….’

Lauren interrupted, ‘Claude, if you want me to forget about us meeting tonight, it’s okay I know how Gabrielle puts pressure on you about getting marri
ed and settling down. Really it
’
s
okay,’ she tried her best to reassure him.

‘No you don’t understand,’ he scratched the top of his head and Lauren recognised that family
trait, he sighed resignedly, ‘w
e’re
actually
living together and I don’t know how to break the news to Maman and Papa.’

‘Congratulations, for how long have you been keeping this little secret?’  Lauren felt a little uncomfortable at his revelation, she didn’t know French opinion on this subject, did it really matter that much if they were married or not?

‘Since I left home
about a year ago,
it was the main reason why I left,’ Claude cheekily grinned shrugging his shoulders.

‘I know and the longer you’ve left it, the harder it’s been to break the news to them, but I’m un
sure about this sort of thing
, is
it
not acceptable here to live together outside of marriage.  In Ireland it’s getting more and more popular, I thought it would be the same here,’ looking at them both for an answer.

They laughed explaining how it was just as popular as marriage with laws and contracts protecting each partner, giving them and their children the same rights as a married couple.

‘But it’s Maman,’ Claude sighed once more, ‘I don’t think she settle for what we want, we don’t want to get married, it’s not for us and something we don’t need to prove to each
other,’ he looked lovingly at
Helene
as he said those words, she responded by
gently
taking his hand.

Lauren was silent for a minute an
d chose her advice carefully, ‘m
y advice to you both is to te
ll your family and bring
Helene
home this weekend. But for goodness sake
warn Gabrielle in advance that you’re bri
nging a friend
, you know how she likes to be prepared,’ she laughed, ‘you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner, believe me.’ Then she decided to ask, ‘Does David know?’ Claude nodded no. ‘Well, telephone him tomorrow and ask him, I bet he’ll give the same response.’ 

Cla
ude smiled relaxing a little;
Helene
just said thank you softly. ‘Who’s the boyfriend?’ Claude grinned, rubbing his chin. Again Lauren recognised another
family trait.

‘An old friend a
nd definitely not a boyfriend, a
nd now
I think I better
join
up with
my friends and continue the celebrations, there’s been many a revelation tonight,’ she rose to leave but as Claude kissed her on
both cheeks she turned to
Helene
and added, ‘I hope to see you next weekend and if you want I won’t mention this little conversation to anyone.’ 

Claude agreed as
they parted company.

‘What was that all about,’ Paul enquired as they left the restaurant.

‘
Ohh it raining.’
Lauren stated airily smiling towards him,
‘just friendship and another little revelation,’

Paul understood deciding it was best to leave it at that.

The following morning Lauren couldn’t wait for Veronique to leave so she could phone Paul, but Veronique wasn’t in a
ny
hurry playing with
Emma
and Keith and making light chat. Briefly informing Lauren of David’s call, she skipped the details but Lauren knew by Veronique’s face there was more to it.

‘Did he leave a message?’ she enquired, wondering if Veronique was going to reveal more.

‘No, but I told him you were gone out with friends…’ Veronique said gu
iltily not looking at Lauren then
continued ‘…and I think I told him one was an ex-boyfriend.’ Finally she did look up, ‘Are you annoyed?’ she bit her bottom lip.

‘Annoyed at what, you told him the truth,’ Lauren chuckled, amused at the fact that Veronique still thought there was something between David and her. ‘Listen, I have to make an important telephone call, put the kettle on and I’ll try to persuade you once more -
there’s nothing
going on between Me and David
!’ she jokingly shouted out the sentence holding her hands up to her head as she walked out to the sitting room.

Emma
turned to Veronique, ‘s
he’s still trying to persuade me too you know.’ They both giggled together.

Lauren
dialled Paul’s cell phone
, he answered on the first ring, Lauren knew instantly this was serious. ‘Listen Lauren I don’t want to talk by phone, can you meet me this afternoon, I’m sure you realise it’s urgent by now.’

Lauren never knew Paul to sound this way at least not when he spoke to her, ‘I’ll need to see if I can get a babysitter, at what time, Paul?’

‘B
ring the children
, I’ll organize something here at the hotel, anyhow I’d love to see
Emma
again,’ then he hastily added, ‘and Keith of course. Can you make it at midday? I’ve presents for them both.’

Lauren panicked, ‘l
ook Paul, if this has to do with anything else other than Peter…’

‘It’s everything to do with Peter, can you make it?’ Paul’s tone was low and serious.

Lauren reluctantly agreed and hung up. She felt nervous and dizzy, what was she letting herself in for, she thought all was in order when she left Ireland, was there something she missed, was she wrong about Peter working alone. Christ, the children… 
‘
No wait Lauren, you’re panicking over nothing, maybe it was to do with Paul’s little revelation last night and he was the one panicking,
’
she returned to the kitchen and decided to play the
wait and see
game.

Chapter 20

Arriving at the hotel, Lauren was surprised to find that Paul wasn’t waiting for her in the lobby so she asked for his room number. The receptionist called to his room informing her that he would be down in five minutes.
Emma
and Keith were delighted to see him when he arrived and he lifted them both up in his arms, pretending to nearly drop them because they had grown so much. Lauren felt anxious and was glad she remembered to take her blood pressure tablets. She couldn’t help but notice he held on tighter and longer to
Emma
,
‘
no, it’s just your suspicious stupid mind playing tricks on you again,
’
she tried to convince herself. 

Paul put the children down and with a little persuasion and the promise of a present, he introduced them to the hotel nanny who was going to take care of them, ‘while me and your mammy talked for a little while, is that okay?’

The nanny held out two lollipops, they both looked at Lauren and she nodded in approval. She and Paul watched as they skipped away towards the gardens at the back of the hotel.

Paul then turned his attention to Lauren noting she was nervous. ‘
Emma
is the image of you
she’s going to be a heartbreaker just like her mother.’

‘I was never a heartbreaker Paul.’

‘And Keith,’ he stared her straight in the eyes, ‘well you could never deny he was Peters, he’s going to be a mirror image of his father.’

Lauren cringed, ‘Only in looks. Paul please don’t…’

‘There’s nothing to be afraid of Lauren, I’m here as a friend.’
Paul
sounded reassuring as he interrup
ted her but Lauren was hesitant.

‘Are you?’ she asked despondently.

‘Yes,’ was his single respo
nse promptly taking her hand, ‘c
ome on, up to my room there’s someone I w
ant you to meet.’ He stopped, ‘b
ut then
again
I think you’ve already met him, he was the detective covering Peter’s death.’

As they took the elevator, Lauren regretted agreeing to the meeting and wanted to back out. She asked if Marie and Des where here, did they know this was going on? Paul said they were gone on a sight seeing tour and no, they definitely did not know. He told them he had
some
work to catch up on, ‘Well, I didn’t lie to them, did I? Dail Eireann is still open for business you know.’

When they entered Paul’s room a large man dre
ssed in a dark grey suit quick
ly put the newspaper he was reading on the side table and stood up. Lauren recognised him straight away, the competent
Detective Inspector O’Reilly
–
‘
how thorough you did your job
,’
she sarcastically thought
as she shook his hand
.