Let Them Have Cake (21 page)

Chapter 19

             
Applause greeted them as Jeff ushered Anna into the dining room of the Hotel Champlain. The group they’d started out the trip with stood as they walked to their seats. Jeff pulled out a chair for Anna and helped her get positioned comfortably before seating himself and gesturing to the others to do the same.

             
Lurline raised her wine glass in the air and said, “I’d like to propose a toast to Anna. We are all so very pleased to see that you are on the road to recovery. The group was reluctant to leave tomorrow without knowing how you were.” She raised her glass higher. “Here’s to your health and future happiness.”

             
The group chimed in with, “Good luck, Anna and Jeff. Here’s to both of you.”

             
Tears began to sting Anna’s eyes. “Thank you all so much. I don’t know why I’m being such a baby. I don’t usually cry this easily.” She wiped the tears away with her linen handkerchief. She looked at it and remembered Queen Marie Antoinette giving it
to her. It seemed surreal now, like it had never happened.

             
Vicky reached across the table and grasped Anna’s hand. “You’ve been very ill. That’s why you’re so emotional. Don’t worry about it.”

             
“Thanks, Vicky. I know you’re right.”

             
Anna turned to Jeff. “Do you think it would be okay for me to have a little glass of wine?”

             
“Only one little glass. Doctor’s orders.”

             
Jeff poured her a miniscule glass of wine and smiled as he handed it to her. “Here you go. Any complaints?”

             
“No, Doctor. You’re the boss.”

             
Anna sank back in her chair and sipped the glass of ruby red wine. It warmed her throat as it slid down. Jeff was being so sweet to her. Just like Geoffroi had been in the hamlet. Was he missing her? Searching for her like he’d searched for Anne-Marie when she’d disappeared? She couldn’t bear the thought of him mourning her loss, and new tears sprung to her eyes.

She looked around the room at the group of tourists. They were talking animatedly among themselves and were passing pieces of paper around to exchange addresses and phone numbers. Their trip had been very different from hers. Anna could hear Mary and Vicky planning a picture party six weeks after they returned home. She’d only taken a few pictures, and wouldn’t have any to exchange with the others unless she was able to take more in the
extra week she and Jeff would be here.

             
Pictures? She sat up straighter in the chair. She was remembering the painting that Jacques had done of Geoffroi and her at the hamlet. It was their engagement picture, and she had seen it before. It had been the first day she and the group were in
Paris
. They were touring the Montmarte district and had stopped to watch the painters in the
Tertre Square
. She had watched the woman painter as she copied a postcard of a painting at the Louvre. It was a painting done be Jacques Rouleau and was titled The Engagement. Now she understood. She had to see it again and she’d promised the artist she would return and purchase the painting in a week. It was now a week. They would have to go tomorrow after the rest of the group left to go home.
             

             
Dinner was finished. Anna and Jeff went around the room and told everyone goodbye. Mark, Tiffany and Michelle walked them back to Anna’s room.

             
“Are you sure it’s okay for us to leave tomorrow?” Tiffany asked.

             
“Of course. There’s nothing for you to do here. Anna just needs a little time to get strong enough to fly back to
California
,” Jeff answered.

             
“You’re going to take her to some of the places she missed while she was sick, aren’t you?” Michelle inquired.

             
“I want to go back to the
Tertre Square
tomorrow. I told
one of the artists there I would be back to buy a painting, and it’s past the time I said I would be there.” Anna looked imploringly at Jeff.

             
“We can do that, if you think you’re strong enough,” Jeff offered.

             
Anna took Jeff’s hand and looked into his eyes. “I am, I’m sure of that. It’s really important. We’ll take a taxi instead of walking and taking the subway.”
             

             
Jeff smiled at her. “See? We’ll be able to see all of the sights before we take our flight home next week. Don’t worry about us; we’ll have a great time now.”

             
“Guess what? We have a surprise for you.” Mark said, changing the subject.

             
Jeff looked skeptical. “And what would that be?”

             
Tiffany and Michelle were giggling as they waited for Mark to continue.

             
“You know Tiff, Michelle and I have gotten along really well since we’ve been here.”

             
“So I’ve noticed,” said Jeff.

             
The twins exchanged looks with Mark.

             
“Well, since I’m moving out to
California
soon, we’ve decided that the three of us will get an apartment together in
Long Beach
. Probably
Belmont
Shore since they say that’s a good place for people our age to live.”

             
“Really? Two girls together with one guy? That’s a little kinky, isn’t it?” Jeff was smiling and looking at Anna when he said this.

             
“Are you going to give me a bad time about that forever? It was just a little misunderstanding, that’s all,” said Anna.

             
Mark looked confused. “I don’t know what you two are talking about, but back to us moving in together, we think it’s a good idea.”

             
Tiffany said, “We think it will be a lot safer to have a man living with us, don’t you?”

             
Mark flexed his muscles and strutted around the room.

             
“That’s not a bad idea, actually. And it will be cheaper for all of you,” Jeff said, offering his approval of the idea.

             
“I’m happy that you three hit it off, and that’s great that you’re going to keep in touch. We’ll all be able to see each other then,” offered Anna.

             
“All right, then. We’ll be up to see you off tomorrow. You better go pack,” Jeff instructed his sisters.

             
“Goodnight. I’ll miss you guys, but we’ll see you in a week,” Anna said to Mark and the twins.

***

             
Anna and Jeff watched the tour bus filled with the group they’d arrived with pull away from the Hotel Champlain destined for the airport and return flight to
America
. Jeff waved to a
waiting taxi and helped Anna get in before settling beside her.

“That was kind of sad, wasn’t it?” Anna said.

             
“What was sad?”

             
“Oh, you know. Telling everyone goodbye. They all have to go home to the real world now.”

             
“It will be sadder when we have to go back in a week, don’t you think?” Jeff asked.

             
“That’s true. It will be. Did you tell the driver where to drop us off?”

             
“Yes. He said it was just a few minutes away.”

             
They rode the remainder of the distance to
Tertre Square
in silence, deep in their own thoughts. Anna was thinking of Geoffroi and the hamlet. It had been so real to her and now she doubted herself, doubted that she had been there. Maybe it had been hallucinations from the fever. The thought depressed her.

             
The taxi pulled to a stop and the driver gestured for them to get out of the cab. Jeff paid him and helped Anna out. The air was crisp and clear and the sun was shining brightly. It was a perfect day for artists to work outside and Anna hoped the woman was there.

             
“Will you recognize her when you see her, Anna?”

             
“I think so. She’s tall and thin, with long straight black hair. She was wearing a beret the day I saw her.”

             
“I hate to disappoint you, but they’re all wearing berets.”

             
“Yes, but it’s mostly men out here. Let’s keep walking. I’m sure she’s here. I feel it.”

             
Jeff looked strangely at her but continued walking and scanning the artists to see if he could find the woman for Anna. It seemed so important to her.

             
“I think I see her over there, Jeff. Come on.” She quickened her pace and stumbled over a cobblestone. Jeff caught her before she fell. He held her close to him, just as Geffroi had done when she stumbled while walking in the hamlet.

             
“Slow down, sweetheart. She isn’t going anywhere. She has all of her work materials spread around her.”

             
“I know. I’m anxious to see if she still has the painting.” Anna slowed to a safer pace.

             
They got closer and Anna could see that it was the artist she’d talked with the first day they were in
Paris
. She was working on a different painting. It was an original and was of the
Tertre Square
and all of the artists painting from postcard models.

             
The artist looked up and smiled in recognition. “Oh, hello. I wondered what happened to you. I didn’t have a name or hotel so I couldn’t contact you.”

             
“How stupid of me. I should have given you that information. I’m glad we found you.” Anna extended her hand to the artist in greeting. “I’m Anna Mulligan.”

             
“You’re Irish. What a coincidence. I’m Maggie O’Reilly.”

             
“I’m Irish and French by ancestry, but I’m actually American.” Anna replied.

             
Jeff had been standing to the side and now moved next to Anna and extended his hand to Maggie. “Hi, Maggie. I’m Jeff Andrews.”

             
Her smile froze on her face and she turned pale as she looked at Jeff.

             
“What’s wrong?” Anna asked.

             
“It’s him.”

             
Jeff frowned. “What do you mean?”

             
Maggie regained her composure and immediately apologized. “I’m so sorry. How rude of me. You look exactly like the man in the painting I just completed for Anna. Except for the beard, of course.”

             
“So you still have it?” Anna asked excitedly.

“I do. Unfortunately it’s in my apartment. I brought it a couple of days but when you didn’t return, I thought perhaps you’d changed your mind.”

             
“Anna was ill, and we’ve been sequestered in the hotel for a week. We’ve extended our vacation for another week,” Jeff offered.

             
“I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been ill. I’ve an idea. Would you like to come to my apartment for dinner tonight? I’d
enjoy the company. That way you can see the finished painting, and if you still want it you can take it with you.”

             
Jeff and Anna exchanged looks. After a moment they both smiled their agreement.

             
“Are you certain it wouldn’t be too much trouble?” Anna asked.

             
“Absolutely not. I’d love to have you.”

             
“Then we would love to accept your invitation. Can we bring some wine?” Jeff asked.

             
“That would be nice. Thank you.” Maggie fished around in a large bag next to her chair and retrieved a pen and some paper. “Here’s my address. It’s very near here. Will eight this evening be too late for you?”

             
“Eight will be fine. Anna can get a good rest before we come. We’ll see you then.”

             
Maggie returned to the painting she was working on.

             
Anna reached for Jeff’s hand. “Let’s walk back. I feel good and it’s only a few blocks. We can walk slow and stop along the way if I get tired.”

             
“Promise me you’ll let me know if you start to get tired, okay?”