Shark Out of Water (4 page)

Chapter 4

Un Bon Homme

Seventy-two hours after Patricia was brought to the hospital by the police, Guy signed the court order that would transfer her to an inpatient psychiatric facility for the next ninety days. He recommended the move to the judge who had issued the order, but guilt still plagued him as he signed the last page. He hoped it would help, but he feared they would be in the same situation shortly after she was released if she did not voluntarily agree to stay longer. Guy sighed and collected the paperwork. He had said his goodbyes earlier since he knew leaving Patricia would be difficult and he did not want to be late for that night’s festivities.

Guy handed the paperwork over to Kit feeling rather worn out. She took it from him solemnly. “She’ll be okay, Dr. Guy. They’ll take good care of her.”

“I know.” He scrubbed his hand through his hair. “I know they will take care of her.”

“She’ll forgive you once she’s had a chance to calm down.” She smiled, but it was lined with sadness. “You better get going. You’re going to be late if you don’t leave now.”

“You are right, as usual.”

“I’m always right,” Kit said with a wink. “Now go have fun at your friend’s wedding rehearsal. Aren’t you the best man or something?”

Guy chuckled. “Co-best man. Eli could not choose only one, so Vance and I will share the responsibility.”

“Well, go enjoy yourself, then. Leave work at work.” Kit nodded as though it was all that needed to be said. It was not so easy for Guy. He smiled, regardless, and wished Kit a good evening before heading for the elevator.

It was not until Guy made it all the way to the reception hall—fifteen minutes late, thanks to traffic—that his spirits finally began to rise. The sight of one of his best friends so happy after so many years of sadness and pain, lifted Guy out of his own unhappy thoughts. Then there was Leila. Seeing her grinning so brilliantly made him smile. He teased her relentlessly, but she knew he adored her. He was very glad for his friends.

“Guy!” Leila called out as she rushed over to him. “You finally made it! We were beginning to fear some cute nurse stole you away from us. Vance was ready to demote you to regular groomsmen and steal Best Man for his own.”

“Vance would not dare,” Guy said as he wrapped Leila up in a hug. “And I only wish it was a nurse who had stolen me away. I would have shown up smiling instead of feeling like I have been… what is the saying, hit by a car? Please forgive me, Leila.”

“You don’t have to apologize, Guy.” Leila slipped her arm casually through Guy’s as they started walking toward where the others were gathering. She looked up at him with concern in her eyes. “Are you doing okay? You really do look worn out and upset. If you’re not feeling up for this, you can head out. We understand.”

Guy smiled at her concern. “I am fine. Just trouble with a patient. I cannot miss Eli practicing
se passer la corde au cou
.” Looking up at him with a smile and a scowl, Leila jabbed him in the ribs. “What? You don’t even know what I said!”

“Put a rope around his neck? Is that how you see marriage?” She rolled her eyes at him, but was still smiling. Of all his friends, Leila seemed to see more than what he put on the surface. “Come on. Let’s get this started so we can eat. I’m starving.”

Chuckling, Guy gestured for her to lead the way. Leila was a very petite woman. He had no idea where she put all the food she ate. As everyone took their places for the rehearsal, Guy’s mind was happily occupied by the process. It kept other, less pleasant thoughts at bay. He was almost sad when the rehearsal concluded. Luckily, Eli and Vance where there to continue the distraction.

“So,” Vance said, “was she blonde or brunette?”

Guy shoved his friend away. “Neither.”

“Redhead, then,” Eli said with a laugh.

“Nosy friends,” Guy said, feigning annoyance.

“Nosy, huh? When have you ever been one to kiss and
not
tell?” Vance accused. Both men laughed at Guy’s expense, but neither of his friends meant it. In fact, their expressions were more concerned than teasing.

Both knew of his history with Patricia from their university days and their psychiatry fellowship after medical school. He had also sought advice from both of them when she was brought in, so they knew why he was not his normal jovial self. Neither said anything about Patricia here, but they understood and sympathized. He knew they
had his back
, as Vance would say.

As everyone involved in the rehearsal headed toward the smaller adjoining dining room for dinner, Guy felt himself begin to relax. Leaving his home in Paris had not been an easy choice. His mother did not understand why he wanted to study in the United States, or why he did not want to return home once he finished, like he had originally planned.

It had nothing to do with them, as she feared. He missed his parents and visited as often as he could. He even loved living in Paris, and enjoyed the French countryside where his parents had retired to after Sabine left home even more. Wanting to study in the U.S. had more to do with getting away from what he knew and being on his own, having an adventure. Not going home…that was a more difficult reason to pin down.

“So everyone needs to be here at least two hours before the ceremony tomorrow,” Ana said.

Everyone rolled their eyes. They had all heard this many times. Guy knew everyone was still in awe that Ana, Leila’s boss and best friend, had somehow managed to get the wedding planned and set up in less than three months. From their engagement in August, to the wedding in mid-November, Ana had been a flurry of wedding plans. She was also pregnant and nearing her due date. No one wanted to argue with a pregnant woman, even one who was generally very pleasant.

“I think everyone is ready for tomorrow,” Leila said kindly.

Guy looked at his friends. Both seemed so relaxed. That would not be him on his wedding day…not that he planned on getting married. Guy had nothing against marriage, other than not seeing any point in it. Two people rarely managed to enjoy each other’s company for a long enough period to remain married. People like his parents were an exception, though he suspected Eli and Leila would be as well.

“Are you not nervous?” Guy asked. “Either of you?”

Eli leaned back comfortably in his chair, pulling Leila under his arm. “After everything we went through to get here, not a chance.”

Leila lifted her chin, kissing Eli and effectively agreeing with him.

Guy smiled at them, glad they were happy, but even happier his life was not so filled with change and upheaval as theirs. When dinner was over, he would go home to his flat to relax, where everything was exactly as he had left it, where he could count on life to be as expected and not filled with the uncertainty of change.

“Guy, are you bringing anyone tomorrow?” Leila asked. “You never said for sure and I wanted to make sure, if you do, someone can find your date and show her to Stephanie’s table, since you’ll be at the wedding party table with us.”

He hated to disappoint everyone’s expectations, but Guy only said, “I believe I will be going… deer?” Guy shook his head, knowing that was not the correct word.

“I think you mean
stag.
” Vance laughed. “You’d think you’d have gotten a few of our sayings down by now.”

“I would have if they made any sense,” Guy grouched.

“Oh, like French idioms make sense?” Eli laughed. “What’s the one you use any time we go anywhere fancy?
Mettre les petits plats sur les grands
?”

“
Oui
, but it makes perfect sense!”

The others all shook their heads except Ana. She did not know Guy well enough to have picked up his French sayings. “What does it mean?” she asked.

“To put the little plates on the big plates,” Eli offered. “It’s like saying roll out the red carpet.”

Ana seemed confused. “What does stacking plates have to do with anything?”

“Seriously?” Guy asked. “When you prepare for a dinner party, the salad plate must be stacked on top of the dinner plate. The phrase speaks of preparing for a grand party. It is perfectly explained.”

Vance laughed and clapped Guy on the back. “Dude, I think you were the only one who grew up having dinner parties like that. The rest of us had pizza on napkins with soda cans instead of crystal.”

“What about the American saying
to go cold turkey
? It makes absolutely no sense!” Guy argued.

“I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation,” Vance said with a shrug. “Probably something to do with…turkey behavior, or Pilgrims, or…”

He looked toward Leo, who they all knew was trivia fanatic, but he only shrugged. Guy folded his arms, sure he had them stumped this time. Until Eli broke in.

“Pilgrims, Vance? Really? You were closer with turkey behavior. And Leo, how could you possibly not know this one? It’s fairly obvious,” Eli said seriously, doctor face in place. “To go cold turkey is an eighteenth century reference to the look of a plucked turkey’s pale, bumpy skin, which may resemble a person going through withdrawals.”

The table was dead silent. More than one person looked rather impressed Eli knew the explanation. Guy narrowed his eyes at his friend. “You googled that, did you not?”

Everyone exploded in laughter as Eli held up his phone with a bowed head. Leila poked him in the side with a reproachful look. It did not last long. She chuckled as well before turning to Guy. “If you decide to bring someone tomorrow, just let Ana know. She already planned for you to bring a guest. If you don’t, we’ll just have an empty seat at Steph’s table. It’s fine either way.”

The expression on Ana’s face said it was not fine at all for there to be an empty chair in her expertly planned seating chart, and no preprinted name card as well, but she refrained from commenting. Leila did not know the specifics of Guy’s week, only that it had not been easy for him. It was clear to everyone that she was simply being kind to Guy, and not trying to disrupt Ana’s plans. After a moment, Ana’s irritation faded, though his friends went right back to their jabs.

“If he doesn’t bring anyone, he’s bound to leave with someone, especially if there are strawberries involved,” Leo said with a laugh.

Guy rolled his eyes as his face flushed. Precious little could embarrass him, but he found himself cursing his sister once again for ever letting slip that personal detail. She had learned it from one of Guy’s past girlfriends, who had been rather angry after the break up, and Sabine had teased him about it within hearing distance of Leo. His friend swore to never let him live it down, and he made good on his promise every chance he got. Everyone else at the table was laughing at him except for Ana.

“What are you talking about? Leila is allergic to strawberries. There won’t be a single one at the reception,” Ana said, looking somewhat panicked.

“It’s all right,” Leila said. “They’re just teasing Guy because he has something of a strawberry fetish.”

“It is not a fetish,” Guy snapped.

Leo busted up into peals of laughter. “Not a fetish? No, it’s just the one thing that can instantly turn you on.” Ana’s eyes widened at hearing such personal information, which only made Leo laugh even harder.

“I wouldn’t be too concerned about Guy’s lack of companionship,” Vance countered, making Guy roll his eyes again. They all knew that while their friend enjoyed an active social life, he was not on the prowl for a perpetual one night stand. He wanted a casual relationship, that was it.

“When did you all turn into comedians?”

“Don’t worry, Guy,” Leila said, “they’re amateurs.”

“
Oui
? Then I suppose you are the master?”

Leila smirked. “Of course. That’s why your phone is about to start buzzing like mad.” She winked, seconds before his phone began vibrating like it had suddenly morphed into a miniature jackhammer.

Guy’s eyes snapped over to Leila, narrowed yet intrigued. “What did you do, you tricky woman?” She just smiled, so Guy picked up his phone. He started shaking his head as soon as he saw what Leila had posted on his Facebook timeline.

Guy, sorry to hear about you and India. Right before our wedding even (sad face icon)! I’m sure if you want a plus one for tomorrow, someone will volunteer. At eleven a.m. At Greenhouse Loft.

The buzzing came from more than a dozen messages from women letting Guy know they were available if he needed a date for the wedding. Shaking his head with a smile, Guy looked up at Leila and mimed tipping his hat to her. She bowed, a huge grin on her face.

Her teasing made him laugh, which he needed very much. Guy attended events without a date frequently. It did not bother him to arrive at a party or group outing alone. He enjoyed dating, but never felt like he needed a companion to not feel out of place. Leila knew that, but as usual, she also knew when one of her friends needed to smile.

“Now that my love life is in hand, can we get back to yours?” Guy asked, feeling as though some of the tension from the day had left him. “Is there anything else either of you need before tomorrow?”