Three Weeks in Paris (20 page)

She said, “I asked Nicky to do something for me last week, and it has to do with you, Alexa. But I do take full responsibility, I just want you to know that, to understand it was not Nicky’s idea, but mine. Now I think he’s here to report to me.”

Looking puzzled, Alexa frowned, then glanced from Anya to Nicky, but she made no comment.

“A few weeks ago, Anya had the feeling you probably wouldn’t come to her birthday party because of Tom Conners,” Nicky began. “She felt you might be uncomfortable in Paris because of your past with him, and how you parted. She suggested I make a few inquiries about Tom to ascertain what he was doing, what his status was in general.”

“I see,” Alexa murmured, sounding noncommittal, but
she felt herself tensing in the chair. She crossed her legs, then sat very still.

“Then almost in the same breath I told Nicky not to do it,” Anya interjected, looking at Alexa carefully. “Because I felt that for him to poke around in Tom’s life was like playing God, and in effect it was being a megalomaniac.”

“So I didn’t do anything,” Nicky remarked. “Until this past week, when Anya used her woman’s prerogative and changed her mind.”

“He’s still in Paris, that I do know,” Alexa announced.

She surprised them both, and they exchanged quick, knowing glances.

Alexa noticed this, and went on. “When I received your invitation to the party, I called him at his office, on his private line, actually. Then I hung up when he answered. I guess I lost my nerve.”

“So he has been on your mind,” Anya muttered. “I thought as much.” She felt justified for enlisting Nicky’s help.

“Yes, Anya, he has. You see, I want to get rid of this unfinished business of mine. Then perhaps I can move on with my life.”

“Good girl!” Anya exclaimed, beaming at her in approval. “Well, I suppose we’ve done your legwork for you. Or Nicky has, at any rate. He’s probably saved you some time, actually.”

Alexa nodded. She was now eager to hear what he had to say.

“I made a few calls, spoke to several people I know who know him,” Nicky began, leaning forward slightly, giving Alexa a very direct look. “Basically, nothing’s changed in Tom’s life, Alex. He’s not married, nor is he seeing anyone special as far as I’ve been able to ascertain. Although I do hear there are a few women circling him, so to speak. But
that’s normal, under the circumstances. He’s very good-looking, charming, successful, and a bachelor. It’s to be expected. He’s still with the same law firm, but then, you already know that. I guess I have to say that everything seems to be status quo.” Nicky sat back in the chair, and then turned his head, glanced at Anya.

“And that’s all you found out?” Anya asked with a frown. “Nothing more, Nick?”

He shook his head. “Not very much, really. Tom even lives in the same apartment. But one of the chaps I know at Clee Donovan’s photo news agency is an old buddy of Tom’s and—”

“That’s got to be Charles Dugdale,” Alexa swiftly cut in, “they’re good friends.”

“Correct.” Nicky gave her a faint smile, and added, “Charlie told me that Tom inherited money from a relative recently, and that he’s bought a property in Provence. A farm or an estate, I’m not sure.”

Anya’s face lit up. “Oh, really, how very interesting! I wonder if he’s anywhere near me?”

Nicky burst out laughing. “Anya, you’re incorrigible! Always looking for dinner and luncheon guests, eh, old thing? Always wanting interesting company.”

“And why ever not? Interesting company’s much better than the bores, wouldn’t you agree?”

Nicky smiled at her lovingly. “You’ll be happy to know then that Tom’s place
is
near your house. He’s just outside Aix-en-Provence.”

“Lovely,” Anya replied, her eyes sparkling with pleasure.

“Does this mean Tom is leaving Paris? Leaving the law firm?” Alexa ventured, her eyes questioning.

“I don’t know,” Nicky answered her. “Charlie wasn’t sure about that. I’m afraid you have the sum total of everything I found out, Alex, except that he’s fit and well and,
according to my friend Angelique, the famous casting director, he’s still as good-looking as ever.” He grinned at her. “A taller version of the other Tom.”

Anya frowned and repeated, “The other Tom? Of whom are you speaking, Nicky?”

“Cruise. Tom Cruise.”

“Oh, Nicky, you are such a pest with all of these infernal film references of yours!” Anya mildly chastised him. “Half the time I never know who you’re talking about.” Reaching out, she now took hold of Alexa’s hand and went on softly. “Well, darling, you now know which way the land lies. Why don’t you call Tom this weekend? But this time, if a machine answers, please leave a message, for heaven’s sake, otherwise we’ll get nowhere very fast.”

Alexa laughed, suddenly feeling lighter than she had in ages, as if a weight had been lifted off her chest. “Thanks for doing the legwork, Nicky. I owe you one. And in the meantime, when are we going to get together to discuss the movie? Later today?”

“I’m afraid not,” Nicky exclaimed, and glanced at his watch. “I’m sorry, Alexa, but I have to leave. My apologies, Anya, for this … hit-and-run visit, but I have to go home to change. I have a special dinner date tonight.” Rising, he went over to Anya, bent over his aunt, and kissed her cheek. “I’m taking Maria to dinner, you’ll be glad to hear.”

“I am indeed very pleased, she’s a lovely young woman,” Anya responded, and patted his hand resting on her shoulder.

Moving around the table, he went to Alexa and kissed her. “We can lunch tomorrow if you’re free,” he said.

“I am, Nicky, that’ll be great. Where shall we meet?”

“I’ll take you to the Relais at the Plaza-Athénée. I know you like it there. Let’s meet at one. Okay?”

“That’s perfect,” Alexa answered.

Anya got up, tucked her arm through his, and walked
back to the house with him. “Thank you so much, Nicky, for finding out about Tom. I do appreciate it.”

“I think Alexa does too,” he murmured in a low, confiding voice. “Don’t you think she looks tremendously relieved? Probably to know he’s still single.”

“Perhaps,” Anya replied, not quite sure if this was the case or not. In her long years as a teacher she had learned one thing: Young women could be very tricky.

“I’M SO GLAD YOU DON’T THINK I’M A MEDDLESOME
old woman,” Anya said to Alexa after she had ushered Nicky out and returned to the table under the cherry tree. She sat down, sighing lightly as she did. “Some people might, darling girl, and it would truly upset me if
you
did.”

“First, I never think of you as
old
, and second, you were not meddling. I suspect you wanted to find out what was happening with Tom in order to protect me,” Alexandra asserted. “Forewarned is forearmed. I can just hear you thinking that. Am I correct?”

“
Absolutely.
”

“I’m very surprised I didn’t get a lecture from Nicky,” Alexa suddenly blurted out, and added, “He was also protective of me years ago, and he and Larry kept cautioning me about Tom. They both said he would only cause me grief.”

“I know Nicky can be a pain in the neck at times, but he’s a good person, and very devoted to
you
. Anyway, let’s face it, Alex, in this instance he wasn’t far off the mark, was he? And neither was Larry.”

“You’re right, as usual.” Alexa gave Anya a concentrated
stare and asked pointedly, “A few minutes ago, was Nicky referring to Maria
Franconi
? Is that who he meant?”

“I do believe he did.” Anya sat back, eyed Alexa, averted her face for a moment, endeavoring to stifle the laughter bubbling in her throat. Alexa had obviously been taken aback by Nicky’s announcement about his dinner date. Her expression was one of such horror, it was actually comical. She knew that Alexa and Maria had locked horns at one point, just before their graduation, and there was no love lost there. She’s appalled at the idea of Nicky, her favorite, being with Maria, Anya decided.

“I can’t believe it! And certainly I don’t get it. He’s married. To Connie Aykroyd.” Alexa shook her head; her expression one of puzzlement mixed with annoyance.

“Not anymore, at least not for much longer. Seemingly, that marriage is over, except for the shouting. And the legalities, of course. Nicky moved out a long, long time ago, and I suppose he feels he can date other women if he wishes. And if the woman is willing.”

“And obviously Maria Franconi is … oh, my God, Anya, what a weird
mix
!”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I rather think you’re wrong, darling. Actually, Nicky’s quite taken with her.”

“
Really
? How amazing. How is she, anyway?”

“Maria appears to be very well. And pleased that she managed to lose forty-eight pounds.”

“Maria got
fat
?” Alexa exclaimed, and then she laughed. Her eyes narrowed. “Oh, dear, oh, dear, all that pasta, I guess.”

Anya bit back a smile. She was amused that for once in her life Alexa was being a little bitchy. She said, “People get fat for all kinds of reasons. But at least Maria did something about her weight. She went on a very strenuous fitness regime, and obviously it worked. Because she’s so tall,
she carries the remaining bit of extra weight very well. And she does have a remarkable face, you know.”

“Yes, she
is
beautiful, I’ll concede that.”

Anya frowned. “From your tone, I can tell you’re still troubled by Maria, and her
treachery
. Isn’t that what you called it once?”

“She
was
treacherous,” Alexa responded in a hard voice, one that brooked no argument.

“Are you still reluctant to talk to me about it after all these years?”

“Yes, I am, Anya. It was awful, very unpleasant, and she was a bitch. She was extremely unfair to me.”

After sixty years of experience as a teacher, Anya knew better than to press the point at this moment. Instead, she said, “Jessica is here also, and I heard from Kay Lenox the other day. She’ll be arriving imminently, if she’s not already here. I do sincerely hope the four of you are going to be able to bury your differences.… ” She let the sentence slide away.

Alexa looked at her quickly, at once noticing the slightly plaintive tone in Anya’s voice. Reaching out, she patted her hand. “Of course we are.” She began to laugh, and exclaimed, “I’ll beat them
all
into submission … they’ll behave well at your party, take it from me they will!”

Anya chuckled. “Oh, Alex, you can always make me laugh when you want to, especially when you try to be tough.”

“I am tough.”

“Not you, darling girl.”

“I hope I am. I don’t want to be a cream puff. Where is that going to get me in this world? I hope I am
really tough
, because that means I’m strong and resilient. That’s what tough means to me.”

“Yes, you’re right, actually. Let’s not mix up the words
tough
and
hard;
they have very different meanings indeed. I cannot bear hard women because they’re so hard-bitten, so emotionless, without feelings. What was it Hemingway once said? ‘I love tough dames but I can’t stand hard broads.’ Well, anyway, it was something like that.”

Anya looked off into the distance for a few seconds, and there was a small silence. And then suddenly, unexpectedly, she said: “I once knew a man like your Tom Conners, and it became very difficult for me in the end.”

“When was that?” Alexa asked gently. She was startled by Anya’s angry voice, the odd twist to her mouth. A bitter twist, she thought.

“Oh, long ago. A few years after my darling Hugo died. I met another man, as one does if one is out in the world, living life, doing things, and not becoming a dullard, a bore, by staying at home doing nothing. He was a widower. His wife had died of cancer when she was very young. It
was
a tragedy, she was only in her twenties apparently. But, you see, he used her death constantly to prevent our relationship from going where it should have gone. His dedication to her memory, survivor guilt—all of those things got in the way.”

“What happened in the end?”

“One day I left him. It wasn’t worth it to me. I couldn’t understand why
I
had to be made to suffer because another woman had died too young, too soon. And I was getting awfully tired of being compared to a dead woman who had become a plaster saint in his eyes.”

“Did he … ever remarry, Anya?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“And where is he now?”

“Oh, goodness, how do I know! Dead probably. Or still marching around with that cross on his shoulders, feeling sorry for himself, being selfish in his continuing grief.”

Anya shivered slightly and pushed herself to her feet. “It’s growing cooler, Alexa, let’s go inside. Look, the sun is already hidden by the clouds.”

Together they walked toward the lovely old house with its black-and-white façade so reminiscent of Normandy architecture. Anya led the way, and Alexandra followed her into the small library that opened off the garden.

Anya went around the room, turning on lamps, saying to Alexa as she did, “Darling, do me a favor and light the fire. There’s a sudden chill in the air. You’ll find the Swan Vestas in that copper bucket filled with logs.”

“Right away,” Alexa responded, and knelt down in front of the fireplace. There were rolled pieces of newspaper and chips of wood in the grate, and she immediately spotted the matches in the copper bucket, struck a match, brought the flame to the paper. It caught with a
whoosh
, and she knelt there until the chips also ignited, when she put on several small logs. Then she got up.

Dusting her hands together, Alexa walked over to a small upholstered chair and sat down. Anya was already propped up against a pile of pillows on the love seat opposite. “Thank you, Alex.”

Then, picking up the conversation where she had left off, Anya continued. “Those sort of men are not worthy of a woman like me, or you either. So do me a favor, and yourself. Deal with Tom Conners. Don’t drag it out. And if you find it necessary to walk away, then walk away. Get on with your life without him if there’s no alternative. You’ll meet another man one day.” She gave Alexa a hard stare. “In fact, I’m surprised you haven’t done so already.”