Trouble finding Blondie (5 page)

❖ ❖ ❖

They had been on Maui for four days. Andre was giving her space to be with her family, but she wasn’t responding to his text messages. He was getting curious and worried.
 

He texted Patrick about going biking. He said he couldn’t go until Friday, which was another two days.

Two more days?! Ok, if she doesn’t pick up or answer my text by tomorrow, I will drive over.... Drive where, you moron? You don’t even know where either of them lives! How did I not ask? I completely missed that point! I really don’t know where they live now.... Ok, I’ll have to call Anton.
 

Andre got the address. Patrick has a property in Haiku now, and they sold all their properties on the south side.

..., but she was going to Kihei. Was she staying somewhere else? What the heck is going on? Where is she? I flew with her for 25 hours, we talked about where I was staying, and I didn’t bother to ask where she was staying? Where is my brain around this woman??! Ok, that’s it!
 

“Patrick, can we meet? I know Friday is bike, but is there any way we can talk before Friday? Today, tomorrow? Please.”

“Sure, I can do tonight. Paia Fish Market, 7 PM?”

“Great. See you there.”

It’s weird that he didn’t ask why? Something is going on….

Andre was off the whole day. He went to Wailea to play golf, couldn’t concentrate, and had lunch at Whole Foods. He hated it. He decided to go kite surfing, and he broke one of his lines. The day was not going well, and he was in a bad mood. He was constantly watching the time. It was going so slowly that he thought the day had 30 hours. Finally, he went home to shower and change. He arrived in Paia at 6:45 PM.

“Amazing. Zatopek, you are on time? Unbelievable.”

“Hi, Patrick. See, miracles do happen.”

They both ordered, and Andre paid. After the small talk, Andre couldn’t wait any longer.
 

“Patrick...”

“I can’t tell you much, Andre. My loyalty is to her. Sorry.”

He didn’t expect that at all. It threw him off.
 

Conspiracy theory? Really? Ex-husband? Should I play dumb? No way, he deserves better. Ok, it’s now or never.

“Patrick, I love her. I have loved her from the first day I met her. She was off limits, and I respected that. She is single now. I deserve a chance.”

“I should just punch you. I wanted to do it for so long. I’m not an idiot you know.”

“I’m sorry, Patrick. I truly am. I had no control over this. This was all new to me.”

 
“She loves you, too. It took me a long time to make peace with it. I know she loves me, but in another way.... I hated you for so long.”

“Where is she? It took me over a year to find her, I’m not going to let her go now.”

“She left two days ago.”

“What??! Left? To go where? This woman is driving me nuts. Seriously? Are you kidding?”

“She is back in Europe. She wasn’t supposed to come. She called me that she was coming and asked if I could get Cori ready. She would take him to the soccer academy earlier than planned. First, I said no, but when she came, we made a compromise. He is going to spend two weeks with my family in Bratislava before they both, Arye and Cori, fly to Barcelona with Simona. I will meet them there in a few weeks.”

“You mean, she wasn’t supposed to come at all?”

“No, she called out of the blue. She didn’t elaborate on it until she came here. And yes, it was because of you.”

“Because of ME? I’m lost. What the hell is going on? Why?”

“Look, as I said at the beginning, I love her. My loyalty is always going to be to her, against anybody else. I can’t tell you much, except that she wanted you out of Paris. She has her reasons....”

“I’m lost. First, I wasn’t doing much apparently. Then I go and make miracles happen to find her. That wasn’t enough. Now, we are going to play catch me if you can? WTF? Please tell me this is not the ‘norm’ for this woman?”

Patrick didn’t think it was funny. The sadness in his eyes said it all.

“I would love to trade places with you, if I could… You still have a chance, Andre.”

Andre wanted to shoot himself. It was awkward, and he felt like an ass.

3

“WHATEVER IT IS YOU ARE AFRAID OF,
 

IT’S NOT THERE."

“MONSIEUR BOUCHARD IS finishing his meeting. He will be with you soon.”

“Thank you. I understand. I don’t mind the wait.”

Andre flew first class, so he slept most of the way and didn’t feel tired or jet-lagged. Considering that he jumped on the plane with no plan, this seemed like a step in the right direction. He called him from the airport in San Francisco and was pleasantly surprised Mr. Bouchard was willing to see him on short notice. The irony was that when he was getting his number, not even a week ago, he wanted to go see him to have a ‘man to man’ talk about the woman he loves. Now, he was sitting in a waiting room, coming up with a speech, asking him for help. Life is really unpredictable. And so is this creature called Simona.

“Mr. Zatopek, is it?”

“Andre, please. And thank you for seeing me. I do appreciate it.”

“Please, have a seat.”

“I didn’t come here to waste your time. I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with Simona, but I’m here to tell you I love her. No, that is not really the right expression. She is everything to me. It took me a long time to find her, and now I won’t let her go.”

“Hmmm, I appreciate your honesty. And there is nothing I like and enjoy better than a good fight, Andre.”

“So, you are involved with Simona.”

“Involved? Yes. That is a very appropriate word.”

“Are you in an intimate relationship with her?”

“Hmmm, very intimate, yes.” He was clearly enjoying torturing Andre, but when he saw his sadness, he had to lighten up a little.
 

“Ok, listen. I’m very aware of your position. And I do respect the relationship. I know how important Francois is to her.”

“She told you about Francois? How could you possibly know that? I guess you are pretty intimate if she tells you details like that.”

“I make it my business to know everything about people that work for me and are around me.”

“This information has nothing to do with any employment. Nobody but her could tell you what she called me. I’m quite certain nicknames of lovers don’t make it on a job application.”

Philippe suddenly looked lost in translation, and a bit confused.

“I’m not sure if I understand you correctly, but what I’m trying to tell you is that I do respect your importance and your rights. I know who you are.”

“Who I am? Who AM I? What the heck are you talking about?”

“Oh my God. You don’t know. Well, Monsieur Zatopek, as I said, there is nothing I enjoy more than a good fight, but it has to be on a fair grounds. You have some catching up to do.”

“Again, what is it that you are implying? What are you talking about?” Andre was getting more lost and his frustration was turning into fury.

“I’m sorry. This is not my story to tell. You need to talk to Simona.”

“I would love to, but I have no idea where she is. I don’t even know where she lives.”

“My driver will take you there. Please, don’t thank me. I hope I won’t regret this.”

Philippe walked Andre out and told the secretary to call Marcello to meet him upfront. He shook his hand and wished him luck. As soon as the elevator’s door closed with Andre going down, he asked the secretary to get Simona’s Reni on the phone.

“I will take it in my office. Thank you.”

“Reni, it’s Philippe Bouchard. Where are you right now?”

“Shopping, sir. Why?”

“I need you to do me a favor. Get in a taxi, and go to Simona’s apartment, please. I’m sorry. I don’t have time to explain, but I’m sending someone there.”

“Yes, sir. I can be there in few minutes.”

“Thank you, Reni. Take it easy on him…”

She didn’t have time to ask any questions because he was already gone. She hopped in a taxi and went straight to Simona’s apartment. She went in, looked around. She only left a few hours ago. Nothing was out of place, except she felt lost not knowing what she was doing there, and whom she was waiting for.

❖ ❖ ❖

Marcello parked in front of the building, went around the car, and opened the door for Andre. He didn’t move. He looked at Marcello with a face full of fright. It was painful to watch.

“Andre, it’s the second floor. She is not home. Somebody is waiting there for you.”

“She is not there? Why are we here then?”

“I’m just a driver. Whatever it is you are afraid of, it’s definitely not there. I have been in that apartment. It’s pure love.”

Andre was going over the whole conversation with Philippe in his head. Nothing made sense anymore...
 

Why did he send me here if he knew she is not here? Why does Marcello think I’m scared? Does it really show? What am I scared of? Rejection? Why am I scared? I’m not scared. I’m pissed off! I’m chasing this woman.... What does intimate working relationship mean??! And what the hell is “love” apartment? What is that supposed to mean?!!!

All these thoughts were going through Andre’s head when he reached the second floor that had a massive double door with no name on it. It was the only door on that floor, so he rang the door bell. Reni opened the door. She looked like she was expecting him.

“It’s you? Ciao, Andre. Come on in...”

“Ciao, Reni. Thank you. I’m not sure why I am...”
 

He stopped talking in the middle of the sentence, staring at a picture in the hallway. It was almost life sized, in sepia color, except that the jeans were blue and a wrist band had a red heart. It was an amazing photograph of a woman in jeans with long blond hair to her waist covering her breasts. She was holding a black bucket hat over her face. Reni thought he was just admiring the picture like everybody else, and then he shocked her.

“It’s Simona.”

“How did you know? Nobody ever guessed that.”

“Why? Because she has a wig and a covered face? I know her abs. It’s her.”

The entrance was very simple, elegant with floor to ceiling closet sliding doors, and a big mirror in the middle. The only other element was a cushy bench on the other side. Reni opened another tall, floor to the ceiling sliding door that disappeared into the wall. She was walking into the living room, connected with the kitchen. Andre was following her. The room wasn’t huge. It was a nice size, especially for Paris.

High ceilings, huge windows, and a brick wall. The interesting part was that the brick was greenish, not red. The kitchen cabinets were kind of a copper color. It was very sunshine and upbeat. The kitchen was small, but it felt like people actually did cook there. Onions, garlic, pots and pans, and an amazing herb pot were placed along the entire kitchen window. Everything had his place. Yes, it was clear that an organized freak lived there.
 
Reni went to the kitchen, asking Andre if he would like something to drink. He politely declined, but she got him Perrier out of the fridge anyway, thinking he might need it.

The bar stools were chrome and orange leather with a low back support. They were not only stylish and comfortable, but they also swiveled. Andre sat down, swiveling, looking around the room. There was a plasma TV and very interesting cream colored leather sofa in the shape of a crescent moon. The seating part was solid, while the upper back part was divided into three sections, with movable parts that could either go forward as a sofa, or back and become a lounge chair. There were several green and orange cubes around for extra seating, or to be used as little tables. Right behind the seating area was a huge window with a window seat cushions, pillows and book shelves on both sides. Andre’s eyes finally made it to the opposite corner with a fireplace and a beautiful rug. It had a long cabinet, custom made that spanned the whole wall. It was beautiful exotic wood with orange and green colors. Above the cabinet was a collage of pictures in identical ivory frames, big and small. Andre finally turned to Reni.

“Reni, what am I doing here?” She didn’t answer, but he got off the bar stool and walked to the other side of the room. He was drawn to the pictures. The largest picture was of Simona kissing baby Rene. The rest were of Rene as a newborn, a few months old, one was with Reni, one was with Arye and Cori.

He was admiring the pictures and then the cabinet. He opened it. It had baby supplies, toys,
 
and blankets. He looked at the pictures again. All infants have blue eyes. He looked at Reni. She was looking at him with a ‘come on’ look in her eyes. Then a wave of shock went through his face, and Reni thought…

....Finally! Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus! I didn’t have to do it!

“Reni, how old is the baby?” She could barely hear him.

“Seven months...”

“And he is not yours, is he?”

“No...”

“What is his name?”