Chapter 22
22
The next day, I’m at the bookshop early to make up for my lateness the previous day. I’m happy to be out of the tense apartment where I spent most of the evening waiting for Eloise to explode. Perhaps word didn’t get back to her yet, or Léa and the girls realised they were being needlessly cruel and chose to stop. Did the principal decide against calling them in?
Every time I went to confide in her about the call, I lost my nerve. She is so fractious all the time, it’s impossible to know how to handle her.
‘Bonjour.’ Valérie greets me, sliding a freshly squeezed orange juice along the bar for me. ‘Did you have a nice evening?’
‘Ah – oui .’
‘Say no more. The angst of living with a teenager.’
‘A teenager being bullied at her new school.’
‘ Non! ’
I nod, slipping off my gossamer-thin scarf and taking my regular stool at the bar. ‘It’s OK, I’m hoping the problem will soon be solved. ’
‘It’s hard being a maman , harder still being a solo maman .’
I lift a shoulder, playing it down. There are worse things, and while I often wish Eloise had a father figure, it’s mostly when I’m tired or unsure how to deal with a certain situation. We’re a strong little team of two most of the time. Or we were. ‘I’m lucky to have my parents. But Valérie, please don’t mention anything to Eloise if she comes in after school this week. She’s been missing London a lot.’ And then some. Lately I feel like my head is on backwards with all this trying to avoid land mines around her. ‘Anyway, it’s all fine. Everything is fine.’ If I keep telling myself that, I’m hoping the universe will make it so.
‘Ach, I am sorry, Coco. Mamans always bear the brunt of it. It will get better. So let me distract you with work. Today, things are going to be a bit different. I’ve got various book orders that need collecting all over Paris.’
‘Oh, couldn’t the orders be couriered?’
Valérie shakes her head, her curls catching in the rainbow-coloured lights behind the bar. ‘ Non , it’s too expensive. There are too many places to pick up from.’
‘Wouldn’t it be more expensive for me to go on my hourly rate?’
She scrunches up her nose. ‘Such a head for numbers, our Coco. Your salary is just factored in, so it works for me. It means it’s virtually free.’
That doesn’t make economic sense whatsoever, but I let it go. ‘Where am I going then? Should I take the bus or walk?’
‘Here, there and everywhere, all over Paris. Quite the distance so the bus won’t work, nor the Metro. I’ve asked Henri to help out to make the process more efficient for all parties.’
‘Help out how?’
‘By driving you, so you don’t have to waste time waiting in bus queues, getting drenched in the rain. ’
‘It’s spring, there’s sunshine and no rain is forecast.’ I narrow my eyes. ‘And have you been in a car with Henri? I’m not convinced he holds a legitimate driver’s licence. He did show me a card when I asked, but forgeries these days are so sophisticated. I really couldn’t ascertain if it was the real deal or not.’ When he gave me a lift home after book club, I was tempted to drop to the ground and kiss the pavement, so glad was I to be alive.
‘I’m sure he’s licenced! How bad can his driving be?’
I raise my brows heavenward. And then some more so she comprehends just how bad. ‘The word erratic comes to mind. He can’t talk and look at the road at the same time.’
She waves me away. ‘You’ll be fine. Fine! The streets of Paris aren’t exactly Le Mans. How fast can he go in all that traffic? All those roundabouts, one-way streets. You’re perfectly safe.’
‘I’m not sure your reasoning is sound, but I need this job.’
‘Then it’s settled.’
‘Gulp,’ I say, gulping.
‘Here is the man of the hour! Merci , Henri, I appreciate you doing me this favour, and I’ll be sure to repay you in café crèmes and glasses of neat whisky.’
Neat whisky, seriously? ‘You don’t drive after shots of whisky, do you?’ Actually, that would explain a lot.
‘Bonjour, Coco. No, of course I don’t. I’m not as irresponsible as you imagine. Are you ready to go then, Valérie?’
‘Oh, you’re going, Valérie?’
She gives a quick shake of the head. Is this because she’s aware of his terrible driving skills and is worried for her own life? Is that why I’m going, like a lamb to slaughter? I’ll have to keep him focused on the road and remind him of the many rules associated with driving, like it being vital to use the brake, not just the accelerator.
‘Slight change of plans. I’ve, uh… sprained my ankle, so now Coco is going in my place.’
‘Sprained your ankle?’ I screech. The crafty minx. Is this all a setup? Well, two can play at that game. ‘Why didn’t you say? We should get you to a doctor.’ She shoots me her best cease-and-desist glare, which I duly ignore.
‘ Non, non . There’s no need, it’s just one of those things. I’ll strap it up and it’ll be fine.’
‘Ooh, I don’t know, I wouldn’t feel right leaving you here with an injury like that. How will you cope when it gets busy? Who will administer first aid if you require it?’
‘I’ll cope just fine,’ she says between gritted teeth. ‘I’ve got a first aid kit here somewhere.’
‘See that?’ I mimic the way she’s grinding her teeth ‘That’s pain talking. Why doesn’t Henri just pick up the books and I’ll stay here and look after you?’
‘ Oui , I can do that, Valérie, it’s no problem.’
She’s getting huffy at me skewing her plans. ‘It’s much easier when one drives and the other jumps out. You know what parking is like, you’ll be going in circles all day looking for a spot. It will be much quicker if Henri drives and you pick up the orders. Henri can loop around the block. You’re making the pain worse, Coco, by fighting me on this.’
What a bluffer!
Henri’s face pinches. ‘Shall I get you some pain relief? Coco is right, you are grinding your teeth like the pain is too much.’
She gives him a fake smile. ‘I’ve got a selection of pain relief right behind me if I need it.’ She waves to the colourful bottles on display in the bar.
‘I’m no doctor,’ I say. ‘but even I know that alcohol and a sprained ankle aren’t a good mix.’
‘She’s right, Valérie. What if you have a fall? What then? ’
‘Would you two stop it! I’m perfectly fine. It’s probably not even a sprain, it’s probably a bruise.’
‘If you’re sure?’
How is he believing this?
‘I’m sure.’
‘Fine. We’ll leave you to recuperate, Valérie. Be careful now, you don’t want to bruise the other ankle.’
Her eyes shine with the victory of one-upping me. If I do meet my untimely death due to Henri’s awful driving, she’s going to feel bad and I’m going to haunt her for the rest of her life. ‘I’ll do my best to avoid that, Coco.’