Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“ F rancis,” said Dan, “I think you need to eat your ice-cream a little quicker than that. It might be November but you’ve taken so long it’s melting all over your fingers.”
The children were in the Jardins de l’Avenue Foch beside the Arc de Triomphe, where those with smartphones had flattened their batteries by taking hundreds of pictures of the giant monument and the Champs-Elysees.
It was an unseasonably warm day in Paris, and a delegation of the class had presented themselves to Dan – by far the softest touch – and requested ice-creams. Chrissie suspected Dottie had been behind it, as she had piped up with the fact that she knew how to order ice-cream in French, and wouldn’t it be a good way for them to practice their language skills?
Nisha and Chrissie sat with Philippa on a bench, soaking up the sun. They had opted for coffees to pep them up after another long day of walking around Paris with a class full of children.
The sun felt warm on Chrissie’s face in spite of the chilly wind, and it gave her hope. Perhaps things would be ok.
“Thanks, Philippa,” said Chrissie. “We would never have been able to do this without you.”
“Oh, don’t thank me,” replied the woman, as immaculately dressed as always. “It was the company. It was just a bonus I could get involved. Well, a bonus for me, at least.”
“And for us,” said Nisha, flashing her best smile at the woman, piquing Chrissie’s jealousy at the same time.
“Well thank you,” said Philippa. “I’ve actually really enjoyed it. It’s been hard work, of course it has. But being around you two and Daniel has been really lovely. You’re all so friendly.” She sipped from her macchiato. “I’m not really close to anyone I work with, and most of the rest of the time I’m with Dottie, so I don’t have loads of friends.”
“Well,” said Nisha, throwing an arm loosely around Philippa’s shoulder, “you have us now.” She put her other arm around Chrissie. “Doesn’t she, Chris?”
“You do,” Chrissie beamed, feeling her heart quicken at Nisha’s touch, which was somehow enjoyable at the same time as it was confusing.
“But I’m not going to lie, I could do with a night in my own bed,” added Philippa with a laugh. “Those hostel beds aren’t the best, are they?”
Nisha coughed before answering, squeezing Chrissie’s shoulder. “No, I barely slept a wink the first night.”
Chrissie was grateful that they were sitting side by side so Philippa couldn’t see how red her face had gone. She thought about the forthcoming evening, and her heart dropped slightly. She wondered if kissing Nisha again, being with her again, was a risk she could afford to take, given what had happened the day before.
“Ah well,” said Chrissie. “Time to go back to the hostel for tea, and then we’ll be up bright and early tomorrow for our trip back to Birmingham. Is it wrong that I’m actually looking forward to the sight of Spaghetti Junction?”
Nisha laughed.
Philippa’s phone rang. “Oh,” she said, surprised. “It’s Paul, my husband. Sorry, I should take this.” She stood and walked away from their bench.
“I get the sense that Paul doesn’t really appreciate her,” said Nisha under her breath.
“No,” Chrissie agreed, “but I suppose we all have different expectations of relationships, and different ideas of what works. She seems like she has everything worked out.”
“Yeah. She seems lonely, though,” said Nisha.
“Hmm. Maybe. Well, like you said, she has us now. I know we don’t normally make a habit of being friends with parents, for completely sensible reasons, but I feel we can trust her.”
“I agree,” said Nisha. A few moments later, Philippa came back over and sat back down, her face a little pale.
“Are you ok?” said Chrissie.
“Er, yes. I think so, at least. Nothing major, it’s just a bit of a shock, really. Paul’s been made redundant.” Philippa sounded like she could hardly believe the words she was saying. “As of now. He’s flying back to the UK tomorrow morning, he’ll be home by the time I get in tomorrow afternoon.”
“Wow,” said Nisha, “that’s a lot.”
“Yes,” said Philippa, her mouth a straight line. “Right, I think we need to get this lot back to the hostel before the sugar rush turns into a slump and they all turn into monsters.” She stood up and started gathering the children, even though they had at least twenty minutes before they needed to go anywhere.
Nisha and Chrissie looked at one another quizzically.
The group made its way slowly through the streets of Paris, pausing for a last look at the Eiffel Tower. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” said Chrissie, as much to herself as to Nisha.
“It is,” said Nisha, leaning on the bridge beside her, admiring the landmark. The children were busy chatting to one another, sharing the sweets they’d all inevitably bought in a nearby gift shop, and discussing their favourite part of the trip. The two women felt unseen.
Standing side by side on the bridge, watching the boats going by on the Seine, Chrissie felt Nisha lean almost imperceptibly towards her. Their arms touched and rested together. Chrissie closed her eyes for a moment, savouring the contact. The backs of their hands brushed, and Chrissie looked over at Dan and Philippa, who were engaged in an animated discussion with some of the children, paying them no attention. She allowed herself to look at Nisha, who smiled at her.
“Fancy being in the most romantic city in the world,” said Nisha, “and being with this lot.”
“Ha ha, yeah, they are something of a mood killer,” admitted Chrissie.
Nisha lowered her voice. “Because if we were alone right now, I would kiss you right here on this bridge under the Eiffel Tower.”
Chrissie gripped Nisha’s fingers between her own, briefly, her heart fluttering as she imagined that kiss. Other parts of her began to awaken too. But she knew she couldn’t get lost in the moment. She had to keep herself anchored. If she’d learned nothing else, that was essential. She couldn’t give herself over to Nisha entirely.
“Mr Harvey says you two need to stop mooning at the tower and come with us to the hostel,” said Dottie, who had appeared beside them. Chrissie abruptly broke contact with Nisha’s hand and looked over at Dan, who gave her a wink.
So much for them keeping things stealthy.