Chapter 28
By the time all the animals have been returned, my little payback plan has gone down in history. Pierre made sure to get photos of Luc standing in front of the banner before Luc got the hose and sprayed the whole thing, disintegrating the crepe paper. Madeline even promised to make a few calls to get the photo in the gazette. Luc never saw it coming and I take that as a win.
André offered to take us all out to dinner—and not because I completely owned Luc’s ass and handed it to him with a side of bunny poo that he keeps stepping in—because our front yard is now freaking littered with it.
“You know I could have driven,” I grumble from my passenger princess seat beside Luc. He insisted on driving me, given that we have to arrive home together—you know, clause and all. My phone rings, bursting our little semiperfect bubble. My throat squeezes when I see the number flash on the screen. Fuck. There is no avoiding this now. For the last two months, Susan opted to email me because she was on a “wilderness adventure” with Craig and had no phone access. I still cringe at the term.
“Lo,” I answer, my voice thick with tension. Luc flicks his eyes to me, sensing my shift in mood. His hand coming to rest on my balled fist, he untangles my fingers and re-tangles them through his, giving me a reassuring squeeze. My chin drops and a deep breath wooshes out through my nostrils.
“Rora?” the high-pitched tone of Mother’s voice echoes down the line.
“Mom.” I tighten my grip on Luc’s hand. Having him comfort me now just makes everything easier. My knuckles whiten, closing all circulation to his fingers.
“You missed our call by a couple of hours, are you okay?” If I’m not mistaken, I sense a hint of worry in her voice.
“Oh sorry.” Shit, I guess she didn’t read the email I sent her this morning and instead opted to call me. Luc’s thumb rubs slow circles along the top of my hand. It’s a distraction I really need when talking to her.
“I went by your apartment, imagine my surprise when this lovely Spanish man opened the door…”
“Oh shit,” I whisper, I did plan to tell Mother that I’d left New York, but I didn’t feel like doing it over email. Since we haven’t seen each other in two years, I didn’t expect for her to show up at my old apartment. That was a revelation I didn’t see coming. That can only mean one thing, something must’ve happened with Craig. “You went by my old apartment?”
Susan ignores me and continues, “And proceeded to tell me you don’t live there and didn’t leave a forwarding address.” The disdain in her voice is felt across the telephone cables connecting the world. It’s like I’m the piece of melted gum on the bottom of her shoe that makes sticky strings each time she tries to remove it.
“Mom—” I interrupt, I don’t know how to break the news; the delicate way of tiptoeing around the subject isn’t working. I need to rip off the proverbial bandage. With the added boost of calm from my deep breath, I blurt, “I’ve moved to France.” I hope the announcement didn’t sound as bad as I thought. The line is quiet. “Mom, are you still there?” I ask. Did she just call to berate me for not sending a forwarding address and hang up before I had a chance to say anything? I pull the phone away from my ear and check to see if the call is still active. “Mom, I think we might have a bad connection. I’ll hang up and call you back.”
“I heard,” she quips, voice cold and firm—definitely not impressed. “I assume your father would be happy he won. He always wanted you to be more French and see his roots.” Mom says it like it’s a bad thing, embracing my dad’s culture. I roll my eyes at the comment; for some reason, she needs to make everything a competition.
I blink rapidly, trying to calm the stinging in my eyes. There are so many things I wish I had the time to experience with Dad, but I never got the chance to.
“Mom, I needed the change. Can you just be happy for me, please?” I plead, rubbing my nose on my arm. I’d left behind the heartache of a life I wasn’t happy living and am rediscovering what it means to be Aurora Allard, without having a mother who disapproves of everything I do and say suffocating me. Quite frankly, before this phone call, it was something I was enjoying.
“Sure, Aurora,” Mother replies sarcastically. “I’m happy for you.” Like the meaningless words would convey the message I so longed to hear, but just like the Susan-shaped hole in my chest, it’s empty.
This time, the line does go dead. “Thanks, Mom, I really love it here. I think the French lifestyle really suits me, I’ve even made some amazing friends,” I whisper into the phone. It’s pointless hoping that Susan would comprehend how much the divide between us hurts me. The sooner I accept it—that this is our normal—the sooner these calls will affect me less. It’s easier said than done. Throwing an arm over my head, I groan in defeat.
Bye to you, too, Mom.
With a shaky exhale, I release the phone onto the center console, making sure to flip the screen so I can’t see any notifications.
“Well now that makes a bit more sense,” Luc breaks the silence.
“What does?” I stare at the peeling paint on the window.
“Why you want the chateau so badly.”
“You mean being nearly thirty and homeless isn’t a good enough reason, you need to just sprinkle some mommy issues on top?” My whole mouth tastes bitter.
“You? Mommy issues? Nah. You’re talking to the guy who never met his dad. I don’t even know his name.” After a moment, he cautiously asks, “Is she the reason why you’re scared to go to the doctor?”
“No.” I release a tense breath. “ I suffer from Iatrophobia. It’s actually because of my dad. He was diagnosed with cancer when I was barely a teenager, watching him go through treatment and visit all these doctors. It gave me a real fear of hospitals and doctors.”
Luc rests a hand on my thigh, his thumb stroking soothing lines. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Heavy silence falls between us. “Are you’re parents the reason why you want the chateau so badly?” I pose the same question.
“No, I want it so badly because I want others to enjoy the mystique and wonder of the place. I want to allow people to enjoy the place that holds some of my greatest memories as a child. I want to throw open its doors so people can stay here.”
“Me too,” I reply, staring out the window.
“Would you look at that.” He lifts my hands to his lips. “Something we can both agree on.”
Yeah, it is, and it’s not the first thing either. But that’s what scares me more than anything.
“Oh, Luc’s face was definitely something I won’t ever forget. He didn’t think I would actually get them to come back.” I laugh, kicking my legs out and clutching my stomach, sore from laughing, which sets Madeline off on another round of laughter. My dinner was sadly soured after the call from my mom, but meeting Madeline for a coffee this morning has really helped to lift my mood and peel off the Susan-shaped scab.
Madeline takes a few steadying breaths, attempting to calm herself down from another fit of laughter. When she is finally able to compose herself, she says, “I can’t wait to see what he comes up with to get you back. You should probably start preparing your next retaliation now.”
“What makes you think he will try to get me back. By my account, we should be even?” I quirk my head to the side, pursing my lips and raising my eyebrows.
“Aurora, if there is anything I have learned from you, it’s that you never give up. No matter if the whole table is stacked against you, it doesn’t stop you from getting what you want. Luc is exactly the same.”
I sniff, my eyes becoming misty. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever been told. “Now that you mention it. I may have a plan, but I could always use a bit of input,” I mention, hoping she’ll take my bait, hook, line, and sinker.
“Oh, do tell,” she whispers, leaning forward in her chair like I’m about to whisper the nuclear codes directly into her ear.
I can’t keep the smile from my face as I make the short walk back to the chateau, Madeline in full support of my plan, and even offering to make a few phone calls. I just need to finish putting the final touches in place. While I knew my plan was good, the little suggestions Madeline made had me questioning never to get on her bad side.
I walk in through the front door of the chateau, being extra careful not to trip on the steps. I scan the first floor, looking for Luc and finding him on his laptop in the sitting room—on the couch he didn’t want. As if sensing me, Luc looks up, a smile tugging at his lips. I return his smile and wave at him, pretending like I wasn’t harboring the best prank of my life.
“Aurora,” Luc greets.
“Luc,” I return, closing the door and making my way to the staircase.
I pretend to make myself busy in the kitchen checking on my soap, but I angle myself so I am hidden but can hear everything. With a quick check of the time on my phone, I hide my laugh in the palm of my hand, my shoulders shaking lightly. A few seconds later, there is a knock on the door. Showtime. At first Luc doesn’t move, or even budge a muscle, he remains focused on his book. “C’mon,” I whisper, this whole plan hinges on him answering the door.
The person on the other side doesn’t go away and pounds their fist against the wood, finally grabbing Luc’s attention. “Aurora,” Luc calls.
“Busy,” I reply. Luc releases a pent-up breath and sets his computer on the couch before answering the door.
“Can I help you?” he asks.
“It is us who can help you,” the younger of the two announces, pushing her chest forward, exposing the ample cleavage just waiting to tumble out of her size-too-small top. Oh, Madeline, you genius.
“Ah, still not following,” Luc says as he looks between the two women, not blinking. Was it my imagination, or did Luc actually take a step back? Oh, this is going to be good.
“I think he will be perfect, Ade.” The older of the two looks over at Ade with a nod.
“Perfect for what?” Luc asks, blinking rapidly, the muscle in his neck bulging.
“You will be the perfect start for our live auction.” Ade smiles, pulling the ends of her top down farther, exposing the top of the lace on her bra.
“I think there has been a mistake.” Luc starts backtracking, his mouth opening and closing looking for the right words as his eyes widen in shock.
“A mistake? Don’t you wish to help our Carcen?” Ade asks.
“Of course, I would do anything to help Carcen.”
“Oh, fantastic!” The other woman claps her hands. “We are so happy to have you on board.”
“On board? For what exactly?” he asks, his eyes narrowing on them.
“She told us we can use you as our opening bid.” Ade pouts.
“Opening bid for what?” Luc questions, his breaths coming out in a staccato rhythm.
“For a date with you.”
I snort and clasp my hand over my mouth, just as Luc glares at me over his shoulder, thunder crashing in his gaze and mouths, You.