9. Anne
Chapter 9
Anne
Another day of walking around museums. My feet are killing me. I decide to take another bubble bath. Might as well pamper myself while I can. I light a few candles and pour myself a glass of wine. When I’m in the kitchen, I can’t help but munch on a few more macarons.
None of my clothes are going to fit when I get home.
But that’s okay because it means less to pack for my return in a few months. This morning, I officially accepted the spot in the fall program. Violet was shouting congratulations over the phone and sent me photos of everyone back in Kastle Harbor cheering for me.
It feels good to have a support team.
As I let my muscles relax in the bath, I check my phone. I want to figure out what I want to do tomorrow. I don’t have anything booked and I’m torn between museums. I go through my messages. My mother isn’t happy with my decision, though I’ve come to accept that she may never be happy with my decisions. Then I see Alexandre’s name with an unread notification.
Alexandre: I’d love to see you before you leave. I want to apologize in person.
I don’t reply. I set my phone on the floor and try to return to enjoying my soak in the hot water. By the time the water is cold, I still can’t think of any reason I shouldn’t meet with him. I should thank him for his help with the application and get his input on finding housing here in the city. Plus, we don’t have to pursue dating.
Anne: I’m free tomorrow afternoon.
Alexandre: Would you meet me for a late lunch in the park? I’ll bring wine.
Anne: Sure, where and when?
Alexandre: The Square René Viviani at noon. If you don’t like it, we’ll go elsewhere.
Anne: Okay, see you then.
Alexandre: Sleep well.
I set my phone aside and intend to read in bed but I can’t focus. I’m both excited about seeing Alexandre and nervous to talk to him about the future. Paris has been an amazing time, but I’ve felt the most joy while spending time with Alexandre. Now that I’ll be moving here for an extended length of time, I want to pursue a relationship with him. I think it’s a risk worth taking.
Besides, dating is just dating. It’s not permanent. You get to know each other and decide if you’re a good fit. We’ll both be working wild hours and probably won’t get much time together. We did start out as a vacation fling, so that’s not really a promising beginning to a relationship.
But there’s no language barrier and we’re already sexually compatible, so those are two positives I already know for certain.
Pick a path and go for it.
I’m going to go for Alexandre.
I decide to bring the rest of the macarons with me to the picnic. It’s a pleasant day. The sun is bright but it’s not too hot. Dressed in a navy and green cotton dress, I’m comfortable and cool. The park is easy to navigate once I find Notre Dame. I’m early so I wander into the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore nearby.
I start to imagine my daily routine for when I move here. Will I walk everywhere? Will I have a go-to café or try to save money and make coffee at home? There are so many things to think about and I feel giddy about the future for the first time in what feels like forever.
After browsing the bookstore, I walk back to the park. I spot Alexandre sitting on the steps surrounding the Fontaine Saint-Julien le Pauvre sculpture. He’s dressed in a navy t-shirt and shorts. I think this is the first time I’ve seen him in shorts. It makes him look more active, as compared to the laid back and relaxed look he has wearing jeans.
As I approach him, I think about how to greet him. Surely, he won’t want to kiss me after I raised my voice and stormed out.
He stands when he sees me and I chuckle softly to myself. I momentarily forgot our height difference. He’s a good six or seven inches taller than me. How we both fit in my shower is still a mystery to me.
“ Bonjour, Alexandre.” I practiced my pronunciation all morning to get the vowels right.
“ Bonjour, Anne.” Tiny lines crinkle by the sides of his eyes as he smiles at me. “Would you like to join me for lunch?” Alexandre extends his hand and I take it.
He leads me to a nice little shaded area. There are a few other couples laying out in the sun nearby. It seems like soaking up the sun in a park is the thing to do on a warm summer day. Alexandre takes a blanket out of his bag and lays it on the ground.
“I’ve prepared quite the spread.” He starts to pull items out of his bag. “First off, a fresh baguette.”
“Very important for picnics.” I nod my head. “Almost as important as the blanket.”
He laughs along with me. “Next, of course, is cheese. I only brought one type but don’t worry, it’s delicious.” He pulls out a small container and a knife and sets them next to the bread.
“I was told there would be wine.” I wink at him as he does a full body laugh, tilting his head back as he chuckles. Everything feels so natural, as if the little spat in his apartment never happened.
“But of course there is wine, mon trésor ,” he murmurs as he pulls a bottle out of his bag, “though we will be drinking from plastic cups. I didn’t have space for anything else.”
“That is a pretty big bag,” I reply as he pours me a small amount of wine. It’s a rich merlot color, the dark red legs of the wine dripping down the inside of the clear cup.
“I had to bring you a surprise.” He pulls out a textured green box with gold edges. It’s a box of macarons from Ladurée . “They’re so you have a sweet memory of Paris. I know you leave next week.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you, Alexandre.” I open the lid and peek inside. There are twelve macarons of all different colors sitting like colorful easter eggs.
“I want to apologize again for the other night, Anne.” I start to interrupt him but he puts his palm out as a stopping motion. “I shouldn’t have snooped or intervened. I love your passion for trying new things and your zest for life. You have every right to stay angry at me. I didn’t want to tarnish your vacation or anything. Thank you for joining me for a picnic.”
He hands me a piece of baguette, and I happily accept it. I bite into it. It’s the perfect amount of crispness and softness.
“I appreciate it all, Alexandre,” I reply after a few bites. “How has work been?”
“Busy as usual. I’ve been trying out some new dishes.”
“That’s fun! Anything extra delicious?”
“Nothing that I’d call a winner.” He sips on his wine before leaning back on the blanket. The way the sun hits his hair adds a little glimmer of golden hues to the chocolate color. I want to run my fingers through his hair and kiss him.
“Do you often experiment in the restaurant?”
“Not usually. Normally, I’d try new things out at home and then cook it for Fran?ois after I’m happy with it. A while back he offered me the role of co-owner and chef for a new place in Spain he’s opening. He’ll be moving with his wife and he’s been bugging me about my decision.”
My throat suddenly feels dry, and I don’t know how to reply. I was going to tell him about me accepting the spot with Le Cordon Bleu , but there’s no point if he’s moving to Spain. We’re both putting ourselves and our goals first. Nothing wrong with that.
Besides, I don’t want him to feel obligated to stay in Paris and miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s exactly what I’m going through. I’ll be moving from Maine to France for my career, not for him.
Though, being with Alexandre is like all the extras on top of a sundae. They make everything better.
“When do you leave?” I ask, hoping he can’t hear the shakiness I feel is present in my voice.
“I haven’t decided if I’m going yet, but if I accept then I would leave sometime over the next few months. I’ll stick around to find a good replacement for Le Petit Poisson before I move.”
“Seems reasonable.” We munch on bread and cheese in silence for a little bit as we enjoy the warm summer day together.
We chat for a while as we eat all the snacks and share a couple of the macarons. It’s almost as if neither of us want to face saying goodbye. If the timeline works out the way I think, when I return to Paris, Alexandre will already be gone.
If this is really a goodbye then I want to spend just a little more time together. I’m not sure of his work schedule since he took days off to spend with me.
“Want to get an early dinner with me? Or perhaps a coffee if you have work later?”
“I would love to grab dinner. Let me text Fran?ois to cover for me. Do you have a place in mind?” He starts texting before I can urge him to not take work off.
Maybe it’s selfish, but even if we don’t get a chance to be together, I still want to be at the forefront of his mind while we’re still in the same city.
“I leave it to you. You’re still my personal tour guide, you know.” I bump his shoulder with mine and I look up into his indigo eyes. His tender gaze suits him. His features are sharp and yet his eyes and smile put you at ease. It’s a lovely combination.
“ Mais bien s?r .” He laughs as he stands. He extends his hands to help me up, too. “I’ll always be your guide, mon trésor .” Alexandre squeezes my hands before he lets go.
I want to kiss him.
But I let the moment pass.