Chapter 29
29
The next day, I’m serving a rather testy customer, who is adamant that she should be able to swap the books she paid for last week for different ones. ‘I understand what you’re saying,’ I enunciate slowly once more. ‘But this isn’t a library, or a book swap. We don’t allow customers to pay for books and then exchange them for different books. If we did it would be very hard to keep the bookshop afloat.’
The woman, who is wearing athleisure, gesticulates wildly as she makes scoffing sounds and tries to get the attention of other customers milling close by. ‘That is just ridiculous. I paid good money for these.’
My gaze drops to her selection. She chose books from the second-hand sale bins, so in total she paid three euros for three books. ‘You chose really well,’ I say, trying to placate her. ‘I’m sure you got three euros worth of value reading them.’
‘One of them wasn’t very good. Can’t I just swap them for three more?’ Part of me wants to give in, anything to move her along, but what if she comes back again and wants to swap for full priced books, and I’ve set a precedent, because I ran out of energy dealing with her?
‘Sorry, non .’
Valérie swishes in, back from wherever she goes for a few hours during the day. As usual, her sunny smile is gone after these mysterious outings. ‘Ophelia,’ she greets the woman. ‘You’re not trying to swap books again, are you?’
Ophelia blushes. ‘One of them wasn’t very good.’
‘Come on, let me make you a coffee and you can tell me all about it.’
‘Fine, if you insist.’ Ah, does Ophelia like sharing a coffee with Valérie, more than the idea of swapping books? The longer I’m here, the more I recognise all the small ways Valérie helps people, especially those suffering from loneliness. It’s easy to feel lonely in a big city like Paris, where you can feel faceless and nameless in the crowds.
I send Valérie a grateful look and move to the next customer. The day slips away as I serve customers and restock shelves. When there’s finally a lull, I find Henri in his usual chair. We didn’t get a chance to speak after our kiss, and so my plan is to dust the shelves around him to get his attention.
I hum an upbeat tune as if I’m just peachy, as if this is any other day and not The Day After The Kiss.
‘You’re in a good mood,’ he says with an eyebrow raise and a rather smug smile. ‘Haven’t you already dusted here?’
‘ Excusez moi , how would you know where I’ve dusted?’ He wasn’t here, he can’t prove it.
‘You dust and vacuum every morning at precisely 10a.m.’
I’m a creature of habit. ‘Yes, well, I’ve decided to dust twice a day, for the benefit of our customers.’
‘Can we talk for a minute?’
Valérie wanders down the bar, closer to where we are. She doesn’t know about the kiss, but I’m sure she senses the tension between us. ‘That sounds ominous.’
I sit opposite him, fidgeting with the duster.
‘Not at all. I hope everything was OK with your daughter yesterday?’
I sigh. Real life. ‘Can we talk about anything other than that? I’m… at my wits’ end with it all at the moment.’ I don’t want to scare him by explaining thirteen is HELL. And moving to a new school with a mean girl bully is worse. I also keep quiet that my wilful child went straight home and told my parents that she caught me kissing ‘some rando’ at work and made it sound a lot bawdier than it was in reality.
‘In that case, I was wondering if you’re free for dinner tonight? My parents are in town, you see. And there’s a little bistro around the corner that is always good.’
Mon Dieu . Pressure gathers in my brain. Doesn’t he know we were joking about the marriage at forty thing? This is moving too fast. It’s too soon. Concern dashes over his features. ‘Or, if you’d rather not, I understand. No hard feelings.’
This is one of those situations where it’s better if I’m honest. ‘It’s just… isn’t it a bit too soon , a bit premature for me to meet your parents? I mean, the kiss was spectacular as far as kisses go. And I’m all for commitment. But there are important stages… I… uh… believe you’re skipping, by moving ahead at such a rapid pace.’ There. It’s best to be upfront and honest. Otherwise next week we’ll be sampling wedding cakes and researching honeymoon destinations and really, how well do I know this guy? I can’t base my future on one kiss. No, I must stand firm on this, even if he got his parents to rush to town so quickly. I only hope they’re not upset at the slight.
He almost swallows his lips as he tries to stem… laughter?
‘What?’ I cry. ‘What’s so funny? ’
With a hand up, he manages to control the urge and eventually sputters. ‘What I meant was, my parents are in town to visit for the weekend, therefore, they can babysit so I can go out with you. Alone.’
I want to slap my own forehead. ‘Ooh! Ha! What a relief!’
‘A relief?’
‘Yes!’
We lapse into silence before giggles get the best of us.
‘Around seven this evening? I want to take you to Les éditeurs.’
I smile. ‘Because I was an editor?’
‘And you will be again.’
‘I’m not sure about that but I have heard good things about the bookish bistro, so I’d love to try it.’
‘I’ll pick you up?’ he asks.
‘ Non, non , I can meet you there.’ Not only am I terrified of his driving, but I’d also rather keep this dinner date private for now. Eloise doesn’t need to see me flaunting Henri around when she’s on such an uneven keel. She’s spending today at home, having been suspended the same length of time as Léa, but is due back at school on Monday. I don’t have the details about her suspension as I’ve been playing phone ping pong with the principal, so I’m hoping I catch her return call this time.
‘Great. I’m looking forward to it.’
‘Likewise.’
When my phone flashes with the school number, I shake it at Valérie to let her know I’m slipping out the back for a bit.
‘Bonjour.’
‘Bonjour, Coco.’ The principal’s tone isn’t as conciliatory this time. I’m frustrated with Eloise, who refused to talk about it with me. Punishing me for the kiss, I suppose. I’d have been mortified too at that age if I’d caught my parents smooching, so I don’t take offence. It does make this phone call much harder though, having no facts at hand to fight her case. ‘I’m sorry we’ve kept missing each other’s calls.’
‘ Oui , Eloise said you tried to call me numerous times yesterday but I didn’t have any missed calls from the school.’
‘Eloise told us not to call you yesterday. She insisted that your phone would remain off at work.’ What? Why would she lie like that?
‘Oh, it’s a new job,’ I finally manage.
‘Look, I think the best way forward is if we have a mediation with both families. The situation hasn’t been resolved and it’s only getting worse.’
‘Mediation? Isn’t that a bit drastic?’ I hate things like this where I have to face off with a family unit, and there’s only me. I always feel so scrutinised, so under the spotlight, so alone as a solo mum.
‘In light of the incident, I don’t think so.’
‘What incident? Why did Eloise get suspended?’
‘She didn’t tell you?’
‘No, she’s been rather upset of late.’
‘Eloise slapped another student.’
‘ What? ’
‘It was witnessed by others.’
My daughter would never raise a hand to anyone. I know this to be true. ‘Was this alleged slap caught on camera?’
‘Well, non , but I investiga —’
I cut her off. ‘Let me guess, the girl who made the complaint was Léa? ’
‘ Oui , Léa made the complaint and I believe her.’
‘This is unbelievable. What did Eloise have to say about it?’ Surely she wouldn’t have sat there and taken the blame for an act she didn’t commit? Eloise might be moody at times but she’s not aggressive.
‘Eloise refused to talk about it.’
‘Because she’s intimidated by Léa! She’s probably scared to speak up, especially as you’re supporting the bully herself. Why is that?’
Her voice remains maddingly calm, as if she’s trying to lull me into believing my child would purposely hurt another. ‘Will you agree to a meeting with the family? I think it’s the best way forward.’
‘What other choice do I have?’
‘I promise, we’ll sort this out. These types of meetings are largely successful.’
‘Fine. Let me know when and where.’
‘I’ll confirm with Léa’s family and send you an email with possible dates and times for the meeting, which will most likely be later next week.’