Chapter 33
33
We make the trek back to the apartment, my footsteps heavy. ‘Eloise, why won’t you speak up? If you don’t, you’re going to get the blame. Her timid act is very believable, and you sat there acting petulant and moody, which did you no favours.’
‘You’re just mad because Léa’s dad is the Jude Law guy, right? And that’s going to make things super awkward now.’
‘Well, yes it is, but that’s not why I’m mad. I’m mad because we barely heard a word from you, and it doesn’t help your defence. I can’t help you if you don’t confide in me.’
She lets out a frustrated shriek. ‘Because I don’t care . I don’t care about any of it. I just want to go home.’
‘This is home. I have told you so many times. What if this continues, and you both get expelled because you didn’t tell them the truth? That will affect your entire future!’
‘I have no future.’
I shake my head. ‘I can’t talk to you when you’re like this.’
‘Good.’
I get her home, leaving her with Maman. ‘I’ll tell you later,’ I say, not able to hide my annoyance. ‘I’ve got to visit a friend at the hospital. I’ll be a few hours.’
‘Take your time.’
I wait outside the entrance of the hospital, checking my phone for a message from Henri. Part of me hopes he’ll see reason, or that Léa will crumble and tell the truth and he’ll apologise. I’m not even sure if he’ll come to the hospital now, and if he does, it’s going to be awkward.
When he mentioned his child, I’d presumed she was a toddler by the way he spoke about having a babysitter for her, as if she was very young. What are the chances these two girls found each other and actively hate one another? It’s a disaster. Now it makes sense why he always leaves the bookshop around 4p.m. every day. All those signs I didn’t see.
‘ Bonsoir. ’ Ziggy and Lucy arrive, each carrying a huge posy of flowers. Trailing behind them is Nikolina holding a bunch of magazines to her chest.
‘Isidore is in Lyon, so she won’t make it but has sent a gift basket,’ I say. ‘If we’re not waiting on anyone else, we may as well go in?’
‘Wait,’ Lucy says. ‘What about Henri?’
Just as I’m about to make an excuse for his absence, he arrives, ignoring me as he kisses everyone else hello. How rude.
‘What about a kiss for Coco?’ Ziggy asks, grinning. ‘Don’t tell me you two have had a lovers’ tiff already!’
‘What do you mean, lovers’ tiff?’ Henri asks.
‘Sparks were flying at the last book club, we’ve all been talking about it. Valérie is planning a literary-themed wedding, did you know?’
Mon Dieu . ‘Well, we better get in there. I can’t stay too long as I have to get back to my daughter.’ I give Henri a long look. ‘She’s not doing too well after being bullied relentlessly at her new school.’
‘Or perhaps your daughter is the bully?’ Henri fires back.
‘That is laughable.’
‘Yet no one is laughing.’ He catches my elbow. ‘Please, Coco. Ask her to tell you the truth.’
‘Are you aware your daughter chopped off Eloise’s hair, after calling her Rapunzel and repeatedly telling her she should cut her hair short to meet the current style?’
‘It was an accident.’
‘How? Make that make sense.’
‘We’re not going to agree, so it’s best we keep our distance.’
‘Well, I agree on that at least. Eloise is everything to me and her happiness comes before everything else.’
‘But she’s not happy, is she?’
‘That’s none of your business.’
He puts his hands up in surrender and I now see where Léa gets her acting skills from.
Agnes’s skin is grey under the harsh hospital lighting but her eyes light up when she sees us at the door.
I’m a little taken aback when Ziggy rushes forward and throws herself on Agnes, crushing the bouquet of flowers between them. ‘I’ve been so worried about you.’
Agnes pats the top of her prone head. ‘I’m fine, Ziggy, nothing a few days’ rest can’t fix.’
‘We have gifts!’ She produces the squashed posy. ‘They’ll bounce back in some water. ’
‘Thank you. You didn’t have to…’
‘I’ll find a couple of vases,’ Lucy says, holding her bouquet up.
‘They’re beautiful, thank you.’
Henri hands Agnes a box of chocolates. A clearly terrible choice, considering what her doctors have said. I bite my tongue against mentioning it, knowing I’m still feeling rather sensitive around him and am probably being harsh.
Nikolina places a stack of gossip magazines on the table. ‘Now, don’t even start with me, Agnes. These were all I could find on short notice, and who doesn’t like a bit of celebrity nonsense from time to time?’
Agnes lets out a chortle. ‘I don’t mind a bit of celebrity nonsense.’
‘What?’ Nikolina reels. ‘But you always say…?’
‘Forget what I always say. That Agnes died in the ambulance on the way here. She clutched her pearls and went towards the light. The reincarnated Agnes likes gossip mags and trashy TV and?—’
‘Spicy books?’ says Ziggy hopefully.
‘The spicier the better.’
‘Ah, Agnes,’ I say, feeling like someone has to be the voice of reason. ‘Are you sure with your heart that you should be reading a racy book?’ Although if my theory proves correct… ‘You’ve been reading them all along, haven’t you?’
A blush creeps up her cheeks. ‘They’re scintillating. I love them all. Hockey romance, reverse harem, billionaires, rockstars, shifters, you name it, I’ll devour it, only now I won’t need to hide it any more.’
‘But why did you feel you needed to hide it?’ Lucy frowns.
‘My husband has always been very prim and proper. He once caught me reading a Regency romance and asked me if I was losing my marbles; did I need to read something so base as that for cheap thrills. I know, I know, it’s offensive, but his opinion always mattered so much to me. So I read in secret and took every opportunity to denigrate romances so I’d never be suspected of adoring them like I do. How did you know, Coco?’
I arch a brow. ‘You knew the plot of so many of the latest bestsellers.’
I take a moment to hand her my gift. As she opens the card and reads, one lonely tear rolls down her cheek. ‘How did you know?’
‘I can spot a writer a mile away.’
She blusters, as if she’s embarrassed. ‘I’m not a writer. I’ve just been scribbling for a long time.’
‘What is it?’ Nikolina asks, pointing to the card.
‘Coco has offered to read my manuscript and give it an edit whenever I’m ready. And how did you know about my novel being finished? Did I give it away, somehow?’
I laugh. ‘I’ve been sworn to secrecy.’
‘Ah, Valérie told you I’d finally written “The End” on my little project. Well, I won’t hold it against her as I’d love your editorial input, Coco. I really would, but be warned it’s probably a disaster.’
‘What kind of story is it?’ Lucy asks, perching on the foot of the bed.
‘Cowboy romance. What else would it be?’
We all giggle along with the newly reincarnated Agnes and I can’t help but feel these people came into my life for a very good reason. Even Henri, although he still won’t meet my eye.
‘I’ve got you to thank for this, Coco,’ Agnes says.
‘Me? Why?’
‘When I first met you, you said something like, by embracing all kinds of stories you learn so much about others, and about yourself along the way. It’s time I did that. Embrace every story, even my own.’
We spend an hour with Agnes before we’re asked to leave as visiting hours come to a close. ‘At the risk of being banned from book club, I snuck these in for you and now I’m glad I did.’ Ziggy pulls a couple of books from her handbag and hands them to Agnes. ‘Spicy books for our spice queen!’
I can only shake my head. Outside, the sky has darkened and the air cooled. We say our goodbyes and Henri leaves before I can ask for a quiet word.