Chapter Fourteen The Memory #2
"Okay everyone."A few people groaned. Colette laughed.
"I know, I know. But our time is up."Around the room, brushes were set down and paint cups pushed aside.
One by one, each pair shared their paintings.Some were funny.
Some were romantic. Some were surprisingly good.Others, Colette politely described as "creative.
" Camille and Simone sat quietly as they waited their turn.The closer Colette got to their table, the more nervous Camille felt.
Which made absolutely no sense. It was just a painting.
Right?Finally, Colette smiled and stopped beside them.
"Last but certainly not least."The room turned toward their table.
Colette pointed at Camille."Let's start with you.
"Camille looked at Simone.Simone smiled.
"You got this."Camille laughed nervously.
Then she turned her canvas around. The room grew quiet.
The painting wasn't complicated. A beach.
The ocean in the distance.A sky full of stars stretching endlessly overhead.
The moon reflected against the water. For a moment, nobody said anything.
Then Colette smiled."It is beautiful.""Thank you.
" Camille said.Colette looked back at the painting.
"Tell us about it."Camille's eyes drifted to Simone.
Just for a second. Then back to the class.
"It was senior ditch day."Colette smiled.
"And why this moment?"Camille looked at the painting.A small smile appeared.
"Because after spending the whole day at the beach, we stayed later than everyone else.
"Simone knew what part of the day she meant.
"We sat there for hours."Camille laughed softly.
"Talking about everything."Her smile softened.
"Then Simone made me a promise."The room was completely silent now.
Camille looked over at Simone. Then back at the painting.
"She told me that no matter what happened, she would always be there for me.
"Simone smiled, trying to hold in her emotions.
"She kept that promise."For a moment, nobody said anything.
Then Colette pressed her hand against her chest."Oh.
"The room let out a collective aww. Camille laughed and looked down.
Suddenly aware that everyone was staring at her.Colette smiled warmly.
"I think that is a wonderful reason to remember a day.
" Then she turned toward Simone.Still smiling.
"Now."Her eyes dropped to Simone's canvas.
"Let's see yours."Colette smiled and turned toward Simone.
"Okay."She pointed at the sunset painting.
"Now it's your turn."Simone laughed softly.
Then slowly turned the canvas so everyone could see it.
The room noticed.A few people looked between her painting and Camille's.
The same beach. The same shoreline. The same ocean.Camille stared at it.
A sunset. The middle of the day. While hers had been the end.
"Wow," Colette said quietly.Simone smiled.
"It was the same day."The room laughed."I think we figured that out," Colette teased.That earned another round of laughter.
Simone looked down at the painting for a moment.
Then back up."Senior ditch day was important to me because,"She paused.
Searching for the right words."That was the day Camille became my person.
"Across the table, Camille blinked. Simone laughed nervously.
"I know that probably sounds dramatic.""No," Colette said softly.
"It doesn't."Simone smiled."When I moved to Florida, I didn't know anybody.
"She glanced over at Camille."She was the first real friend I made.
"Camille looked down for a second. Trying very hard not to smile.
Simone continued."My first sleepover, even though I was 15.
"The room laughed."My first time skipping school.
""You're welcome," Camille said."See? Bad influence.
"Then Simone's smile softened."But seriously"She looked back at the painting.
"That day was important because it was the day I realized she was someone I wanted in my life.
"Her eyes drifted to Camille."Regardless of anything.
"For a second neither of them looked away.Then Simone smiled.
"And twenty-three years later, here we are.
"The room was completely silent. Then Colette smiled.
A warm, knowing smile. "I think that is beautiful.
"Camille looked down at her painting. Because if she kept looking at Simone right now, she wasn't entirely sure what she would say.Then a woman near the front smiled.
"Well."She looked between the two paintings.
"And after those stories..."She laughed.
"I think you two have us beat."The room burst into laughter.
Camille shook her head."No.""Absolutely not," Simone added.That only made everyone laugh harder.
A man near the back pointed toward them.
"The paintings."He pointed again."The stories.
""I'm just saying."His wife laughed and nudged him.
"What he's trying to say is, "She smiled.
"Are you two sure you're not together?"The room laughed again.
Camille instinctively looked at Simone. Simone was looking down at the table.
Smiling. Blushing.Camille couldn't stop looking at her. “I’m wondering too.” Another woman said sitting closer to the front.Then Simone finally looked up.
And Camille quickly looked away."I'm sure.
" Simone saidThe words came out a little faster than she intended.
Colette smiled then clapped her hands together.
"Thank you, everyone."The room slowly quieted.
She smiled across her face as she looked around at all the paintings.
"I had so much fun with all of you today.
"She gestured toward the canvases."And I loved every single painting.
"A few people laughed."Even the very creative ones.
""Thank you for spending part of your day with me.
"She placed a hand over her heart."I wish all of you the very best."The class applauded.
Then chairs began moving as people stood and gathered their things.
One by one, couples made their way toward the door.Some stopped to thank Colette.
Eventually, the room was empty. Camille and Simone were packing up their supplies when Colette walked over.
"I am very happy you stayed."Camille laughed.
"We almost didn't." Simone said."Really?
""Only because we didn't realize it was a couple’s class.
"Colette laughed. "Well, I am glad you did.
"She looked down at both paintings. Then she looked back at them.
"Most people remember moments."Camille and Simone exchanged a glance.
"You remembered each other."Neither woman knew what to say to that.
"Twenty-three years is a very long time.
"Her eyes moved between them."Not everyone is lucky enough to find their person.
"Camille looked down. Simone swallowed. Neither spoke. Colette laughed softly.She waved a hand."I’m sorry, I’m not trying to embarrass you.
""Too late," Simone said.That made all three of them laugh.
Colette smiled. Then she stepped back."I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Paris.
""We will," Camille said."Thank you."Colette nodded and looked at them one last time.
"Take care of each other."The words were simple, but they stayed with both of them.
A few minutes later, Camille and Simone stepped out into the hallway.The paintings were tucked carefully under their arms. As they walked toward the exit, Camille found herself thinking about everything that had happened that afternoon.The paintings.
The stories. The questions. And Colette's final words.You remembered each other.Camille glanced over.
Simone was already looking at her. For a second, they both smiled. Outside, Paris waited for them.