Chapter Seventeen Today
The next morning came quickly. Breakfast was comfortable. While they ate, Camille caught herself looking at Simone more than once.
Anytime she thought about asking about last night again, Simone found a way to change the subject.Now, a little after nine, both women were getting ready for the day. The Louvre was finally happening. Simone sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone.
Or at least pretending to. She thought about last night.
The questions, the silence. The answer she never gave.
She was so close to telling her.Closer than she'd ever been.
And then she'd froze. The whole point of this trip was to finally tell Camille the truth.
Not next month. Not next year. Now.And when Camille handed her the opportunity, Simone did exactly what she'd always done.
Nothing.She leaned back against the couch and stared at the ceiling.
What if she had messed things up? What if Camille was upset?
Of all the things Simone was afraid of, disappointing Camille sat near the top of the list. She looked toward the hallway leading to the bedroom.
The suite was quiet.For now. Today, she told herself.
No more freezing. No more excuses. Today would be the day.
Simone's phone buzzed. She looked down.A text from the driver.I'm downstairs whenever you're ready.Simone smiled.
Perfect timing. Before she could respond, the bedroom door opened.
She looked up.Camille walked out, slipping on her jacket.
Her hair fell over one shoulder as she adjusted the sleeve.
"I'm ready."She pointed at Simone."Are you?
"“Yeah, let’s go.” Simone laughed.A few moments ago, she'd been sitting there worrying herself sick.
Now, just seeing Camille standing there made everything feel lighter.
Like a weight had been lifted from her chest."The driver's here.
" Simone held up her phone."The Louvre?" "Yes.
"She stood and grabbed her purse and reached for the door.
"Let's go."Camille pressed the elevator button.
They stepped inside. Both thinking about the day.
Camille was thinking about The Louvre.Simone was thinking about everything else.
The elevator ride was quick. When the doors opened, Camille was already stepping out.They walked through the lobby and headed outside.
The rain from the day before was gone. The streets looked freshly washed.The morning air was cool and crisp.
Near the curb, the driver waited. The driver spotted them and stepped out to open the rear door.
"Thank you." Camille smiled.The driver nodded politely.
Simone waited while Camille climbed inside first. Then slid in beside her.The ride across Paris didn't take long.
Camille sat by the window, watching the city pass by.
Every few seconds she pointed something out.A café on a corner.
A flower stand. A street performer setting up for the day.
Everything seemed to catch her attention and make her smile.Beside her, Simone wasn't looking out the window at all.
She was looking at Camille. The way she leaned forward whenever she saw something new.The smile that hadn't left her face since they left the hotel.
For a moment, Simone forgot about the confession.The nerves.
The fear. Instead, she found herself smiling.
Camille turned suddenly."Did you see that?
"Simone blinked."What?"Camille laughed."You weren't even looking.
" "No."Simone smiled."I guess I wasn't."Camille shook her head then turned back toward the window.
A few minutes later, the car began to slow.
Camille looked up. Then out the window."Oh wow.
"The glass pyramid stood ahead, surrounded by crowds of people.
The Louvre. Camille looked like a kid on Christmas morning.
"We're here.""Yeah."She looked at Camille.
Then at the museum, then back at Camille.
The driver pulled away as soon as they stepped onto the sidewalk.For a minute, neither of them moved.
People filled the courtyard. Cameras clicked.
Conversations drifted through the air in half a dozen different languages.And in the center of it all stood the famous glass pyramid.Camille stared then laughed.
"Oh my God.""What?" Simone smiled."It's huge.
"Camille turned in a slow circle."I knew it was big.
"Another turn."But I don't think I understood how big.
""You're already overwhelmed." Simone laughed.
"We haven't even gone inside yet." "Exactly.
" Camille shook her head."Come on."Simone followed behind her, smiling.
A few minutes later, they joined the line leading into the museum.
The closer they got, the more Camille looked around.Every few seconds she spotted something new.
A statue. An archway. The old stone buildings surrounding the courtyard.Eventually, they reached security.
Bags scanned. Tickets checked. A few minutes later, they stepped through the entrance.Camille stopped.
People moved in every direction. Signs pointed toward different wings of the museum.
Art. History. Thousands of years of it.Camille around.
Then at Simone. Her smile was impossible to miss.
"We're really here.""Yeah." Simone smiled back.
"Okay, where are we starting?" Camille said.“You choose.” Simone said“Ancient Egypt!” Camille didn’t have to think about it. A short walk and they were near the entrance to the exhibit. The room was filled with statues, artifacts, and display cases stretching in every direction. Simone looked around, it was impressive.But it didn’t have her attention for long.
Soon, her attention was right back where it always seemed to end up.Camille.
She was completely fascinated. One minute she was reading a plaque.
The next she was staring at a statue.Then she was moving on to something else.
Her excitement was impossible to miss. Every few minutes she would point something out or stop to read.Simone smiled at herself.
There was something comforting about that.
Camille stopped in front of a display case and leaned in slightly.
A second later she looked over."Simone, come look at this.
" She walked over and stood beside her."What am I looking at?
""I don't know, but it's cool." Camille said, as she laughed just a little.Simone looked at her.
For a few seconds, neither of them looked at the exhibit.
Just each other. Camille turned back toward the display.
Already distracted by something else.Simone found herself smiling again because watching Camille enjoy herself was the exact thing she wanted to do on this trip.
Camille stopped in front of a display case.A few minutes later, they kept walking through the exhibit.Camille moved from display to display, reading plaques and stopping whenever something caught her attention.Simone followed along.
Or at least she tried to, she wasn't paying much attention to Ancient Egypt anymore.
She was paying attention to Camille.The smile that seemed permanently attached to her face.
The excitement in her voice. The way she looked completely at ease.She looks beautiful.The thought appeared before Simone could stop it.
And once it was there, it refused to leave.
Camille turned around. Said something. Simone blinked.
"What?"Camille laughed."I said, are you ready for Ancient Rome?
""Oh, yeah." Simone smiledCamille looked at her for a second then rolled her eyes.
"You weren't even listening.""Nope.""I can tell.
"Before Simone could defend herself, Camille walked back toward her.
Then, without thinking twice, she reached for Simone's hand.
"Come on, let's go."Hand still in hand, they made their way toward the Ancient Rome exhibit.
The museum was busier in this section.People moved in every direction, tour groups, families.
Visitors stopping in the middle of walkways to take pictures.Camille kept looking around.
Every few seconds something else caught her attention.
She read a plaque mounted on the wall while walking.For a second, Simone forgot where they were.
Forgot about the museum. Forgot about the crowds around them.All she could think was,Today.Then Camille gave her hand a small tug.
"Come on." Simone smiled and followed her.
And together, they disappeared into the next exhibit.