Chapter 22
As soon as she walked through the front door, Nora’s senses were assailed by something unexpected.
There was a delicious smell coming from the kitchen.
Something simmering on the stove. A cozy, liquid, welcoming warmth.
She hung her jacket on the coatrack and turned to the kitchen to see what was going on.
Through the half-open door she saw Tiphaine, an apron wrapped around her waist and her hands protected by oven mitts, taking a pot off the stove. It smelled like soup. Surprised, Nora pushed open the door and went in.
“Tiphaine?”
Her neighbor turned, placed the pot on the table, and greeted Nora cheerfully. “Hey there! How was your day?”
“It was good, thanks!”
“Maman!” Nassim emerged from the dining room, rushed up to his mother, and gave her a hug.
“I took the liberty of making some soup,” said Tiphaine, taking off the oven mitts. “I found some vegetables in the fridge and potatoes under the sink. Is that what you had planned for tonight?”
“No . . . Yes . . .”
Nora seemed to snap out of her astonishment and looked at Tiphaine with an expression of contrite gratitude.
“Tiphaine. You really shouldn’t have. You’re already helping me out so much.”
“Don’t be silly! It keeps me from getting bored.”
“No, honestly, it bothers me! I won’t dare ask you for another favor.”
“Don’t be silly.”
Tiphaine took off the apron and looked around to see where to put it. Nora took it from her.
“Thank you,” said Tiphaine with a smile. Then, after a brief pause, she added, “Okey dokey! I can’t hang around, my men are waiting for me.”
Then she threw an embarrassed glance at Nora. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
Nora didn’t get it for a moment. She looked at Tiphaine in surprise, wondering what had triggered such a reaction. Tiphaine’s words echoed in her head.
“My men are waiting for me . . .”
Suddenly she realized. And while Tiphaine’s words weren’t hurtful, her excuses were. Tiphaine realized it at the same moment. The two women stood in silence, each trying to find a way out of the awkwardness.
Nora tried, but somehow managed to make it worse.
“No worries, Tiphaine. One more hassle I’m delighted to be done with.
” Even as she said it, Nora realized she was making Tiphaine’s blunder worse.
The fact that she knew about her and Sylvain’s marital difficulties added to the confusion, as if she were pitying her neighbor for struggling in a foundering relationship.
“Don’t listen to me, Tiphaine. I’m talking nonsense. ”
“No, no, it’s my fault, it was very rude of me.”
They brushed it off with understanding smiles. Tiphaine began getting ready to go.
“I hope the soup’s good. Let me know if you need me to pick up Nassim again.”
“That’s kind of you. I’m okay for tomorrow, Mathilde’s fetching him.”
“Mathilde? She doesn’t live nearby, does she?”
“Oh, it’s not very far. She’s in Mésanges.”
“That’s crazy. It’s miles away. I’m very happy to do it.”
Taken by surprise, Nora hesitated.
“It makes no sense,” insisted Tiphaine. “If I get him, he’ll be here, and you can just come straight home. I’m very happy to do it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Listen, I’m the one suggesting it.”
Nora thought about it a moment before accepting her neighbor’s offer. She walked her to the front door and then, as Tiphaine walked the three yards that separated the two houses, she said again, “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“On the contrary,” Tiphaine said firmly as she put her key in the lock, “it’ll be a pleasure.”