Chapter Eighteen Mona Lisa
The next couple of hours passed in a blur.
The other exhibits were just as impressive as Ancient Rome and the Ancient Egypt exhibits.Camille stopped to admire statues and read plaques.
She pointed out details Simone never would have noticed on her own.Camille became so focused on reading an exhibit description that she drifted directly into Simone's side.
"Sorry.""It's okay."For a second, they stood there.
Shoulder to shoulder, before Camille turned her attention back to the display.Then came the French paintings.
Room after room filled with masterpieces.
Some big enough to cover entire walls.Others so detailed Camille stood in front of them for several minutes.
The entire time, Simone tried to focus on the artwork.She really did.
But every few minutes she found herself looking at Camille instead.
Watching her smile.Watching her tilt her head when she was thinking.
Then, Camille caught her staring."You haven't looked at that painting once.
"Simone looked at the painting a little too late.
Camille laughed."You weren't paying attention.
""I guess I’m just distracted." Simone laughed just a little.Camille shook her head.
“Distracted by what?Simone looked over at her.
“You”. Simple, but true.Camille looked away smiling.
“Come on.”Then linked her arm through Simone's as they continued walking.
Then Camille stopped walking.Slowly, she looked up at one of the overhead signs.
"There it is." Simone looked. The Mona Lisa. For a moment, neither of them moved. This was it. The painting Camille had been talking about since they left Florida.
The painting she'd wanted to see more than anything else in the museum.
The crowd wasn't nearly as bad as either of them expected.There were people gathered around the painting, of course.
Phones. Cameras. People trying to get the perfect picture.There was still plenty of room to move closer.
The moment Camille spotted it, her face lit up.
"There she is."Without thinking, she let go of Simone's hand and made her way forward.
Simone smiled and followed behind her. For a few moments, Camille simply stared.The painting she'd talked about for years.
Finally. She turned toward Simone."Okay, it's smaller than I thought.
"Simone laughed."Everyone says that.""I know, but still.
"Camille looked back at the painting. Then back at Simone.
"The details are incredible though."She stepped a little closer.
"Look at the way they did the background.
"Simone nodded."Yeah.""And the expression.
"Camille tilted her head slightly."It's like no matter where you're standing, she's looking at you. "
Simone smiled. Camille continued talking and pointing things out. Sharing random facts, she remembered reading years ago. The entire time, Simone listened.Or at least she pretended to. Because the truth was, she hadn't looked at the Mona Lisa once. Not really.
She couldn't. Every time she tried, she saw Camille again.
The smile on her face. The excitement in her voice.The way she became completely absorbed by the things she loved.
Beautiful. Happy.Camille was completely unaware she was the only thing Simone had managed to focus on all day.
Camille turned toward her again.Still talking.
Still smiling. And Simone found herself taking a step closer.
Then another. Until there was barely any space between them at all.That's when Camille finally stopped talking.
Because she noticed. Now, she wasn't looking at the Mona Lisa.Camille looked over.
A small smile on her face."You're not even looking at the painting.
"Simone smiled."No."Camille looked at the Mona Lisa, then back at her.
"No?"Simone shook her head. After a second, she said quietly,"I was looking at you.
"Camille turned fully toward her.The smile faded.
Not because she was upset. Because suddenly she couldn't breathe right.
She inhaled slowly.And waited. Simone's heart was pounding now.
There was no backing out. Not this time.
"Last night," Simone said softly, "you asked me why I said those relationships wouldn't work.
"Camille nodded."Yeah." Simone looked at her.
Then she spoke."Because I love you."Camille froze.
The noise of the museum seemed to disappear.
The people, the conversations, everything. All she could do was stare at Simone.
Simone had absolutely no idea what Camille was thinking. For a minute, Camille just stared at her. People walked by. Conversations can be heard close by, but Camille didn't seem to notice any of it.
"Camille?"Simone's voice was quiet. Camille didn't move or speak.
Didn't blink. She just stood there looking at her.Complete shock written across her face.Then, panic set in.
Simone's stomach dropped."Cam, I,"She tried to speak but everything sounded wrong.
"I didn't mean,""I mean, I did mean it, but"Somehow that was worse.
Much worse."Forget I said that."The second the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
Because there was no forgetting it. Not now.Still, Camille said nothing.
And the silence was killing her.Then, after what felt like a lifetime Camille finally said something.
"How long?"Simone stopped talking."What?
"Camille's eyes never left hers. "How long?
"The panic faded, because out of all the questions Camille could have asked, that was the one.Then answered honestly.
"Since senior ditch day."Camille looked away.
Toward the painting, the crowd. Anywhere that wasn't Simone.Then slowly, she looked back.
Though the shock on her face had only gotten worse.
"Since senior ditch day?"She looked away.
"Simone that was twenty-three years ago?
"Simone nodded."I know."Camille just stared at her.
Twenty-three years. Twenty-three years of friendship, phone calls, birthdays.
Heartbreaks.She thought of the late-night conversations.
The road trips, movies, dinners. Everything.
And through all of that, this was there the entire time.
"You knew all this time?"Her voice was quieter now.
Almost disbelieving. Simone smiled sadly.
"Yes."Camille shook her head. Still trying to wrap her mind around it.
"And you never said anything?"The question hit harder.
Because there was no accusation in it. Just disbelief.
Simone looked down for a moment. Then back at her.
"No.""Why?" The word came out before Camille even realized she'd asked it.
"Why wouldn't you tell me?" Simone looked away.
When she finally answered, her voice was soft.
"Because I was scared."Camille blinked."Of what?
"Simone looked back at her."Losing you."The words landed harder than the confession did.
And Camille understood.Not all of it, not yet.
But enough. Enough to know that Simone hadn't been protecting herself all those years.She'd been protecting their friendship.
Camille started walking. Simone followed.
Neither of them said anything.The noise of the museum returned around them, but Simone barely heard it.
Her stomach was twisting itself into knots.This was a mistake.
A huge mistake. She thought she ruined everything.
A few moments later, Camille stopped.She turned and looked at her.
"There are some seats up ahead."Simone looked.
A quiet seating area sat near the end of the gallery.
"Can we sit?""Of course."They walked over and sat down.
Then Simone looked over."I'm sorry, Cam.
"Camille turned toward her."What?""I'm not trying to upset you.
" Simone looked down at her hands."I just,"She swallowed.
"I wanted to finally tell you."Then Camille spoke.
"Twenty-three years, Simone?"Simone nodded.
"Yeah."Camille shook her head slowly."Relationships.
"Another shake."Heartbreaks."She laughed softly, still trying to process it.
"A marriage."Simone stayed quiet. Camille looked at her.
"You were my maid of honor."The words landed heavily between them.
"I know.""And you loved me the whole time?
""Yeah."Camille looked away.For a while, she just stared at the floor.
Then she looked back."Why would you keep that yourself for so long?
" "That had to be hard."Simone looked down.
"It wasn't always."Camille stared at her.
"Simone.""It wasn't."A small smile appeared.
"I got to be your friend."Of course that would be Simone's answer.
Camille shook her head."And I didn't notice.
""Camille""No."She looked at her. Really looked at her.
"I thought I had the most amazing friend in the world.
"Simone smiled softly."You did.""But the whole time,"Camille laughed once.
A disbelieving laugh."The whole time you were in love with me.
"They looked at each other, then Camille looked away. She started to think, that’s when things started to make more sense. The painting.
"My person." The way Simone always showed up. The way she looked at her. Camille wasn't seeing her best friend. Not entirely. She was seeing the woman who loved her.
People passed by. But neither of them paid much attention.
Camille sat quietly, looking at Simone.Meanwhile, Simone seemed determined to look anywhere else, the floor, the people walking past. Anywhere but Camille.A few times Camille opened her mouth to speak.
Only to close it again.Because honestly?
She didn't know what to say. How were you supposed to respond to something like this?
Finally, Simone broke the silence."Camille?
"Camille looked over."Yeah?"Simone hesitated.
For the first time all day, she looked nervous.
Really nervous."Did I mess things up?"The question hurt more than Camille expected.
"No."Simone felt a bit of relief. But it didn't last. Because Camille wasn't finished.
She looked down at her hands. Then back at Simone.
"I just wish I would've known."Simone was quiet.
A moment later she asked,"Would it have made a difference?
"Camille looked at her. The woman who had been standing beside her all this time.
The woman who loved her."Maybe."Simone froze.
Camille looked away. Trying to sort through feelings she didn't fully understand yet.Then she laughed softly.
A little overwhelmed."A part of me wants to say yes.
"She shook her head."Another part of me honestly doesn't know.
"Simone didn't look as nervous as before.
Maybe there was more hope than she'd ever allowed herself to have.After a few more minutes, Camille stood.
"We should probably keep walking."Simone nodded.
"Yeah."They left the seating area and slowly made their way through the museum.
Neither paid much attention to the artwork anymore.Their conversation had become far more important.
After a while, Camille looked over."Is this why we're in Paris?
"Simone smiled softly."Yes and no."Camille waited.
"Yes, because I really wanted to tell you.
"She looked away for a second."And no, because that wasn't the only reason.
"Camille tilted her head."What was the other reason?
""You needed a break."Camille looked at her.
"You were exhausted.""You work all the time.
""True.""You take care of everyone.""Also true.
"Simone smiled."I just wanted you to have a chance to breathe.
"Camille started to breathe easier again.
"To relax.""To smile."Camille nodded, because she understood exactly what Simone was saying.
Camille looked at Simone and knew something was wrong.Simone's face. The uncertainty. The fear. The way she kept glancing away. The way she seemed to be waiting for something.Camille stopped walking and turned toward her. For a second, she just looked at her. Simone looked terrified. She wasn’t used to seeing her like that. And she had to know why.