Chapter 9
Dominique told Bill all about it when he spent the night with her when she got back. He was still swamped at the office but happy to see her, and he laughed when she described the scene to him, walking in on them with Clément in his impeccable pajamas, serving her mother breakfast on a silver tray.
“Thank God they had their clothes on. They seem very romantic and very amorous,” she said admiringly.
“It sounds very French,” Bill said, and they had a wonderful night together.
Dominique had settled back into their usual routine, which she readily admitted to herself now wasn’t enough, just as her mother had said.
Marie-Aurélie had loved a married man for twelve years, so she knew what she was talking about.
And they had lived together. Dominique didn’t even have that comfort.
All she had was two nights a week, if she was lucky.
Or less, if he was busy. But it was the best they could do.
He kissed her tenderly before he left for work in the morning.
And she knew she’d have to wait a week to spend another night with him. It seemed like a long time to wait.
* * *
Dominique told the girls about Marie-Aurélie’s romance too. Felicity was startled to hear that her grandmother had rekindled an old flame, but her mother assured her that he was a lovely man and they were happy, and Violet thought it was wonderful.
“She’s my role model in life. Bonne Mamie really knows how to live. Is he handsome?”
“Very, even at eighty-six.” Dominique smiled. “They look beautiful together. They seem very romantic. I wonder if they’ll get married,” Dominique said vaguely, and Violet looked distressed.
“I hope not. That would ruin everything.” She put her hands up as she said it and her mother and sister stared at her. Felicity was looking at her hand in horror.
“What is that?” she asked, staring at Violet’s new ring. They hadn’t seen her since she got back from St. Barth.
“It’s my MVP ring,” Violet said proudly, flashing it at them with a grin.
“It looks like a gold golf ball, or a Christmas ornament,” Felicity said with distaste, and Dominique stared at it and laughed. It was so Violet to wear something like it.
“It’s an exact replica of a World Series ring.” Jamie had had it adjusted to her size when they got home, so she was no longer wearing the Band-Aids with it.
“And why are you wearing it?” Felicity asked her. “It looks like you could use it as a weapon if someone attacks you.”
“Don’t be such a snob,” Violet scolded her.
“It’s actually my promise-to-never-get-married ring.
A going-steady ring with no risk of marriage,” she explained.
“It’s like a non-engagement ring.” It was the complete opposite of Felicity’s discreet little sapphire ring with the tiny diamond side stones.
Violet’s ring was loud, showy, crazy, unusual, and there was nothing subtle about it, and it was huge on her small hand.
“I really love it,” Dominique commented. It was such a big statement and so perfect for Violet. It wasn’t even vulgar. It was outrageous, which was better.
“And Jamie gave it to you?” Felicity persisted.
Violet nodded happily. “I love it.”
“And you’re going to wear it?”
She nodded again. “Just like you wear yours, except sometimes I notice you don’t wear it,” she dug at her sister. “I wear mine every day.”
“You could knock an eye out with that thing,” Felicity commented, “or a tooth if you bump yourself with it,” she confirmed.
“It’s a statement ring,” Violet said proudly. “I love it.”
“It certainly is a statement. So what exactly is the statement other than you’re both a little nuts?” Felicity asked her.
“The statement is that we love each other and promise never to get married. Unlike your seemingly discreet ring, which is fraught with danger,” she said, and their mother grinned, listening to the exchange.
“You’re each entitled to your own views about marriage. It seems to be a very broad subject in this family,” Dominique commented dryly.
Felicity still looked strained the moment the subject of marriage came up, although all the wedding plans were going forward without a hitch so far.
Felicity didn’t like talking about it, which still worried Dominique.
Taylor and his parents had really pushed Felicity into a June date that she wasn’t ready for.
She focused on her art show in order to distract herself.
She was much more excited about that than a fancy wedding at the Metropolitan Museum that she never wanted.
* * *
Dominique called her mother frequently to see how she was feeling.
The ankle still hurt, but less, and she could put a little weight on it now.
She had to wear the cast until the end of February, and a boot after that.
And she talked about Clément as though he were a permanent fixture, and had always been there.
Most of all, she sounded happy. There wasn’t that lonely edge in her voice anymore, that of a woman who had been unloved by a man for too long and believed that her life as a woman was over.
She had come back to the land of the living with him, and they were busy doing things they both enjoyed.
When he needed peace to work he went to his studio in Normandy, but he never stayed there for too long now.
He didn’t want to miss a minute with her.
They lived every day as though it were their last, which was the lesson time had taught them.
They had both lost partners they loved earlier than they expected to.
Now they didn’t want to deprive themselves of a minute of joy.
They were walking in the Tuileries Gardens after a show they had just seen in the Louvre, and Clément said he wanted to go to the Uffizi in Florence with her, the Prado in Madrid, and some of the great museums of Europe.
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London was one of their favorites too. They had similar taste in art.
“I have a question to ask you,” he said to her quietly then. He had no idea how she would respond but he knew it was a question he had to ask, for his own peace of mind. If she said no, he would accept it. But he wouldn’t let her go this time. He was never going to let her go again.
“Marie-Aurélie,” he said solemnly in a low voice so passersby wouldn’t hear, “will you marry me? I would get down on one knee, but I might have difficulty getting up, which would be embarrassing,” he said, and she laughed.
“It would be a great honor if you said yes this time. But I love you even if you say no.” They had stopped walking and he was looking into her eyes, and she smiled.
She kissed him on the lips and her smile widened after she did.
“It would be my great honor and privilege to be your wife, Clément. I just needed some time to get used to the idea. I’m ready now.” He didn’t remind her that it had taken her forty years to get ready. He thought she was well worth the wait.
“I’m ready too,” he said, put his arms around her, and held her, as people walked past them and smiled.
They were a sweet older couple who looked happy together.
She tucked her hand into the crook of his arm then and they continued walking.
“I was thinking July might be nice. I’ve always liked the idea of getting married in the south of France, the light is so beautiful,” he said.
“Wherever you like,” she said, smiling.
“I’ll find the perfect place,” he promised. “Do you want your family with us?” he asked her. He had none. He was alone in the world now, but not for much longer with Marie-Aurélie and her family in his life.
“Of course,” she said about her family. “They would love to be there, if they’re not busy.” She was thinking of Tommy, and how far he’d have to come. But the others were less encumbered, and New York was closer to France than L.A.
“We could honeymoon in Italy if that appeals to you. I don’t travel much anymore, but Italy is easy, and the food is so good, and maybe the Hotel du Cap in the south of France for a day or two.
Leave it to me and I’ll arrange it.” Marie-Aurélie loved the way Clément took care of things.
He was always surprising her with new restaurants, or favorite places she had forgotten, and new adventures. It made life fun every day.
They called Dominique that night and told her, and she was delighted for them.
She promised to tell the children, and Clément promised to give her the exact date when he arranged things, but he said it would be in July, a month after Felicity’s wedding.
They had a summer of happy celebrations in store, and Clément and Marie-Aurélie were like any young couple planning their wedding.
“I’ve never been married before,” she said dreamily, as they walked home to the Left Bank. They liked walking together. “I think I’ll get married in white. But that’s all I’m going to tell you about it,” she said with a mysterious smile.
She called Dominique again the next day and she promised to design something perfect for her, that would be appropriate in the south of France. She couldn’t wait to do it for her mother, she was happy for her. Marie-Aurélie sounded like any young bride, excited to be marrying the man she loved.
Dominique sent her some sketches a few days later, and there was one that her mother loved.
It was the one Dominique hoped she would pick.
She wanted to wear a big hat with it with a veil attached, but not a standard bridal veil, and Dominique thought it would look beautiful, and she would put a thin cloud of tulle over the hat just to add a little magic to her face.
Her mother loved the idea and couldn’t wait for the first fitting.
Dominique said she would bring the dress to Paris for her to try on.
* * *