The Man of Their Lives Read online

  “Did you read the screenplay, Alix?”

  “Of course!”

  “And still you sent me over there? You put me through this? I didn’t think I was going to survive it. I don’t know how to write the kind of music that Frank wanted, and he ripped it out of me only because he’s fantastically pig-headed. But let me tell you, the end result is awful.”

  “It was a first step, Louis,” she answered patiently.

  “There won’t be any more steps.”

  They glared at each other for a few moments.

  “So,” Alix said, indignant, “if I get more offers from L.A., I turn them down? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “What I’m saying is that from now on, I’m going to accept only projects that I’ve looked over carefully.”

  He remained calm, determined, and Alix managed not to show her anger. She had to give him time to take a breather. No use trying to convince him of anything right now.

  “Okay,” she muttered before heading back to the highway.

  For a few miles they were both quiet. Too curious to continue pouting, Alix asked, “So, tell me about your trip. What did you like over there?”

  “Nothing! Well, apart from the music in some of the clubs. You’ve got to give it to them, musicians over there are very creative. Great new sounds, very inspiring. I actually composed a couple of things while I was there, apart from the work I did for Frank. I had a pretty good piano in my suite, and so I had some fun with it.”

  “And did you meet interesting people? Stars?”

  “I saw a few. From afar.”

  “And you didn’t fall in love with anyone?” she asked, laughing.

  “Nope. I fell in love before I left. And I remained faithful. It was the least I could do.”

  Alix stiffened in her seat. “You’re kidding, I hope,” she said.

  “Not at all. There’s nothing like being separated from a woman to realize how much you miss her.”

  He knew how much his sister would hate this comment, as she’d hated all the women who had gotten close to him.

  “You’re talking about that little high school teacher, right?”

  “Francine, yes.”

  “You’re going to let her snatch you?”

  “Alix, listen to yourself: ‘little high school teacher,’ ‘snatch you.’ What did she do to you?”

  “Nothing…”

  “I haven’t felt anything like this for a long time,” Louis said.

  “What is ‘this’?”

  “You know! Your heart beating like crazy, sweaty palms, ready to drop everything just to see the other person for five minutes…”

  “Sorry, I don’t know anything about that.”

  “Not even with Tom? Not even when you guys were first together?”

  “Tom never made my brain turn to mush, thank God. As for you, Louis, you better watch out. You’re famous, rich, naïve, and very attractive. Until now, you had a little boy, which might have discouraged husband seeking women, but now your son is almost a grown-up and nothing is going to stop them.”

  “Who’s ‘them’? Where are these hordes of women supposedly throwing themselves at me? You’re so paranoid.”

  “Oh, quit it. Now you sound like Hugues.”

  “Alix!”

  He reached for the wheel, but she’d already steered the car back into its lane.

  “Sorry,” she muttered. “I was distracted for a second...”

  Going 80 MPH, she’d almost driven into the guard rail. The anger she felt was out of proportion, but she’d hoped never to hear about this little blonde ever again, never see her at Neuville House, and never have to put up with Frédéric talking about his father’s sleepless nights.

  Once she left the highway, Alix slowed down and coasted on the road snaking along the Seine. Louis looked at the scenery with obvious pleasure, delighted to be back home and to see his son. It was a beautiful day, with a May sun lighting up the river and its banks, like a preview of summer.

  The gate opened and right away they saw Frédéric running towards them. Louis got of the car just in time to greet him with a bear hug.

  “I missed you so much! Let me look at you. Am I dreaming or did you grow up a bit?”

  “You’re dreaming. So, how was America?”

  “Horrible. You have to see it to believe it. I brought you back a bunch of junk.”

  “Cool! And I put some champagne in the fridge.”

  Louis tousled his son’s hair lovingly and then braced himself for the onslaught of his two nieces. Tom had already taken luggage out of the trunk, and Alix followed him to the house.

  “You won’t believe it,” she said bitterly once inside. “Louis didn’t like his trip at all.”

  “No big surprise there.”

  “And on top of that,” Alix said, rolling her eyes, “he thinks he’s in love!”

  “Good for him,” Tom replied, very serious.

  He grabbed Alix by the waist and kissed her with unexpected gusto.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

  For the past two days, she hadn’t found the time to see or even call him, she had been so busy in the office and excited by the return of her brother. Magnanimous, he’d refrained from calling her. This morning, she’d phoned him and pleaded that he join them in Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer.

  “Let’s go meet the others,” she suggested. Her voice lacked conviction. She a was flustered by Tom’s hands finding their way under her shirt. He had her tight against his body and was caressing her lower back.

  “Quit that,” she said with a smile. “What’s the matter with you?”

  “You kids going to do it in the foyer?” Grégoire asked, coming down the stairs.

  Alix pulled away from Tom and shot her father a dirty look.

  “We’re eating outside, I hope,” Grégoire said to Tom with a wink.

  “Only if you set up the table out there!” Laura shouted from the kitchen. “Sabine and Tiphaine are too busy unwrapping the presents Louis brought for them.”

  Frédéric walked by them, a bottle of champagne in each hand, and Grégoire followed him. Hugues brought the champagne glasses outside and watched with a mischievous smile as Louis stepped away, his phone pressed against his ear.

  “Look at your brother,” he whispered to Laura who’d just arrived with a bowl filled with stuffed olives.

  After glancing at Louis, she burst out laughing.

  “My guess is that he’s going to disappear right after lunch! Do you think he’s calling Francine?”

  “I’d bet anything.”

  “What’s making you laugh?” Alix said. She was carrying a pile of plates.

  “Louis,” Hugues said.

  The sound of a champagne cork popping startled everybody. Frédéric began to pour. Louis closed his cell and joined his family.

  “What are we drinking to?” Hugues asked him, raising his glass. “Love?”

  Louis gave his brother-in-law a fleeting look, wondering if he was being sarcastic, though it wasn’t his style.

  “Absolutely,” he finally said.

  He enjoyed his sip of Veuve Clicquot, paying no attention to Alix’s sullen expression.

  * * *

  For the hundredth time, Francine glanced at her watch and then planted herself in front of the full-length mirror hanging on the bathroom door. She could hear Romain playing the guitar in his bedroom. In one hour he was going to leave for Antoine’s place, where he never took his guitar and avoided talking about music.

  She was wearing a short jean skirt, a tight-fitting white T-shirt, and only eye makeup. Louis said he was going to be there at four. He didn’t say anything else about their plans, which had made it hard for her to get dressed. Romain said that she looked just fine the way she was, that her outfit would do for any occasion, but he always complimented his mother’s clothes. He would probably have time to see Louis for a few minutes before leaving, and she was happy about that. There was no animosity between the
two. She could sense that Romain liked Louis when he talked about him. There was nothing to worry about on that end.

  The sound of the doorbell made her freeze. For the past fifteen days, she’d thought about Louis so much she’d become an insomniac. She’d gone through all the different phases--anguish, expectation, exhilaration. He didn’t know what to think anymore. For a supposedly strong woman, she was crazy.

  She went to the door, took a deep breath, and pulled the handle. They gazed into each other’s eyes for an instant, almost intimidated, and then Louis took a step forward and she snuggled against his shirt, taking in his smell.

  “It’s great to see you,” he said softly.

  Francine moved aside to let Louis come in. She heard Romain’s footsteps behind her.

  “Hi!” Louis said to him, his hand held out. “How have you been since I saw you last? We should play together again. I loved the other day.”

  Louis’s voice was affectionate and sincere, and Romain smiled.

  “Anytime you want!” he said.

  “You want a cup of coffee?” Francine asked Louis.

  “That’d be nice.”

  “I can make a pot,” Romain told his mother.

  “No,” Louis intervened. “I… I’d like to talk to you for a minute.”

  Taken aback, Francine hesitated before heading for the kitchen. Romain waited, intrigued but still relaxed.

  “If it was up to me,” Louis said, “I’d ask your mother to marry me.”

  Stunned by what he’d just heard, the teenager opened his mouth, then shut it without uttering a word.

  “Since you’re living alone with your mom, I suspect you’re worried about her and want to protect her. I wanted to tell you that I don’t plan on hanging out with her for a little while and then dumping her.”

  “Well, that’s good...” Romain mumbled.

  He realized that he hadn’t asked Louis to sit down, and both were standing face-to-face near the couch. He was flattered to be treated as an adult, but it was not as though he could tell his mother what to do. She was old enough to do whatever she wanted. Louis was the man that she wanted, and nobody else. She hadn’t hidden it, and Romain was beginning to understand why.

  “I hope that I’m not making you uncomfortable by being so up-front.”

  “No,” Romain said. “Not at all.”

  Francine was back with the coffee, and she smiled at both of them.

  “What are you guys doing planted there?”

  “Well,” Romain said, “I should head out now. Dad is supposed to take a look at my moped. It won’t start properly. Bye, Mom!”

  Romain kissed Francine on the cheek and managed to give her a sly wink. Then he nodded at Louis before disappearing. They heard the door shut, and Francine sighed.

  “Does he spend all his weekends at his dad’s?” Louis asked softly.

  “Every second weekend. He comes home late Sunday afternoons.”

  “Do you think he would like to come over for supper tomorrow night?”

  “I suppose so...”

  “I like him a lot. He’s sweet and outspoken.”

  Louis thought about Frédéric’s scooter, which Alix had replaced on a whim, and he felt vaguely guilty.

  “Our sons don’t like each other I’m afraid,” Francine mumbled.

  There, she’d said it. She didn’t plan on adding that Frédéric was causing trouble in school; she had too much experience with teenagers to underestimate the problem. She watched Louis rest his empty mug on the coffee table, and she reached for his shoulder. As if he’d waited for a signal, he grabbed her by the arms and mashed her body against his until she protested.

  “You’re hurting me.”

  “I don’t care. I missed you too much.”

  “What about Hollywood?” she said. “Was it exciting?”

  “Nah…”

  “Beautiful women all over the place?”

  “Maybe, but the only person that hit on me was a pro basketball player the size of a house!”

  She laughed, wiggling in order to free herself, to no avail.

  “Don’t even try,” Louis said. “There’s no way I’m letting go of you. You look beautiful dressed that way. You are so attractive.”

  He kissed her and she realized that she couldn’t resist him much longer. She’d promised herself that day he’d called her from Los Angeles that she wouldn’t let their relationship be only a physical connection, even a passionate one. If Louis really felt more than just desire for her, he was going to have to prove it. His entire family was undoubtably back at his house which explains why he’d come see her here. And now, how could she stop him? How could she find out if he wanted from her than just this? His hands were now on her T-shirt, slowly caressing her breasts over the cotton, and she shivered in spite of herself, ready to give in.

  “I don’t want to make love here,” she whispered. “What if Romain forgot something and comes back?”

  “You’re right,” Louis sighed and let her go.

  She looked at him to see if he was disappointed or upset, but he gave her such an endearing smile she was moved.

  “Should we go somewhere?” he said.

  “Where to?”

  “Anywhere. Along the Seine, if you’d like. I don’t care where we go. You’re the one I want to look at, not the scenery. You want to grab a few things before we leave? You’re spending the weekend with me, you know…”

  Francine loved the idea. “Be right back,” she said.

  In her bedroom, she stuffed a shirt, some khakis, and underwear in a bag. Then she went to the bathroom to fetch her toiletries. Instinctively, she knew that Louis’s family wouldn’t be thrilled to see her. Particularly Frédéric and Alix. If Romain joined them for supper tomorrow night, it would be even worse. Still, nothing could prevent her from going. Louis was the best thing that had ever happened to her. The most unexpected, too. And she was going to do everything in her power to keep this man in her life. Why had Frédéric, a pleasant and well-behaved boy two months earlier, suddenly decided to hate her? Did he think she wasn’t good enough for his father? Too average, not sophisticated enough, not young or pretty enough? After all, these were legitimate questions—why her and not another woman?

  Back in the living room, Louis was at the window, gazing at the apartment building across the street.

  “When I left my husband,” Francine said, nonchalantly, “I had to find a place in a hurry.”

  “You don’t like it here?”

  “Nobody would!”

  “You want to show me around?”

  “No way!”

  “Please…”

  He took her by the hand and led her to the kitchen. He only glanced at it, before going over to the first room down the short hallway.

  “It’s your room,” he said.

  The bed was made and tulips were in a vase on the dresser. On the floor by the bed were a pile of books and papers written by her students.

  “You have some grading to do for Monday?”

  “Yes.”

  “Take the papers with you, then.”

  Back in the hallway, he stopped in front of the full-length mirror on the bathroom door.

  “Look at us,” he said. “You’re so small next me. A tiny little blonde… I had to explain to my gay Hollywood movie director that I was crazy in love with a real blonde.”

  He was standing behind her, his chin resting against her shoulder. He seemed to captivated by their reflection.

  “We do make a pretty nice couple, don’t we?” he said.

  Francine smiled, closed her eyes, and leaned against him.

  He put his arms around her waist, and delicately kissed the nape of her neck.

  “Come,” she said, suddenly walking away from him. “You want to see Romain’s den?”

  He joined her on the threshold of the kid’s room and whistled between his teeth.

  “How do you manage to make him keep his room so clean? You should see Frédéric�
��s!”

  “Romain was always tidy. I don’t have to fight with him about that.”

  Louis walked in, grabbed Romain’s guitar, and played a couple of chords.

  “This is a good instrument. You buy it for him?”

  “It was his sixteenth birthday present. He’s the one who chose it. His father wants to hear nothing about music. He says it’s a waste of time.”

  Louis bit his tongue to prevent scathing remarks.

  “Why did you two split up?” he asked instead.

  “Antoine and I? Well, we just didn’t connect anymore.”

  Her answer was vague, but Louis didn’t press the subject. He’d been nosy enough since he’d gotten here. Francine’s apartment was too small, that was certain, and he had a hard time imagining she liked living in such a place. He felt a sudden urge to offer her a different existence, to protect her, to shelter her. A pretty stupid desire, he realized..She was not fragile, and no danger was looming over her head.

  “Ready?” he said.

  They decided to go to La Roche-Guyon to have tea at the foot of the château and walk along the banks of the Seine. Louis was delaying heading back to the house so he could to enjoy their time together as long as possible. Back in Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer, he’d have to put up with Alix’s animosity, Grégoire’s winks, and, worst of all, Frédéric’s reprehension. It would be difficult for Francine to be fully accepted by the family and even harder for Romain. Louis didn’t want anyone to get hurt but if he backed down now the situation would become intolerable.

  At 7:15, he called the house to let everyone know that he was coming back, and not alone. They found the entire family gathered on the veranda, flashing somewhat tense smiles. Frédéric gave Francine a hostile glare, but still politely shook her hand.

  “Here’s our friendly teacher!” Alix exclaimed. “I’m delighted to see you again! How do you find Louis? He’s so tan we all look like ghosts next to him!”

  She showed Francine to an uncomfortable chair and asked, with a very calculated naïveté, “Should I get more champagne? You’re having supper with us, I hope.”

  “Francine is going to spend the weekend with us,” Louis announced, without setting eyes on his sister.

  “Oh yeah?” Alix said. “But…”

  Tom reacted first by springing to his feet. “I’ll get the champagne,” he said.