A Perfect Paris Christmas - Mandy Baggot Page 0,145

time with Pierre from the secret bar in Montmartre.’

Ethan didn’t know what to say. He had known Pierre for years. It hurt him that Jeanne was even acquainted with the barman who was known for helping those in need.

‘Jeanne, Louis,’ Silvie addressed them. ‘Why don’t you both see what Noel is doing about the coffee?’

Jeanne huffed a sigh and climbed down from her perch on the chair, tugging Bo-Bo down with her. ‘Perhaps he might respond if we had something stronger than coffee.’

‘How about cake?’ Louis suggested, shepherding Jeanne towards the door like a favourite uncle.

‘And some for Bo-Bo?’ she asked.

‘Of course,’ Louis replied.

As the door closed behind them Ethan got to his feet. ‘What is going on here? How do you know Jeanne? What is happening with the hotels? And how did you get Louis to sign off on a barn?’

His agitation was the only thing driving him now, as he hadn’t eaten properly in five days. That weakness was telling a tale on his attempt to appear together.

‘Louis was happy to agree on animals. We did not agree on penguins.’ She sighed. ‘Sit back down, Ethan. We have some talking to do.’

‘I do not want to talk,’ he told her. ‘I have nothing to say.’

‘You have nothing to say?’ Silvie asked. ‘You do not want to say anything about how you decided to take in a street girl and her dog, inviting them to live with you! You do not want to say anything about the new idea you had to change the hotels so they cater completely for what customers want not what Ferne maybe thought our customers should aspire to?’

Ethan didn’t know how to respond. Silvie was hitting the nail on the head with every breath. He sat back down.

‘Or do you not want to say anything about Keeley?’ Silvie asked. ‘The woman you have fallen in love with but are too stupid to not take a chance with.’

Ethan bit his lip. The tears were in his eyes as soon as Silvie had said her name. ‘I… cannot.’

‘Why can’t you?’ Silvie asked him. ‘I want to hear it in your words.’

He shook his head. ‘She… and Ferne… it’s too… crazy.’

‘Crazy,’ Silvie said with a nod. ‘Yes, you are right. The situation is completely crazy. But, it is the kind of thing you read about all the time. Remember, the two people who found love in lockdown across their balconies. Or the cats that go missing, then walk hundreds of miles to get to their previous homes. Or how about… jetting into space… or that craziest of crazy men being in charge of the United States.’ Silvie paused for a second. ‘Crazy happens all the time, Ethan. It does not have to mean that crazy is wrong.’

He didn’t have any more words. It was an unbelievable complication. Something that should not have been able to occur with no one knowing about it. If he had just paid a little more interest when Silvie had said the person who had received Ferne’s kidney was here. If he had turned up at dinner…

‘Look at it from Keeley’s point of view,’ Silvie carried on. ‘I have asked her to come here. I have wanted to meet the woman who received Ferne’s kidney. I wanted, very selfishly, to know who Keeley was and to also know that she was well. And to believe that some good was coming from the waste that was Ferne’s death. Perhaps it was closure. Maybe, in truth, it was thinking that I might notice a little of Ferne about her. I know that sounds silly. Donating a kidney isn’t some far-fetched kind of reincarnation, I realise that. I suppose, I wanted to know she was nice, and kind, or brave, or set to do remarkable things but what I found out was so much more than I could have anticipated.’

Ethan made no reply.

‘I found out that she was the most beautiful soul in the simplest of ways. She is kind. And she is nice. And, my God, she has been so brave. Going through an accident, losing her sister, nearly losing her own life and having to pick up all those pieces afterwards. I can only imagine what she has had to go through.’ Silvie shook her head. ‘And to do all that and know that you are supposed to be living your best life each and every day, with the eyes of your overprotective mother on you, the hopes and dreams of a grieving French