even call your mother!” Her scream made me pull the phone away from my face.
“I am okay. Only minor scrapes. My suitcase took the brunt of it. I’m fine, Ma, really.”
“That’s not the point. I’m also upset with Evelyn, but that’s between me and her.”
I didn’t want to be privy to that conversation, nor the current one, where my dear mother needed to be placated like an angry deity. “She didn’t want to alarm you. She talked to the doctor and knew I was fine. Calling you would have freaked you out when the situation was handled. She probably asked them to keep me overnight, and I was discharged the next day.” The last part was a lie, but my aunt needed all the points with my mother that I could give her.
“Still.” The decibels decreased as her outrage subsided. “You both should have told me sooner.”
A message flashed across the screen. It was an incoming call from Marc.
“I have to go. It’s Marc. I have to take this.”
“Fine. We’ll talk later.”
As I hung up and switched to the other line, I felt a foreboding sense of dread, not from any kind of preternatural ability, but born from the repeated experience of being stood up.
Forty-One
I’m sorry. I couldn’t call earlier. The boss has me working long hours and is making me come in during my time off to help out. It’s worse then ever, if you can imagine that. I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” The sound of his deep voice was soothing. “Did you get my earlier message?”
“About the hotel. Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to respond.”
“Marc, I almost died the other day. I was going to the hotel. A van almost ran me over.”
“Oh God, are you all right? I should come over. I’m so sorry. I should have been there . . .”
“It’s okay. I was a bit shaken up, but my suitcase bore the brunt of the impact. My aunt helped me and I decided to stay with her.”
There was a pause, and then he sighed.
“You’re not coming tonight, are you?” I asked.
“I was set to come, but then, a few minutes ago, he called me back in. I swear, he’s sabotaging my life. It feels like forever since we shared pancakes.”
I pushed down my disappointment. The slight bothered me, but I didn’t want to make a fuss: I understood the pressure he was under, but I wanted him to make time for us.
“As bad as my problems are, I’m sure they’re minor compared to your aunt. How is she doing?” he asked.
“Not well. Few people are going in. The boycott and setbacks are killing her business, and her hopes. Everything she has, she poured into the store. Did you find out anything?”
“Claude’s sister, Leticia, is responsible for the flyer. She’s been in love with the boss for years. She eats dinner at the restaurant every night just to see him. Beautiful woman, but obsessive and territorial.”
“Leticia Chirac?”
“You’ve heard of her? There are some scandalous stories. I haven’t found out anything else. I hardly have time to get home, sleep, and take a shower before I’m back in the kitchen.” He paused. “Have I told you I miss you?”
“You have, but it doesn’t hurt to hear it again.” I smiled.
“Can you send my apologies to your family?”
“I will. My aunt and uncle will be disappointed, but I know you can’t afford to lose your job.”
“When do you leave?”
“A little less than two weeks. We have plenty of time.” I opted for false bravado to help alleviate his guilt. If circumstances were ideal, we’d spend every minute together, and begin to figure out what would happen after Paris. I wanted this to continue, despite the challenges of a long-distance relationship. The future was murky, but at least I had a future—one I embraced.
“Did you get my drawing?”
“Yes, I didn’t know your heart was made of delicious butter and carbs.”
He laughed. I could picture his gorgeous brown eyes crinkling at the corners. “If I get too busy, I’ll leave you something with Ines. Hey, I . . .” His voice became faint, followed by the sound of shattering glass. The call disconnected.
Great. Now his phone was also broken. As if we needed more obstacles. I braced myself before heading out to give my aunt and uncle the bad news.
* * *
* * *
A family dinner to meet the boyfriend was compulsory. It was an event I always wanted. I yearned for the stress, the aggravation,