Chapter 7: The Visit

We made sure the cottage was clean before Karl and Pascal came over that weekend. Gilbert swept the kitchen and bathroom while I took the bedroom and living room. Thinking that the house needed an air freshener, he sprayed a bit of his Sion Nole perfume, which I thought was quite funny. In fact, I had to open all the windows when the perfume became too strong.

In our bedroom, Gilbert helped me put on my tie. All that time he kept saying "There is no Auguste, there is no Auguste" out loud. He was still trying to get over his past, but sometimes he would act up saying that our reality is just a dream. As always I was there to comfort him.

Gilbert heard a knock at the door outside and planned on answering it. We kissed briefly for good luck. At the door were Karl and Pascal.

As I set out some drinks, Gilbert tried talking to our friends. "How's Auguste?" he asked them. I put my hand on his shoulder; he might start acting up again. Pascal put his feet up on the table.

"I'm still not sure whether he is truly worried about you or not," he said. "But he even suggested using Sebastien's rescue group to find you two. We explained everything in the letter. Unless you didn't get it yet." He began cursing the postal system under his breath.

"Oh no, we have your letter," I reassured them. "I guess that Gilbert just wants to know if there's any news at the school."

Karl started laughing softly. "If Auguste were to use Sebastien's group, then he would be coming to the right people. Those kids have so many maps of France that have small pins on where they might find you two. They calculated the time of day everyone found out you went missing, the weather, and even how comfortable the shoes you wear are to estimate your location!" That indeed sounded like something Karl's younger brother would do.

He looked at Gilbert and only I saw that his cheeks were the tiniest shade of pink. "Erm... Gilbert," he said, "may I have a talk with you in private?" He nodded and escorted Karl to the bedroom.