OW28
Through the parted bedroom curtain I watched the breeze rake through the trees. Julia lay with her hand on my chest and her soft breaths against my ear and neck. I had no desire to move or speak. The comfort I felt was hypnotizing and at last I closed my eyes and nestled my face in her hair.
Alex and Lisette were still out for the afternoon, either at the candy shop or in the study with Charles, which was doubtful. Lisette had returned home briefly to kiss her mother and beg for money, which was sternly denied. Before she left she greeted me with a curtsy and a husky, Hermine-inspired, "How do you do, Monsieur Kire?" With a bat of her eyelashes and toss of her hair, she held out her hand.
"Lissy," Julia had warned as she added a cup of sugar to her apple turnovers.
With a five franc note in hand, I accepted her greeting and slyly passed her the money. Her eyes widened in surprise and I glanced at Julia, who had turned away.
"Mademoiselle, I trust with your feminine intuition you shall prevent your future brother from consuming too much candy before supper."
Julia whipped around and looked from me to Lisette, who smiled, a slight crimson blush to her cheeks. With another curtsy she was gone, yelling to Alex that she was in charge.
My eyes opened when Julia shifted, turning from her side to her back. She sighed and pulled her hair back, leaving it spread across the pillow.
"Do you know Lisette thought you would be a stern and domineering father?"
I grunted and closed my eyes again.
"It was only a week or two ago when she heard you telling Alex to stand up straight and comb his hair back."
"She was afraid?"
Julia chuckled to herself, apparently amused by the notion. "She said you sound like an old dog, which is better than what I sound like."
"What do you sound like?"
She sat up and began to separate our jumbled pile of clothing by her side of the bed. "I sound like a chicken being murdered."
I grunted again and Julia shot me a warning look. "You spoil her already."
"Pardon me?"
"You heard what I said." She handed me my shirt once I sat up and I leaned over and kissed her. "I can already see the two of you conspiring against me. Two days until the wedding and you're already in cahoots."
"A trip to the candy store bought us an afternoon alone," I reminded her.
"Yes, but now she knows you're on her side."
As though she'd heard her name, Lisette came squealing through the house shouting for her mother. I'd never seen Julia scramble so fast to lock the bedroom door. She looked at me and motioned for me to make haste as she finished dressing and straightened her hair in the mirror. Not a moment later I heard Alex.
"Where's Father?"
"He's resting," Julia replied.
"But we were just at Monsieur Kire's house and Madame Giry said he was still here." Lisette also went on to explain how Madeline gave Charles the spider and Alex wheeled him outside. As an offering to the frog they'd found, they left the poor creature outside of the mud palace, however there seemed to be questions as to whether or not frogs ate spiders.
"Where did Father go to rest?" Alex asked. He sounded anxious.
"He's here. Why don't you both wash your hands and faces?"
"Why didn't he return home?" Alex was not about to relent without a thorough questioning.
"He was very tired."
"Is he ill?" Lisette questioned.
"He can't be ill!" Alex stomped his foot. "What about the wedding? He cannot be ill for the wedding."
"I'm fine," I said as I buttoned the top button on my shirt and started down the stairs. I looked at Alex, who appeared relieved.
"Father, I thought you were ill but you were only in Madame Seuratti's room. Why weren't you in the guest room?"
"It's quieter upstairs."
Both Alex and Lisette looked suspicious but Julia clapped her hands and ordered them into the water closet to wash their hands.
"Good afternoon, Monsieur Kire," Lisette said. She marched up and held her chin high. I saw her glance at my right hand before she curtsied. "How do you do?"
"Very well, thank you."
Again she offered her hand, this time dramatically turning her head to the side. I couldn't decide if she looked sophisticated or far too much like Hermine.
We shook hands and I felt her drop a small object in the palm of my hand. Expecting coins, I smiled and pulled my hand away. Lisette seemed quite pleased with herself, and as I opened my hand I knew why: She had given me a piece of taffy, which I placed in my coat pocket.
"Both of you wash your hands and faces. I won't ask again," Julia said as she shooed them off. She turned toward me and sighed once they were washing up.
"Quieter?" She smiled.
"Put a bell on both of them," I grumbled. "A cowbell."
We walked into the kitchen where Julia led me to the back door. "Well, now that they're clean I'll fix them a snack. Archie brought over the most delightful strawberries and I'm afraid if we don't eat them soon they'll go bad. I'll see you for supper in an hour and a half, after you've cleaned up."
-o-
The house was silent when I returned home, not even a cat or dog in sight. I returned to my room and dressed for supper. I found Bessie sleeping under the bed. She emerged and whined for attention, which I lavished momentarily.
"Walk?" I asked as I scratched behind her ears.
She immediately began to bounce around the room, running from the bed where I sat to the bedroom door,as though she had no idea what to do with herself. It took longer than usual to leash her and once I had my hand through the end of it she nearly pulled me down the stairs. Master and loyal hound reunited, I grabbed my hat and exited onto the street as the sun began to fade.
She dragged me three streets before her energy subsided and she was content with trotting at my side. While we waited for several carriages to pass she plopped on the sidewalk and rested her chin on her front paws. She looked up at me with her solemn dark eyes as though she expected me to carry her, which I hadn't done since she was a pup. However, once the carriages had passed she spotted a larger dog across the street and decided it was her duty to protect all of Paris.
Upon our return journey I spotted Anthony Seuratti walking no more than fifteen paces ahead of us. Tipping my hat low, I maintained a steady pace and continued in his direction. The streets were filled with more carriages than pedestrians,but there were several cafés with outdoor tables and a man playing a Spanish guitar. We easily blended into the night and I kept a watchful eye on Julia's cousin.
We were nearly home when a carriage slowed and a man opened the door and pounded on the side of his cab. Startled, Anthony turned toward the street and Bessie and I slowed our pace. Thank God she didn't bark. A piece of taffy from my pocket kept her occupied while I lingered on the corner.
"What are you doing here?" Anthony questioned. He seemed agitated.
"Is that how you greet me?"
My breath caught in my throat. I hadn't expected to see this man again.
"I promised I would see to matters. You've no need to be here."
"I will travel as I damned please."
"A man of your health should take care."
"A man who barely mastered the mindless skills of a baker has no place in dictating medical advice to me."
Anthony threw his arms in the air. "You've always been an intolerable old goat. If not for your sister and the half-inch of space the newspaper allows you, no one would care to remember your life. Is that why you've always hated Max? He reminds you of yourself?"
"I always knew you were a coward. What did you do, Anthony? Return him to Italy with a pat on the back. Old chums, indeed."
"The White Goddess speaks on your behalf." Anthony turned away and stalked down the street, his hat clutched in his right hand. He was far too angry to notice me and Bessie, who was slobbering on her piece of candy. I dare not conceive what a veterinarian would have said on the matter of taffy serving as a canine gag.
"I remember when Falchetti was a respectable name! And now? Ruined by the Seurattis! You should be ashamed of yourselves! You and Max are both worthless to me!" His outburst resulted in a coughing fit, but Anthony didn't bother to slow his pace, even when the man inside the carriage called him a coward. He merely glanced over his shoulder and shouted his final words, which I barely heard as I led Bessie home.
"Good eve, Monsieur Testan."
I needed to arrive at Julia's home before Anthony.
