Delphine turns her heads towards the bedroom door with a gasp, quickly pulling the sheet over her and Cosima. "Papa, get out!" she hollers.
Pierre immediately backs out and slams the door shut.
"What is the ruckus?" Marie asks.
"I just walked in on Delphine in bed with Cosima," Pierre tells her angrily as he storms down the hall.
"What do you mean you walked in on her?"
"I was letting her know we were back early, like you asked me to do, I wasn't expecting… that."
"I said let her know we were home, I didn't say barge into her room."
"Merde," Delphine exclaims, burying her head in the crook of Cosima's neck.
"It's ok," Cosima kisses the top of her head, "at least now you don't have to worry about telling them."
"Please tell me this is a nightmare and my father did not just walk in on us in bed," Delphine groans.
"Not unless we're having the same nightmare. Hey, it could have been worse," Delphine looks up waiting for her to continue. "He could have walked in an hour ago while I was defiling his little girl."
"This is not funny," Delphine returns her head to its prior position.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry," Cosima wraps her arms around Delphine. "Do you want to get dressed and go talk to them? I'll face the music with you."
"You'd do that?"
"Of course. You're not in this alone."
"You're incredible," Delphine kisses Cosima, "but I should probably deal with them on my own."
"Are you sure? I work for your dad, so this is kinda bigger than if he caught you in bed with just anybody."
"I know, but I'd rather you not have to bear the brunt of his anger," Delphine gets up and starts getting dressed, with Cosima following suit.
A little while later, Delphine walks Cosima to the front door. "Good luck," Cosima gives her a quick kiss on the lips. "Call me later?"
"I will," Delphine assures. She closes the door behind Cosima, taking a deep breath, composing herself, before entering the den where her parents have retreated.
"Delphine," Marie starts when she sees her daughter enter the room, "I'm sorry your father so rudely invaded your space."
"Excuse me," Pierre shouts, "why are you apologizing for me? She should be apologizing for conducting herself that way in our home."
"Conducting myself what way?" Delphine yells back, composure gone in .0001 seconds. "I'm 24 years old, I can do what I want, where I want. Unless you'd like to kick me out?"
"Delphine, calm down, nobody is kicking you out," Marie gets between them, refereeing. "Pierre, you should have knocked, Delphine deserves privacy in her own room."
"I did not enter with the intention of discovering her that way, I was simply announcing our early return. She could have easily locked her door before doing whatever she was doing with Cosima."
"Whatever I was doing," Delphine shouts incredulously. "Do you mean having sex?"
Pierre cringes, "How long has this been going on?"
"What, dating Cosima or having sex with her?"
"Seeing each other," he responds bitterly.
"We've been dating for about a month. Started sleeping together after the Preakness," she throws in for effect.
"How could you do this, Delphine?"
"Do what, Papa? Have sex with a woman? It was actually a lot easier than I expected."
"Mon dieu, Delphine, that's enough," Pierre hollers.
"I'm sorry if you can't deal with the fact that I'm dating a girl, but I'm not going to apologize for my heart. I mean, it's not like this wasn't as much of a surprise to me as it must be to you, but it is happening and you'll just have to accept it."
"I don't care if you're dating a girl."
"That's just too bad," Delphine shouts. "Wait, what?"
"It doesn't matter to me if you choose to date a man or a woman, though I'm not going to lie and say I'm not a bit taken aback."
"So then what's your problem?"
"My 'problem' is that you are sleeping with our employee."
"Your employee? What does that matter?"
"It matters because she came here to do a job, not to get involved with you."
"You're the one who wanted me to befriend her."
"What I walked in on was a lot more than befriending someone."
"This is ridiculous! Maman, do you feel the same?"
"No, I don't. It is not our place to interfere with your social life."
"Seriously, Marie, do you not care what she's doing under our roof with our employee?"
"Yeah, Maman, why are you so calm about this?"
"Delphine, do you really think I've not been aware of the nature of your relationship with Cosima for quite some time?"
"You have?" Pierre and Delphine ask in concert.
"Of course," she laughs. "I'm not blind, it's been obvious for a while."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I figured you'd tell me when you were ready. Though, I must admit, I'm hurt you haven't confided in me."
"I'm sorry, but I didn't know how you'd react."
"To you being in a relationship?"
"To me being with a woman."
"What's the difference?" Marie asks.
"You mean that? You're not upset?"
"Delphine, no, of course I'm not upset. I just want you to be happy."
"I can't believe this," Pierre huffs. "She is fooling around with our jockey. A jockey who is on the verge of making history. Are you trying to ruin this for us?"
"How are my ruining anything, Papa?"
"You're distracting her from doing her job."
"Distracting her? Really? She won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, if anything I'd say she's performing pretty damn well fooling around with me."
"And what about when you break her heart? When you get bored with her or find something or someone else to distract you from whatever is bothering you at school, what will happen to her and her career?"
"Ok, first of all, I have no intention of breaking her heart, so how dare you accuse me of that. She is not a distraction from school or anything else. She is the only thing in my life right now that makes me happy. In fact, I have you to thank since you're the one who insisted I hang out with her in the first place. Who knows if any of this would have happened if she and I hadn't connected back then. Secondly, I think you should have more faith in her than to think that should we happen to break up, it would impact her ability as a jockey."
"Delphine, I don't begrudge you happiness, but you must understand that your actions have consequences. She is about to race for the triple crown, she has a bright future ahead of her, she doesn't need this impediment."
"Wow, Papa, what happened to the man who didn't care about winning?"
"He didn't expect to be in this position."
"Yeah, well obviously your wallet and notoriety are more important to you than me."
"Nonsense, Delphine."
"Then tell me you support me and Cosima, that you approve of our relationship."
Pierre says nothing.
"Unbelievable," Delphine turns and storms out of the house.
"Pierre, really," Marie chastises her husband. "How can you not support Delphine?"
"Where is her support for me? Where is her understanding that these games she's playing affect us all."
"She's not playing games. Can't you see that?"
"We have so much to lose, Marie. Cosima is an incredible jockey, the best we've ever had, when this thing with Delphine ends, what will keep her from picking up and moving on?"
"You don't know that will happen, you heard what Delphine said. And what about your daughter? Don't you care about what she's found with Cosima? You've seen how happy she's been lately, you even attributed it to her friendship with Cosima."
"Friendship. Not this. Not something that could ruin everything for this family."
"The only thing I see ruining this family is you, Pierre," Marie says definitively before getting up and leaving the room.
Cosima is pacing in the cottage, checking her phone every 10 seconds, as if willing Delphine to call or text and let her know everything is ok. Suddenly, there is a knock at the door and Cosima rushes to answer it.
Upon seeing her girlfriend's sad face, Cosima wraps her arms around Delphine and pulls her in for a tight embrace. "Didn't go well?"
Delphine shakes her head, "No, it didn't."
"They were pretty upset about you being with a girl, huh?"
"Actually," Delphine responds, "my mother already knew, or at least suspected we were together, and she's fine with it."
"Wow, well that's good. And your father?"
"Papa is being a tyrant."
"A tyrant? That doesn't sound like your dad. Does he hate me?"
"No," Delphine shakes her head and laughs, "he loves you."
"I'm confused. Your mother is fine with us and your father loves me, so what's the problem?"
"It seems the fact that I'm dating his jockey is a bigger issue for him than that I'm dating a woman. And, to think, I worried all this time about the wrong thing."
"Why is the jockey thing a problem, exactly?"
"My father thinks I'm going to break your heart and ruin your career."
"Did he actually say that?"
"Pretty much."
Cosima looks at the ground, "Is he right? About the heart breaking part?"
"Cosima," Delphine reaches her hand out and tilts Cosima's head up, "why would you think I'm going to break your heart?"
"I don't think you're intentionally going to, I've just been wondering, well, what's gonna happen when the summer is over and you go back to school?"
"What do you mean?"
"Am I still going to see you?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't we see each other?"
"I just thought maybe when you're out of this bubble we've constructed together, when you're back at school and around other people, you'd change your mind, want to be free to date other people."
"Free to date other people?" Delphine asks with disbelief. "Cosima, you're my girlfriend, aren't you?"
"Yes," Cosima answers softly.
"That doesn't come with an expiration date. I'm not with you because I'm bored and have nothing better to do, I'm with you because I want to be with you. Only you. I thought I've made that very clear."
"You have. It's just, I don't know, I mean, you're basically in this because of a bet."
"A bet I never would have agreed to in the first place if I didn't want you, Cosima. I was scared of my feelings and that first bet was a way to stop denying what my heart craved. If I didn't want to be with you, that date would have been it, there wouldn't have been a first kiss or any of the subsequent kisses. And there certainly wouldn't have been a second bet. None of that would have happened if I wasn't serious about us being together. You may have won those races, but I feel like I won the bets. Because they gave me you, Cosima. Who knows how long I would have run from my feelings without them. I could have missed out on this, on us, and that would have been the biggest mistake of my life."
"Yeah?" Cosima asks with a small smile.
Delphine nods, "I don't intend to stop seeing you just because I'm away at school. I have weekends free and you can come visit me in Ithaca whenever you want. I rent an apartment near campus, you can stay with me there. And we can spend winter break together. Maybe I can visit you in San Francisco."
"That all sounds great, but, um, about the San Francisco thing, I don't know if I'm gonna go back to living there."
"What do you mean?"
"I was kind of thinking, if you still wanted to be with me, that after the racing season I would get a place in the northeast, somewhere not too far from you. I have some money now and I thought I would take some teacher prep courses so I could teach biology in the future. And if I'm living nearby, we could see each other whenever we wanted." Delphine looks at Cosima wordlessly. "Look, if this is too much, I don't have to move out here. It was just a thought and-"
Delphine cuts her off, "You'd really give up your life in San Francisco to be near me?"
"I'd give up Eskimo Pies to be near you," Cosima insists. "You're the most important person in my life, Delphine, I just want to be wherever you are. If that's what you want, too."
Delphine reaches her hand out and tenderly strokes Cosima's cheek. "It's what I want, too," she smiles before leaning down and kissing Cosima. In the midst of kissing, Delphine lets out a little yawn, "Sorry, I guess I'm kind of tired. Maybe we should go to bed, deal with everything else tomorrow."
"Ok, but how tired are you exactly?" Cosima asks with a little eyebrow waggle.
"Come to bed and find out," Delphine teases as she makes her way to the bedroom, losing articles of clothing as goes.
—
"What are we gonna do about your father?" Cosima asks as they lay in bed the next morning wrapped in each other's arms.
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't know he had a rule about you not dating the jockeys."
"There is no rule, Cosima. He'll just have to learn to deal with us being together."
"Maybe I should find someplace else to live. I don't want to make this uncomfortable for him with you being here with me now that he knows what's going on."
"You're not going anywhere and neither am I."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I'm not going back to that house until he apologizes for being a jerk. I'm going to stay right here with you."
"As much as I'd love to stay in bed with you endlessly, we do have to get up eventually. I have training and you're working for Dr. Rimbaud this week."
"I didn't mean stay in bed, I meant live here with you. If you don't mind."
"Mind?" Cosima asks with surprise. "Are you kidding? Have you here all the time? That's like the last thing in the world I'd mind." Cosima jumps out of bed and runs to the window.
"What are you doing?"
"Looking for the u-haul."
"Shut up," Delphine giggles. "Get back here. It's a holiday and I plan to celebrate it in bed with you."
"Delphine, it's Memorial Day," Cosima responds as she walks back towards her. "I don't think that's a proper way to observe such a somber holiday."
"Maybe not, but I'm pretty sure I can make it memorable for you," Delphine pulls back the sheet, uncovering her naked body.
"I think I like the way the French celebrate Memorial Day," Cosima declares before jumping back into bed.
—
Tuesday morning, Cosima walks into the stables where Felix is readying Leda for practice.
"Well, hello there, Cosima, did you have a nice weekend?"
"Yeah."
" 'Yeah' That's all you have to say? I thought you had big plans with Delphine. Is their trouble in paradise?"
"No, things with Delphine are great, really, really great. Her father is another story."
"What do you mean?"
"Her parents know about us."
"Oh no. How'd they find out? I swear it wasn't me."
"Apparently, Marie picked up on it a while ago, but didn't say anything, and, well, Pierre found out a different way."
"What way?"
"A very embarrassing way. For all of us."
"I'm intrigued. What could be an embarrassing way to find out your daughter has taken up with another girl? Did he walk in on you in the act or something?" he laughs to himself, then looks over at Cosima who's not reacting. "He did not walk in on you doing Delphine?"
"I wasn't doing Delphine, as you so eloquently put it. Not at that moment at least. But we were kissing. And naked. In her bed."
"Oh my god," he starts uncontrollably laughing.
"It's not funny."
"Sorry, I can't help it. That's…that's pretty terrible. Is he having trouble accepting the whole girl on girl thing?"
"Not exactly, though I'm sure that was a shock, he's more upset about the girl on jockey thing."
"Say again?"
"Basically, he thinks she'll break my heart and cause me to somehow fall to pieces and either screw up my job or quit. As if I can't separate my job from my love life. Delphine was pretty upset and angry with him. She hasn't gone back home since their blowup other than to sneak in and get some clothing."
"Is he wrong? Can you separate the two?
"Yes, Felix, of course I can."
"You sure? I mean you're pretty hung up on her, what if it doesn't last?"
"Why's everyone doubting our relationship? Delphine and I, we're happy together, and we intend to make this work."
"Okay, okay, no need to get huffy."
"I'm sorry, it's just, look, I was worried, too, that this might not last, but Delphine, she's done nothing but reassure me that she's as much in this as I am, that she wants to be with me long after the summer is over."
"Alright then, that's good to hear. Hopefully Pierre will come around."
"Yeah, hopefully," Cosima agrees.
"In the meantime, let's continue to kick arse. Come on, saddle up. There's work to be done."
—
On Wednesday afternoon, Felix spots Delphine sitting under a willow tree, watching the action out on the practice track.
"She looks pretty good out there, doesn't she?" Felix asks, motioning towards Cosima.
"Yeah, she does," Delphine nods, her eyes fixed on the jockey as Felix sits down beside her. "It was nice of you to give her the afternoon off for this."
"Hey, it's not everyday our jockey gets an endorsement deal. SALT needed to get these photos shot today to launch the print campaign before Belmont." Felix laughs when he spies Cosima posing over-dramatically on the horse, Delphine laughing with him. "I may have spoken too soon."
"No, she looks good even when she's being a brat."
"Cosima told me," Felix starts, Delphine turning her head towards him, "about what happened with your dad."
"Great, so have you come to gloat?"
"No, I just wanted to see how you're doing. Cosima mentioned that you were upset about the whole thing, that you haven't gone home or spoken to your father since the unfortunate incident."
"Yes, well, the situation with Papa is not good. He treated me with such disrespect. As if storming into my room wasn't bad enough, he then has the nerve to say that I am going to ruin Cosima's career. He just can't be happy for me unless I'm doing what he wants. God forbid I interfere with his success. So what if I'm actually happy for the first time in a long time?" She turns and looks back out at Cosima, who is now standing in front of Leda, the horse's head resting on her shoulder as the photographer takes more photos.
Felix follows her gaze, "Then just show him." Delphine turns to face him. "Show your father that he's wrong. Show him how happy you are and that this relationship is the real deal. He's forming these opinions out of fear, and probably also based on your previous dating history. I mean, come on, your choice in boyfriends, as hot as Paul was, was never stellar. I'm pretty sure your dad hated all of them. And not just because they were vapid, but because they weren't good enough for you, for his little girl. With Cosima, and I never thought I'd be admitting this, you've found an equal, someone who's smart and witty, someone who can handle you and who you can handle. That look in your eyes right now, that sparkle when you look at her, the smile on your face when you're with her, I've never seen that before. I didn't think it was possible, quite frankly, but, bloody hell, it's happened. And with a girl!"
Delphine laughs, "Not just any girl."
"No, not just any girl, that's for sure," he agrees. "Cosima is special. And, hey, you're already one step ahead with your father on this than with your previous paramours."
"How do you figure that?"
"He actually likes her. And, from what Cosima said, it doesn't sound like he was freaked out about the whole lady lover thing. Nor is your mother. So I'd say that's already a win for you. Now you just have to stop hiding from him and deal with this head on."
Delphine nods in agreement as Cosima rushes over to her.
"Hey, Felix."
"Lookin' good out there superstar," he compliments.
"Thank you, thank you," she smiles.
"You really do look great. I can't wait to see the photos," Delphine agrees.
"How would you feel about being in some of them?" Cosima asks.
"Me?" Delphine responds with shock.
"Yeah, well remember what Ferdinand said about sometimes using significant others in photos? Well Katja, the photographer, taking note of your obvious beauty, asked if you'd mind posing with me for a few shots. If they use them, they'd just be for the website. They have a series showing how desirable you still look in eyeglasses, since people sometimes think there's a nerdy stigma attached to wearing them. But, if I can get a hottie like you in these specs, then there's hope for all the other geek monkeys out there."
"You're hardly a geek monkey," Delphine scoffs.
"So will you do it? I mean, if you're uncomfortable, if you don't want our relationship out there, that's totally cool."
"I'm not uncomfortable with people knowing about us, Cosima. My parents know now, so I could care less about anyone else knowing. I'm just not a model."
"Delphine, have you looked in the mirror lately? You put supermodels to shame. Tell her, Felix."
"As much as it pains me to admit it," Felix drones, "you are kind of attractive."
"Gee, thanks, Felix, for that lovely compliment," Delphine rolls her eyes.
"Ugh, you look good Delphine, now go pose with your girlfriend before I go out there and steal both your thunder," Felix demands with a dramatic flip of his head.
"You heard him," Cosima says, her tongue poking through her teeth adorably.
"Okay, okay, I'll do it. For you," Delphine emphasizes her point with a kiss to Cosima's lips. "Thank you, Felix."
"Hey, don't thank me until you see the photos."
"Not for this, for the pep talk earlier. You can be a halfway decent human being when you want to be."
"Likewise," he grins.
Delphine gives his hand a squeeze before she and Cosima walk towards Katja.
"What was that about?" Cosima inquires.
"Felix actually had some nice things to say to me, along with some helpful advice."
"Awesome! So maybe now you'll forgive him for painting your My Little Pony black?"
"Never!"
Cosima laughs as they reach Katja.
"Guten Tag, Katja Obinger," the photog extends her hand.
"Delphine Cormier," they shake, "nice to meet you."
"You're even more attractive up close than you are from afar."
"Thank you."
"I think we'll start out here while the sun is still up and then move into the stables for a few interior shots. Sound good?"
Cosima looks up at Delphine, who nods. "Sounds good," Cosima smiles.
Katja leads them to the first setup, gives them direction, and starts shooting.
—
On Friday afternoon, Delphine is lying on the couch, reading a book, while waiting for Cosima to get back from practice. She's interrupted by an unexpected knock at the door. She puts the book down on the coffee table and walks to the door, "Who is it?"
"Your mother."
Delphine opens the door to find Marie carrying two, overfilled cloth bags. She quickly takes one out of her hands. "What's all this?"
"I went to the farmer's market today, thought you two might need groceries."
"Actually, we were running low. Merci, Maman," Delphine kisses her mother's cheek before leading her to the kitchen where they start putting everything away. "I know you make this a habit."
"Make what a habit?"
"Bringing Cosima groceries."
"Ah, well she needs to eat healthy and I'm happy to do it."
"If she had her way, all she'd stock would be ice cream," Delphine laughs.
Marie laughs with her, "She does seem to love the stuff. How have you been?"
"Good. I worked for Dr. Rimbaud a couple times this week and that's going really well."
"That's wonderful! And living with Cosima?"
"Living with Cosima has been great. She's," Delphine grasps for the right word, "she's the best and we just fit. It's hard to describe, but I think we complement each other really well. We support each other and also have a lot of fun together. I actually got roped into doing a photo shoot with her a couple days ago."
"A photo shoot? Please explain."
"The eyewear company, SALT, is sponsoring Cosima now and they'll be using her in their next print campaign. Some photos will also appear online and the photographer asked if I'd pose with her in a few of them."
"Wow, well I look forward to seeing my beautiful daughter in these photos."
"It's not certain that they'll use any of the ones with me in them, but possibly. And, well, if they do use them, you should know that they present us as a couple, so it'll be out there."
"I see," Marie nods. "That's what you are though, a couple?"
"Yes."
"Well, I'm just happy you're finally admitting it. I was wondering when you'd stop hiding it from us, though I am sorry it came out the way it did."
"Yeah, me too. So when did you figure out Cosima and I were together?"
"Oh, well, it was obvious something other than friendship was going on between the two of you for a while. I've seen the way she looks at you, like you hung the moon. And, really, who wouldn't look at my gorgeous daughter that way? But then I noticed the way you'd look at her. It's quite different from how you look at your other friends. There's this twinkle, this extra little spark present in your eyes. I tried to get you to admit there was something going on there in Kentucky, but you didn't bite. And all of Felix's not-so-subtle innuendo were not lost on me," she chuckles.
"I think he lives to torture us," Delphine says with a roll of her eyes. "I was still trying to fight my feelings for Cosima back in Kentucky, but she won me over. We went on our first official date after we got home from the derby and that was it, I couldn't deny what my heart desired any longer. I've never felt like this about anyone and it frightened me at first, especially that I was feeling this for another girl. But then it just felt so natural being with her and it didn't matter that we were the same gender, we connect like I've never connected with another person, in so many ways. I can talk to her about anything and she gets it. She's compassionate and smart and funny and often a total brat, but I wouldn't want her any other way. And there's the romantic side of her," Delphine smiles. "She plans special little things for me and she actually learned to play Just Like Heaven on the ukulele because I told her it was my favorite love song. She even sang it to me, as well. And she never pressured me to move our relationship at a faster pace than I was ready for. And when I finally was ready, she was so sweet and tender and loving. I have never felt so safe and comfortable in anybody's arms as I do in hers."
"I am so happy that you've found that, that you found Cosima," Marie smiles, pulling Delphine into a loving embrace, mother and daughter both with matching tears rolling down their cheeks. "So, I assume your morning runs have come to an end?"
"Oh, um."
"It's okay, I knew you were never out running that early in the morning, that you must have spent the night with Cosima."
"You did? Then why did you buy me those running shoes?"
"To see if you'd continue to carry on the ruse and actually wear those ridiculous looking things."
"Maman!"
Marie laughs, "I have to find my fun where I can get it."
"I wanted to tell you about Cosima, I really did, I was just nervous. And it wasn't only because she's a girl and what that means and how you'd react, but because I wanted something for myself. I knew once it came out, we couldn't live in our safe, private little cocoon anymore. But, it turns out I should have been more worried about the reaction to me dating our jockey than a girl."
"Papa will come around, Delphine. Right now he's having trouble separating being a successful racehorse owner from being a father."
"I see where his priorities lie."
"That's not so, Delphine, he loves you more than anything."
"He sure has a funny way of showing it."
"I think this was all such a big surprise to him and his initial reaction was one of fear, I suppose. But I know your happiness is very important to him. Why don't you come back home, try to talk to him?"
"I can't. Not if he's going to treat me and my relationship with Cosima with such disrespect."
"How about you bring Cosima for Sunday dinner?"
"Yeah, right."
"I'm serious, Delphine. Perhaps if your father spends time with the two of you together, he'll see how connected you are, change his tune."
"I doubt that will happen."
"Just try, for me, s'il vous plaît."
Felix's earlier advice to stop hiding plays in her head and Delphine nods, "Fine, if Cosima agrees to it, we'll come. I'll talk to her when she gets home and let you know."
"Wonderful." Marie kisses her daughter before heading towards the door. "I've missed you, ma cocette."
"I've missed you, too, Maman," Delphine admits. Once Marie has gone, Delphine heads into the kitchen and starts pulling items out of the cupboards and fridge.
"Honey, I'm home," Cosima announces dramatically an hour later as she enters the cottage.
"I'm in the kitchen, Cherie."
Cosima enters to find Delphine at the stove stirring a pot. She wraps her arms around her waist and gets on her tippy toes to kiss Delphine's cheek, "Hey good lookin', whatcha got cookin'?"
Delphine turns her heads to peck at Cosima's lips, "Ratatouille."
"Ooh, like in the movie?"
Delphine smiles, "Oui, like in the movie."
"Cool, I've never had it before. I bet you're a better chef than that rat."
"Thank you for your astounding confidence in my culinary abilities," Delphine laughs as she fills two bowls and they sit down to eat.
"Yup, this is delish, just like I suspected," Cosima grins after several bites.
"Would you tell me if it wasn't?" Delphine wonders.
"Probably not," Cosima responds, "but I wouldn't be as effusive about it. I'd just say, this isn't bad. When really I'd be thinking, this ain't good, either. But I doubt anything you make would suck. Now, I can't say the same for the rat, cause while he was cute and all, I would't want a rat preparing my meal. Who knows what other vermin he's been cavorting with and how clean his little rat hands are. And, what if he accidentally ingested a little rat poison, but it hasn't done it's work yet, and he sneezes in my food? I'm liable to croak."
"You're very strange," Delphine laughs.
"Hey, I just have a lot of thoughts about a lot of things," Cosima shrugs.
"Okay, then tell me your thoughts on this: dinner with my parents on Sunday."
"You're funny," Cosima laughs. She stops when she notices Delphine is not laughing with her. "Wait, for real?"
"Yes, for real. Maman came by earlier to drop off food from the farmers market and talk. She invited us to dinner."
"And your dad will be there?"
"Apparently. Maman thinks it will help ease the tension if he sees us together, as a couple."
"Wow, okay, wow!" Cosima thinks it over for a sec, "Alright."
"Alright?" Delphine asks with surprise. "You want to subject yourself to that?"
Cosima shrugs, "We can't avoid him forever, might as well face this head on, together, and see what happens. Unless you're really not ready."
"No, no, you're right. Papa has to deal with the fact that you and I are together whether he likes it or not."
"Good, so it's settled, Sunday dinner with your parents," Cosima declares.
"Sunday dinner with my parents," Delphine nods in agreement as she continues the meal.
"We should probably have wild, passionate sex until Sunday night."
Delphine chokes on her food, "Excuse me?"
"Just in case he opts for the not and locks you away in a tower somewhere where I can't get to you. I'll need something to remember you by and sustain me in my time of grief."
"You're crazy," Delphine chuckles.
"Just crazy about you," Cosima insists.
Delphine leans across the table and kisses Cosima, "The feeling is mutual."
"Is that a yes to the sex?"
"Finish your ratatouille and find out," Delphine says seductively.
—
"Oh, god, Delphine," Cosima cries out as her body convulses, her grip on blonde curls tightening and then slacking. "Holy shit!"
Delphine kisses her way up tender flesh, stopping once she reaches Cosima's lips. "You get very religious when we're in bed."
"That's because I worship at the Church of Cormier," Cosima responds as she nips at overworked lips as chimes suddenly begin to play. "See? They're ringing the bells for us."
"No, that's my alarm. We have dinner in an hour," Delphine reaches for her phone to silence the noise. Come on," Delphine gets out of bed, dragging Cosima with her to the bathroom, "we don't have much time to get showered and dressed."
"Do we have enough time for shower sex, you know how much I love shower sex?"
"Cosima!"
"It could be the last time, Delphine!"
An hour later, they walk towards the house, hand in hand.
"You nervous?" Delphine asks.
"Kinda. You?"
"A little."
"Just remember, we have each other, ok? No matter what he says, how he reacts, we're in this together."
Delphine nods and gives Cosima a kiss, "Thank you."
"Oh, shit," Cosima yelps as she pulls them to an abrupt stop.
"What is it?"
"I meant to bring something for your mom, but we didn't go out all weekend."
"It's fine."
"No, it's impolite. Hold on," Cosima releases Delphine's hand and runs over to the garden, returning a minute later with a handful of flowers.
"Oh, well, she certainly won't notice you plucked those out of her own yard," Delphine comments as she takes Cosima's free hand and they continue their walk to the house. Once at the front door, Delphine rings the bell
"It's your house, don't you have a key?" Cosima wonders.
"Yes, but tonight we're just dinner guests."
The door swings open. "Delphine, Cosima, please come in," Marie greets them warmly.
"These are for you," Cosima extends the makeshift bouquet.
"Thank you, Cosima. My garden was getting a bit overgrown," she winks as she takes the flowers. "I'll grab a vase and get these in water. Please head into the dining room."
Delphine squeezes Cosima's hand and they walk into the dining room. Pierre looks up from his seat at the head of the table as they enter. "Hello, Papa."
"Good evening, Pierre."
"Delphine, Cosima," he nods stiffly.
"Girls, please sit down," Marie insists as she enters with the vase, placing it in the center of the table. "I'll be right back with the salad."
Delphine and Cosima are forced to sit across from one another instead of side by side, as the table is set for only four this evening. Delphine reluctantly releases Cosima's hand as they take their seats.
The three of them sit in uncomfortable silence for several moments.
"So, um, the weather's been nice," Cosima remarks, trying to make small talk.
"Quite," Pierre agrees.
"Yes, there hasn't been as much humidity as their typically is at this time of year," Delphine notes.
"I hope it's mild like this next week in New York. It'll be better for Leda."
Pierre nods his agreement.
Delphine rolls her eyes at her father as Marie enters the room with their salads.
"Oooh, is that watermelon?" Cosima asks.
"Yes! This is an arugula, watermelon, and feta salad. I saw it on The Barefoot Contessa."
"Yum!" Cosima immediately sticks her fork in a piece of watermelon, then another piece of watermelon, then watermelon again.
"Cosima! Eat the healthy stuff, too," Delphine chastises.
"Watermelon is healthy," Cosima insists.
Delphine reaches across the table, sticks her fork in Cosima's salad, gathering arugula and feta, and holds it in front of Cosima's lips. "Try it."
Cosima takes the bite, chews, and swallows, with Marie and Delphine both watching her. "Yeah, this isn't bad."
"Wonderful!" Marie declares.
"Yes, wonderful," Delphine agrees as she glares knowingly at Cosima, who simply shrugs before continuing to eat on her own.
"So, Cosima, Delphine tells me you shot an eyewear campaign."
"Yeah, it was pretty cool. They're sponsoring me at Belmont, so I hope you don't mind if they add their logo to my helmet."
"Not at all, I think that's terrific. Don't you, Pierre?"
"Yes, terrific," he huffs
"And when can we see these photos? Delphine said she posed for some with you."
"Delphine did what?" Pierre asks, turning his gaze towards his daughter.
"The photographer asked me to be in a few shots with Cosima."
"Excusez-moi?"
"We did some couple shots, Papa. Because, as you are now well aware, Cosima and I are a couple."
"They were very PG," Cosima interjects. "And they should be out by the end of the week."
"I'm sure they will be lovely," Marie says. "You're both very beautiful."
"Cosima is the focus, I'm just there for arm candy."
"Oh, don't be modest, Delphine, you're far more than arm candy. Tell them what Katja asked you."
Delphine reddens, "Cosima, no."
"Oh, now you must fill us in," Marie presses.
"Can I tell them, please?" Cosima gives Delphine a little pout that she's powerless to resist.
"Okay, go ahead."
"Katja, the photographer, when she found out Delphine was in the veterinary program at Cornell, asked her if she'd like to be in a photoessay she's doing for The New Yorker on grad schools in America. And Delphine said yes!"
"I said I'd think it over, Cosima."
"Oh, come on, you know you wanna do it."
"We'll see."
"I think you're perfect for it, brilliant and beautiful. I bet the admissions department at Cornell will be flooded with new applicants. All of them wanting to drool over the gorgeous veterinary student."
"Cosima!"
"I'm sorry, Delphine, but it's true."
"I think you're biased."
"Maybe a little," Cosima grins.
"I agree with Cosima," Marie says. "I think you should do it."
"I think we're all finished with the salad," Pierre groans as he stands up and starts clearing plates before heading into the kitchen.
"Excuse me," Marie follows him.
"Well, this is going great. Papa is being so sweet and remorseful for the way he acted last week."
"Just give it time, Delphine."
"Why should I? He's not even making an effort with us."
"Because he's your father. He loves you, he's just having a hard time showing it right now."
"What he's doing, that is not love. We should go."
"No, come on. Let's just get through this night, for your mother."
"Fine, for Maman," Delphine agrees as Marie and Pierre reenter with the main course.
"Navarin D' Agneau," Marie announces as she places a dish in front of Cosima.
"Navarin D' Agneau?" Cosima wonders.
"Lamb stew," Pierre clarifies flatly.
"Oh." Cosima gathers the meat on her fork and brings it to her mouth, "Baa bye."
Delphine smiles at Cosima's obvious attempt to lighten the mood at the table, grazing her girlfriend's foot with her own under the table as they eat.
"C'est magnifique," Cosima declares.
"Merci! That was very good pronunciation," Marie notes.
"Thank you."
"Cosima has been learning French."
"Oh, have you? That's great."
"Un peu. Mostly just to compliment Delphine or understand what she's saying when she lets some French slip out," she winks at Delphine, who blushes at the intimation.
"I think that's nice that you're making the effort. Don't you, Pierre?"
"Uh huh."
"So, Pierre, how do you like your new office furniture? I know Marie and Delphine spent a lot of time picking it for you and Delphine made sure it was all set up perfectly."
"It's nice."
"Wow, Papa, don't overwhelm us wth your effusiveness. I'm so glad you're making an effort to be civil with us tonight. The conversation is so stimulating."
"What would you like me to say?" He turns and looks at Delphine, "How glad I am that you're both wearing clothing this evening?"
"Pierre, please, that's uncalled for," Marie chastises.
"No, it's okay, Maman, let him tell us how he feels. It's better than the one word responses we've gotten thus far."
"I feel like this dinner was a mistake," he states.
"You know what? I agree. This dinner was a huge mistake." Delphine declares angrily. "It's been a week. A week since you were extremely rude and condescending about my relationship with Cosima. A week in which you haven't even made an effort to apologize for your harsh words. I don't know why I thought that you'd make an effort here, but clearly I was wrong, clearly we were all wrong about you." She stands up, "Cosima, I think we should go."
Cosima puts her napkin on the table, "No, Delphine, I don't think we're ready to leave yet." She turns towards her boss, "Pierre, can I speak with you in private please?"
Pierre nods reluctantly before rising. Cosima follows him to his office where she shuts the door behind them.
She looks around, "I'd say nice is an understatement."
"Cosima, are we here to discuss the furniture?"
"No," she sits down across the desk from him. "Look, up to now, I think you and I have had a pretty good relationship."
"We have," Pierre agrees.
"But I see that you're uncomfortable with me dating Delphine. So, if you want to let me go, I'll completely understand."
"Don't be foolish, you're the best jockey I've ever had riding for me."
"Thank you, it really means a lot to me to hear you say that. You know, when I came here, I had hoped to do a good job for you, but, mostly, I wanted to get experience riding in these huge races, strengthen my abilities as a jockey. I never thought I'd have this much success so soon. Those two wins, only in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever win the Kentucky Derby my first time out. And then the Preakness on top of that?" Cosima shakes her head, "I still wake up and pinch myself, wondering if it's all been a dream. But, as amazing as it feels to have won those races, to realize it wasn't a dream, it pales in comparison to how amazing it feels to wake up with Delphine at my side."
Pierre closes his eyes, "Cosima, please."
"Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa," she holds up her hand, "I didn't mean it that way, and I'm still very sorry that you walked in on us the other day, that you had to find out about us like that." Pierre nods, waiting for her to continue. "What I mean is just how amazing it is having Delphine in my life. She was the last thing I expected to find here. But the moment I laid eyes on her, and the moment we first spoke, I felt it, I felt this connection, this undeniable draw to her. And it's not just because she's absolutely beautiful, but because she's clever and brilliant, and she's got this warm, gigantic heart. And she didn't like me very much at first, she tried to close herself off to me, but you encouraged her to spend time with me and, I don't know, somehow, over the course of that day, her barriers came down and we became friends, and that eventually grew into more, into this. What her and I have, it's real, and it's more than I could have ever hoped for. So, while I appreciate everything that you've done for me, if I have to choose between jockeying for you or being with Delphine, it's not even a contest, I choose Delphine. And that's not to say it wouldn't hurt, because Leda is an amazing horse and I would love to to finish out the season with her, but your daughter is everything to me, she is worth far more to me than my racing career. I ride because I enjoy it, and I guess I'm pretty decent at it, but it does not define my life or who I am, and if I had to give it all up right now, I could do it and be totally content. But Delphine, Delphine I could never give up. She is what makes me happy, gives my life real meaning. She is the last thing I think about before I go to sleep and the first thing on my mind when I wake up. I didn't come here expecting to find her, I came here to do a job, and I don't know if you believe in fate, I never used to, but I do now. I think you hiring me when you did, and bringing me here, was all some sort of grand plan the universe had for me to meet Delphine. The wins were just icing on the cake. So, while I respect you, and I owe you so much for everything that you've given me, number one being the chance to meet your daughter, I don't want to stay on here if things are going to be uncomfortable for you, if you're not able to accept my relationship with Delphine."
"Cosima, I don't want you to quit and I'm not going to fire you. Cosima, I'm not going to lie, I was unprepared for what I walked in on last week. Would it have made a difference if Delphine had been with a male jockey? No, it would have been just as uncomfortable. Would it have made a difference in my reaction if you were just an ordinary girl and not a jockey? Yes. You have to understand, I have never been in this position as an owner and I'm loathe to let anything risk ruining this for us. I see how much you care for Delphine. What you've just said to me, as a father, there's nothing I want to hear more from a suitor than that they put my child first above all else. But, as racehorse owner, I do have concerns about how this relationship will affect your performance and your employment with us should things go south."
"Well, hopefully, this relationship will only go north, to New York, specifically. Look, would it devastate me if Delphine and I didn't work out? Absolutely. That's the last thing I want to happen right now. But I would hope that if that were to occur, it would not affect my performance, and that I could continue to work for you."
"You say you hope, but you don't know."
"No, I mean how could we ever really know how some hypothetical situation will affect us? I do know that Delphine has the utmost confidence in me to continue to perform at the level that I have been should this relationship end, though neither of us expects it to end anytime soon. I am committed to your daughter, to our relationship, but I am also committed to continuing to race Leda this season and hopefully to continue working with you and your horses for years to come. If that's what you want."
"Of course that's what I want, Cosima."
"Great, but the only way that can happen is if you accept my relationship with Delphine, if you stop worrying about what might happen. I know how much your daughter loves you and I don't want this to be a source of constant contention between the two of you. It's not fair to her when all she did was somehow, out of all the trillions of people in this world, choose to be with me."
Pierre nods and walks out of the office, with Cosima hurrying to catch up as he reenters the dining room. Delphine and Marie look up as they come in. "Delphine?"
"Yes, Papa?" She stands up to face him head on.
He grips her shoulders, "Je suis désolé. It was wrong of me to react the way I did to finding you with Cosima, and to blame you for something that hasn't even happened yet, that may never happen. I didn't realize this relationship was as serious as it appears to be and perhaps I let my ambitions cloud my better judgement. I should put you first, always, and I think it took hearing Cosima do it to make me realize what a fool I've been. My horses could win a million races, but if you're not happy, then I have failed in life." He pulls her into a tight embrace.
Delphine is stunned, at first, by this sudden change, before she wraps her arms around him. She looks over at Cosima and mouths, "How?" Cosima simply shrugs as Marie comes over and hugs her.
Pierre breaks his hold on Delphine and kisses her on the forehead, "Now let's have dessert. Your mother made scrumptious looking profiteroles." He smiles as he heads into the kitchen with Marie.
"What was that?" Delphine asks as she approaches Cosima.
"I don't know, I guess I'm the father whisperer or something," she jokes.
"You're something all right," she leans down and kisses Cosima.
Pierre clears his throat as he carries in the dessert, causing them to release their liplock with matching smiles on their faces.
"Sorry, too soon?" Cosima asks, looking over at Pierre.
"Non, non, I'm French, I get it. But you may want to continue that after you've tried these." He holds the tray out to the girls, who each take a plate.
"Ooh, is that ice cream in there?" Cosima squeals as she examines the treat.
"Indeed," Marie grins as she moves past them to her chair, kissing Delphine on the cheek as she goes by.
Cosima hurries to her seat and digs in, "Mmm, mmm, mmm." She flashes the thumbs up sign, her mouth full of the dessert.
—
They all chat warmly for a while longer before calling it a night. After hugs and pleasantries are exchanged, Delphine and Cosima head back towards the cottage.
"So, arugula's not your thing, huh?"
"Not at all," Cosima says with a sour face causing Delphine to laugh.
She squeezes Cosima's hand, "Are you going to tell me what you said to Papa to cause such a drastic change in him?"
"No," Cosima shakes her head. "But I will say that I appealed to the total, unconditional love that your father has for you."
Delphine nods, "You worked a miracle."
"Nah, he just needed to open his eyes wider, see things clearer." They reach the cottage door, "Now that things are better with him, you sure you don't want to spend the night in your own bed?"
"Not unless you want to come back up there and spend it with me."
Cosima looks up at the house, then back at Delphine, "No, no, not when this cottage affords us the opportunity to be as loud as we want to be."
"Good choice," Delphine grins as she grips Cosima's cheeks and pulls her up towards her.
They're kissing as they enter the cottage, Delphine backing Cosima in and groping for the light switch. She finds it and flips it up, her eyes flutter open, taking in the light, before they quickly close, then pop open once more. She pulls away from Cosima, looks towards the couch, and let's out a scream.