Leaving New York

Chapter 30

The next day, Phillipe called during breakfast. Chloe answered but I could hear Phillipe's rather loud voice.

"Bonjour."

"Je suis Phillipe."

"Oh, hi. You want Gardner?"

"Oui."

Her husband got up, glancing at my hopeful face—it'd be nice to make some extra money plus Phillipe seemed cool. I listened to them talk.

"Bonjour, Phillipe, comment tailez vous?"

"Bien."

"I have a price for you—ten thousand Euro.

"That price includes all the labor?

"Oui."

"How long would it take?

"A week up to three weeks. I have other jobs."

"Okay, I'll get back to you. Au revoir, Phillipe." Gar hung up then addressed Chloe and I.

"He'll do it for ten thousand. Jack, you'd make about two thousand."

"Wow."

"He said it would take a week or three. Are you sure you want to do it?"

"Sure."

Gar said, "I'd help, but I'm going to start helping Bernie Orvitz with some accounting shit—I have to get out of the house; I'm going nuts with boredom. He'll also pay me a little something." Chloe smiled at her unemployed husband then walked towards the living room. As I treated myself to a second bagel, I heard her making some serious-sounding phone calls. I got up to clean the breakfast things thinking about being a pseudo roofer with some French guy I could barely understand. I quickly checked my bank accounts. I was okay with the pension and my considerable savings, but two thousand smackers would be welcome.

It was Sunday, and we'd promised the boys we'd take them to the Palais de la Découverte where they could explore their budding interest in science. Gar said the place focused on kids, with interactive displays on chemistry, astronomy, physics. Meerab had made straight A's on all his 7th-grade science tests. Khalil had just turned seven and loved looking at the stars at night; Gar was teaching him constellations from his old crewing days. The boys left the table after devouring the funny papers to get dressed; Lion sat in the garden with a coffee.

I finished up, went upstairs, stripped off my pajamas, wondering what to wear when there was a knock at the door; it began to open.

"Hold on."

"It's just me, Chloe." I grabbed my robe to cover my privates.

"Don't worry; I've seen a million naked guys."

"I guess so . . ."

"I just wanted to tell you, Gar and I are going into town to do some business, so we aren't going to the science place with you."

"Everything okay?"

"I hope so. We'll see you tonight."