New Year's Eve

CHAPTER 2

"Je suis désolé, madame. Je ne t'ai pas remarqué", the man draws me a pair of napkins, speaking in melodious French, "Vous n'êtes pas brûlé?"

I have absolutely no idea what the man is talking about, but he looks guilty.

"Excuse me, I don't speak French", I smile kindly at the man.

"Oh, so you're English", he says somehow joyfully in my native language, "I asked if you are not badly burned", he explains, "And I'm sorry I didn't see you."

"It's all right. I wasn't hurt, unlike my coat", I lowered my gaze to the dark stain, the tissues didn't help the situation one bit.

"I'm really sorry. I'll pay for your cleaning."

"That's not necessary", I assure him, "How did you know?"

"About what?"

"That I am English."

"I live in London most of the time", he answers, "You Englishmen have a peculiar way of speaking."

"I'll take it as a compliment", I said to him, and he laughed with a chuckle.

"I'm Marcel", he looked at me questioningly.

"Helena."

"It's so nice to meet you, Helena", he says, a gorgeous smile blooming on his face. And I can't help but smile back at him.

What was I thinking ten minutes ago? His radiant smile fogs my mind. All thoughts magically disappear. Some men are not allowed to smile like that.

"Is there any way I can make it up to you?", Marcel says good-natured.

"That's unnecessary", I said, and despite the confusion in my mind, I looked perfectly collected. The years of practice are making themselves felt.

"At least let me buy you a coffee."

"I'd rather have a hot chocolate", God, what am I doing?

"Then please, ma chérie", his face lights up again with a big smile.

We walk up to the same cabin I'd noticed before the ridiculous encounter with Marcel. While he orders hot chocolate and more coffee, I stand aside. I feel very uncomfortable. I was totally unprepared for this kind of encounter with a stranger. An incredibly hot stranger, I must admit. Nightmare, what am I thinking? Loneliness is bad for me after all.

"Your hot chocolate", he holds out a large glass to me, snapping me out of my musings.

"Marshmallows?", I look at the guy in surprise, taking the hot treat from his hands.

"Thought you might like it. Shall I order another one?", Marcel asks worriedly, and I start laughing.

"No, that's okay. I like marshmallows."

And again that stunning smile blooms on his face.

"Are you here alone?", Marcel asks a little belatedly.

"Totally alone", I tell him honestly, "I came to Paris by myself."

"It's sad to spend Christmas alone", said my new friend.

"As far as I can tell, you're also walking alone at the fair."

"Not at all", he happily denies my hunch, "My family is waiting for me by the Christmas tree."

After his confession, my high spirits plummeted. Was I expecting something more?

"Then don't waste your precious time on me", I tried not to look him in the eye, so as not to betray my disappointment.

"But I want to. My family will be glad when they find out the reason for my absence."

"Do you think your wife will be happy that you were with another woman?", I look up and see the brown-haired man laughing.

"Ma chérie, who said I was married?"

But I don't have time to say anything, because I hear someone calling Marcel behind my back.

"Marcel, où es-tu allé?"

"Marie, ça va. J'ai aspergé cette fille de café et j'essaie maintenant de me faire pardonner", my acquaintance says good-natured.

Marcel converses with the unknown brunette in his native language for some time. I do not understand a word and I feel very uncomfortable because of that. I just want to leave.

As soon as I have this thought, Marcel turns to me.

"Helena, let me introduce you to my sister Marie", he approaches me practically right up close.

"Marie, this is my friend Helena", he now speaks to his sister in English, "Helena doesn't speak French", he explains to his sister. And for the second time in the last half hour, I feel like a real fool.

"It's nice to meet you", I hold out my hand with a big smile on my face.

"And I'm glad", the girl reciprocates, "Will you spend this Christmas with us?"