Leaps and landings

25

Jess turned first, sensing how Odette's mind was going through every possible scenario this could go. She didn't want this to be really happening, as if not turning would somehow make it a figment of her imagination.

The man looked like he was in his early forties, his sharp salt and pepper beard and hair well groomed, his skin tanned evenly golden. His light grey linen suit and gold accessories along with his broad shouldered posture spoke for themselves. With the slight similarity in his green eyes, compared to Odette's, Jess really didn't need to ask who the man in question was.

Jess wanted to say a lot of things - to protect her, to ward him off somehow - but being caught off guard, he wasn't sure which way Odette wanted to deal with the situation. Just telling him to leave hardly wouldn't have solved anything. More than anything he was just frustrated that it had come to this.

"Je dois te parler, Odette," Henri said. Jess got the gist - he needed to talk to her, but if they kept this up he wasn't going to be able to follow soon with the speed he spoke. His demeanor didn't seem as rude or demanding as Jess had expected, if anything it was pleading, but he couldn't be sure if he was being genuine or not.

"Say what you have to say and then leave," Odette bellowed, as she turned, insisting on continuing in English. She wanted this, whatever it was, over quickly, and she wanted Jess to be able to follow what he said. Jess had never seen her this assertive, powerful and determined before - there really hadn't been a need for her to be.

"You're not going to invite me in?" he asked, switching to English somewhat reluctantly, adding, "I would think you'd know better than that to air our dirty laundry out on the street."

"I'd prefer not, but if it gets you to leave sooner, then fine," she hissed, beginning to search for her keys as he continued to walk towards her house, without waiting. There was no use to hiding her home now - he clearly knew already. She wondered how he found her, and more than that - for what reason. Odette exchanged a few glances with Jess, but neither had much to actually say until they knew what this was about.

Jess observed the interesting dynamic between Odette and Henri as they entered the house. While for most people the man would appear intimidating or even awe-worthy, Odette treated him one would treat a brother during a sibling bickering match, having him trail in after her without a word with a certain arrogance. Jess leaned against the kitchen doorway, without bothering with introductions, simply observing Odette pace angrily from one leg to another. He was there if she needed him, but it wasn't his battle, not now anyways.

"So what do you want?" Odette barked, her arms crossed firmly over her chest.

"You missed the funeral," he said. Jess couldn't quite tell whether it was a reprimand or a simple statement. Henri didn't have much of an accent in the pronunciation but rather his intonation was foreign, making it difficult for Jess to read.

"I forgot," she snapped back. She didn't care. She hadn't wanted to be there. But she doubted he would take either of those as a valid reply, so she might as well reply with something as ridiculous as she had.

"Oh, allez*," Henri let out a frustrated groan, taking a step closer to her, making Jess stand straight more assertively, as if ready to protect her physically if needed.

"How did you find me?" Odette asked seriously, insisting he'd stick to English.

"It wasn't easy, I tell you," Henri sighed.

"You didn't answer my question!" she exhaled frustratedly.

"Medical records," he replied bluntly, as if it had been his right to know. "Dad attempted to contact you for months, you know - without much luck. He didn't like the way you left things," he added calmly.