Ripples in the Rain

Chapter Six

The next morning, I couldn't stop grinning whenever I think about what happened the previous night. Naturally, I thought about what happened almost all the time. The smart, funny and beautiful man I met a short while ago had become a major part of my life. I was a worrier and a pessimist. However, this time I refused to allow negativity to enter my thoughts. For the first time in a long while I was really happy and I felt like the luckiest person alive.

I had only slept with one man before Oscar, and that was my ex-husband, Yves. He was tall, lanky and very Gallic looking. I met him when I was in University, many years ago. I was studying languages and he had just finished his Architecture course. We bonded over our love of books. Yes, Yves was going to be an architect, but he was also a bookworm. I was also blown away by his European elegance. And he was extremely charming. He could talk anyone into buying anything. He should've been a salesman.

We dated for a few years before getting married. I ignored our differences because I was young and in love. I didn't know why he chose me instead of the other pretty girls he used to date. Yves' parents were very wealthy French socialites who spoilt their only child. He wanted everything to go his way. He was like a little boy who always wanted to have fun and didn't care about the consequences of his actions. He was irresponsible at work and often squandered his parents' money by drinking, gambling and having a number of mistresses. I stayed married to him for over ten years because of our daughters. I didn't want them to have a broken family, and they both adored their father.

After last night, I discovered that Oscar was gentle in bed, very passionate and always concerned about how I was feeling. Unlike Yves, who was more focused on his own pleasure. Yves and I hardly slept with each other during the last year of our marriage. When he did ask for it, we kept it brief and mechanical. I guess his mind was elsewhere, with his myriad of mistresses who were waiting for him.

Spending time with a low key, easy going and funny guy like Oscar was like a breath of fresh air. Okay, he might be a successful actor, but sometimes I didn't even think about that. His fans were respectful of his privacy and mainly left him alone and there was only one paparazzi incident since we were together. To me, he's just Oscar, the funny, brilliant and wonderful man who swept me away like no one ever could.

I knew I had to stop grinning and replaying the events of last night before my daughters suspect that there was something different about me. But my girls were too smart for that. Both Sophie and Lucie noticed my extreme cheerfulness almost immediately. I was normally a quiet and calm person, it's highly unusual for me to jump for joy about every little thing I hear or see.

"I think I might buy that nice pink dress I saw at the Gap," Sophie said as she continued to pack her school bag.

"The dress you showed me a few days ago.? It's beautiful," I said enthusiastically.

"Really? But you didn't seem excited about it when I showed it to you."

"Maman," Lucie shouted from the other room, "I got a B for my history test."

"You got a B? That's brilliant, darling."

Lucie stared at me as if I was a complete stranger. "Maman, Lucie doesn't really get Bs. She is actually upset that she didn't get an A. What is wrong with you? Why are you so happy?"

"I'm not happy," I said, completely betraying myself by flashing a huge smile. "I'm just being normal."

"It must be that actor you're seeing," Sophie said.

"It's nothing," I brushed her off. "I'm not seeing Oscar. We're just friends."

"Maman, don't lie to me," she said as she grabbed my hand. "You are allowed to be happy. You can have a boyfriend, you know."

I ruffled my daughter's hair and kissed the top of her head, "Thank you, Soph. Oscar makes me happy."

"I'm glad," she said, sounding much older than her twelve years.

"I have to tell you that I'm seeing him in Venice after spending a few days at Grandmere's in Paris. I hope you're okay with that."

"Sure I am," she winked. "Just make sure he doesn't forget his promise to teach me guitar."

I decided to do a huge clean up at my apartment after my daughters left for school. We would be away for two weeks and it's nice to come home to a clean house. I turned the radio on and began vacuuming the living room when I felt the mobile phone in my pocket vibrate. I smiled when I saw who the caller was.

"Hi Oscar," I said, still smiling while I imagined his smooth tanned skin on mine.

"Hey Pip," he said, sounding as cheerful as I was. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing exciting," I said, trying to remain calm even though I wanted to shout to the world and advertise my happiness, "Just cleaning the house."

"I just want to tell you that I had a wonderful time last night."

"I'm glad," I said softly. "I've only done this with Yves before so I was worried that I couldn't live up to your standards."

"You were perfect," he said. "I know you must've thought that because I'm an actor, I go to bed with a lot of women, but I'm not like that at all."

"I believe you," I said, embarrassed that I had the exact assumption that handsome actors were all playboys. "But I still think you are really good at it. Much better than I am. " I blushed as I said that.

"I also want you to know that I think you're special, and I don't do this with every girl I meet," he said. " I will miss you when you're in Paris."

"Me too," I said. "And I can't wait to see you in Venice."
"I'm so happy that you agreed to come. I'll make sure you won't regret it."