ESCAPE TO PARIS

Chapter Five

Reya sat in Madame Billeaux's garden drinking tea, but it wasn't a relaxing visit.

"This is awkward," Reya said. "This is horrible. I should leave."

"You have already repeated these words three times," Madame Billeaux said sighing. "You are being silly and you need to relax."

"Relax," Reya said, rolling her eyes. "Sure." She took a swig of tea like it was beer.

"Believe me that woman is not for Francois," Madame Billeaux said sternly. "She is rigid and possessive, and one who gets distracted by other men. Not to be trusted."

Reya gasped. "She cheated on him?"

"It didn't get that far, but Francois is intelligent like me. When he could sense it he didn't wait around."

"Then why did you let her inside?" she said frowning.

"As much as she is not my choice she was rather persistent. She hadn't been able to get a hold of him, and claimed she had something important to say. I at least wanted to give her that chance."

"Whatever," Reya said, practically sneering.

Madame Billeaux smiled. "You know I am right."

"Yes I know!" Reya admitted, like an annoyed teenager who hated to be wrong.

"And besides," Madame Billeaux added, "things have a way of working out."

She winked just as the door to the terrace opened and Francois stepped outside. With the woman right behind him.

"Dominique," he said, gesturing to the table. "This is Reya."

Reya managed a smile. "Nice to meet you."

"She has been keeping my grandmother company these last few weeks," he said. "And we were out today trying to plan a nice lunch for her this week; it was supposed to be a secret, but I suppose now it's best to admit it."

Reya's smile disappeared. "Right." She turned her gaze to Madame Billeaux. "It was a surprise," she said lying.

"Reya," he went on, looking rather uncomfortable," this is Dominique. She's--"

"His girlfriend," Dominique said coldly. "Which was always was the case, minus a brief misunderstanding." She squeezed his hand. "N'est ce pas?"

He nodded in agreement, and Reya couldn't tell if he was hypnotized or being held hostage.

Dominique whispered in his ear and he nodded again. "We should get going." He rushed over for the customary double-kiss for his grandmother, and another one for Reya that was as formal as the one from the first day they'd met. Her eyes caught his gaze for a brief moment and he seemed apologetic.

Then he was gone.

Reya reached for her cup of tea, and took a trance-like sip before realizing it was empty. "Oh." She looked up at Madame Billeaux. "You were right," she said. "Things do have a way of working out. For other people."

For once Madame Billeaux didn't say anything, and as Reya sat there, she tried her best to remember her first day in the garden, and further back she remembered that afternoon at Galeries Lafayette, when fate had brought her to Madame Billeaux in the first place. She'd made a friend in Paris, a true friend she would cherish for life, and it seemed quite silly to let that be clouded by a momentary crush.

"I know you don't usually make it out past six p.m.," Reya said, "but how do you feel about going out to dinner tomorrow?"

Madame Billeaux smiled wide. "I feel that it's been far too long since my last evening out."