Lara

Chapter 12

The cobblestone streets of Lannion are quiet as I stand in front of Le Pigment Bleu. Through the large windows, I admire the clean, open layout of the store that allows the pottery to be the main focus. Did Adelaide make pottery here in Lannion at a time when this shop didn't exist yet? I can't help but wonder. Or am I at a dead end and will never know what transpired between her and my grandmother?

The note on the door, as translated by Google, says they are currently closed but will be open in an hour. Since I have shopping to do for my dinner tomorrow, I set off to those stores first. 

About an hour later, after traipsing all over Lannion, I go back to the pottery shop to find it still closed. Deflated, I start to lug my purchases back up the street to where I parked.

It's then I see a familiar figure coming my way. "Bonjour...uh Chloé?"

There are a man and a little girl with her as well but I'm certain it's the same woman I met at the street market last week.

"Bonjour," she greets me with a look that tells me she recognizes me as well.

"I don't know if you remember me, but I met you at the street market. You gave me directions to the art supply store?"

"Oui," she answers with a nod.

"My name is Lara. I have a question for you, but I don't want to keep you."

She motions to the pottery shop with a smile. "We return now. Please come inside."

"Ok thank you. Merci."

She nods and opens the door and we all file inside. The shop is small and simple with a unique layout - behind the counter is a working studio and the rest of the shop displays the finished pottery for sale.

Chloé motions to the man beside her, "This is my husband Louis." She places a hand on the little girl's head. "This is Madelyn."

"Nice to meet you both. Your shop is amazing!"

I move over to a display with those same beautiful vases I saw at the market that remind me of the sunrise. Next to them is a display of hand-painted bowls in white and blue scenes depicting a French town. A grey cat suddenly jumps up on the table and rubs the length of its body against my hand.

The little girl shyly comes over as well. "C'est ma chat," she announces.

I'm pretty sure she said that is her cat. "Your....chat est adorable," I respond.

She smiles delightedly and picks up the cat. "Son nom est Jacques."

Chloé gently admonishes her daughter, "Anglais s'il vous plaît."

Madelyn wrinkles her nose but obeys her mother. "His name is Jack. He is my best cat."

I grin as she marches to the back of the store with Jacques still in her embrace, his hind legs dangling.  He is a good cat; he didn't protest one bit.

Chloé's husband moves to the back of the shop as well and starts working in their studio space.

I turn to Chloé. "I don't want to keep you. I just had a question about a local artist that may have been making and selling pottery in the 1940s either before or after the war? I'm sorry I'm not sure of the exact time."

Chloé looks at me with a confused look on her face.

I take out my phone intending on using the help of Google translate for what I want to ask.

"Your necklace..." Chloé reaches for my Larimar necklace I'm wearing but stops just short. "Forgive me. It looks...uh...familiar."

She motions to her husband and says something in French. He comes over and peers at my necklace and nods at his wife. Then he disappears through a door in the back of the shop.