The Odd Couple in Paris

by Patricia M Swayze

  “Since when are you concerned about my wife?” asked Raphael.

  “Does your new girlfriend know about your family and your affiliation?”

  “Don’t start anything here. I’ll see you at Tiffany’s when I get back.”

  “Don’t worry I would never tell. Even though you make me feel like I’m the only one.”

  “You know the deal. Anyway, I have to visit the restroom and get back. I have to stop in at Tiffany’s in a few days while I’m in Paris. You better be on your best behavior.” Monique put her hand to her eye as she felt it twitching and then lit a cigarette. “Ciao, Bella,” said Raphael.

  “I’m glad that you’re back, Raphael. I was getting lonely here. Is that woman taking a vacation here?”

  “Yes, she’s here with a girlfriend. She isn’t the nicest person and bitter because I broke up with her two years ago. Let’s go.” Raphael put money down for the bill and asked the waiter to call him a taxi. He had his arm around Lulu while they waited for the taxi. He kissed her hair. “You smell wonderful,” he said.

  “It’s the verbena shampoo that I used at the hotel,” Lulu said while giggling.

  “Is that what it is, my angel-tiger?”

  “Is this your hotel?”

  “Yes, we’re here. No more champagne for you,” said Raphael. They got into the elevator and rode up to the tenth floor. Raphael unlocked his hotel room while holding onto Lulu.

  “I’m not drunk, just a little tipsy. I’d like to lie down.”

  Raphael helped Lulu take off her heels and her Chanel dress and got her robe for her. “Lie down here, and I’ll get you some water.” As he was getting some water, the phone rang. It was his brother Giovanni. Giovanni started speaking in Italian, and Raphael started answering him in French. Giovanni told him that Lorena was going to get one of her cousins to go to Nice to check up on him. Raphael agreed that he was going to leave for Paris.

  “Here, drink this water so you don’t get dehydrated,” said Raphael.

  “Aren’t you going to try to seduce me?” asked Lulu.

  “I don’t take advantage of women that have had too much to drink. Do you want to sleep in the robe?”

  “No, it’s uncomfortable.”

  Raphael helped her take off the robe, and then he put the covers on her. “I’ll come to bed soon. I have to take care of some business first.” Lulu was already falling asleep. He left the bedroom and called downstairs and asked for the bellhop to bring up a guest packet with a toothbrush and paste. He looked in her straw bag that the bellhop had placed in the closet. In it he saw a packet of birth control pills. He looked at her driver’s license. She lived where she had told him, and she was twenty-six years old. After the bellhop came, he took the guest packet and put it in the bathroom that Lulu was using. He hung her clothes up in the closet and put her shoes there too. He ordered a wake-up call for 8:00 a.m. and ordered breakfast to be brought to the room at 9:00 a.m. Then he slipped into bed.

  Raphael woke up at 6:30 a.m. and quietly got out of bed. He took a shower in the next room because he didn’t want to wake up Lulu. By the time he came back, Lulu had just woken up. “How did you sleep, angel?”

  “Really well. I had too much champagne. It went down so smoothly that I didn’t realize that I drank too much.”

  “Yes, you were a party pooper,” said Raphael while grinning.

  “Let me get dressed,” said Lulu.

  “Take a shower and take your time. I ordered breakfast for the room. It’s coming at 9:00 a.m. If you want me to scrub your back, just leave the bathroom door unlocked.”

  “You’re so bad,” said Lulu. After Lulu finished with her tooth brushing and other necessities, she turned on the shower to the temperature that she wanted. Then she unlocked the bathroom door. She wondered if he would really come in. She got into the shower and was washing herself with the verbena bath wash when Raphael got into the tub.

  “I actually already had a shower, but I’ll help you.” He lathered her up and washed her hair. No man had ever washed her hair before. It was very exciting for her. As much as she had wanted to resist, she gave in. What they started was finished in bed, and Lulu was not disappointed. Raphael delivered as he had promised and then some. They had just put on their robes when the doorbell rang. “Let me go to the door and get our breakfast,” said Raphael.

  They sat at the round table with their breakfast. Neither one could stop smiling.

  “Well, you look like an angel, but you are a little tiger—just like I thought,” said Raphael.

  “I don’t even know your last name,” said Lulu.

  “It’s Sabini. I thought I told you that when I met you at the Italian restaurant. I use my mother’s name most of the time. I want to leave for Paris tomorrow. I have business to attend to and can’t stay here any longer. Can you leave with me in the morning?”

  “Yes, but I should get back to my hotel by lunch time and pack my things. And I have to let Dillon know. He can stay the rest of the time. I’ll just tell him that I’ll see him back in Paris.”

  “You can stay here tonight. It will be easier. I can change your train ticket after you get it from your hotel. Let’s get dressed now. We can walk back to your hotel. Wear your white dress.”

  Lulu put on her white dress and her walking sandals and put her sundress, evening bag, and heels in her large straw purse. “I’m ready.”

  They walked through the lobby and the hotel attendant called out, “Bonjour, Monsieur Rosetti.”

  “Why is he calling you by that name? You told me that your name is Sabini.”

  “I don’t use my real name when staying at hotels. I don’t want people to know my business. I come from a famous Italian family. Imagine if you had a celebrity name: you would make yourself a target by using that name.”

  “I’ve never heard of the name Sabini.”

  “It’s my mother’s name. I told you that. Besides you ask too many questions. The details aren’t important.” Raphael was getting annoyed. He had already told Lulu more than he should have.

  “I like details because I plan to write books when I have the time.”

  “Are you going to write a book called The Italian Lover?” Raphael laughed.

  “No, that’s too generic. I’m sure that’s been written about many times. I would have to come up with a more original name—maybe something about the Mafia.”

  “Don’t go there. I know we kid around, but the Mafia is very powerful, and you don’t want to talk about them. In Italy lots of businesses that are legitimate have connections because if they don’t give them a percentage, they cause trouble. The police can’t always help you. Look, there’s Tiffany’s. I want to stop in there for a few minutes.”

  The staff knew Raphael and called him by his first name. He introduced Lulu to them. “Let me show you some earrings that I designed.” Lulu looked at all of the beautiful gold earrings.

  “The gold looks very bright.”

  “It’s all eighteen-karat gold. That’s why it has such a rich look to it. Which one do you like the best?”

  “I think these flower earrings are the most beautiful. They aren’t large, but the blossoms are so pretty, and the detail is wonderful,” said Lulu.

  “Yes, they‘re lovely. They’re the ones that I designed,” said Raphael. He spoke French to the manager, and the manager nodded.

  Raphael said goodbye, and they walked on in the direction of Lulu’s hotel. “Do you want to have lunch?” asked Raphael.

  “No, I’m still full from breakfast. Let’s just go back to my hotel, so I can tell Dillon about leaving early. I want to spend the afternoon with him.”

  “That’s a good idea. I have business to do before I leave.” Lulu wondered what kind of business he had to do. He seemed mysterious, but she found him fascinating. They walked back holding hands all the way to Lulu’s h
otel. When she got there, she looked up and saw Dillon on the balcony.

  “Hey, Chockey Bickey. So you’ve returned.” Dillon was grinning as usual.

  “Bring your ticket down here, and I will change it for you,” said Raphael. Lulu took the elevator up while Raphael waited in the lobby for her.

  “I have to bring something down to Raphael, and then I’ll be right back,” she said to Dillon. Dillon wondered what she was up to. He went back out on the balcony.

  “Here’s my ticket.”

  “I’ll pick you up at 4:00 p.m. with a taxi. Wait in the lobby until you see me.” He bent down to kiss Lulu and then got into a taxi. Dillon watched from the balcony.

  11

  Having a Fling

  “I’m glad you’re back. I was getting a little worried. Looks like he’s your new lover.”

  “Yes, I’m having a fling. Listen, I have to leave tomorrow morning for Paris because Raphael has to go there before he heads back to Milan. He’s changing my ticket, so I’ll see you back in Paris. Hope you aren’t upset about having to go back by yourself, but you’ve traveled by yourself before.”

  “I’m not upset. I just feel responsible for you since I told your uncle that you were going with me.”

  “I’m an adult. Martin wasn’t too concerned when he took off for Rome right after we arrived in Paris. I have to pack now, but then we can do something once I’m finished. I have to leave at 4:00 p.m. and stay at Raphael’s hotel overnight.” Lulu grabbed her clothes from the closet and packed them in her suitcase. She gathered up all of her toiletries and stuffed them in her suitcase. She put her shoes in the outside zipper compartment. “I really need to buy a new suitcase. This one looks so old.”

  “Have Raphael buy you one. Is that dress new?”

  “Yes, he bought me this dress and another one. I’m surprised you noticed.”

  “It looks like a Chanel. Of course, I’m going to notice. Well, he certainly has good taste—too bad that he’s married.”

  “I’m glad that he’s married. But I never told you that he’s married. I don’t think that I would want to be married to him. He comes from a very famous family. He’s always looking over his shoulder. He probably has to worry about getting kidnapped. I don’t think that he would ever leave Italy. Let’s walk to the Palace Garden and have lunch.”

  “You didn’t have to tell me that’s he’s married. I assumed that he was. I hope my shorts and shirt are OK with you.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be OK?”

  “You’re wearing Chanel now. What else did he buy you?”

  “A pair of Gucci heels and an evening bag. But that’s not important. He didn’t force himself on me. I chose to sleep with him.”

  “Oh, Chockey Bickey. He really is a good seducer.”

  “He’s a great lover. Fantastic, really. You’re just jealous.”

  “Yeah, maybe I am. I wonder how long that he’s going to stay in Paris?”

  “I don’t know. I think he has to get back to work in Milan.”

  “He probably has to get back to his wife. Don’t you think that she’s wondering why he is taking so long?”

  “You’re just assuming. We don’t know his business routine.”

  “He might be always looking over his shoulder because his wife is sending someone to spy on him. If he’s really rich so is his wife. It’s probably best that you get out of Nice.”

  “You have such an imagination,” Lulu said while laughing. “Your theory is so silly.”

  They approached the Garden Palace and sat down at a table. “I’m just going to have something light. I had a big breakfast.”

  “I’m not that hungry either. I went out last night and ran into Jacques. I had a good time. There were a few of his friends from Paris with him. I told you that he works in his father’s bookstore. He wants us to see a cancan show when we get back to Paris.”

  “He hasn’t even met me yet. Isn’t a cancan show very chauvinistic?”

  “It’s something fun to watch if you’ve never seen it before. They serve you dinner, and afterward, you watch the show.”

  “Why is Jacques so eager to meet me? Doesn’t he have French women to go out with?”

  “I told him about you and showed him a picture.”

  “God, I hope you didn’t tell him personal things about me.”

  “I didn’t say that much. I think he likes your picture.”

  “European men always think that American girls are easy. They think that they all want to have a romantic fling when they get here.”

  “Isn’t that what you wanted to do?”

  “I wasn’t going to, but I really like Raphael. I’ve never done this before, and I don’t think that I would do it again—not with someone married.”

  “I think you’re playing with fire. It’s one thing if you spent the night when you first met him and he went on to Paris and back to Milan, but he’s stayed on to spend time with you. He had already been in Nice a few days when we met him.” Lulu just shrugged and didn’t comment.

  The waiter came to take their order and they both ordered a tuna salad with mineral water. “When is Martin returning to Paris?”

  “I don’t know exactly. He has to be back to work September 20. He must be having a great time in Rome. I’m assuming he’s still in Rome.”

  “Are you going to tell him about you’re Italian lover?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Why, you don’t think that he would approve?”

  “What could he say? Do you think that he’d worry if someone was married?”

  “Look over there. That man has a camera inside his newspaper. He’s taking your picture,” said Dillon.

  Lulu jumped up and yelled, “Why are you taking my picture?”

  The man quickly walked away. “Let’s go back. What a creep. Don’t say anything and don’t use the M-word.”

  “OK, Chockey Bickey,” said Dillon while grinning.

  It was almost 4:00 p.m. when Lulu and Dillon got back. She asked a bellhop to carry her suitcase down to the lobby. She gave Dillon a hug and told him that she would see him back in Paris. Five minutes later she saw Raphael get out of the taxi. He came to the lobby and carried out Lulu’s suitcase. He opened the taxi door for Lulu and, right after she got in, he heard a familiar voice yell, “Raphael.”

  “Move quickly,” he said to Lulu. Lulu barely had time to move over before Raphael jumped in. He told the taxi driver to step on it.

  “What’s going on?” asked Lulu.

  “It’s one of Lorena’s cousins, and I don’t want to see him right now. He’s very nosy. It’s nothing to worry about. He has a big mouth. You look very pretty. How is Dillon?”

  “He’s OK. He went out last night and ran into some friends. One lives in Paris, and they’re going to get together when they both get back.”

  “Good. I’m glad he isn’t feeling sorry for himself. But he doesn’t seem like the type.”

  “This seems like a different way,” said Lulu.

  “We’re going to a different hotel. One that is closer to the train station. But it’s still really nice.”

  Raphael paid the taxi driver and took her suitcase in. He signed in, and the hotel clerk called him Monsieur Cutolo. Lulu stared at Raphael.

  “I always use different names. They know who I am. It’s like what the celebrities do. Now, if Lorena’s cousin tries to find me, he won’t be able to.” They went up to the room and put their things away. “Did you miss me?” asked Raphael.

  “It’s only been a few hours,” said Lulu laughing. Raphael opened his suitcase and took out the black Chanel dress and gave it to Lulu to put in her suitcase.

  “I missed you so much. Let’s get undressed and spend the afternoon in bed then later go for a swim.” Raphael put the ‘do not disturb’ sign out on the door.
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br />   At 6:00 p.m. they decided to go for the swim. They walked down to the pool in their swim robes. “I don’t know if I have much energy for swimming,” said Lulu.

  “We can sit in the hot tub.” While they sat in the hot tub like newlyweds in heavenly bliss, the waiter came by and took their order.

  “What are we going to do for dinner?” asked Lulu.

  “I think we should just have room service tonight and relax. We leave early in the morning.”

  “That’s OK with me. I wanted to tell you that a man at the Palace Garden had a camera hidden in his newspaper and took my picture. He had the newspaper rolled up, and inside was a camera. I yelled at him and then he went away.”

  “Sometimes people take pictures of pretty girls and use them in magazines. It’s probably nothing.” Raphael looked around the pool area as if he was looking for something. “How’s your drink?”

  “It’s good.”

  “Let’s go upstairs to our room. We can take the drink with us.”

  “We’ve only been here for a few minutes.”

  “I know, but it’s getting too hot for me, and I’d rather relax in the room.”

  They went back to their room, and Raphael handed Lulu the menu and told her to pick something. He went to the other room to call his brother Giovanni. He spoke in French. Giovanni told him that Lorena’s cousin was trying to spy on him for Lorena. “I know, I saw him when I was getting into the taxi. He called my name, but I just took off. I’m in a different hotel. I’ll call Lorena tomorrow morning before I leave for Paris. That little bastard. I should send someone to spy on Lorena. Why don’t you tell her that.” Giovanni told him to get to Paris and come back to Milan in a few days. He told him not to start trouble for the family.

  “Are you OK?” asked Lulu.

  “Yes, I’m just annoyed with my brother Giovanni. Family can be so annoying. They act like I can’t take a vacation. All they think about is work. Did you order something?”

  “I ordered the veal scaloppini with pasta, salad, and a red wine.”