“All right, I want to get a change of clothes and my toiletries.” They took a taxi back to her apartment so Lulu could change and get her overnight bag. Raphael asked the taxicab to wait.
“Ready?” asked Raphael.
“Yes.” She turned off the lights and locked the door. It was a short ride to the hotel.
“Did you enjoy the musical?”
“It was very good. I enjoyed the evening.” Lulu kept looking at the watch. The watch had a row of diamonds. She wished that they had just said their goodbyes earlier. She knew that she would probably never see Raphael again. She began to feel awkward. “Do you regret our fling?”
“No, do you?” asked Raphael.
“I feel a little strange now. Maybe we should have just ended it in Nice. Goodbyes are hard.”
“Just imagine that we will see each other again sometime. Like when you’re in Los Angeles, then it won’t feel so strange. Goodbyes are always difficult,” said Raphael.
“Good evening, Mr. Sabini.” Raphael told the desk clerk that he would be checking out in the afternoon of the next day. He ordered a bottle of champagne and strawberries for the room.
While Lulu put on the robe from the closet and put her clothes on the chair, Raphael was in the adjacent room speaking in Italian. She wasn’t able to hear what he was saying. She only heard him say goodbye at the end. She put her watch and earrings in a small box and put them in her bag. The bellhop knocked on the door, and Lulu let him in. He put the champagne and strawberries on the small table. Raphael came out of the bedroom and gave the bellhop a tip.
“Let’s just relax awhile. They both sat at the table and drank the champagne. He lifted the glass. Here’s to your future. I’m sure you will do well. Los Angeles is a great city and so is San Diego. Can I send you a letter or card?”
“I’ll give you my parent’s address. I’ll be staying there for a few months before I move—if I move.” Lulu took the pen from the desk and wrote on the pad. “You can always reach me there. I’ll stay in touch with my parents if I move. We’re very close.”
“You still have my business address that I gave you?”
“Yes, I have it in my wallet. But I doubt that I will be writing much. Maybe a short note that I arrived back to the States. I have another month here in Paris.”
“I’ll call you from Milan. You’re going to stay at the apartment?”
“Yes, until I fly back. But don’t feel that you have to call me.”
“Remember what I told you. If I weren’t married, I would marry you for sure.”
Lulu looked at his face. She saw slight imperfections that she hadn’t seen before. The slight bump in his nose. His hair was a little too long. There was some gray at the temples. “You aren’t thirty-two, are you?”
“No, I’m thirty-six. Now you know.” Lulu wondered what else he lied about. “Come here and sit on my lap.”
She sat on his lap while he gave her a strawberry to eat. He put his arms around her, and she felt comforted. She got into bed with him one last time. He was still the seducer.
Raphael got up early and was packing his suitcase. Lulu went into the bathroom for a shower. She turned on the water but remembered that she left her robe on the chair. As she opened the door, she saw Raphael with his back turned toward her. He was gesturing with his hands speaking in Italian. She stood there quietly for a moment thinking how he reminded her of her father talking with his hands.
Then she heard him say his wife’s name. He told Lorena how much he missed her and couldn’t wait to make love to her again.
Lulu went back to her shower. Now she really felt like a fool. Even though she knew that he was married, she thought that she was special to Raphael. Better than any of the other women that he had seduced while he was married.
“How did you sleep?” asked Raphael.
“OK.”
“I just have to take a quick shower then we can go downstairs for breakfast.” Raphael kissed Lulu and then got into the shower. Lulu looked around the room to make sure that she had all of her things together. She put on her sandals and got her bag then quietly slipped out the hotel room. She rode the elevator down and said bonjour to the hotel clerk. Her apartment was only a short, ten-minute walk. She didn’t want to admit that Dillon was right. Raphael was a playboy. He loved women and treated them well, but he wasn’t serious. But she was just as much to blame because she knew that he was married, so she didn’t think that she could complain to anyone about it.
Lulu felt relieved to be back at her apartment. The affair had to end, and she didn’t know how to say goodbye. Hearing him talk to his wife just made it that much more awkward for her. She opened up her apartment windows to air it out. She put on a pot of coffee. She felt incredibly guilty and knew that she didn’t ever want to have an affair with a married man again. What an idiot I am, she thought. She played “Free Man in Paris.” After a short while, she closed the windows and left for the supermarket to buy a few groceries.
When she returned from the supermarket, she took a nap. She was expecting Dillon to show up around 2:00 p.m. She went into a deep sleep and had a strange and convoluted dream. She saw Lorena at home in Milan, pregnant like she was going to deliver any day. Lorena didn’t have dark hair but was dark blond with green eyes. Raphael was showering her with gifts. They had a nursery set up for the baby. Lulu woke up from the dream irritable. She went next door to a small bakery and bought herself a chockey bickey and one for Dillon. She would wait until Dillon showed up, and they could have coffee together. She heard the key turn in the door.
“Bonjour,” said Dillon with a grin.
“Hi, Dillon. I’ve been waiting for you. I’m going to make us some coffee to go with the pastry that I bought.”
“Thanks, I just had breakfast early this morning. I’m going to put my things away.”
“Have a chockey bickey. What did you do with the rest of your time in Nice?”
“I went to one museum and met some art students. So I hung out with them one afternoon. Where’s Lover Boy?”
“I left his hotel this morning without saying goodbye while he was in the shower. I don’t know what he thought.”
“Why did you do that?”
“I overheard him talking to his wife in Italian. He told her that he missed her and couldn’t wait to make love to her again. That just made me feel really awkward and guilty. I should have ended it in Nice. He bought me an expensive Gucci watch. I would return it and get the money, but he had my name inscribed. He already bought me eighteen-karat gold Tiffany earrings. Not to mention the dresses, shoes, bathing suit, and evening bag. No one’s ever bought me such expensive gifts.”
“Have you ever dated a very rich, married man before?”
“No. He said that I was his last fling. He’s really thirty-six, not thirty-two.”
“He looks good. His brother, Giovanni looks younger and is just as good looking. Maybe you picked the wrong one. Is he married?”
“No, he’s single. I feel like a fool. But I would never do it again.”
“It’s not that bad. Maybe his wife fools around too. Super rich people are different.”
“He carries a gun in his briefcase. I saw it when we were on the train together.”
“Now you’re freaking me out. It’s good that he’s going back to Milan. Or has he left?”
“He’s leaving this evening. I’m surprised that he didn’t call me, since I took off,” said Lulu.
There was a knock on the door. “I’ll answer it,” said Lulu.
“Ciao, Lulu” Raphael stood in the doorway with a single red rose.
“Ciao, Raphael. Do you want to come in?”
“No, I don’t have time, the taxi is waiting. Can you come out here for a minute?”
Lulu had a worried look on her face. Dillon stood behind her. “OK.” Lulu stepped out
side and shut the door. Raphael handed her the rose and told her that she was a rose.
“Why did you run away this morning?”
“I felt guilty after I heard you talking to your Lorena when I came out of the bathroom to get my robe. And I don’t like goodbyes.”
“Don’t feel guilty. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have seduced you. You should have picked Giovanni—he’s single. But I was selfish. Remember what I told you about marrying you if I wasn’t already married.”
“What makes you think that I would marry you?” asked Lulu with a big grin on her face.
Raphael was smiling now showing his perfectly white teeth. He moved closer and kissed her. She didn’t resist. “Ciao, Bella,” he told her.
Lulu watched him get into his taxi. She turned to walk back to the apartment and found Dillon right behind the door as she opened it. “Were you listening?”
“I was trying to but could only hear Raphael’s voice. Well, honey, don’t feel guilty. You must have bruised his ego by taking off this morning without saying goodbye.”
“Probably, but he must have some feelings for me. He didn’t have to give me those gifts. He can get women without giving them presents. But I’ll never really know.”
“He probably has a crush on you.”
“This rose smells good. I’m going to find a small vase.”
14
Tiffany’s
The next day, Lulu spent a great deal of the day in her room listening to Joni Mitchell music and reading while Dillon went over to the bookstore to see his new friend Jacques. It wasn’t until 2:00 p.m. that Lulu got the idea to visit Tiffany’s. She put her eighteen-karat earrings on but put her hair over the earrings to cover them. She decided to also put a scarf on that she rolled into a head band to cover the earrings even better.
After she entered Tiffany’s, she was greeted by a salesman. Lulu saw a female sales assistant at the far corner of the room and realized that it was the woman in Nice. Lulu pretended to look at the glass cases and gradually made her way to Monique.
“Bonjour,” said Monique.
“Do you speak English?” asked Lulu.
“Of course. Are you looking for something special?”
Lulu looked at the eighteen-karat gold earrings that were the same as the ones Raphael had given her. “I have a pair of those. They were from Raphael.” She pulled back her scarf to show Monique. The price tag on the earrings was in French francs. Lulu asked Monique how much that was in American dollars. Monique took out her calculator and told Lulu it was around $2,000.
Monique looked at Lulu for a moment then replied, “You were with him in Nice. I didn’t recognize you in your blue jeans. He must really have liked you to give you such expensive earrings. He gave me a job, which I prefer to the jewelry.”
“He offered to give me a job, too, but I don’t need one. I’m going back to the US. Maybe you can get him back now.”
“You must be joking. We didn’t get along that well. After I traveled to Beverly Hills with him, we came apart.”
“You mean you split up.”
“Yes, excuse my English.”
“Your English is very good. I’m impressed.” Monique smiled slightly.
“Anyway, I didn’t want to be his mistress. He’s never going to leave his wife. There is too much money involved with their businesses. And I feel that he loves her in his way. He’s a playboy, like most Italian men in his position. You realize who he is, don’t you?”
“Raphael Sabini?”
“That’s one of his names that he uses. I’m not going to tell you. He will get angry, and I don’t want to cross him. I still have to deal with him whenever he comes in here for business. Funny, but you look a lot like his wife.”
“I thought she had dark hair and eyes.”
“No, her hair is dark blond, and she has green eyes. He brought her in to the shop one time a few years ago.”
“Can you tell me his real name?”
“He’s from a very powerful family in Italy. I’m not going to say anything else.”
“He was very generous with me. He bought me a Gucci watch, too, and had my name engraved,” said Lulu.
“Gucci. Well, that certainly is appropriate. He’s well-connected with the Gucci family. Good luck with your return to the US. Are you leaving soon?” asked Monique.
“In a few weeks. Thanks for the information. Ciao.”
“Ciao, Bella,” said Monique. Lulu was annoyed that Monique said the same thing to her that Raphael had said to her.
Dillon was back at the apartment when Lulu returned. He was writing more of his silly sentences in his journal. “Where did you go?” asked Dillon.
“I went to Tiffany’s to see if Monique was there. She’s an old girlfriend of Raphael’s. I saw her in a restaurant in Nice. She wouldn’t tell me Raphael’s real last name. She seems surprised that I don’t know. He was using a different name whenever we checked into another hotel. I told her that he gave me a Gucci watch, and she said that that was appropriate.”
“Is she French?”
“Yes, and she acts like a snooty Parisian. She split up with Raphael after they went to Beverly Hills together. She said that she didn’t want to be his mistress and that they didn’t get along that well. She also believes that he loves his wife and would never leave her because both their families are in business together.”
“What did she mean when she said that the Gucci watch was appropriate?” asked Dillon.
“She said that he is well connected to the Gucci family. I’m not going to talk about it to anyone.”
“Monique knows about you.”
“She doesn’t know my name and, besides, she’s afraid of Raphael. She already said that she doesn’t want to cross him, and she likes her job.”
“I think that you should keep a low profile and stay away from the Tiffany store.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going back there,” said Lulu.
“Let’s go to the bookstore where Jacques works and hang out there. You need a distraction.”
“Do you want to go tomorrow afternoon?” asked Lulu.
“Yeah, cool.”
15
The Book Store
“So, Jacques works at his father’s bookstore?”
“He’s half owner. At some point it will be solely his,” said Dillon.
“How much farther is it?”
“It’s just around the corner, Chockey Bickey.”
“Don’t start calling me that now,” said Lulu.
“OK, Femme Fatale or should it be Man-Eater?” asked Dillon with amusement.
“Don’t talk about my affair while we’re in the bookstore. Or I’ll leave and never return.”
“Just kidding. Well, here we are,” said Dillon.
They walked in, and a young woman at the front desk greeted them. Lulu followed Dillon. The bookstore had an antique quality. Wooden chairs covered with a blue velvet material, were placed throughout the store, inviting customers to stop and browse through a book. There was an office in the back of the store. A young man looked their way and waved. “There he is,” said Dillon.
“What’s happening?” said Jacques with a slight accent.
“I brought Lulu with me.”
“Enchanté.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Lulu.
“So, you liked Nice and had a good time?” asked Jacques.
“Yes, I loved it there.”
“Me too, but I’m from Nice originally. My family moved to Paris ten years ago to open our bookstore. I like Paris because there is so much to do and see, but the people here aren’t as friendly.”
“Can you give us a tour of your store?” asked Dillon.
“Of course. Let’s go upstairs to the loft,” said Jacques.
“Have you been busy J. P.
?” asked Dillon.
“We were busy over the weekend, but it’s slowed down now. They climbed the stairs to the loft, which had a selection of English books. I like to hide out here sometimes and just read.”
“What kind of books do you read?” asked Lulu.
“Everything. I try to read books in English. We have a large set of erotica books here and classics. I just finished reading Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence. Well, I don’t have to tell you about books. Dillon told me that you have an MA in English.”
“Yes. What else did he tell?”
“A lot. No, I’m just kidding. He said very little.”
“Really. I hope it was all good, or he’s going to be in big trouble.”
“Don’t worry, Dillon is a good guy, even if he doesn’t have any muscles,” laughed J. P. Dillon just grinned.
“Oh, you noticed that too in Nice. I thought it very strange.”
“You’re not used to French humor,” said J. P.
“No, she’s more used to Italian humor,” said Dillon.
“I’m mostly Italian. Italians are more earthy, and the French more intellectual.” J. P. laughed while Lulu glanced over at Dillon.
“You two make an odd couple but in a good way.” said J. P.
“We’re really not a couple. We’re friends, but I suppose when we travel together, we might look like a couple,” said Lulu.
“Let me show you something interesting,” said J. P. He walked over to a bookshelf and put his hand behind the shelf and pressed. A door opened into a small room with comfortable looking chairs and a coffee table and a Tiffany lamp. J. P. gestured for them to go in. Lulu could see that there was also a small kitchen with a table and chairs.
“This is my little hideaway. He pulled back a curtain, which showed the store below. And I can spy on people below.”
“How cool,” said Dillon. Lulu and Dillon sat down and looked around.
“I have a little kitchen back here and a bathroom,” said J. P.
The Odd Couple in Paris Page 9