When they pulled apart, Kit grinned up at him. She pushed him away with a laugh. “Now, go whisk your girlfriend off to France and don’t even think about work while you’re gone.”
“That is my plan,” Guy said. He gave her a final wave before heading for the elevator. He was still anxious as he drove toward Charlotte’s apartment, but his conversation with Kit had actually helped him calm some of his nerves. By the time he parked in front of the apartment building where he had spent most of his evenings the past week, he was more excited than worried.
Guy stepped out of his car and moved to the trunk to get his luggage. Staring at the three bags, he hesitated. Two bags would go with them to France, but the other would not. He had been surprised when Charlotte suggested he stay over, since they had to be at the airport very early the next morning. She did not mention sleeping arrangements, however, which left Guy feeling somewhat hesitant. Shaking his head, he could only trust that Charlotte would tell him her thoughts on the matter as she usually did.
Grabbing the bags, Guy made his way up to the apartment. As he approached the door, he heard a raised voice. It struck him as odd. Charlotte was very patient with Warren, even when his behavior truly merited discipline. He knocked on the door, and was surprised a moment later when Warren inched it open with a timid expression. Charlotte’s voice, clearly upset, carried down the hall from her bedroom.
“What is going on?” Guy asked Warren.
“Gramma’s mad.”
Frowning, Guy dropped his luggage by the door. “Your grand-mère is upset? Why?”
Warren shrugged. He pretended it did not matter, but his little shoulders were tensed up nearly to his ears. When his hand slipped into Guy’s and squeezed tightly, Guy’s worry increased as well. He did not want to leave the little boy when he was upset. He needed to figure out what was going on before things fell apart. Guy would be foolish not to realize the tension had to do with his presence and their impending trip.
“Warren, why don’t you watch some cartoons for a few minutes while I talk to your maman?”
“I’m not supposed to watch any more TV today,” Warren said. His hopeful expression that the normal rule was about to be lifted was almost laughable.
Guy ruffled his hair and said, “I will take all the blame if your maman gets upset.”
“Promise?” Warren stared at him, already eager to rush over to the couch. As soon as Guy nodded, he sprinted for the television remote. Guy headed in the opposite direction.
The thought crossed his mind that Charlotte’s conversation might be private and she would not want him overhearing, but he was convinced the angry words had everything to do with him. The shouting became louder as he walked down the hall, but the words were still muffled. He did not bother to knock when he reached Charlotte’s bedroom door. He doubted she would hear him even if he did. Slowly, he pushed the door open.
“No, I’m not going to change my mind!” Charlotte shouted. She shook her head as she stared out the window, unaware of Guy’s presence. “Why not? Because I’m an adult, Mom. If I want to do something crazy, I can! It’s my decision, not yours!”
Charlotte huffed in irritation to whatever her mother said. One hand ran through her hair, tangling in it angrily. Suddenly, her hand flew away from her body and reached out as if she could shake her mother if she tried hard enough. “I know I’ve only known him a few weeks! No, I…Mom, stop interrupting me. Just listen!”
She shook her head, no doubt interrupted again. Losing her temper, she broke in and shouted, “I trust him, Mom, okay? I know that might sound crazy to you, but I know him. You don’t. You’ve never seen the honesty in his eyes, the promise that he would never let anything hurt me or Warren. You’re not here…”
Charlotte paused for a moment, but stumbled back into the conversation soon after. “I know that’s not your fault. I’m well aware of the fact that traveling is difficult for both of you. I’m not blaming you. I’m just saying that you don’t know him like I do…”
Charlotte spun around with a growl when she was apparently interrupted again. For a moment, she did not seem to notice Guy. “Nothing you say…” Her eyes widened as she looked up and her eyes met his. He half expected her to become angry with him, but the tension slowly drained from her shoulders as she continued her thought. “Nothing you say is going to change my mind, Mom. We’re going to France in the morning. I’ll call you when we get there.”
One tap ended the call and Charlotte tossed the phone on the bed. When she turned back to Guy, both hands were tangled in her long hair. She looked embarrassed and at a loss for words. Guy stepped forward and filled the silence.
“I am sorry. I was worried.”
Charlotte’s hands fell from her hair. For a few seconds, she simply stood there. Slowly, she shook off her surprise and stepped forward. “I’m sorry, Guy. My parents, they’re… being difficult. It’s not about you.”
“It sounded very much like it was about me and this trip.”
“They just don’t understand,” Charlotte said.
As much as he hated to say it, Guy said, “Can you blame them? This is very unusual, yes?”
Sighing, Charlotte reached a hand out to him. He took it immediately and pulled her into his embrace. Clearly exhausted, Charlotte rested her head on his chest. “It’s just so stupid,” she said, her voice muffled.
“Going with me?” Guy questioned.
Charlotte shook her head. “No, them thinking this is some kind of ploy. I have nothing worth taking. I’m sick. Killing me would leave you with a child. It’s just all nonsense.”
“Is that what they think?” Guy asked. He could not keep the laughter from his voice. “They suspect I am a murderer who is taking you to meet my parents, or a swindler? You have spoken to my mother. She is ecstatic you are coming. And no offense to you, but I do not need yours or anyone else’s money.”
“I know that,” Charlotte said with a laugh, “but trying to explain that only made things worse.” By the end of the sentence, all levity had vanished from her voice. She turned further into his embrace. The hitch in her breath told Guy she was more upset than she wanted to show. He did not push her, and eventually Charlotte continued. “When I told my mom exactly what you just said, all she heard was that you’re wealthy. She accused me of making stupid choices based on that, thinking that finding someone to take care of me will fix everything. She was already upset at me for deciding to stay here, and now she’s even angrier because she knows I stayed because of you.”
“But you did not stay because of me,” Guy argued. “You stayed because you did not want to disrupt Warren’s life or give up your job.”
Pulling back from his chest, Charlotte met his gaze with tearful eyes. “Guy, I was going to leave. I had already decided I couldn’t stay here. Before I left my parents, I told them I would be moving home, because as much as I didn’t want to leave everything here, I knew I couldn’t do it alone.”
Guy was caught off guard by her words. “You were going to leave? But, you said…”
“I know,” she interrupted. “I know what I said, but it wasn’t true. I was ready to move home before we had dinner together. You convinced me to stay.”
“How?” He was honestly bewildered. Guy had thought that when they talked, she had only wanted to hear someone tell her it would not be impossible for her to stay in Chicago and be able to get through her treatment. A little reassurance. He had no indication that he had such an effect on her.
Charlotte, however, seemed amused by his confusion. “Guy, why do you always underestimate the impact you have on me?”
He could only shrug. Charlotte was such a strong person, he doubted anyone could sway her once she made up her mind, but she claimed he had somehow. “Why?” Guy asked. “Why did you stay? Why are you coming with me to France?”
Pulling back, Charlotte looked up at him. “I’m not sure I can even explain it, Guy. I know it sounds crazy, but I trust you when you say you’re going to b
e there for us. I trust you enough to go on this trip. Maybe I am being an idiot. Maybe I just want to believe you so badly that I’m willing to take stupid risks.” Charlotte shook her head. “Or maybe it’s because I really do see what you hide from everyone else and I know I’m not wrong to believe in you.”
Guy was gentle as he took Charlotte back into his arms. “You see everything that is real, more than what others see.”
Wrapping her arms around Guy, Charlotte hugged him tightly. He wanted to stay there with her for the rest of the night, but he knew it was not possible. He brushed her hair away from her face and peered down at her. “I think the shouting frightened Warren. I will go check on him while you call your mother back.”
“What?” Charlotte asked, her face scrunched in confusion. “Why would I call her back after the things she said?”
“Because she is your mother, and she is scared for you.”
Charlotte pouted, but did not argue. She picked her phone up off the bed, but held it tightly in her hands without dialing. She peered back up at Guy. “Have you eaten yet?”
“No, but I will be fine. Call your mother, please.”
“There’s a plate for you in the oven…if you’re hungry.” She twisted her hands around the phone again.
Guy covered her hands with his. “That was very thoughtful of you.” He smiled at her, helping to melt some of the tension from her body. “I will check on Warren and eat, but you really should call your mother. I am grateful that you have such trust in me, but you know it is difficult for her to understand. Do not leave with such harsh words between you. She may not agree with your decisions, but she loves you. I am sure of that.”
Still anxious about making the call, Charlotte managed to smile despite her fears. “This is why I trust you so much, Guy Saint Laurent.”
“I do not understand,” he said.
“When I tell you that my parents are furious with me for running off with a Frenchman I barely know, instead of being offended, you’re more concerned about me damaging my relationship with my mom.” There were tears in her eyes as she pressed her hand into his.
Guy smiled and squeezed her hand. A feeling he had felt only a few times in his life, when he knew he had been accepted wholeheartedly, wrapped itself around him in that moment. Any remaining doubts he had about staying in Charlotte and Warren’s lives fled in the face of her faith in him. Kissing her cheek, Guy said nothing as he stepped away to let her make her call.
Before he slipped away, Charlotte said, “Guy, merci.” He smiled at the singular French word rolling off her tongue. He had never heard a thank you sound so beautiful.
When he made it to the kitchen, he found the promised dinner and took it to the living room to sit with Warren. The little boy curled up next to him immediately and turned his attention back to some kind of animated teenage super hero show. By the time Guy finished his meal, Warren’s eyes were half closed. He was awake enough to pull one of Guy’s arms around him and snuggle in closer. Guy meant to usher Warren off to brush his teeth once the show ended, but the long week quickly caught up to both of them and they were asleep before the teen heroes completed their mission.
Chapter 17
Le Baiser
Guy watched in amusement as Warren bounced up and down in his chair, filled to the brim with excitement. He was fascinated by watching the airport employees load the last of the baggage into the cargo area of the plane. He kept asking if it was all going to fit and whether or not any bags were going to be left behind. Then he turned his attention to where another airplane was landing on a nearby runway. He launched into another round of questions about how such a big plane could fly in the air, what if the wings fell off, and why Guy kept calling everything the wrong names.
“Does he always have this many questions?” Guy asked Charlotte.
“Always,” she laughed. “Why do you think I made you sit by him?”
Guy shook his head. The nonstop questions continued until the flight attendants gave the cursory explanations about emergency exits and air masks. The monologue inspired a new slew of questions for Guy to answer. By the time he finished, Warren was beginning to get bored.
“Why don’t they let me get up and play?” Warren whined. “It’s not fun to sit here all the time. I can only see clouds out the window now and clouds are boring!”
At the sound of his whining, Charlotte grimaced. Guy had spent much of the week working, but what free time he had was spent at Charlotte’s helping her get everything ready for the trip. He knew she was worried about having Warren cooped up on the plane for such a long time. She tried to remind Warren that he had toys to entertain himself with in his backpack, but he said they were boring as well. Guy smiled, thanking Carmody for warning him about how difficult small children could be on long trips.
Leaning down to reach his bag wedged under the seat, Guy yanked it out and placed it on his lap. That simple action halted Warren’s whining. He had learned that Guy enjoyed surprising him with more than just burnt French toast over the past week. His eyes were glued to the bag as he unzipped the main compartment. He was even more intrigued as Guy pulled out a separate bag and folded down Warren’s tray table to hold it. The poor child was near bursting when Guy looked over at him.
“You want to know what is inside, oui?”
“Oui! Oui!” Warren called out, giggling to himself immediately after. Like Lily, he thought the French word for “yes” was especially funny when repeated. “I want to know, pleeease!”
Guy shook a finger at him seriously. “You must promise not to whine and upset your maman any longer. D’accord?”
Warren nodded frantically. “I will. I promise. Please?”
“You may look inside,” Guy said finally, releasing the bag and watching Warren tear into it like one of the dinosaurs he enjoyed so much. Both he and Charlotte laughed as Warren pulled out activity books, travel-sized board games, books, and several new plastic dinosaurs. The last to be extracted was an iPad in a thick case that promised to be nearly indestructible.
“Guy,” Charlotte chided when she saw the iPad.
“It is mine,” he told her, “but Warren is welcome to use it while we travel.”
She eyed him suspiciously, but did not argue. In truth, Guy had contemplated buying Warren his own, but he worried about doing something like that without asking Charlotte’s permission. It was usually later in the evening when Guy finally made it over to visit with Charlotte, due to work. He spent less than an hour with Warren before it was time for him to go to bed.
He had not considered asking Charlotte’s opinion on such things as video games and Warren having his own tablet, but he knew she had strict limits on how much television Warren was allowed to watch. Video games had not come up in conversation yet. He reminded himself to do so later. For the time being, he simply wanted to enjoy her company. They both knew their relationship seemed stalled at friendship for the time being, but it did not stop Guy from reaching for Charlotte’s hand, nor her from accepting it and leaning her head against his shoulder.
By the time they finally landed in New York for their layover, Warren had begun to tire of his bag of surprises. Thankfully, a chance to run around the airport and stretch his legs and eat renewed him for the next leg of the trip. He once again dug into his bag once they were flying, this time settling on the iPad and the games Guy had downloaded for him. It was not long, though, before the activities of the day wore him out and he fell asleep with his head on Guy’s lap. Charlotte was not far behind in her tiredness. Guy was not surprised, but he still worried.
“You are feeling all right?” he asked.
“Just worn out.” She yawned and leaned against him more heavily. “I’m glad we’re not going straight to your parents’ when we land.”
“Why?” Guy asked. “Are you nervous to meet them?”
She shook her head at him as though it were a silly question. “Of course I am. I would be nervous to meet them looking my best. I’m almo
st sick thinking about meeting them looking like a cat on its last life.”
Guy chuckled at her phrasing. That was at least an idiom that made sense. Shaking his head at her, he stroked her hair softly. “They will adore you. Please do not worry.”
She frowned up at him, but as usual, did not argue. Instead, she let her exhaustion pull her into a deep sleep. Guy felt oddly content with Warren’s head resting on his legs as he slept and Charlotte curled under his arm. He had made the same trip many times since leaving home at eighteen years old to go on what he thought would be a grand adventure at the time. He had enjoyed living in Chicago, enjoyed the freedom of being on his own and the sense of achievement doing things for himself provided. What he had not enjoyed was the trip home every few months to parents who disapproved of his choices and told him over and over that his place was with them. As Warren drooled on Guy’s pant leg, he wondered if his reception would be different this time.
Guy was not sure when he fell asleep, but the gentle nudge of a flight attendant telling him he needed to buckle Warren into his seatbelt for landing woke him. He felt bad lifting Warren into a sitting position and strapping the belt around his middle. He had not woken up, but his little body looked awkward and uncomfortable as he slumped against the window. Charlotte only murmured in her sleep a few times as his movements jostled her, but she did not wake, either. Guy was the only one to see their descent into his home country. He looked on its beauty with a smile, for once, feeling like coming home instead of coming to his own trial.
Once they landed, it took Guy several tries to wake Charlotte and help her get her bags down from the overhead compartment. They each had two carry-ons, plus Warren’s. Charlotte tried to gather her son’s as well, but he knew she would not be able to carry everything. A flight attendant finished helping another passenger and turned toward him. Guy immediately put on a smile he knew would do the trick. She gave him her full attention immediately. “Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous nous aider avec nos bagages, s'il vous plaît?”
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