Midnight in Brussels

by Rebecca Randolph Buckley

  After she got off the funicular and was walking the rest of the way up the hill to the Place du Tertre, she was thinking how glad she was that she’d packed light. One cloth bag was all she brought. A sachel, actually, made from Belgian tapestry.

  When she came to the famous Place du Tertre in Montmartre which was high on the only hill overlooking Paris, she stared at the beautiful square that was completely covered with tables and bright umbrellas. Artists were doing portraits and others were selling landscapes of Paris and floral paintings. The perimeter of the Place was lined with all sorts of quaint French cafés – each spilling out onto the square. She immediately saw Rachel’s building with the red door and the brass number eleven on it.

  It was a tall, narrow building that extended back quite a ways on the property. She looked up and saw that each floor had a large bay window that opened onto the square. Several types of climbing vines were covering nearly the entire exterior of the stone house and blue painted window boxes filled with geraniums and daffodils added a homey quality that took Amanda’s breath away.

  The smell of bread from the café next door to Number Eleven made her mouth water as she walked past it. Patrons were at the small round tables outside drinking wine and eating bread and cheese. She remembered she hadn’t eaten in all the rush.

  The doorbell had a chiming sound.

  Chapter 55

  It was late in the evening and Rachel and Amanda were sitting in front of the café next door. Earlier they’d been to the Eiffel Tower and the Musee de Louvre and they were both happy just to be sitting outside and imbibing and having conversations about life.

  “Well, honey—” Rachel started, and then stopped herself. “Darn! You know I’ve picked up this habit of saying honey and I don’t know where I got it.”

  They giggled.

  “I don’t usually say that, at least I don’t think I do. Do I?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with saying it, Rachel. It’s a nice word. It’s kind and sweet, you know?” Amanda’s smile was sincere.

  Rachel looked at Amanda and couldn’t for the life of her think of anyone else who was as pure and good as this girl. She definitely had something very special going on.

  “My mama used to call me that all the time. You want some more?” She reached for the bottle of wine.

  “Yes, I think I will have one more.”

  “Me, too.” She poured for both of them. “Now what were you going to say?”

  “Well, about your feelings for Richard … you said you don’t know how you feel now that he’s gone.”

  “I don’t. I miss him and I think I love him, but, you know, I sort of like not having to answer to anybody but myself. I was thinking about that on the train coming here. That’s all going to stop when we get married. It did with Arlie. Actually, it never even got started before Arlie, so I can’t compare that with what it would be like with Richard, can I?”

  “In my opinion, for what it’s worth, I don’t feel he will do what Arlie did to you, Amanda.”

  “You don’t?”

  Rachel shook her head. “No. For two reasons. One, you’re a different person than you used to be. You’re a business woman, a designer. You’re independent. Two, Richard isn’t that kind of man, isn’t controlling. At least, I don’t see it. Seems to me he wants you to see the world, to experience it. He’s thinking of you, not himself. He wants you to have everything you’ve never had. He won’t be holding you back. All you have to do is tell him what you want. After you’re married and you want to come to Paris by yourself, just tell him. I don’t think you have a worry in the world with Richard.”

  They both sat quietly for a few moments, sipping their drinks, watching the people milling about. A violinist strolled by with a guitarist. They stopped and serenaded a couple at the café across from them.

  Rachel turned toward Amanda. “You know, I’ve had the chance, twice, to be with someone who loved me. Two times. And I believe I loved them, in my own strange, reluctant way. And I held off because of my career, for one, and two, not wanting to answer to anybody, just like you, and now they’re both gone. Poof! You know, you don’t have all that many chances at true love in one lifetime. I wish I would have—” She covered her mouth and turned away to hide the emotion that was building.

  “Oh, Rachel, I’m so sorry.” Amanda reached out for her. “I don’t mean to be reminding you of your heartbreak. Will you please forgive me? I won’t talk about my pity-poor-me situation anymore. We need to have us some music, that’s what we need. I’ll get that violin man over here. ”

  Rachel held up a hand. “Hold on. I just want to say this while I’m thinking about it. And, sweetheart, don’t stop telling me about your feelings, don’t ever hold back. You have to talk to someone. I only mentioned my situation to maybe show you how we can sometimes let a good thing slip through our fingers, and then we lose them forever.”

  Remembering all the time she had wasted not telling Pete how she felt about him because she was afraid it would frighten him away, Rachel thought back over their brief life together. Usually they were off in different directions with their work, sometimes apart from each other for months at a time. Why didn’t she go with him to Brazil when he asked her? Why hadn’t she been more available to him? She could have written her novels anywhere. She could have gone with him. Regrets.

  And Ethan. Why couldn’t she be what he’d wanted her to be? All he wanted was a helpmate, a lover, a wife. But no, she had to have her freedom. She wished she could have been different. If only she could be a submissive housewife and cook and clean and greet the hubby at the door stark naked and make love to him at his beck and call. That’s all a man wanted.

  Amanda reached over and touched Rachel’s arm. “Are you all right, Rachel?”

  “Wha—? Oh. I’m sorry. I was off somewhere. Did you say something?”

  “I just said that I appreciate having you as my friend. I ain’t never had no friends besides my sister Paula, my whole life.”

  Rachel leaned across the table and clasped Amanda’s hands. “Friends are hard to come by, honey. Most people will only have as many as they can count on one hand. So you’re doing pretty well these days, if you ask me. And tomorrow I’m going to introduce you to Janet. She’s dying to meet you.”

  Amanda smiled. “I’m looking forward to that. So, let’s have one more glass of wine. We only have to crawl over to your door to get home. I think we can get there without anything too terrible happening to us. What do you think?”

  “I think that’s a damn good idea!” Rachel laughed.

  Amanda poured, they clinked their glasses and said “To friends!” in unison, just as the violinist and his sidekick arrived at their table.

  Chapter 56

  The first week in Paris passed quickly for Amanda, and after the first day into the second week, she was beginning to get antsy, felt like she should get back to Brussels and to the shop. So she decided to leave on the tenth day of her stay, rather than the two weeks as planned.

  Richard had telephoned twice, was surprised she was in Paris. She hadn’t called him before she left Brussels. The updates of Darys’ condition were encouraging. They’d brought in a specialist from New Jersey that had great success in rehabbing patients with the same paralysis. He’d already begun the process. His previous patient was walking again after only nine months.

  Amanda and Rachel were watching television when Richard called the third time. During the conversation he asked Amanda if she might consider coming to Cupertino for a few days when she left Paris.

  She told him she didn’t think it was the right thing for her to do, not only because of the feelings between herself and Darys, but because she needed to get back to Brussels and create a new seasonal line. She told him she’d been in some of the Paris designer boutiques and had toured a designer school and learned enough to fill a book just by observing. Now she was eager to get back and go to work.

  He said he wouldn’t pressure her. All he wa
nted was to be with her and if it was to be in Belgium, then that’s where it’d be. He said he’d be back as soon as he could leave Darys.

  “So how is his daughter?” Rachel asked after Amanda closed the phone and sat silently for a few moments.

  “She’ll recover. Has a specialist working with her now.” Amanda sighed and looked over at Rachel. “I need to get over not liking her. I keep telling myself that she hates me because she thinks she is losing her daddy. And I guess she’s right. He’s moving to Belgium to be with me. So I guess I am taking him away from her, but I don’t mean to. She didn’t object to Elaine marrying him, though.”

  “Sweetie, she already knew Elaine. They had been friends her whole life. She probably already looked up to her as a mother since she never knew her own mother. She didn’t feel like she was losing him to a stranger.”

  Amanda shrugged. “That could be. I don’t know.”

  “And you’re nearer her age, so I would venture to say she’s jealous of you. Anyway, all that will take care of itself in time. Don’t worry about it. You aren’t the one at fault here. Just keep going in your direction and Richard will catch up if he loves you.”

  They heard a pound on the door as Janet pushed it open and burst through. “Bet you didn’t think you’d see me tonight!”

  She was a whirlwind of curvaceous energy no matter what mood she was in. Her Marilyn Monroe hair was mussed and falling around her face. “Whatcha guys doin’? She plopped down on the sofa next to Rachel.

  They were always glad to see her; she had the ability to lift a person’s spirits even higher.

  “Just watching a movie,” Rachel answered. “Where’s Bob?”

  Janet growled. “I’m so damn mad at Bob, I could spit nails. I’m moving back in. My stuff’s in the car.”

  “What?” Rachel sat up from her reclined position. “What happened?”

  Amanda couldn’t believe her ears. If ever there was a perfect couple, in her opinion Bob and Janet were it.

  “He’s so gawd-dammed stubborn and fuckin’ set in his ways and it seems like the longer I’m with the prick, the worse he gets. It’s to the point that whatever I say, he says the opposite and he thinks he’s always fuckin’ right. We can’t even work together anymore. We argue all the time. I’m so damned sick of it, I could puke!” She went to the liquor cabinet and got a bottle of gin. “And furthermore, I’m getting drunk tonight.”

  Rachel and Amanda sucked in their breaths and exchanged raised-eyebrow glances.

  “O-kay … then … we’ll have one with you, won’t we, Amanda?” Rachel went to the kitchen after the glasses and ice.

  “Are you leaving him for good?” Amanda still couldn’t believe it.

  “I don’t know. But one damn thing for sure, I’m going to put some distance between us and see what the hell happens. I admit, I love the cock-sucker, but this just isn’t working the way it is. That’s all there is to it. When did you say you’re going home, Amanda?”

  “Day after tomorrow.”

  “I’m going with you. I’ve never been to Brussels, and I’d love to see your shop and buy some new clothes. Will any of them fit me?”

  “Sure!” Amanda was ecstatic that Janet would even consider wearing her creations.

  “Okay. I’m going to Brussels, it’s a done deal.” Janet downed two shots of gin on the rocks without stopping and then poured another double.

  Chapter 57

  Rachel went home to Cornwall for Thanksgiving. Her son and stepmother were flying in from the States to spend it with her. It’d been three years since they’d all been together and that was when they spent Christmas in Newlyn with her. Rachel was thrilled and excited. She invited Belinda and Paul and their children for dinner, too.

  Janet was still in Brussels. She found a small apartment and said she was staying there through the holidays. Said if Bob wanted to see her, he’d have to come to Brussels. It was a comical stand-off between the two of them.

  Of course Amanda loved the company; Janet was lively and always full of fun ideas on what to do on weekends. They’d been all over Belgium during the month she had been there, and the plan was to have Thanksgiving dinner at a medieval inn in the countryside that Janet had found on one of her outings.

  On Thanksgiving day, while Amanda and Janet were in southern Belgium, Richard sent an email to Amanda:

  I’ll be there the week before Christmas, darling. I cannot bear to be away from you any longer. So I’ll wind up things here and be back on December the 20th. Darys is improving quickly and you’re not going to believe this, but she’s marrying Jered as soon as she’s walking. She’s a changed person, Amanda, and she doesn’t need me here with all the nurses and doctors and the house staff.

  I love you, darling. You are my life now, and I don’t want to wait any longer to have you as my wife. Time is precious. Please call me and let me know what you think of a Christmas wedding. A Christmas Eve ceremony? I love you.

  When Amanda got the message she took a deep breath and her eyes began to fill with tears. Yes, she wanted to marry Richard. Yes, yes, yes. Being with Janet and Rachel over the past few weeks had been eye-opening for her. Now she understood the importance of a loving relationship. She listened to their stories and experiences and could see that Richard was her knight in shining armor. There was no doubt about it.

  She learned from Janet and Rachel that a woman doesn’t have to lose her individuality when she marries, and that it is entirely up to her to hold onto it and cultivate it. A woman is in control of what she thinks, feels and does. No man can take that from her. She learned that if a man attempts to take it away, it is in the woman’s power to resist. It is her call. This was all new to her.

  Chapter 58

  It was a cold day on Christmas Eve in Belgium, but as the wedding party sped past Lueven towards Kortenaken and the pinkish stone castle where the rest of the guests were waiting, the coldness wasn’t felt at all.

  John Boy Crane, from the American Embassy, was driving the bride and groom in his BMW, Paula and Drake with A.G. were being driven by a friend of John’s, Rachel and Janet were in a rental car.

  Even in winter, the snow-patched lush green hills were predominant east of Brussels. Old farms, woods, fields and meadows filled the scenic view as they sailed along the road.

  “Are you happy, Amanda?” Richard asked.

  “Oh yes!” She leaned and kissed him sweetly on the cheek. “Are you?”

  “You know I am. I’m the happiest man alive.”

  “Why did you marry me, Richard? Other than the fact that you love me.” She laughed. “Tell me why you chose me. I still don’t understand that. You could have had anybody you wanted, so why me?”

  Richard considered his answer. “When I saw you that day in KC’s, you were different. You were genuine and honest– didn’t put on any airs– you spoke your mind. You have a natural beauty, not painted on. And you were modest. All the things I love in a woman.

  “Then when I got to know you, I was drawn to your obsession and determination to learn, to travel, the excitement in your voice and your eyes captured me when you talked about life and your goals. The fact that you wouldn’t jump into bed with me was a plus. That had never happened to me before. I knew you were something special from the beginning, my darling. And you are. I’ve never met or loved anybody like you.”

  He kissed her gently and drew her close, never wanting to let go. Tonight they would finally make love. He wondered if he would be a disappointment to her.

  Amanda lifted her face to his as if she could read his mind. She whispered, “We should sneak away from the reception early so we can go up to our room for our wedding night.” She was thinking of the Chantilly lace nightgown Rachel had given her for the occasion as she teased his lips with her tongue and then snuggled under his chin, nestling her head on his chest.

  A surge of desire raced through his body. He nuzzled her silky hair that framed the soft wedding veil, tresses that smelled of honeysuckle, h
er favorite scent. He knew he had to think of something else to suppress the sexual desire that was consuming him at that very moment with her body so close to his.

  He thought about how he had tried to buy expensive perfume for her instead of the Avon Honeysuckle cologne she loved. She wouldn’t budge on that point. Said none of it smelled as good as her favorite. Finally he had given up and had a case of it shipped to Brussels for her. He grinned at her simple tastes.

  It was his turn to ask the question. “Tell me why you married me, darling.”

  Without hesitation she replied, “Because you asked me.”

  Laughing, he leaned back and looked at her with narrowed eyes. “I know that isn’t true. I asked you more than once as I recall.”

  She tweaked his nose playfully and giggled.

  “John Boy, did you know that this little vixen left me at the altar back in the States? She actually ran out on me. Can you imagine anyone doing that to me?”

  John was grinning from ear to ear, watching them through the rearview mirror. “You’re lucky she went through with it this time,” he teased.

  When Amanda entered the castle with Richard and the wedding party, she couldn’t believe the royal and majestic entrance hall with marble columns and murals, the huge curving staircase. Her mouth gaped at the grandeur. This was more beautiful than any magazine photo she’d seen of the castles in Europe. The atmosphere and setting were grandiose, too. Gigantic white, pink and yellow floral arrangements were in abundance. Food of all sorts was displayed on four long buffet tables. A stringed ensemble and pianist were playing in the background. Richard had convinced Amanda to let him handle the planning of the reception.

  Amanda had busied herself with the making of a magnificent bridal gown – a floor-length, clingy, pale yellow, silk creation … covered with white lace, and dotted with seed pearls. Her veil was borrowed, had been Paula’s. Her bridal bouquet was of blue, white and yellow marguerite daisies set in a lace holder with yellow ribbons streaming. A vision to behold as the guests verbally responded with expletives of complimentary approval.