Janine chose her words carefully. “At first, I was unhappy. I had been a fool over Sandy. He was not as I saw him. Then I was happy because I felt free. Now I am both. I am not so strong as I would like to be.”
Because she felt like crying, Janine stared down at her plate. Jacques waited patiently for a few moments, then cleared his throat. “Perhaps you would like to see a movie with me, tonight?”
She smiled at him quickly and nodded. Pleased, Jacques turned the conversation to other matters. “Have you seen the Palace of Versailles? No? But that is terrible. You must see it with me this Sunday.”
“I’d like that-” Janine began, then stopped in dismay. “But I forgot. On Sunday I always go to a museum with Mark.”
“He will understand if you change your mind this week,” Jacques pointed out.
Janine swallowed. “Yes, but… you see, I-I-”
Jacques looked at her oddly. “I understand. It is a comfort to see a… brother sometimes?”
Janine nodded, grateful for his understanding. Jacques grinned wryly. “Then it is simple. We will go to Versailles on Saturday. But you must wear sensible shoes. One must walk a lot there.”
Janine relaxed and made a face. “I always wear sensible shoes. And my mother always tells me I am not chic.”
Jacques laughed and shook his head. “You would not be a good French woman. Here, fashion is everything. But for you, it is better so, I think. You are unusual.”
“My mother says the same thing, but she says it with despair!” Janine countered.
“She prefers your sister, Rena?” he asked incredulously. When Janine nodded, he muttered, “She is crazy. But it seems to me there are others also crazy.”
Janine laughed. “If you are not careful, I shall become too vain.” Then she was serious. “Jacques, what did Mark tell you? Exactly, I mean, about Sandy and me?”
Jacques concentrated on his food. “Ma petite, it does not matter.”
In amazement, Janine stared at him. “What do you mean, `it doesn’t matter’? I want to know!”
“I mean,” Jacques replied slowly, “that I will not tell you. I promised Mark. But do not worry. About you there was, for the most part, good.”
“Blast him!” Janine muttered in English.
Jacques was amused. “You are not a `kitten,’ you are a tigress.”
In spite of herself, Janine laughed. Silently, she determined to demand an explanation from Mark the next time she saw him. Outwardly meek, however, she asked, “What movie shall we see?”
As it turned out, Jacques had chosen an English comedy. “Sometimes French comedy is difficult to understand if one is not French. And I think perhaps it would be best if you laugh today,” he explained.
The theater was on a small street near the Tour Montparnasse. Though Jacques didn’t say so, Janine wondered if he had chosen it because it was so unlikely Sandy would go there. No, that was absurd. Better be careful, Janine warned herself, you’re becoming paranoid.
The subtitles were poor, but Jacques seemed to enjoy the movie as much as Janine. Not for the first time, Janine began to wonder just how much English he knew. When she asked him, he shrugged. “A little. I learned a little English in school.”
He did not seem inclined to practice his English, so they continued to speak in French. Over Cointreau, in a small cafe, he asked her about her childhood. With a sense of deja vu, she told him much the same as she had told Sandy. Only now she wasn’t afraid to confess that she had often sought refuge in books. “And camping and fishing,” she added hastily.
Jacques smiled. “For me, it was the garden. I was very proud of my vegetables and flowers. And I spent much time with a camera and even developed my own film, until my mother said I could no longer use the bathroom for my darkroom. But best I loved to ski. My father would take me to the Alps to ski with him. Until I broke my leg using his skis. Since that time, I go with friends.”
Janine laughed in sympathy. “I learned to ski when I was six, and I love it also. I never broke any bones but I have lost a ski pole or two. My father would take us to the mountains every winter. But I have not gone skiing in four years. I have not had the chance.”
“That’s terrible!” Jacques exclaimed. “You must return to France this winter and we will ski together.”
They both laughed, each knowing the other knew they never would. Sometime later Jacques walked Janine back to seventeen rue Bonaparte. “Bonsoir, ma petite,” he said as he kissed her on the forehead, “hors bien.”
As Janine climbed the stairs, she was deep in thought. Dear Jacques, he was very sweet. I’m surprised he’s not married yet. So different from Sandy. Poor Sandy, so heartbroken he’ll probably be engaged to someone else by the time he flies home. Anyway, if he brought me home, his father probably would have disowned him. I would never make a society hostess. I would be bored silly. Then her thoughts turned to Mark. He doesn’t care a bit about society. And he would rather hire a housekeeper than marry one! He said a man needs a wife he can talk to, but I wonder what he talks about with Rena? Rena. She always was lucky. If Mark weren’t engaged to her…But he is, and that’s that. And even if he wasn’t, do you think he would ever have noticed you?
With a sigh, Janine dug out her keys and opened the door. For a moment her heart pounded as she listened for the sound of someone’s presence. But there was only silence. It was ridiculous to think Mark might stop by; he had handed her over to Jacques’s care and had probably forgotten the matter.
As Janine was climbing into bed, the phone rang. “Alloy” she said eagerly.
“Allo, je voudrais parler avec Pierre,” a woman’s voice replied.
“Ce n’est pas le numero,” Janine replied.
Slowly she replaced the receiver and went back to bed. The apartment seemed very lonely.
Over breakfast the next morning, Janine decided to leave Paris. Summer vacation was already half over. If she left next week she would still have time to visit some of Europe and Scandinavia. The first thing to do was to get a good map and plan her route. Most of the tickets could be bought as she went along. Then she wouldn’t be tied down and could change her mind if she wanted to. Rena had mentioned something about youth fare in Europe. Was she still eligible? If so, maybe she could fly to Greece, spend a week there, then ten days in Italy. After that a train through Switzerland and Germany to Denmark, visiting places along the way. Say two weeks for that. Then there must be a boat from Denmark to Finland. Another two weeks in Scandinavia. Hmm, that left barely enough time to get back to Paris before she flew home. And no time for England. Try again. How about a train to England, then a plane to Athens…
Janine sighed. Why on earth hadn’t she started sooner? Was Sandy that much incentive to remain? In retrospect it made no sense. She was still struggling with a schedule when the phone rang. “Blast!” she said as her pen slid across the page. “Allo?”
“My, you sound cheerful,” Mark said. “Problems?”
“Oh, hi, Mark! No, not really. It’s just that I’ve decided to see the rest of Europe and I’m trying to figure out what to visit when. Maybe you could help me.
“Actually, Jacques would be a better person to ask. He probably knows more about traveling in Europe than I do,” Mark replied pleasantly.
“Thanks. I was hoping to buy my tickets today,” she grumbled.
“All of them?”
Janine counted to ten silently. “Look, did you call just to make fun of me or was there some other reason?”
“I thought I’d see how you were,” he answered. “After all, Rena asked me to-”
“I know, I know-look after me,” Janine cut him off. “Well, you won’t have to worry about me much longer. I should be gone by next week. That must be a relief for you,” she said sarcastically.
“Yes.”
“Are you trying to be unpleasant?”
“No, it comes naturally with sisters. Since you’re fine I’ll hang up,” Mark said. “By the way, you might try to
urist bureaus for the countries you want to visit. ‘Bye.”
Janine slammed down the phone. “Blast it! I forgot to ask him what he told Jacques not to tell me.”
She dug out the phone books and made a list of tourist bureaus to visit. If she walked down the Avenue de l’Opera, she would be able to stop at most of them that afternoon. So the next day would be the soonest she could make any reservations. Armed with her list, an umbrella, and a good map, Janine set out.
The Greek tourist office was heir last stop. Janine was glancing through a glossy brochure when she heard a voice that sounded familiar. Turning, she saw a dark-haired young woman asking questions at the desk. Her clothes were clearly expensive and flattered her near-perfect figure. “Barbara?” Janine said tentatively as the woman turned toward her.
“Janine!” the woman exclaimed. “How fantastic to see you!”
Janine had known Barbara from college and now they both worked in or near New York City. She had been writing Barbara all summer, and not once had Barbara mentioned a trip to Europe. But then, she often did things without warning. “When did you arrive in Paris?” Janine asked.
“Tuesday. I tried calling Rena’s apartment but couldn’t get an answer. I was sure you and Rena were both out of town,” Barbara explained.
“Actually, I’m getting ready to leave sometime next week. Rena is still in Switzerland, and I don’t know when she’ll be back.”
Barbara frowned. “Is she still writing that article?”
“No. Mark says she’s relaxing after writing it,” Janine said.
“Mark says?” Barbara raised her eyebrows. “Doesn’t Rena write you? Never mind, I want to hear all about marvelous Mark! Let’s go find a cafe and talk.”
“I’ve got a better idea.” Janine grinned. “Why don’t you come over to my place-Rena’s apartment-and have dinner with me?”
“Can’t.” Barbara giggled. “I’ve got a dinner date. But I’ve got a couple of hours to spare so let’s go find that cafe. Wait until I tell you whom I’m having dinner with!”
“Knowing you, nothing would surprise me,” Janine retorted amiably.
“Well,” began Barbara, once they were seated, “yesterday, when I still couldn’t get hold of you, I decided to spend the evening wandering around St. Michel. As you must know, everyone goes there. Well, as usual, within ten minutes I ran into three people I know from Ohio State. But they were all rather dull so I refused to join them. Then I saw this man. My dear, he was so handsome! Tall, blond, welldressed. Of course, so was I, for that matter, and we looked out of place. You know how people dress around St. Michel. Anyway, he noticed me about the same time and came over. You know I’m careful about strangers, but he was so polite that I agreed when he suggested we have brandy in a cafe and get to know each other. Well! When he told me his name was Sandy I nearly died. I looked at him closely and sure enough he matched the description you sent me of your Sandy. After that I couldn’t resist asking if he knew you. He said he did and that you’d been going together but it was all over now. Well, I told him, I’m not surprised. Just from your letters I guessed you had a thing about Mark somebody. Sandy sniffed and said you had bad taste. Do you? He said that Mark was practically a pauper and definitely an intellectual. I said I thought it was romantic. That I could picture you being perfectly happy in a hovel full of books!”
“Barbara,” Janine said quietly, “Mark is engaged to Rena.”
“I know. Sandy told me. He also told me it was unofficial.”
“But it’s still an engagement,” Janine replied.
“Garbage!” Barbara snorted. “A man is fair game unless and until he has a wedding ring on his finger. You’ve got to look out for yourself”
Janine sighed. Try again. “Barbara, Mark thinks of me as a sister and I think of him as a brother. That’s all.”
Barbara was suspicious. “If he’s just a brother to you, why did he rate two pages in your letters while your so-called boy friend, Sandy, rated barely two lines? All right. All right. I’ll drop the subject. What are all those brochures and maps? Are you planning to start a travel agency?”
“Hardly. I can’t even straighten out my own plans, much less anyone else’s,” Janine replied ruefully.
“Where do you want to go?” Barbara demanded. “Maybe I can help.”
“At the very least I want to visit: England, Greece, Italy, and Scandinavia. If possible, I’d also like to get to Switzerland and Germany.”
“In six weeks? You have got problems. Where do you plan to start?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, I’d suggest flying as much as you can. To Greece certainly. I know the Greek airline has a special price for anyone under twenty-six this summer. It’s definitely good between Paris and Athens and might be good for other cities as well. You should make reservations well in advance though, my dear. Actually, I’m flying to Greece Monday. With Sandy. Of course, he’ll have to pay full fare but that doesn’t matter. Sandy doesn’t have to worry about money. Listen, we must get together this weekend, the three of us. I’m sure Sandy would want to. He said there were no hard feelings.”
Janine shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “Well, I’m not sure it’s possible. Tomorrow I’ll be making arrangements for my trip and Saturday Jacques is taking me to Versailles and-”
“Jacques?” Barbara pounced on the name. “Who is your mysterious Frenchman?”
“Did you ever meet Helene Durand? Well, she’s back in Paris now and she has an older brother named Jacques. I really don’t know him very well, but he’s nice.”
Barbara made a face. “Sounds dull. But do go on. You were about to tell me about Sunday. My, you have been busy since you arrived in Paris.”
“Well, Sunday I always spend with Mark. We go to museums and have dinner together.”
“I see. And it’s such an exciting date that you just can’t bear to break it. Are you sure he’s just a brother to you?” Barbara asked.
Janine groaned. “Barbara, he’s just being brotherly when he shows me around Paris. Rena asked him to look after me.”
Barbara nodded her head knowingly. “I wish I had a brother like that. Mine are just nasty to me. Okay. Not another word about Mark, I promise. I have to go anyway if I want to be ready when Sandy comes to take me to dinner. Do let me know what happens to you in the next six weeks!”
As Barbara disappeared into the crowd, Janine sighed with relief. She felt slightly dazed. She liked Barbara, but what an imagination! On the other hand, what had she written in her letters to Barbara? Never mind that now. Time to get going. She still had to stop at the market if she wanted any dinner.
Janine unlocked the door with relief. Despite sensible shoes, her feet hurt. As soon as the groceries had been put away, she collapsed on the daybed. After a moment, she shivered although it was still quite warm in the apartment. It was just that the place felt so empty. Well, at least she had all those brochures to keep her busy.
Twentyfour hours later, Janine was feeling even more worn out. She had spent the day making and revising schedules according to advice she had received from various airlines. And boat companies. But it was settled. She would take the train to London on Tuesday and fly to Helsinki a week later. Those tickets she already had in hand. What a relief to have it all settled! There should even be time to spend a few days with Rena just before she left for New York. The ringing of the phone aggravated her headache. “Allo?” she said.
“Bon soir, ma petite, “Jacques’s voice answered.
“Ah, comment ca va, Jacques?”
“Ca va. Ma petite, I am very sorry, but tomorrow I cannot go with you to Versailles. Someone has written an important report and all this weekend I must study it,” he explained unhappily.
“I understand,” Janine said sympathetically.
“Good. You are very kind. Perhaps next Saturday it will be possible. Such a thing can not happen twice in two weeks.”
“I’m sorry,” Janine said, “but I
am leaving Paris on Tuesday.”
“‘Why?”
Janine laughed. “I want to see the rest of Europe though I am sure it will not be as perfect as Paris.”
He laughed also. “When will you return?”
“Oh, I’ll travel for about five weeks, then return.”
“Well, when you get back we will go to Versailles, yes? Bon. It is decided. I hope you will have a nice trip.” Jacques paused. “Janine, does Mark know you are leaving?”
Janine stared at the receiver. “Yes. Of course he knows. He thinks it is marvelous. I will no longer be his responsibility.”
After a moment Jacques said, “Janine. He is a good man, I think. Remember that. Au revoir et bon voyage
There was a click and the line was dead. “Well, really! What did that mean, I wonder?” Janine said to the silent receiver.
She looked around. The prospect of spending the evening in the apartment seemed dismal. Why had she never realized the place was so depressing before? Well, she wouldn’t stay here. She would go out. Anywhere. Then she had it. Shakespeare and Company. She hadn’t been there in a while. Perhaps she would find some books for her trip. Something suitable for long train rides.
As usual, the small bookshop was crowded. Janine eased her way past several browsers until she came to a small nook under the staircase reserved for paperbacks. She had to crouch a little to enter it. Happily Janine seated herself on the dusty floor and began to pull out books at random. She set aside to purchase two or three, and began to read another. Sometime later, Janine was snapped back from the islands off Greece by a familiar voice. Hastily grabbing the books, Janine left the nook, bumping her head in the process. “Mark!” she said.
He stopped, his path blocked by Janine. “Oh, hello, Janine.” Turning to his companion he said, “Bob, this is my girl friend’s sister. She’s a mathematician too. Janine, you’ve got dust on your face.”
“Dust or not, she’s still very attractive. Where have you been hiding her?” Bob asked.
Paris Summer Page 14