La Photographie Moderne

by Neil Crenner

thru the night. Maybe the dream wore him out. He didn't know. He went into the living room and turned on the television, he wanted to watch the news. That would help him wake up.

  He lay there and fell back to sleep. He began to dream again, and this time it was about him being at the beach where he first saw the lighthouse. He was walking along the shore and could see a light coming from the lighthouse, but it seemed so far away. He kept walking and walking but never reached the lighthouse.

  He stopped and sat down and let the water come in and splash him. Then he began building a lighthouse in the sand. He woke up. Wow he thought that lighthouse is going to be the death of him. They would have to take a day trip up there and do some more investigating. He showered and got dressed and called Didier.

  "Hi."

  "Hey where have you been all day?"

  "Here at home, I didn't go to the studio. I just slept most of the day."

  "See I told you that you needed to rest. You went yesterday and wore yourself out."

  "I needed to go there, I was missing it, but yes it did wear me out."

  "So you rested today, are you planning on going to the airport with me?"

  "Yes, come pick me up. I got my rental car."

  "That was so nice they dropped it off.

  "Yes it was. So see you in a few?"

  Late afternoon.

  They were waiting at the airport 20 minutes before the flight was to arrive. Reason was looking around at all the people, he loved to watch people. Mostly men. He could tell that Didier was a bit nervous. 'Relax Didier, relax.' He was just throwing this thought over to Didier, who just happened to look straight at Reason. "Were you talking to me?"

  "Who me?" Reason said with surprise.

  "I thought I heard you say relax."

  "Nope, not me." Reason said with a beguiling smile. I guess I have more power than I imagined. I can talk to people via thoughts. That's amazing. Who else can I talk to? That's scary, I didn't even realize that I had this power. When did it come to me? Reason was now lost in his own thoughts when Didier rose, "the plane's here." Reason snapped out of it. He rose too and they walked over to the door.

  "Can you see Catherine?"

  "Yes I can, she is wearing a long gray coat, her hair is up and she has a scarf around her neck.

  "Your mother looks divine, Didier, you never told me she was so stylish." Reason exclaimed.

  "I never thought she was until just now. I wonder what happened to her."

  "Well whatever it was, she looks great. Just like a sophisticated southern lady."

  "Yeah, it's scary." Didier said slowly.

  She reached the door and hugged Didier and kissed him, and then she hugged Reason and kissed him and laughed. She was a bundle of joy. Reason was so delighted with her, he knew they would soon become great friends. Didier seemed so surprised by this, as the last time he saw her, she was not at all so joyous. Well shall we go get a bite to eat, or are you to tired Catherine?" Reason asked.

  "Oh not at all, I could go for some hot cream of broccoli soup, know any place that has that?"

  "I sure do, let's go. Didier you're hungry too?"

  "Don't you think mother is a bit tired, we can make something at home."

  "Didier, were going to the restaurant, to Café de Nuit. It has wonderful soups. I love cream of broccoli myself." Reason chimed in.

  Catherine winked at Reason.

  Didier grimaced and agreed.

  They were at the restaurant twenty minutes later, as it was very near the airport, sitting at a table in the back with candlelight. The atmosphere was very romantic, with a fireplace and candles at every table, and wine bottles of all sizes along the walls.

  "It's so good to see you, son. I've missed you so."

  "Well mother you look great and you sound great too."

  "It's a new chapter in my book. I am releasing the past and embracing the future. To making a new start here in California."

  "Oh really, how wonderful. Reason chimed in. "I love new starts and new chapters. Do you have a title for this chapter?"

  "Forget the past, Tomorrow is another day." Catherine said.

  "That sounds familiar." Didier said.

  " A Vivian Leigh once said it in a movie. Do you remember that movie?"

  "Oh yes, the greatest civil war story of our time."

  "Civil war story, you must not forget it was a love story too and a tragedy."

  "Yes it was fabulous."

  "How about Morning becomes Electra?" Catherine spoke up.

  "Never heard of it."

  "Me either mother."

  "We shall have to rent it and watch it."

  "So less movies, more talk about your plans." Just then the soup came, they had all ordered coffee, with cream of broccoli soup and corn bread.

  "This soup is delicious, like homemade." Catherine exclaimed after her first taste.

  "Better than homemade I'd say," Came Reason.

  "Yes it's delicious, why haven't you ever brought me her Reason?''

  "I have lots of places still to take you, so enjoy." They drank their coffee and ate their soup in silence for a few minutes.

  "Now tell me mother, what are you plans."

  "Well I am renting the house out and am going to buy a condo her in California."

  Didier look so surprised. "Mother, are you sure you want to buy a condo?"

  "I want to be near my son, and his friend. I want to start new, fresh. I need a change, and this is it." Catherine said with absoluteness in her voice.

  "Well of course, but I want you to live with me, we have been too far apart for too long." Didier had a tear in his eye and he wiped it with his napkin. Reason reached under the table and grabbed Didier's hand, and squeezed it to show he supported him. Didier smiled at Reason for this.

  "Well it's settled then, I don't have to look for a condo. Now, let's go. I am full and tired. Do you have my room ready?" Catherine said as she began to gather her things.

  "Oh yes, I have bought some new bedding. You'll be very comfortable." Reason new that Didier worried about his mother, but he seemed like he could take care of himself. He had pictured this frail women, boy was he surprised.

  Twenty minutes later.

  "Well we're here." Didier said as they turned into the drive.

  "It's beautiful, like an English cottage. I didn't know California had such quaint homes. You've done a wonderful job with the gardens."

  "Catherine, that's Didier's favorite thing to do, gardening, and he does it quickly." Reason smiled. Didier too.

  "They were in the house sitting in the parlor, as Reason called it. Just a wonderful room with some overstuffed chairs, and a fireplace and some book shelves. A chandelier with a dimmer on it.

  "Honey, you've outdone yourself with this place, I feel like I am in England somewhere at a country estate. How big is this house?"

  "Well if you include the carriage house, it's around 2800 square feet." Didier said quietly as not to sound to boastful.

  "Well it's beautiful. I love this fireplace, it's so warm and toasty. It is a bit chilly outside and damp. I thought California was always sunshine."

  "Well that's mostly southern California, we are almost Central and we are a bit more wet and cold. But we do have wonderful sunshiny days. You'll see, and you'll love it." Reason exclaimed.

  "I can't wait. I am just tired of the damp cold and hot humidity back east, it's just not worth it after all these years. I want to spend my time in better weather." Reason felt that this might be a warning. Maybe Catherine was in poor health. He dismissed this thought and went forward.

  "Well we will get you situated tomorrow."

  "Mine things should arrive soon. I put them on a truck."

  "You did, wow, how much is coming?"

  "Honey just a few boxes of some things I had to save."

  "Well you brought 3 huge suitcases and 2 carryons."

  "Don't worry about it."

  "Oh I don't mind."

&nb
sp; Catherine smiled. "Well it's getting late, I think I am going to take a warm bath and then go to bed."

  "Another bather, I love to take baths as well," Reason added.

  Catherine hugged Didier and kissed him on the cheek. "Good night sweetie." She turned and hugged Reason, "It is such a pleasure to meet you. Good night." She went down the hall to her room, Didier had taken the suit cases in there when they arrived.

  Didier drove Reason home. "So what do you think of my mother?"

  "I love Catherine and am so glad she is out here to be close to you."

  "Yes I am glad as well. It will take some time to adjust." Reason reached over and squeezed Didier's hand and held on to it.

  They arrived at Reason's house. "Are you coming in?"

  "Yes, I might spend the night."

  "Oh wow, I thought you would want to be at your house with your mother, being her first night here."

  "She's perfectly capable of sleeping there without me being there." Didier said matter-of-factly, "Besides, I want to be with you tonight." Reason didn't pursue it.

  They went inside. They went to bed and made love for a couple hours. "I missed you," Didier whispered into Reason's ear, "I missed this."

  Reason felt his heart melt. Out.

  Chapitre 24

  The next morning.

  Reason was at his studio bright and early. Didier had awoke early and made coffee and then left to go back to his house to dress for work and see about his mother. Reason could not go back to sleep. He wanted to start going over the new fall catalog for his clients and this was a great time to work, early in the morning. He spent all day until 1 p.m. working and then he called Didier.

  "Hello."

  "Hello, how are you today?"

  "I am wonderful. I got up when you left and came to the studio to work on my fall catalog.''

  "I was wondering why I hadn't heard from you.