La Photographie Moderne

by Neil Crenner

didn't know that you went to England."

  "Yes and to France too. It was when I was 21 and I wanted to see the world. I had a chance to go and was there for nine weeks. It flew by."

  "Well that is exciting. Tell me more."

  "I went with my friend, she had been a couple times before when she was younger. At 18 and 19. She knew how to travel with a small backpack. We slept in all kinds of hostels around England and France. Saw the countryside and tasted the wine. Met some boys. We had a ball."

  "That was so fun. I would love to toot around the English countryside in an MG."

  "You and Didier should go this summer. It would be so fun and romantic."

  "I would love to go."

  "Bring it up to him. He may want to go with you."

  "I hope he would, the brat."

  "He is sometimes a brat even to me."

  "Is he? I do love him though, brat and all."

  "He is like a little boy. Hasn't grown up yet."

  "I love him just that way as well."

  "Didier is a sweet man."

  "I tell you Cat, he is the sweetest man I have ever met. He is always doing little things for me."

  "He has always been a sweet boy. He used to play all by himself as a child and never bothered me. He was a bit of a loner."

  "Yeah, I kind of get that feeling from him."

  "That what's I was worried about when I came to live with him. If I would be crowding his space."

  "Not to worry Cat, he loves having you around. He loves you dearly."

  "I am glad that he does. We were apart for so long. Most of his adult life up to now."

  "Yes it is sad when you move away from family which reminds me that I need to take a drive down and visit my parents."

  "Oh where do they live?" Just then Cat pulled into the driveway of the restaurant. They got out and went inside talking as they did this.

  "Palm Springs. It is just 4 hour drive. Maybe we can go there for a long weekend after we return from Frisco."

  "Oh that would be lovely. I have never been but heard about it. In I Love Lucy, Lucy, her mother and Ethel went there in one of the episodes and it rained for 3 days straight."

  "I wonder if that has ever happened. It really is a desert."

  "I am sure it has once or twice."

  "I know that July is the warmest month. December is the coolest month. February is the wettest month. May is the driest month. The highest recorded temperature was 123°F in July of 1995. The lowest recorded temperature was 19°F in January of 1937."

  "How do you know all this Reason?"

  "I looked it up before when I went down to visit my parents. I just seemed to remember that. Love topic of the weather."

  "Well Didier loves geography."

  "I didn't know that."

  "Yes he was always looking at maps when he was a child."

  "He has kept that a secret from me."

  "He is a secretive person. In time I am sure he will talk to you about it."

  "Yeah I do hope so." They had seated themselves at one of the tables and were waiting for the waiter. It was basically empty being that it had just opened a few minutes before they arrived. It was very festive and had an authentic feel to it. The waiter came with water and they ordered two of their Cadillac margaritas with salted rim. When the waiter left Cat smiled and said, "Are you sure we should be drinking so early?"

  "It's 11:30 a.m., and that is not too early for an adult beverage."

  "Ok. So what's good here?"

  "Everything that I have eaten is good here."

  "I am craving some mole."

  "I am craving Nopalitos Con Huevos."

  "What is that?"

  "Cactus with eggs."

  "Sounds yummy. I will order that."

  "You'll love it. It's healthy for you too. Eggs help your body metabolize alcohol, so drink up." Just then the waiter brought the margaritas. He took their ordered and was gone.

  "Cheers! To your inheritance."

  "Cheers!" Cat repeated. They both took big sips. "It's delicious."

  "Strong too. We better just have one."

  "Sounds perfect to me. What would Didier say?"

  "Drink in moderation." They both chuckled.

  Later that day.

  Reason was laying down and the phone rang. "Hello."

  "Well hello there." Didier said in his sweet voice.

  "Hey there."

  "You didn't go to the gallery?"

  "Nope. Cat and I went to brunch and had Nopalitos Con Huevos."

  "Interesting."

  "We were celebrating."

  "Celebrating what?"

  "That the Will says she is the only one to inherit the estate."

  "Are you jumping the gun?"

  "Why do you ask that?"

  "What if the Will is not there in the safe deposit box?"

  "Well then we will have a harder time to prove that her grandfather wrote it on the wall in the mansion."

  "Yeah and it might not be admissible."

  "Let's look on the positive side."

  "Okay that is a good idea. I will be positive. I usually am but this whole mess has me worried."

  "Worry not Didier. Will you be home soon?"

  "Yes I was just calling Cat to see if she needed anything at the store."

  "I can ask her. We stopped and picked some things up after brunch."

  "Well then maybe I don't need to stop then."

  "If it is not pressing, then come directly home. I miss you."

  "Okay, I will."

  "See you soon." Reason hung up. He felt like the luckiest man in the world. Didier was the sweetest man he had ever met. Kind and thoughtful. He could never imagine him any other way. He decided to tidy up the bedroom. Cat had gone to take a nap as well. Colbert followed him as he piddled around trying not to make too much noise. He didn't want to wake up Cat.

  Fini for now. Hope you enjoyed. Please leave any feedback if you wish. All is appreciated.

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  About the author:

  Neil Crenner lives in Palm Springs California with his cat Halo. My second novel is finished, DREK, a sci-fi story is finished and being edited.

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