He captured my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing each fingertip, then threading his fingers through mine. “Will you dine with us?”
I lifted our twined hands and kissed his knuckles then raised my eyes shyly to his. “Yes, Jack. The answer is always yes.”
He gave a half smile, as if chuckling about a joke I had not heard. “If you’re ready now, I can accompany you ladies.” I fetched Grandmère and we walked to Bernard’s apartment, each of us holding one of Jack’s arms.
Dinner was, as was everything that Bernard fixed, delicious. When we praised the meal, he modestly said that it was all Jack’s doing.
“Jack, did you really have anything to do with this dish? Are you hiding a cooking skill set from me?”
He laughed and replied, “My role in preparing this was mainly advisory. I watched while Bernard cooked. But he did let me chop the carrots!”
I smiled. “The carrots were my favorite part.” He took my hand and squeezed it. His look told me he was thinking of dinners to come, when it would be just the two of us. I wondered, would that be in my apartment? In his loft? Or would we need to look for a new home? We had so much to talk over, and we’d had almost no time together since he proposed.
All too soon, it was time for the walk home. As she had the previous evening, Grandmère wished us goodnight and went into her apartment. I prepared myself for another sensory onslaught of kisses, but instead Jack just wrapped me in a warm hug and buried his face in my hair.
“I love you,” he breathed. “Part of me is so scared that I’ll screw this up and lose you.”
“What? What makes you say that? That’s not going to happen, Jack. I’ve got your ring on my finger; in case you forgot.” I pushed back so I could look up into his face.
“I just want you to know, Eve, I’m committed to doing whatever it takes to make you happy, to make us work. I know we face some challenges, but I really believe we can be happy together.” The intensity of his gaze made shivers go up my spine.
“Same here, Jack. If I didn’t believe that I wouldn’t have said yes.”
“I just want us to always be on the same page. So, we need to be sure to communicate about all the important things. And the little things, too.”
“OK, Jack.” I was a little mystified where this had come from. “Just to get our relationship off on the right foot, over or under?”
“Say what?” he asked, his eyebrows quirking up. “Are you talking about sex?”
I chuckled. “No, toilet paper. Do you believe the toilet paper roll should be installed so that the paper comes over the top of the roll or from underneath?”
He drew himself up, affronted. “Over the top, of course. Do I look like a heathen?”
I gave a decisive nod. “Good. I’ve read that 72% of spousal abuse cases and fully 87% of domestic homicides are centered around the toilet paper question. And since we’re in agreement, I think that pretty much guarantees domestic tranquility, right?”
He grinned and caressed the side of my face with his palm. “Who knew you could be such a goofball?”
“I’m just saying Jack, I think we’re going to be OK. I’m not going anywhere. Well, I’m going home, but I’m going there with you. I’m not leaving you. And as long as you don’t leave me, we’ll be together till we’re an awesome, old couple sitting together on the sofa watching reruns of Jeopardy and making out during the commercial breaks.”
He grinned, leaned down and gave me a gentle kiss, and said, “Sweet dreams, sweetheart. I’ll see you in the morning.” Then he opened the door and held it open till I went through.
“Sweet dreams, love. I’ll see you as soon as I close my eyes.”
I did, indeed, dream of Jack. I didn’t remember any thread of it in the morning. Just Jack. And happiness.
The four of us breakfasted together in Bernard’s apartment and discussed our plans for the day. I felt a little guilty, looking at my grandmother, worried that she’d overdone it the day before. I couldn’t have turned down the opportunity to shop with her; she’d enjoyed it so much. But she had just been released from the hospital, so it seemed prudent to keep today low key and let her rest.
When Grandmère seemed a bit tired, I suggested she lie down for a nap, and she grudgingly agreed. After I’d gotten her situated comfortably, I told Jack I needed a new suitcase, so we went out.
I quickly found a perfect sized bag at a luggage shop several doors down from the boulangerie. We bought pastries to take back for dinner, then found a bench to sit on and watch people go by. It was a clear, sunny day, but there was still a bite to the breeze. Jack sat close to me and put his arm around me. He seemed to have something on his mind, several times starting to say something and then stopping.
Finally, I turned to look him full in the face. “What is it, Jack?”
He hesitated, then plunged ahead. “I’ve been thinking.”
“I can see that, Jack. What about?”
“I’ve been thinking about how you said you wanted to wait. You know, wait for marriage.”
