Mia turned up late at the gates of the Jardin du Luxembourg. She looked around for Paul, then sent him a text.
Where are you?
On a bench.
Which bench?
I’m wearing a yellow raincoat,
so you can spot me easily.
Seriously?
No!
Seeing her approach, Paul stood up and waved.
“Oh, so you’re the one wearing a slicker today,” she said, “even though it’s not raining.”
“That remains to be seen,” he replied, setting off along the path, his hands behind his back.
Mia followed.
“Did you have another bout of writer’s block last night?”
“Nope. I even managed to finish a chapter. I’ll start another one tonight.”
“Look at that. Do you fancy a game?” Mia asked, pointing to a group of men playing boules.
“Do you know how to play?”
“It doesn’t seem all that complicated.”
“Well, it is. Like everything in life, I suppose . . .”
“Easy, now. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?”
“How about . . . if I win, you have to make me dinner!”
“And if I win?”
“It would be dishonest of me to let you think you have a chance of winning. I’ve become seriously good at this stupid little game.”
“I’ll try my luck anyway,” Mia replied, heading for the boules pitch.
She asked two players who were chatting if she could borrow their set of boules. They looked wary, so she leaned close to the older of the two and whispered something in his ear. The man smiled and gestured at the pitch, where the boules and the jack lay unused.
“Shall we?” she said to Paul.
Paul began the first round by throwing the jack. He waited for the little wooden ball to stop rolling, then bent forward, arm pulled back, and threw his boule. It arced through the air before rolling along the ground and coming to rest next to the jack.
“Difficult to get any closer than that.” He whistled. “Your turn.”
Mia got into position, watched by the two old men, who looked amused. Her boule did not go as high as Paul’s and came to a halt an inch or two behind his.
“Not bad. Promising, but not a game changer,” said Paul.
For his second throw, he twisted his wrist slightly. The boule slowly circled around the others before kissing the jack.
