“If we’d been capable of loving each other for that long, I don’t think Camille would have come into my life. I’ll admit, I did like to flirt a little. But who could blame me for that? I wasn’t a womanizer, though. I had too much respect for women to do that.”
“You said things soured between you and Mom after I was born. Am I the reason you ended up getting divorced?”
“Wewere the reason. Over time, people start to take everything for granted, including their spouses. When I was your age, I promised I would never be like the men who forget the passion of a relationship’s beginning, that one that dominates the first months or even years. But your mother and I did forget. We slowly grew apart, without realizing that the distance between us was growing. The affection we had for each other disappeared, and the tender, little daily gestures—which are much more important than any of us are willing to admit—vanished with it. Sometimes, I would watch as you kissed your mother good night and think, How could an adult ever love another person that much? What happened between us wasn’t your fault at all. And, though it might surprise you to hear it, you proved me wrong. The love we have for our children has no bounds—it’s proof that people can love unconditionally. You helped me understand that. If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t have any hope of a second chance. Which brings us back to Camille,” Raymond concluded as he slipped into the front seat. “Say, is there a problem with the car?”
“No, the engine’s purring like a kitten. Why?”
“No reason. I was just wondering why we’re going so slow.”
Thomas shot his father a dirty look.
“Eyes on the road, please. At the speed we’re going, who knows what could happen.”
“So, what happened when you and Mom went to Italy?”
“Don’t think about your mother now. We need to focus on the task at hand. First, we’ll case the joint during the funeral. We’ll take a few pictures while no one is looking. We’ll need a disposable camera. Come to think of it, maybe not—the lab that develops them could connect the dots when they hear the story on the news. Unless you pay cash. Don’t forget to stop by an ATM. After you take the photos, we’ll draw up a detailed map that includes all possible points of entry: doors, windows, ceiling lights, and ventilation shafts. Then, later that night, we’ll break in. Easy peasy.”
“Easy peasy, huh?”
“More or less.”
“Who do you think you are? A thief like Arsène Lupin?”
“What’s wrong with Lupin? He was a gentleman, and always impeccably dressed.”
“Look, they don’t sell disposable cameras anymore. And we’renotgoing to break in. Let me remind you that the ‘us’ you’re referring to is actually just me. I’ll go ‘case’ the place, as you put it, and then simply figure out the best way to go back after the funeral to get some time alone with both urns, to mix your ashes together.”
“That’s another way to do it,” Raymond admitted. “Less exciting, but ...”
“More practical. I think ‘practical’ is the word you’re looking for.”
“But what about scattering them?”
“Look, the terms of our absurd agreement were quite clear: I’m to mix you two together and give the whole thing a good shake. That’s it.”
Raymond was quiet for a moment.
“And what if her husband decides to keep us? On his nightstand, for example. Surely you can see how awkward that would be?”
“Do you know a lot of men who sleep with their dead wives on their nightstand?”
“No. But don’t forget, he was an engineer.”
“So?”
“Who knows how a person like that thinks! He takes things very seriously. He put over five thousand miles between Camille and me to keep us apart. If that’s not over-the-top behavior, I don’t know what is!”
“Stealing an urn full of still-warm ashes is one example that comes to mind.”
“Thomas, don’t forget you still owe me some respect. I am your father, after all.”
“It’s funny, you always used to say that to me when you were wrong.”
“Well, then I can’t have said it very often!”
When they reached the top of the hill, Thomas left the car on the road next to the park and walked the few steps to the viewpoint. A thick fog floated over the ocean like a shroud. Like a white desert drifting through the air.
“I have to admit, a man could dream of having a view like that.” Raymond sighed. “But I get it if you’d rather leave me in some brass pot.”
