“An affair. Not a marriage.”
Rafael spoke for the first time. “Lois, I’m sure you can understand we’re shocked. This was a lot to spring on us.”
Mom’s eyes snapped with something close to anger. “Isn’t that what you did to me when you showed up in Iowa?” There she was. The real Mom.
Pierre put an arm around Mom. “Lois, it doesn’t matter. We knew it would be a transition.” Again with the Loh-ee.
“You’re right, darling,” Mom said. “Lisa, I’m happy. I hope at some point you’ll see how magnificent this man is for me. He has me painting again.”
“I’m glad you’re happy, Mom. But this is…he’s so young.” She turned to Pierre. “Don’t you want children?”
“Not really, no.” Pierre said. “Your mother’s already raised children. It’s not something I feel compelled to do. Even if I did, I’d give it up to be with Lois.”
“You’re so good to me,” Mom said.
“I worship you,” Pierre said, before leaning over to kiss Mom on the mouth.
Lisa’s stomach turned.
“I had to give up my dreams when I had you and your brother,” Mom said when she came up for air. “Now it’s my turn for a second chance. I’m living the life of an artist. I’ve fallen in love.”
“You’re eating bread,” Lisa said.
“I’ve always eaten bread,” Lois said.
Lisa let that one go. She didn’t need to get into it with her mother about how untruthful that was or how damaging her mother’s judgment about food and weight had been to Lisa’s life. That’s what her therapist was for. She made a mental note to schedule an appointment the minute she returned home.
“It’s nice for you, Lois,” Rafael said. The sincerity in his voice shamed Lisa. Why couldn’t she let this go? The man wasn’t in it for the money. But the age difference was too much. This man would eventually hurt Mom. Lisa would have to pick up the pieces. She would be the one whom Mom took her rage and hurtout on. There would be no Paris to soothe Mom’s feelings. There would be nowhere to go but back to Lisa.
“Lisa? Can you be happy for me?” Mom asked.
“Sure, Mom.”It’s great you married a man you could have given birth to.Out loud, she put the brightest note she could into her voice. “It’s amazing how much your life has changed since the last time I saw you.”
Fake it until you make it. Hadn’t her acting career taught her that? Just get through the next few hours, and then she could go back to the hotel with her husband and resume her life. If this was what her mother wanted, then what was it to her? Even as she said this to herself, she knew it wasn’t that simple. The relationship between her and her mother had been tenuous when she agreed to live in Paris for a year. This added complication was sure to make it worse.
Lisa lifted her glass. “Congratulations on your marriage. Many happy returns.”
Fake it until you make it.
3
PEPPER
The next morning, Pepper sat with Stone, Rafael, and Lisa on the high-speed train headed for Tours. Sophie and Nico had texted that they’d arrived in Tours earlier after their time in Bordeaux. Trey and Autumn would arrive later today. David, Lisa’s twin, was coming over with Maggie and Jackson, along with the children.
There was a symmetry to the festivities ahead. All the most important people in Pepper and Stone’s life would be there to help them celebrate and usher them into a new era. An era where she would be Stone’s wife. She still couldn’t believe it was true. Pepper, Maggie, and Lisa had been best friends since their first day as drama students at NYU. Stone’s best friends and business partners, the Wolves, as they called themselves, would be there as well.
The four of them dissected Lois and Pierre’s relationship for a good hour as they sipped cafés au lait and nibbled on croissants. As bewildered as Lisa was, they had her laughing by the time they pulled into the station in the town of Tours. Nico and Sophie were waiting on the platform when they disembarked.
Pepper tugged on Stone’s arm. “Look at them.”
Nico had his arm around Sophie’s shoulders. They looked happy and relaxed.
“I guess that’s what three weeks in France does for you,” Stone said.
“That and a bunch of sex,” Lisa said, giggling.
“Do you think they finally did it?” Pepper asked.
