‘Aren’t you going to open it?’ asked Lena.
‘Yes. It might be important,’ said Chloe.
Now Darcie knew there was something going on, but she couldn’t for the life of her figure out what it was. ‘You two are up to something,’ she said. ‘And I’ll find out.’
‘Oh, just check your email,’ said Lena. ‘Before I crack under interrogation.’
‘It’s from Matt,’ said Darcie, pretending she hadn’t noticed the little flutter of excitement she got whenever he contacted her.
Hi Darcie
That’s awesome. I’m so happy for you. And for Odile and Nathalie.
You know you don’t have to repay me. You don’t owe me anything. I was invested just as much as you were.
Anyway, there’s something I wanted to give you. Can you make time for a coffee or even an English cup of tea?
I’m just across the square.
Matt
Darcie had to steady herself on the counter as she reread the email. Just as she did, the bell tinkled above the door to the shop.
It was Hannah. ‘Is this good timing?’
‘It’s perfect timing,’ said Lena.
Darcie looked at her sister, her mother, and her friend. ‘You all know?’
‘Of course we do,’ said Chloe with a laugh.
‘But how?’ It all felt so surreal, Darcie thought she was going to have to do that pinch-me thing.
‘Oh, that’s just detail, but if you must know, Matt got in touch with me on Facebook,’ said Chloe. ‘He didn’t want to show up and put you on the spot.’
‘But I never said anything to you about him, not in detail,’ said Darcie.
‘Oh, you didn’t have to,’ said Chloe, turning Darcie around. ‘It was very clear how much you liked him.’ She took Darcie’s coat from the peg and slipped it onto her. ‘Now, Hannah is here to look after the shop. I’m taking Mum to her physio appointment and you’– she bundled Darcie around the counter and towards the door– ‘my dear sister, are going across the road to that coffee shop where a certain American is waiting for you.’
Darcie stepped out onto the pavement. She could see the coffee shop across the road and, yes, there was Matt, sitting in the window, looking right back at her.
Darcie’s feet were taking her, in an almost trancelike state, across the square and into the coffee shop. She walked over to the table.
‘Hi,’ she said, suddenly feeling tongue-tied in front of him.
‘Hey,’ he replied, getting to his feet and kissing her on the cheek. ‘You OK?’
‘I think so,’ said Darcie, not moving.
‘Look, you never downloaded those pictures I took of you by Sacré-Cœur.’ He took several photographs from his bag and held them out to her. ‘I thought I’d drop by with them.’
‘Drop by?’ said Darcie, raising her eyebrows.
Her shock was wearing off and questions were queuing up in her head. Seeing Matt again, and those photographs of their first meeting, brought all her feelings of happiness that she associated with him rushing to the fore. He looked even more handsome than she remembered. Even more attractive.
An unexpected ball of emotion rolled up and lodged itself in her throat. She managed to force the words out. ‘I didn’t know if I’d see you again.’
‘Did you think I was going to let you go that easily, Darcie Bytheway?’ said Matt, moving closer still. ‘I’m kinda tired of Paris. When you left, the magic of the city left with you.’
