‘Don’t try to talk me out of this,’ said Darcie.
‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’
They stopped at a café a little further down the road, and Matt convinced Darcie to have some crêpes at the very least, even though her appetite had left her.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said as they finished their coffee. ‘I’m not very good company.’
‘Hey, no worries. You look tired. Why don’t you get some rest this afternoon?’
Darcie gave a sigh. ‘I think I might have to. Do you want to come back to mine? Just to chill.’
Matt gave a smile. ‘Sure. I’d like that. I can sort through some photos on my laptop and then maybe we can go out for dinner tonight or, failing that, I can cook.’
‘You can cook?’
Matt frowned, but then the corners of his mouth curled up. ‘I’d sooner that was a statement, not a question.’
Darcie laughed. ‘It’s both. But I’m very happy for you to dispel any questions I might have.’
‘It’s a deal.’
They made their way back via the Métro to the Montmartre area and took the short walk from the station to rue Ordener and Darcie’s apartment.
‘You don’t like the elevator?’ asked Matt, as he moved over to one side of the staircase to allow two men, who were on their way down, to pass.
‘I’m trying to walk off those crêpes I had for lunch,’ said Darcie. ‘At this rate, I’ll be charged for excess baggage at the airport.’
Going home was a sobering thought and she wished she hadn’t mentioned it as the mood immediately shifted between them.
She stopped outside her room. ‘Sorry. I seem to be surpassing my own expectations of not being good company.’
Matt pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. He looked down and gave a small kiss on her mouth. ‘You don’t have to apologise. You just need some sleep. I’m glad you feel you don’t have to put on an act for me,’ he said. ‘Now, how about you let me look after you?’ He put his finger to her lip to quell any protest.
She relaxed into him. Maybe she could switch off and let someone else take up the slack for a change. And who better to look after her than Matt?
‘Come on, then. I need tucking up with a hot chocolate,’ she said.
She opened the door and as she walked into the apartment, she let out a gasp.
The whole room had been turned upside down. It had been ransacked. Cushions pulled off the sofa and chair, the foot stool turned over, books pulled from the bookshelf, cupboard doors open and a couple of smashed mugs on the floor.
The high-sleeper bed above the sofa had fared no better and she was distraught to see her personal effects scattered across the duvet.
‘Shit,’ muttered Matt.
She turned to look at him. ‘I hope you’re good at hugging,’ she said, before bursting into tears.
Once again, she was in Matt’s arms and he stroked her head and her back, murmuring soothing words into her hair. ‘It’s OK, Darce,’ he said. ‘Shhh. It’s OK.’
She pulled away and looked around at the mess. It was true what people said when they had been burgled– that they felt violated. Every item of hers was now contaminated by an unknown person’s touch. ‘I’ll have to wash everything before I can wear it,’ she said. Even her underwear had been unceremoniously strewn across the floor. Good job she and Matt were past the point of wondering what sort of pants each other wore.
‘You’d better check nothing has been taken,’ said Matt. ‘I’ll phone the police.’ He went to take out his phone and then stopped in mid action. ‘Darcie?’
She looked up at him. ‘Yeah?’
‘Where are the dress and sketchbook?’
Chapter 32
