Page 20
Armand checked his watch. “Almost eleven.”
They turned toward the Tour Eiffel, and sure enough, as they watched, it lit up in the distance, sparkling.
“Look at that,” said Armand, with a sigh, tipping his head back.
Stephen paused on his way across the street and looked up from his phone.
A delivery van, half a block away, had stopped to let him cross.
It started to move. Slowly. Then it picked up speed. Moving quickly now. Armand looked away from the glittering tower just in time to see what was happening. What was about to happen.
He raised his hand and shouted a warning.
But it was too late. There was a thud.
And the vehicle sped away.
Jean-Guy took off after it as Armand ran to Stephen. “Call an ambulance!”
Reine-Marie stepped into the middle of the street, her arms up and waving. To protect Armand and Stephen from the oncoming vehicles.
Armand fell to his knees and, turning to Daniel, he yelled, “Help your mother.”
And watched as Daniel backed away.
“Mamma,” Annie screamed, and Armand turned just in time to see a car skid to a stop within a foot of Reine-Marie. So close she put her hands on the warm hood.
“Reine-Marie?” Armand shouted.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m calling for help,” yelled Annie.
Armand turned back to Stephen. His hands hovered over the still body of his godfather. Not daring to turn him over, for fear of doing more damage. If that was even possible.
“No, no, no,” he whispered. “Please, God, no.”
He could see blood on the pavement, and Stephen’s glasses and keys and shoes flung about.
Stephen’s legs were at an unnatural angle. His head was obscured by an arm.
Armand felt for a pulse. It was there. Light, wavering.
“Daddy?” Annie asked, approaching her father and the body on the ground as the Tour Eiffel sparkled in the background.
“Get back,” her father commanded. “Get off the road.”
And she did.
“Armand?”
Reine-Marie knelt beside them as drivers got out of cars and gaped. A few honked. Not realizing what was happening.
“An ambulance,” Armand repeated, not taking his eyes off his godfather.
“On its way,” said Annie and Roslyn together.
Reine-Marie reached out and picked up Stephen’s shattered glasses and keys and put them into her handbag. His shoes she left.
