The Long Winter #95
le Cote d'Azur part two
“Nagisa is sick.”
Leah looked up as Bethany joined her near the bow of the ship.
“That’s too bad,” Leah said.
“Your mother is very concerned, and disappointed in me that my dossier did not include this detail.”
“There was no way to know. We never talked about ships, or sailing.” Leah nearly smiled at Bethany. “None of us are any sort of seamen.”
“Quite the racy joke, young Leah.”
Leah turned back and leaned on the railing, watching the sea ahead. France was to the north, on her right, all grand limestone cliffs and green trees and stately manors and resort hotels. Cars crept along on the roads winding through it all, none of it audible over the sound of the water and the creaking of the yacht’s wooden structure.
“Regardless, I like sailing. Is Nagisa okay?”
“Nice of you to show some concern for your roommate. She is just your roommate, right?”
Leah glanced over at her again. She thought she detected a hint of an edge at the word “just,” but she was not entirely sure. Bethany’s face remained neutral and her heart fluttered as she tried to figure the older woman out.
“Mais oui. Just my roommate, as you say.”
“Well, she’s doing fine. One of the crew brought her some medicine, it seems to be helping but she still looks, well, quite seasick. She didn’t get airsick…”
“There was remarkably little turbulence,” Leah said formally, turning away from her again. Bethany stepped up beside her, set her hand on the railing, touching Leah’s. “We’re lucky to have this beautiful weather.”
“Warmer than usual. Your mother is entertaining the others, they all seem to be enjoying themselves.”
Leah nodded. Bethany shifted, bringing her slightly closer to Leah.
“Is there a particular reason you’re up here by yourself? Surely your PMer friend would love to have this view.”
“She’ll do what she wants. I wouldn’t have stopped her from coming up here. I didn’t stop you.”
Bethany took a deep breath and turned around, letting her hand trail up Leah’s arm as she set herself up with her back to the sea.
“Your mother is watching us. No, don’t look. She’s been watching us, me especially, since we boarded the plane in Michigan.”
“Why?”
“You are her precious jewel and I am an interloper into every one of her relationships.”
“I thought part of the reason you came on this trip was to put some distance between you and her suspicions of you and my father.”
Bethany nodded, a smile appearing (although it did not touch her eyes). Leah dove into those eyes, trying to find something more than a hint of what she might truly be feeling. Leah could be merely imagining Bethany’s proximity since the flight here. The brush of her hand, the looks they shared on the plane, the way they had parted after the press conference. She suspected but she would rather know. Bethany continued to disappoint but simultaneously intrigue her.
“Your father is a charming man, and I’m glad my career brought me into your family. I’m not interested in him, though, and I’m absolutely sure I’m not his type. He likes energetic women, like your mother.”
“And what’s your type?”
Bethany took a deep breath.
“Maybe you like someone more reserved,” Leah offered. “More serious.”
“Someone who’s available,” Bethany added.
The look they shared was enough to set Leah’s fluttering heart into a stampede. Being a reserved sort of person, she did not allow her face to show a smile, suggestive or otherwise. She turned and looked back across the deck. Nagisa was nowhere to be seen. Penny and Maddie stood atop the cabin, looking out at all the things Leah’s mother was pointing out.
“We should find Nagisa,” Leah said.
“Agreed.”
“I’m glad you came.”
“I am as well.”
Leah and Bethany walked away from the deck. In Leah’s mind they were hand-in-hand, a thought better than reality.
“If Mother wishes to eat at La Campagne—”
“I’ll be sure she gets the merlot. And then she’ll be passed out before we return to the chateau.”
“Good. And you know where I’ll be.”
“Will it be safe?”
“It’s my room. The only safer room in all of the Riviera is my parents’.”
“I’ll go check on Nagisa. Go join your friends.”
“Yes, that is a good idea.”
They paused at the door to the cabin and shared a secret smile, then Bethany turned and left. Leah went into the door and climbed the steps up to the deck above the cabin. She had not realized she was still smiling until her mother’s eyes fell upon her.
“Ah, my precious jewel, please come and join us.”
“Mother, what are we looking at?”
“We will honor the request of La PM-euse and climb the hill and dine at Andre’s on Mount Boron.”
“Andre?” Leah tried to hide her surprise, but there was no stopping her eyes from blinking in confusion. “Why? I thought you weren’t getting along with him.”
“His politics are horrible, of course, but he is gone to La Paris and Ingrid is there and she is a joyful companion.”
“Yes, so long as she opens her wine cellar…”
“What was that?”
“Nothing, Mother. I’m sure everyone will love that. Is Pierre driving us up?”
“We will climb the hill. La PM-euse is an avid hiker, and I am in the best physical shape of my life and wish to see how sore I can make my legs so we will walk through the beautiful neighborhood. Perhaps we can see David or Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez. Abdollah is rumored to be back for the week as well…”
“So this is a social visit.” Leah glowered at her mother. Her mother smiled back brightly.
“But of course, my precious jewel. Oh, we will not go to the Sanchez estate to spare you from having to make such a disagreeable expression once again, but Abdollah, he is always charmed to see us.”
“He will miss Father.”
“Yes, this time at least. Come. I believe will be disembarking soon. We should make sure ma petite Nagisa is ready…”
They followed her mother back down the steps to the main deck of the yacht. Penny chattered annoyingly behind her about how beautiful the coastline was, about how excited she was to eat at one of the beautiful houses overlooking the beautiful city.
“This whole thing is like a fairy tale!”
“Yeah, this is how princesses live,” Maddie answered, only a little mocking in her voice. Leah glanced back to see pain slash momentarily across Penny’s face, then she was all girlish enthusiasm once again. She felt a slight longing for the half-Asian girl, something she thought she had put out of her heart months ago, but then they were on the deck and Bethany was standing before her with Nagisa. The Japanese girl’s mouth was turned down in distaste and she leaned heavily on the railing but appeared otherwise fine. Leah’s mother pointed out across the water.
“Look, our taxi approaches. We will be on solid land very soon, ma petite Nagisa. You will feel much better.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Stewart.”
“You are eternally welcome.”
Leah stood back and watched her mother and Bethany tend to Nagisa while Maddie stared hopefully at the approaching speedboat. As it neared her hope turned to disappointment and she turned to Penny with a shrug.
“I guess I shouldn’t have expected Jean-Paul to come all the way here to get us from the boat…”
“He was very cute,” Penny said. She looked at Leah. “Do you know much about him?”
“I didn’t think you would be interested in such a person,” Leah said, casting a sardonic smile at La PM-euse.
“Oh, I’m not, but Maddie is and I support her!”
They laughed and Leah answered.
“He works for Port Hercules, ferrying people to and from their yachts, washing boats, things like that. His family sits on the Port board and his father was a very successful sailor, Father sponsored his racing boats towards the end of his career.”
“Wow, neat!”
“Does he sail, too?” Maddie asked.
“No. He likes motors more than sails, from my understanding. I don’t know too much about him.” Leah saw the disappointment on Maddie’s face. Then she added, “But we could find out. If anyone could make something happen for you, Mother can.”
“Really? You think so?”
Leah nodded and then the boat was there. An older man with gray hair helped the ladies down into it. Leah followed Bethany down and sat in the back with her, both looking the other way as they were whisked towards Nice. Mother sat near the front, her attention on Nagisa but aware, as always, of what her daughter was doing…
Follow The Long Winter into #96 le Cote d’Azur part three here.