All the Devils Are Here(13)

“Then why are we talking about it?” demanded Stephen. “You must’ve learned the dark art of banality from your former boss.”

Annie laughed, and even Jean-Guy gave a snort of amusement as all three looked down the table.

Armand was focused on Daniel and apparently hadn’t heard.

But Daniel had. Not the words, but the laughter. He shot a glance their way. And realized they were looking, and laughing, at him.

“So,” said Daniel, breaking off his conversation with his father to speak to Stephen at the other end of the table. “We know Mom and Dad came to see Annie and Jean-Guy. But what brings you to Paris?”

Armand felt the glancing blow. A flesh wound, but a wound nevertheless.

“I came to Paris for meetings,” said Stephen. “Arrived yesterday. Timed it to be here when the baby arrives, I hope.” He placed his hand over Annie’s, then gave Daniel a penetrating look. “Your parents and I also came to see you and Roslyn and the girls.”

And Daniel colored. But did not apologize.

“Now,” Stephen said, glancing around the table, “have I ever told you about how your father—”

“Planned to propose to Mom?” said Annie. “Never. What happened?”

Armand just shook his head and grimaced.

“A toast,” said Stephen, raising his glass.

“To The Gates of Hell.”

They clinked glasses, and Stephen caught Armand’s eye. There was amusement and genuine happiness there, Armand was glad to see. But also a warning.

The old trip wire, the barbed wire, was still in place after all.

“Really,” said Reine-Marie once the laughter died down. “The better question is where your father took me for our honeymoon.”

“I assumed it was here in Paris,” said Annie.

“I think we should order dessert,” said Armand, and tried to get Margaux’s attention.

“Non, not Paris,” said Reine-Marie.

“Manoir Bellechasse?” asked Daniel.

“Rice pudding, anyone?” asked Armand, putting on his reading glasses and lowering his head to the menu.

“Non. Shall you tell them, or should I?” Reine-Marie asked her husband.

“Why didn’t we ever think to ask?” Annie asked her brother.

“Too busy laughing at the proposal,” he said. “Attention diverted. Now you have to tell us.”

But once again their attention was diverted, this time by dessert.

Daniel and Roslyn shared the huge portion of rice pudding with its drizzle of salted caramel.

Annie ordered her own pudding and fiercely defended it from Jean-Guy, who ended up sharing Stephen’s.

Reine-Marie and Armand, too jet-lagged to eat any more, just watched.

When the bill came, Armand reached for it, but Stephen took it instead.

It was one of the rare times Stephen picked up a bill, and Armand looked at him questioningly. But the elderly man just smiled and left, Armand could see, an enormous tip.

The night air was refreshing after the warmth and close atmosphere of the bistro, and revived Armand and Reine-Marie a little. Though both longed for their bed.

By habit and silent agreement, the family headed south, crossing familiar streets, passing familiar shops, on their way to the Palais-Royal.

It was the walk they always took after dinner at Juveniles. It gave them the impression they were working off the meal they’d just had. Though they could walk to Versailles and still not work off the rice pudding.

Annie and Jean-Guy, Daniel and Roslyn were up ahead, pausing to look in shop windows.

Armand and Reine-Marie were about to follow Stephen across rue de Richelieu when Reine-Marie asked, “What time is it?”

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.”