One Summer in Paris(59)

“I’m not sure—” Mimi looked vague. “Maybe. Or maybe not. The past is hazy.”

Grace knew for a fact that her grandmother’s memory was perfect. If the past was hazy, then it was because there were things she didn’t want to share.

It was frustrating. She really wanted to know more about Mimi’s link to the bookstore.

“I love that it has so many different rooms. It feels almost like a maze. What did you love most about it?”

“The atmosphere.”

At least her grandmother wasn’t pretending it was the books.

Grace still struggled to imagine her free-spirited, wild grandmother spending time in the bookstore. It would be like trapping a bird in a cage.

“I’ve made a new friend. Her name is Audrey, and she’s Sophie’s age. You’d love her. She reminds me a little of you. She works in the bookstore.”

“That’s good. I do love to be around young people, although these days everyone is a young person to me.”

Grace took a deep breath. “I did something this evening.” If anyone could give her advice, it was her grandmother. “Something that isn’t like me. I tracked down Philippe. He’s a concert pianist. He performs all over the world. I’m thinking of sending him a friend request. What do you think?”

“I think it sounds like an excellent plan.”

“It’s not a plan exactly. These days I don’t have much of a plan. I wake up and see what I feel like doing, but I did wonder—” She bit her lip. “You do remember me mentioning Philippe?”

Mimi beamed at her. “Of course! He was your first love. Handsome, charming, smart—and an amazing lover.”

Grace almost fell off her chair. “Er—”

“All Parisian men are amazing lovers. They treat women the way they treat food—as something to savor and enjoy. In Paris, love is not something to rush. You should definitely contact him. I always thought you might go back one day and marry him.”

“I married David.”

“Yes. Shame. Still, we all make decisions we regret sometimes.”

Mimi adored David. Since when had she thought the marriage was a mistake? And why was she suddenly so determined to push Grace toward someone else?

She opened her mouth to say she didn’t regret marrying David, but Mimi was talking again.

“Call him, Grace! Get in touch.”

“You always say we can’t return to the past.”

“That depends on what’s in the past. In this case, you should. You have to live life. After all, it’s nothing more than David has done. Contact Philippe.”

“He might be married.”

“Bah, so what? In Paris, no one cares about such things.”

“I care, but if he isn’t married, then maybe it would be fun to meet up. Drinks, or dinner.”

“Dinner. Romance. Sex. Paris was made for this, no? You have no idea how happy I am that you’re not sitting there pining over David.”

“Well, actually—”

“Good sex cures everything, I always think.” Mimi straightened. “My yoga class is in ten minutes so I should go. Call me again soon.”

Grace was so taken aback by the whole conversation she didn’t ask why her grandmother was cutting the conversation short.

“Take care now.” Baffled, she closed the screen, and Mimi’s face disappeared.

Grace stared into space.

There was something wrong with her grandmother.





Mimi


Mimi closed her laptop and studied the man hovering in the doorway. “You were supposed to leave!”

“I was going to, but then I heard her voice.” David walked back into the room and sat down on the sofa. “I didn’t expect her to sound so—so—”

“So what? So happy? You want her to be miserable, is that it?”

“No!” He ran his hand over the back of his neck. “You know that isn’t it.”

“All I know is that you broke my granddaughter’s heart, and now suddenly you’re knocking on my door.”

He’d avoided her, presumably too ashamed of his behavior to face her. But today he was here, which meant something must have changed.

“I’ve known you forever, Mimi. I know Grace is out of the country and I wanted to check on you.”

Was she stupid to believe him? Maybe she should have shown him the door, but he was like a son to her and she found it impossible to cut him out of her life.

David was a good guy who had done a bad thing, or at least a foolish thing.

“I’m fine. Never better.” She decided to test her theory. “How are you? Where’s Lissa this afternoon?”

“She’s gone to the mall with her friends. Shopping.”

“I’m sure it’s good for her to hang out with people her own age.”

David winced. “That’s harsh, Mimi.”

Was it? She felt a flicker of guilt and then remembered what he’d done to her granddaughter. To her Grace.

“Do you expect me to protect your feelings?”

“No. I don’t expect that.” He looked stressed. Tired. Like a man who hadn’t slept a full night in months.

Too much sex, Mimi thought savagely. Or maybe not. Maybe it was something more.