Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“Sounds good.”
“Great idea.”
“Why not?”
“What was that?” Zoe asks, approaching with a casserole on a wooden board.
Ian stands to take the dish from her.
“They want to visit Les Baux-de-Provence,” Maxime says.
“They have a lovely fabric store.” She hands the casserole to Ian. “I’ve been dying to design something for you girls. It’ll be the ideal opportunity to choose a fabric you like.”
“Oh, wow,” Violet says. “I’ve never made any clothes in my life. I can’t imagine how difficult that must be.”
“It’s easy, really.” Zoe sits down opposite Violet. “I can show you if you like.”
Violet smiles from ear to ear. “I’d like that.”
“I’m in,” Cas says.
Lina dishes salad onto Damian’s plate. “So am I.”
Turning to Ian, Maxime asks, “When are you leaving for Paris?”
Ian glances at Cas. “As soon as you go back to Marseille.”
Cas clears her throat. “Do you have any sightseeing tips for us?”
She’s diverting the attention from the real reason they’re planning on visiting the City of Love. Ian told me about the heist he’s planning.
“Plenty,” Zoe says, passing her the breadbasket. “Don’t get me started or you may regret you asked.”
“What about you guys, Lina?” Cas asks.
“We’re planning on spending a few days in Marseille before heading home,” Lina says. “Damian and Maxime have business to catch up with.” She looks between Zoe and Maxime. “Are you staying in Marseille for the rest of the summer?”
Zoe’s cheeks turn a dark shade of pink that has nothing to do with the heat. “Oh, um, no.”
“I’m taking Zoe to Venice,” Maxime says. “Call it a second honeymoon.”
“Here,” Zoe says, handing me a bowl of mayonnaise. “It’s home-made. Try some with the asparagus.”
Josh flies through the open front door and runs down the steps. “I washed Josie’s hands, Mommy. Daddy let me do it all by myself.”
On the second-last step, he trips over the stone edge and sprawls out over the paving. Lina is on her feet in a flash. Damian follows with Josie, rushing to Josh. Sitting up, Josh hugs his bleeding knees.
“It’s all right, baby,” Lina says, crouching down in front of him.
His bottom lip wobbles.
“Boo-boo,” Josie says, pointing at Josh.
When Josh starts crying, Josie joins in with some serious bawling.
Cas gets to her feet. “I’ll go help.”
“There’s a medicine box in the kitchen,” Maxime offers.
“Let me see that, big man,” Damian says, helping Josh to his feet.
“It burns,” Josh sobs.
“There now.” Lina brushes a hand over Josie’s curls. “Josh is going to be fine. Let’s go clean his knees.”
“Do you know what helps for scraped knees?” Cas says to Josh. “Ice cream.”
“There’s ice cream?” he asks with a hiccup.
“Ice cream,” Josie says, her tears forgotten as she claps her chubby hands.
“Chocolate mint.” Cas winks and holds out her hand. “Come on.”
Taking Josh in one hand and Josie in the other, Cas leads them back to the house with Lina in tow.
A loud burp comes from my left just as Damian takes his place at the table.
Maxime chuckles and hugs Jean to his chest. “It worked. See? I’m already a burb expert.”
Jean gurgles as if to agree. He sticks his fingers into his mouth, making himself gag.
“I think he—” Zoe starts.
“Yes.” Maxime glances at the wet spot on his shoulder. Pushing to his feet, he says, “I need to change my shirt, and Jean needs a clean nappy.”
“Give him to me.” Violet stands and holds out her arms. “I’ll take care of the nappy so you can change your shirt.”
“Are you sure?” Zoe asks, shooting Violet a grateful look.
“It’s the first time you’ve put your butt in a chair today.” Violet smiles. “I’ve got this.”
Maxime hesitates, holding on to Jean as if his life depends on it.
“It’s all right,” Zoe says to her husband. “We can’t be with him twenty-four hours per day forever. He has to get used to caregivers and a nanny when I go back to work.”
After another moment, Maxime reluctantly hands him over. “Only if you’ll shout if you don’t manage.”
Violet chuckles. “I got plenty of practice changing Josie’s nappy.”
“I vouch for that,” Damian says.
“In that case, I’ll show you where everything is,” Maxime says, making his way to the house.
I lean back, shamelessly ogling my celebrity graphic novel wife as she carries Jean away. I’m proud of her and what she’s achieved. I have no doubt she’ll find her balance between being a mommy and a career artist. Watching her with Jean, I can’t help but imagine her with our baby in her arms.
We’ll need a bigger house. I moved a desk for Violet into my study so that she can draw while I’m writing programs and taking care of business. I like being close to her at all hours of the day, but there’s no arguing that the space is cramped.
“You know what the scary part about this is?” Zoe asks, swinging an arm over the chairback next to her. “How perfectly normal this seems.”