Opposites Attack: A Novel with Recipes Provencal (31 page)

When she was set to go, Nelson stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I know you and Jean-Luc are close, but some friendships aren’t meant to last.”

“I can’t even be friends with him?”

His grip tightened. “You’ll be so busy fixing this place up and making new friends, it’s best if he’s not around to distract you.”

“Aren’t
we
going to be fixing the place up?”

He did his nervous hair brushing with his hand again. “I can’t quit my job the moment I take ownership. I have to hire the right people, make it a viable concern. I figured you’d be the intermediary during that time.” He looked at her tummy. “So much for schedules, right? But don’t worry. I’ll be here in nine months. You have my word.”

The idea of being a pregnant newlywed and not with Nelson full time hadn’t entered her mind. Before she could say “Let’s talk about this,” his phone rang. She could hear every word Carmelita was screaming.

“He lost his passport! What if he gets his identity stolen? How are we going to fly?”

Nelson closed his eyes and was probably counting to 10. When he opened them, he said to Alyce, “Have fun at class today. You can see what I’ll be dealing with.”

How much she would be dealing with was going through her own mind.

31

Property and Promises

Liliane closed the door when Alyce entered and invited her to sit in the same chair where she had been told she was getting the boot from her previous hosts.

“What a summer,” Alyce said as she rubbed the wooden arms of the chair and reflected for a moment. “I can’t believe my time here is almost over.”

“If we ever do an advertising campaign we should use you as our spokesperson. What a transformation.” Liliane offered her a chocolate from a box a student probably gave her. She often received tokens of appreciation from her clients.

Alyce waved it away. “There’s caffeine in chocolate. You still eat it when you’re pregnant?”

Liliane looked momentarily aghast. “But of course. And thank you for getting Jean-Luc to work on his memoir. I just heard from Raymond. There’s a bidding war for it!”

“That’s fantastic!”

“Al-
ees
, you succeeded where all others have failed.”

She took a chocolate after all. “I don’t feel like I did anything special.”

“It may be more what you did
not
do. He said to me last night on the phone, ‘She will not even make love to me. After nearly dying, it is the least she could do!’” She tried to control her amusement. “He finally meets the perfect woman and cannot have her.”

The sweet now felt like a rock in Alyce’s stomach. “I’m sure it’s not the first time he’s wanted something he couldn’t have.”

“Just keep doing whatever you are not doing.”

Alyce crossed her legs and glanced down. “Nelson doesn’t want me to stay friends with Jean-Luc after today. We’re moving into the
Hôtel Marlaison
this afternoon.”

Liliane pecked her forefinger at her. “He does not own you!”

Alyce felt herself move back in her chair as if she’d been physically poked.

“Trust is essential in a marriage, but it does not mean you need to tell him everything or obey his every word.”

She gave Alyce an imperious look, as if she had to uphold the dignity of all women.

“Of course not. Of course he doesn’t own me.”

“It is of the utmost importance that Jean-Luc not lose his focus on his memoir. Between moving, Isabella, and health issues, it is certain to slip through the cracks. Please,
I beg you
, keep him on track. Make sure he doesn’t waste time fussing about in the kitchen to avoid the blank page, either! Al-
ees
, his entire future depends on it.”

Alyce couldn’t tell if Liliane was contemplating what she had said or which chocolate to devour next.

“Like chess, Nelson is protecting his queen.”

“That’s silly,” Alyce replied. “Jean-Luc has Isabella now.”

Holding up a delectable truffle, “Then why did she not get him to write his memoir, eh? And remember, the queen is the most powerful piece. She can move any number of squares, any direction.” She nodded to Alyce’s belly. “Especially when she is eating for two. Does Nelson know?”

“Yes, but he doesn’t want to tell anyone else yet.”

“I understand. I always wait until I am past three months to share it. I have had my disappointments.” She popped another chocolate. “Though everyone knows when I start eating these it is certain that I am pregnant again.”

If only that were the reason why Nelson wanted to be secretive. Thankfully the bell rang that signaled the next class was starting. Alyce headed toward the door.

“You are not going to the closing, Al-
ees?
I was going to offer you a ride.”

“No. I become part owner after we’re married.”

Liliane did not hide her alarm. “I hope you have a very good lawyer handling your affairs.” An even worse thought struck her. “That awful woman’s perfume! I am sure to be ill.”

Charles Latrou’s assistant was hurriedly opening all of the windows at the law office as Liliane chatted pleasantly with Nelson and Glorianna, charming them as best she could. Charles, the
notaire
, stood just over five feet tall. What he lacked in height he made up for in attitude.

Jean-Luc willed away a scream. At least Luther wasn’t along as well to stink up the place.

Mrs. Mansfield said in a voice that reminded him of the screeching brakes of a train, “Before we sign the papers concerning the sale of the property, there’s one thing we’d like Jean-Luc to sign.”

Charles poked his nose into the air. “What is this?”

“I wanted to give you a chance to see it beforehand,” she said in a way Jean-Luc knew was a lie, “but it just arrived this morning from my lawyer. If you need more time, then we’ll have to hold off on the closing.”

“I have to be at a very important meeting in 40 minutes,” Charles barked. “This is very—what is the word? Unappropriate.”

“
In
appropriate,” Nelson said, trying to exert some authority.

His mother said, “And don’t forget we’re doing your client a big favor by letting him stay rent-free another month.”

Liliane did not look pleased and moved closer to the window for fresh air, unconsciously rubbing her belly. Jean-Luc knew she had timed several payments around this closing.

“What is it now?” Jean-Luc asked. “You want another break on the price? We can end this meeting this instant if that is the case.”

“No, that’s not it.” Glorianna lightly cleared her throat. “The family is, understandably, concerned that you will write about us and will not grant permission unless we are allowed to read what you’ve written in advance and given our full approval in writing.”

Even Liliane was taken aback. “Madame Mansfield,” she said as kindly as she could, “you should have mentioned this earlier.”

Charles shook his head and straightened up as much as his frame would allow. “This is absurd!”

Jean-Luc and Charles would be talking about this one for a long time. And was Alyce in agreement or were they doing this without her knowledge? She must have told Nelson about the notebook.

He calmly said, “Let me have a look at your document.”

Without reading a word of it, Jean-Luc held it front of her face and tore it in two.

“Kiss your
steal of a deal
goodbye.”

Glorianna’s eyes bulged out of her Botoxed head. Nelson’s response was smooth and every bit the salesman that he was. “Come on, Jean-Luc, can’t you see our point of view on this?”

“We are upholding
your
reputation,” she said haughtily. “You can uphold ours.”

“Is that what you call exploiting my name?” He leaned in toward the Royal Assholes. “You obviously have no idea how creativity works. You also have no idea what a cliché you are. And your ego is so big, you would think any character bearing the faintest resemblance was you. Are you saying I cannot create someone who lives in New York? Who sells advertising? Who is a socialite? Who wears enough goddam perfume for the entire city of Marlaison? I would not sell my property to you if my life depended on it!”

Nelson squirmed in his seat. “Gee, how do you
really
feel? Heh, heh, heh.”

Glorianna’s voice went up an octave. “Has there been a miscommunication? We heard you were writing a
memoir
and don’t want to be in it without seeing what you’ve written. We’re not public figures. We’re entitled to our privacy!”

“And so am I! It is bad enough I have to answer to publishers.”

Liliane moaned. “I don’t feel well” and stuck her head out the window. They were still able to hear her say, “I do not think a memoir by my brother, as adored as he is here, will ever be read by many people in America.”

She would apologize profusely for that comment later.

Liliane continued. “What could he possibly write that would be offensive? You finessed a good deal on his property? I would think your friends would be impressed. And you’re saving him from financial ruin. You are an
angel
to him.”

In French, Jean-Luc said, “Don’t push it.”

His sister smiled politely as she brought her head back in. “Don’t you push it.”

In English, Liliane stated, “It has been my observation that those who are immortalized in this way are flattered.”

“Indeed,” Jean-Luc said. “Most people are upset when I do not write about them.”

Their words seemed to soften the Americans. Nelson and his mother stepped outside to discuss it.

A few minutes later, they returned. She announced, “We’ve reconsidered, Monsieur Broussard. You will not have to sign the agreement.”

Nelson said, “If you write anything libelous, we’ll just sue you for all you’re worth.”

Charles ranted in French that they would kill the deal on principle. That they did not deserve to own property in Marlaison! Jean-Luc pointed out to him, in French, that it was nothing to worry about. If what he wrote was fact, they could not win. If he made them into fictitious characters, it would be hard for them to win their case. Furthermore, any legal proceedings would only boost book sales. His lawyer calmed down.

“Fine,” Jean-Luc said, “I am not concerned in the least that I will write anything worthy of a lawsuit.”

With a flourish, Nelson whipped out a Mont Blanc pen and sat down to complete the paperwork. Jean-Luc was stone-faced as one paper after another was passed before him. He glanced at each title to make sure Glorianna hadn’t slipped a gag order in with them.

When all was said and done, Jean-Luc was handed a check for €969,000. He had to admit, it felt damn good to see it.

To Nelson and Glorianna’s surprise, he joyfully kissed them on their cheeks—right, left, right—before they left.

“The end of an era,” Jean-Luc said to Charles and Liliane when the Americans were gone. “Who would have thought it would have turned out like this? And how fantastic it would feel to get rid of that place.” Hugging his sister, he said, “I feel liberated!”

“If I did not have morning sickness, I would feel the same.”

He kissed her on her cheeks as well. “I am lucky to have you as my sister. I promise not to burden you again. Of course, I will give you a nice chunk of this money.”

She conveyed a look of pure love he rarely saw. “If you would like to start a trust fund for the new child, like you did for the others, I will not say no. But you do not have to give me anything. Relieving me of my accounting duties is payment enough.”

Charles stifled a laugh.

Liliane, picking up her purse, appeared to be deep in thought. “I hope Al-
ees
is not making a big mistake.”

“What do you mean?” asked Jean-Luc.

“Three months ago, I would have said she and Nelson were perfect for each other.” She eyed Jean-Luc.

Charles broke into a smile. “Ah, you devil, Jean-Luc. What have you been up to?”

“Nothing!”

His legal counsel pulled up his short frame again. “Let me share a popular American expression. It ain’t over until the fat lady sings.”

Jean-Luc looked out the window that afforded a view of the parking lot. He saw the Mansfields standing outside their car having what looked like an argument they were trying to keep from escalating. An idea struck him. After his outburst it might not be easy to pull off.

“Liliane, wait a moment before you go.”

Nelson saw him coming first and signaled to his mother to stop talking. She turned and put on a fake smile. So did Jean-Luc.

“I would like to apologize for my behavior, madame, monsieur. I am, like any artist, sensitive when it comes to my work.”

Glorianna adjusted her Hermès scarf around her shoulders. “Apology accepted.” He gave them the opportunity to apologize as well. When they didn’t, he almost scrapped his plan. It was Liliane’s comment about Alyce making a mistake that spurred him on.

“I would like to invite all of you,” he looked at Nelson, “including your son and his mother, to dinner in your new home. Isabella and I will make a meal that will outshine any restaurant. Consider it a goodwill gesture, a celebration of a new beginning for all of us.” He bowed to Glorianna when he said, “I am grateful you bought my property.” To Nelson he said, “I am grateful to Al-
ees
for saving me 50,000 Euros on the commission. It is the least I can do.” He playfully wagged his finger at Mrs. Mansfield. “And I will not be writing about this.”