| Subject: À la Vie! – Chapter 24 |
Author:
Diane
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Date Posted: Sunday, October 31, 01:26:20am
In reply to:
Diane
's message, "À la Vie!" on Tuesday, October 19, 01:16:54am
“My son turned two on May ninth,” he told O’Brien disparagingly. “I wonder if she remembered that birthday.” She should have. Michael had sent a card with a long letter, and a literal truckload of toys. As far as he knew, they had both been delivered.
“I got through most of these places when we were in France.” Marco showed him the pages that Helmut had left for him, with many names now crossed off. “I have a few more to investigate, and a couple of question marks.”
“Which ones are the question marks?” Michael said intensely—eyes burning. “Where? Show me.”
The detective complied, and Michael took note. He would call Helmut and ask for another favor—off the record, of course.
“We can’t do anything more from here,” sighed Michael, “and I did promise you a week in the States. Go. Enjoy your American self.”
Both men grinned as they shook hands and O’Brien left Michael’s San Francisco office.
++
Nikita was at the l'Éclat studio, trying out the new colors that would be part of this year’s fall kick-off. The summer campaign had been a huge success, and the higher-ups expected more of the same.
“What’s this one called,” she asked, pulling a face as she looked at the palette of eye shadow in her hands.
“That’s ‘Mocha Fantasy,’” answered Madeline. Nikita rolled her eyes. Who comes up with this stuff? Besides, Mocha anything was not her best shade and Madeline knew it.
“What happened to ‘Misty Mauve,’” Nikita asked. “It sold like crazy last year, and it actually looked good on me.”
“Mauve is out. Mocha is in,” came the reply.
“Then I think you need a model with hazel or brown eyes, not blue,” countered Nikita.
“Just wait until you’re made up,” Madeline said impatiently. “It’s not for us to decide, anyway.”
Nikita shrugged in compliance, and the rest of the afternoon went smoothly.
++
Michael and Nikita were watching “My Cousin Vinny,” one of Nikita’s favorite movies. Michael had never seen it.
”What exactly is a ‘yout?’” came the judge’s voice from the television. Nikita giggled. Michael smiled just watching her enjoying herself. The chicken casserole omelet this morning had been a hit, and they had ordered dinner from the nearest Chinese restaurant because neither of them had felt like cooking tonight. When the movie ended, Nikita asked Michael if he had liked it, and he told her that he had.
“Liar,” she teased. “You hardly looked at the screen at all. You kept looking at me.”
“I’m just trying to take you all in,” Michael answered honestly. The atmosphere in the room immediately became uncomfortable.
Michael broke the silence. “I don’t want to make you nervous, Nikita. I don’t why I do, but I can tell. You’re edgy right now. We’re supposed to be best friends. Talk to me,” he pleaded.
Nikita’s eyes began to fill with tears. Michael leaned closer to her, but she held her hands up and he backed away. “What are you afraid of, Nikita? Let me help you.”
She chewed on her lower lip for a moment, then abruptly left the couch. “Wait here, she instructed him, then ran up the three stairs to her bedroom and slammed the door.
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