Page 27 of Love in Bloom

♥ ♥ ♥

Tristan held his hand out to Camille to assist her from the bus.

Once on solid ground, she released his hand, adjusted her bag on her shoulder, and put on her sunglasses.

He didn’t miss the fact that the strained smile she’d worn the past few hours didn’t reach up to her eyes. “You’ve been awfully quiet,” he observed.

“Just tired. Nothing a little nap or a good night’s sleep can’t cure. They’re just the thing, aren’t they? Do you enjoy a good nap every now and then? Of course, you do. Everyone does. I hardly nap when I’m at home. I also hardly sleep. There simply isn’t enough time with my work. I’m sure you’re the same as I am, a workaholic. Anyone who works in a lab is.”

Tristan frowned. Camille only rattled on when she was either nervous or excited. Her tight smile definitely ruled out the latter. What was she nervous about?

The group assembled around Lisette, who held a pale blue parasol above her head. She introduced Louis who would be their guide for the next three hours.

Tristan caught Mrs. Chan’s smirk at him as she slid on her sunglasses. Alarm bells went off in his head. She and her husband were the only Asians on the tour. It seemed unlikely that they would recognize him unless they read the papers or were connected to Jia. His shoulders slumped. Would he never be free of that woman and his bad decisions? Would they haunt him everywhere he went, stealing any potential happiness he might have?

He felt Camille stiffen beside him as she looked in Mrs. Chan’s direction.

The group followed Louis onto the grounds as he prattled away about how the original castle had burned to the ground in the 1940s, and all that remained were the cellar and two steps. The one they saw today was a yew castle carved to the proportions of the original building.

Tristan tuned out Louis’ history lesson. The only time he’d been away from Camille was when she popped down for a snack. Had Mrs. Chan said something to Camille? That would account for Camille’s odd behavior the rest of the ride to Valmer. He’d hoped to not share his past with his wife. The less she knew about him the better. It would make parting easier. But he might not have a choice now. Did he want Camille to know his version of what happened or whatever lies Mrs. Chan told her? His heart ached at the thought of her believing the worst of him, but perhaps it was better that way. If she thought him a monster, then their hearts wouldn’t get entangled.

The way she looked at him on their “honeymoon” night though. The way she trembled under his touch as he fixed the faulty zipper. Feelings were already stirring for her, he was sure of it. More dangerous were the ones she stirred in him.

She couldn’t fall in love with a monster. She was too intelligent and sensible for that.

He’d have to be the monster to protect them both.

The weight of the decision felt as if it turned his body to lead. Every step forward became more difficult than the last. Every step took him away from Camille and her good heart.

Resolved, Tristan plastered a politely interested smile on his face and focused on Louis, who led them into the troglodytic chapel.

“The chapel was built in 1524 right into the hillside.” Louis’ voice resonated off the stone walls. He pointed to the nave. “We’re very proud of the restoration of the altarpiece in 2012.”

Tristan resisted the urge to duck his head under the low arches. The space was small with only room for a few carved wooden pews.

Camille drifted toward the stained-glass windows. “They’re beautiful.”

Tristan stood a step behind her. One window was of a woman being healed. She seemed to be possessed by an evil spirit. The other was of the miracle of the spider according to Louis.

“The colors are stunning,” Camille murmured taking another step forward.

Tristan admired her. He loved to see her entranced by anything. He thought back to their university days when she’d be in awe of a chemical reaction, and watched bubbles in a tube or how the reaction caused a color change. She got low to the tube, and her eyes widened. She never noticed him watching her, so entranced was she by the work. He found her more captivating than anything in a lab, even when he was working on a formula that could be potentially lifesaving. He didn’t want to admit to himself how often she crept into his thoughts when he wore his white coat. Somehow he felt she was across the world somewhere intent on her work in her lab.

Louis directed them out of the church and started their tour of the gardens. They stood at the top of the terraced gardens, each layer spread out before them bordered in by walls, balustrades, and arches all in a shade of cream. They could’ve stood in Italy as easily as France according to the view.

“This is the high terrace,” Louis announced. “It dominates the moat, and the column you see is topped by a vase that comes from the Château de Chateloup. From here you can see the Grand Canal, the vineyard, and the valley. Over there is the charming little Renaissance castle of La Côte. Take a stroll and we’ll meet at the terrace of the Florentine fountains.” He gestured.

Tristan dared to slip his hand in Camille’s.

She looked startled and then gave the tiniest nod of her head. They strolled the cream-colored path in silence.

“What’s wrong, Camille? And don’t say there’s nothing or that you’re fine. I can tell something’s bothering you. Out with it. Don’t be afraid.”

She worried her bottom lip between her teeth.

Tristan wished he could do the same to her lips, but this wasn’t the moment for kissing. He kept his face somber.

“I had a chat with Mrs. Chan. She’s from Singapore. She thought she knew you.”

---