Page 9 of A Noble Affair
She started walking towards the door, indicating for him to follow her out of the apartment. The furniture was mostly from Ikea, with a few old elegant chairs and side tables that she had recuperated from the neighborhood bulk trash collection. With these antique touches, a few large houseplants next to the window, and some abstract paintings she had done during one of her college courses, the place had a less bare-bones feeling to it than when she first moved in. She had recently added sheer white curtains and a dark burgundy living room rug.
Once in the hallway, she turned the large, modern skeleton key in the lock. As they walked to the elevator, she put her arm around his shoulder, pulling him close. “Don’t forget that he asked to see you. We’re the ones who decide whether we’re going to let him into our lives or not.”
Her son nodded once and ran ahead to push the elevator button, and Chastity smiled to herself. At times Thomas was so perceptive, and even sharp-tongued, she forgot how young he was. At other times, she was reminded of the fact that she had many years ahead of her before her son would be a grown man and no longer in need of her.
They were meeting in the town center, and it was a sunny, late October day so they decided to walk. Thomas was fully absorbed in the two riders ambling down the shady street near their apartment building. Maisons-Laffitte was an equestrian town, and the stables were located kitty-corner from the school.
They skirted past the Château of Maisons-Laffitte on their way to the café where they had planned to meet Marc.I wonder what Mr. de Brase is doing now,she thought—which annoyed her.Who cares what he’s doing?She already had one irritating French male to deal with, and that was enough. But when her mind insisted on imagining bumping into him next to his home, her heart beat faster.Oh no, you don’t.She groaned inwardly.Even if he weren’t so stuck up, he’s totally out of my league. Leave it to me to have my first crush as a single mom be on someone who’s so unavailable.
They were in the busy part of town now, and she forced herself to focus as she faced the door to the Café Jerôme. Her switch in preoccupation happened so fast it made her head spin. As she opened the door, Chastity gritted her teeth.I’m not a teenager. I’m a grown woman with a master’s degree. And a job, which is more than I can say for him.She scanned the tables inside theroom, darkened by red curtains and mahogany tables, and her gaze fell on Marc. She knew at once it was him, but she couldn’t believe the changes the past seven years had wrought.
He wore a hot pink dress shirt that gleamed against his olive skin and brown hair. He had on jeans and Converse sneakers to complete his look of youthful casual. Except he did not at all look young. His face showed premature lines, and there was a tiredness to his eyes, or perhaps a hardness. Even the way he sat looked less jaunty somehow. He slouched, and his fingers drummed the table. When he lifted his head and saw them, he got to his feet and shoved his hands in his pockets. He gave a nervous smile but made no move to walk towards them.
Chastity was shocked.Has he really changed?She couldn’t believe it was true, but maybe prison had humbled him. He looked like he wasn’t confident of his reception and didn’t dare to push it. She felt the ice around her heart thaw. Putting an arm around Thomas, she walked towards him, attempting a smile.
“Marc,” she said simply.
“Hi, Chastity.” He moved to kiss her on the cheek, but she held out her hand, stopping him short. For a minute, he studied her hand, then he clasped it.
Thomas was examining his father openly, and Marc turned to him. “Thomas, do you know who I am?”
“Of course. My mother told me. You’re my father.”
“That’s right. Here, I got you something.” He reached over to the table and handed Thomas a small present, wrapped neatly in red paper with a ribbon and gold foil sticker. Thomas took it with two hands and carefully pulled off the wrapping paper, revealing a train engine, elaborately crafted, with a whistle that made noise when you pulled on it.
“I like it,” Thomas said, with dignity. He set it down on the table.
“I asked the woman in the toy boutique what a seven-year-old boy would like, and she recommended this.”
“Thomas, thank your father,” his mother reminded him gently.
“Merci.” Thomas turned his face up to be kissed.
“Please sit down.” Marc gestured to the two chairs next to him. Chastity took off hercoat, helping Thomas with his, and placed the coats on the backs of their chairs beforesittingdown. The waiter came and took their orders—hot chocolate and a croissant for Thomas, an espresso for Marc and acafé crèmefor Chastity.
“You take sugar?” When she nodded, Marc handed her two packets from the glass square in the center of the table.
“What grade are you in, Thomas?” Marc stirred a sugar cube into his espresso.
“I’m in first grade.” Thomas took a bite of his croissant. His train sat untouched next to him, but he cast furtive glances at it as he spooned hot chocolate into his mouth.
“Thomas is an advanced reader,” Chastity said. “He’s already read the first Harry Potter book.”
“Wow. That’s amazing.” Marc smiled encouragingly at him. “I was never much of a reader myself, but I did see all the movies.”
Thomas nodded and continued to chew his croissant. He swung his leg underneath the table.
“So, Chastity, what have you been doing all these years?” Marc placed his hand on hers, which was lying on the table. She jerked her hand away as if he had burned it.
“Um.” She tried to cover her confusion. “I got my degree at Columbia, which you probably knew. And I stayed on to get my master’s. I got the connection to this job from Mrs. Hirtz at thelycée, and we've been here since August.”
“That’s great,” he said. She didn’t dare reciprocate the question so an awkward silence fell.
“So, where are you living and working?” Chastity asked, finding her voice.
“I’m living in Puteaux, near La Défense, and for now I’m working at the FNAC in the photography boutique.”
“And your parents? They’re still in New York?”
