Page 104 of Daughters of Paris

‘Being in love agrees with you.’

‘I’m not in love. I just said I don’t like him enough.’ Colette’s tone was edged with a finality Fleur recognised. The discussion was over.

She spent the afternoon in the shop, but couldn’t concentrate on anything apart from Sébastien’s request. It was unfair of him to ask her, but she had heard the desperation in his voice. He was thinking of Colette, but doing what she did gave Fleur purpose. She had not so long ago left the Nadons’ employment and for the first time in her life was beholden to nobody. If she gave up her work with Laurent to support Colette, then nothing would have changed. And what of Laurent? Would she still see him?

The door opened and, as if her thoughts had summoned him, Laurent walked in. It was half an hour before he was due to meet her. Fleur felt a rush of pleasure at the early arrival, which immediately turned to alarm when she saw his face was contorted.

‘Lock the door,’ she said.

His hand shook as he drew the bolts. Fleur’s stomach tightened.

‘What’s wrong? Come upstairs.’

He made it upstairs and sank into a chair.

‘The stadium. TheVel’ D’Hiv. A contact heard it was being used to hold people. Busloads were being taken since yesterday. I cycled past and … oh god, Fleur.’ He put his head in his hands. Fleur stood helplessly at his side. Colette came softly out of her room.

‘Which people?’ she asked quietly.

‘Jews. Everyone I saw had a yellow star.’ Laurent looked at them both, his face grey. ‘There were whole families. Women with babies and children. There are guards everywhere. I couldn’t get close but I could hear the shouts and the crying as people were taken off buses and pushed inside. The windows are closed. It’s horrific.’

Fleur sank onto the chair beside him, feeling sick. The velodrome had a glass roof. In the July temperature it would become a giant greenhouse. She saw Colette’s hand move to her belly.

‘What can we do?’ Fleur asked.

Laurent shook his head. ‘I don’t know. I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ll be able to go for a walk tonight. I’m hoping to hear from my contact. He has gone home to send urgent messages to anyone who might be able to help.’

‘I don’t mind,’ Fleur said. She walked to the front window and leaned out to get a lungful of fresh air but there was no breeze and her throat dried. She turned back to Laurent. ‘Whatever I can do… If there is anything, tell me.’

He crossed the room to her. ‘I will. Wait here. When – if – I get any orders, I’ll be in touch. I have to go.’

He drew her into an embrace, arms pinning her tightly to him. She held back a sob and tried to draw comfort from his closeness. Every time she parted from Laurent she felt the same dread it would be their last meeting.

‘It’s very bad, isn’t it?’ Colette said after he left. ‘What do you think they will do to the people?’

‘I don’t know.’ Fleur looked around the room. ‘It’s inhuman. What have we become? We only have this flat because of what happened to Monsieur Ramper. We don’t know what happened to Michal or his family. I need to go out and get some air.’

‘Don’t go,’ Colette said. ‘I think you should wait, like Laurent said. If any Germans thought you were causing trouble you’d be arrested too. It’s too risky. I can’t bear to think of you in danger.’

‘I won’t be in danger,’ Fleur said. Her throat seized. ‘I’m not Jewish.’

‘Oh you know it isn’t only Jews! What you’re doing is dangerous for you.’

Colette burst into tears and Fleur held her friend. She felt sick imagining the families detained in the velodrome. They didn’t have the luxury of fresh air. The least she could do was endure the stifling room to keep Colette company.

It was a week before she heard from Laurent.

‘What happened?’ she asked.

‘The stadium is empty now. The people have been moved. We were given no orders.’ Laurent held his glass out to Sébastien who refilled it. The four of them were sitting around the table in Café Morlaix; the only customers.

‘The problem is there are not enough of us to be of any use with something that large.’

Sébastien sat. ‘How many people across the city are part of the network?’

‘I don’t know.’ Laurent gave him a steady look. ‘That’s the point. If one person is arrested it limits the number of names he can give up.’

Fleur shivered. She knew the risk involved in what she did and though her nerves screamed at her to hide away and avoid any more involvement, she couldn’t.

---