Part 22
While Carla went to the bakery, Stella took a quick shower and then sett the table. When Carla came back she was greeted by the
smell of coffee.
"Mmm, coffee. Nice"
"Mmm. Nice"
"What? This coffee"
"No"
"Stella, no. You're first going to tell me"
"Okay, but I may eat"
"Yes, you may and you may even talk with your mouth full, because I'm very curious"
"Well, what do you want to know first, Marina or Alain"
"Marina"
"I met her in Cannes. I was there on business. We had a meeting with the managers of the French Marriott Hotels"
"In Cannes? So not in Paris?"
"Yes, in Cannes. Later I met her sometimes in La Champmesle"
"What, do you go there more often?"
"Yes, I come there regularly"
"But I've never seen you there?"
"No, but I did see you. I did not want you to see me and so I left when I saw you. Except for the first time I saw you there. Then I
stayed, because you did not see me"
"Why?"
"Annabelle"
"Uh"
"Oh come on Carla. Annabelle knows how to seduce any woman with her childish charm, Well, for one time"
"What do you mean?"
"Dances with Wolves"
"Ah, ah yeah, uh, did you?"
"Mh. Yes, very special"
"Okay, so you did have other women .. "
"Carla we were separated. So I was free to go where I wanted"
"Were?"
"Uh, want another croissant?"
"Mmm. But that evening I also met Marina again after all these years. Did you did not see her then?"
"No, I did not notice. I only saw you play with Annabelle"
"Why didn't you show yourself then?"
"Because I wasn't ready yet"
"...."
"Carla, do not sulk now. I told you what happened. I was... sorry .."
Carla stood up and took Stella in her arms and comforted her.
"Stella, I hate what happened to you and that I was not there for you"
"Oh Carla, it was ... ..."
Stella began to cry heartbreaking. That was actually the first time, she totally let go, after what had happened.
She did not stop crying and Carla tried to comfort her.
"Honey, I'm with you. I'll stay with you"
"It was so horrible. So horrible, I, I ... "
"And I was not there for you"
"No, but that was my choice. I left"
"Hush. No, I have send you away with my suspicions. Stella I'm so sorry"
"Oh, I should not have acted so offended. I just fled. If I had stayed a bit longer than .. "
"No, not than. I do not know if I have had the courage to leave. Stella, I'm so glad I'm gone. I could not stand it anymore, and certainly
not without you. And now, yes I miss you, but Sophia and I have built a new life here. Without drama, without the feeling that every
time I have to watch out for the next attack. Stella, our life here is almost a rut, but it feels so good. The only thing I miss terribly,
actually we miss terribly, is you. I want to rut with you"
"But I am here now"
"And will you stay?"
"In Paris in any case. Let us take one step after another"
"Yes please. Would you like something to eat?"
"Nope. I'd like to go to my apartment, because, well when we have dinner tonight with Alain, I must have clothes, I can not get go in
that Zorro outfit"
"No, You can not, but you already going?"
"Yes, but why don't you join me, then you know where I live. Carla? Why are you walking away?"
"Grab my bag and go, now. I do not want to miss this chance"
Stella pulled on a shirt from Carla, because that Zorro costume, no she did not want to go outside in that. They took a taxi to her
apartment in Montparnasse.
"Wow, what a beautiful apartment you have Stella"
"Yes, it's beautiful. But still a bit empty. You know I'm not here that much"
"Why not it's beautiful?"
"Yes, but empty. I'm going to just change clothes"
"Yes, that's okay"
Stella walked through her bedroom to the dressing room to putt on clean clothes. Carl followed her.
"Say, now you still haven't told me ... .."
"What?"
"...."
"Carla?"
"...."
"Carla, what did you say?"
"...."
Stella went back to her bedroom,
"Ah yes, I didn't tell yet"
"How did you get that painting?"
"I told you that I've met Marina in Cannes"
"And?"
"Well, and I saw this painting"
"Where?"
"In her home"
"What do you mean, in her home?"
"Uh ... "
"No, do not tell me that you've been with Marina?"
"Well, yes one night, but I did not know she was with Josephine"
"Stella, you kidding"
"Uh no, but what's so terrible?"
"Well, uh I uh"
"No, you too?"
" ... "
"No!"
"Why do you have to laugh?"
"And Annabelle and Marina! And neither are my type and as far as I know, not your type either. No"
"Mmm, By the way how did you know that it was me on that painting?"
"That scar on your hip, as well as that body, hair, face, everything"
"Mmm, well, but Alain, how do you know him?"
"I'll tell you later"
"Why later ... mmm "
...
_________________ Our live begins to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Martin Luther King
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