Part 23
"Carla, what time do we have to be with Alain and Alegria"
"6.00. Why?"
"Let's get dressed and walk there, I'll tell you how I met Alain on the way there. Okay?"
"Yes, that's good. Say, Stella, you were not really in love with Marina, were you?"
"No, I like her, but no not in love. And you?"
"Once, but that was long ago. I always kept a soft spot for her, but in love now, no. You know, I've sometimes wondered whether we
could have had a solid relationship, if we would have met at any other time in my life."
"And?"
"I do not think so. I think she would have ran away quickly from the whole charade at Königsbrunn. Now that I am gone myself, I
understand that it is not a normal life there"
"But you're you were accustomed to it,so far?"
"That's true, but now that I live here with Sophia, I know that there are alternatives. Stella why did I not leave? I could have saved
myself, Sophia and you a lot of misery."
"Oh Carla, what has been has been. Now get dressed and let's go. I am so looking forward to seeing Sophia again"
"Maybe we should just call them and ask them if they tell Sophia you are coming?"
"No, we surprised her. Come dress up and go"
They walked hand in hand to Alain and Alegria.
"Stella, now tell me how you know of Alain"
"Well know, we've met in my hotel. He had a meeting and had some special wish. They asked me to come. He ordered some whiskey
brand that they did not know. We started talking. Later he came back and then we talked again and he told me about his gallery.
I notified him about the artworks that I needed for the hotel. And well, in one led to another the conversation turned to you"
"Why then?"
"He reported that he had a successor and, well, he quickly figured out the connection between you and me. I then asked him not to tell
you that I live and work in Paris,"
"Hmmm, and that he has not done"
"No, but I had to promise in return to give a sign of life, if only to Sophia, well and then I called Sophia"
"Hmmm so it was only about Sophia?"
"No. Not long after that you asked me to call Sophia, Carla, but when I heard your voice, I was already completely sold. ... Carla stop.
We are walking .... in the middle of.... the street"
"Okay, but how did he knew this morning that you are with me?"
"Uh, I do not know if Marina told you about her assignment for the opening?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well Alain has provided artwork for almost all of the hotel. Only in my office is still nothing. I uh, I asked Marina if she wants to make
another portrait of you, unless you do not mind that I hang the portrait from my bedroom in my office, because ... no ... stop ... do not
tickle.. Carla"
"Good continue, what's with Alain?"
"Marina has agreed and has told Alain that I am the client. We met last week and said he knew I was also going to La Champmesle
this weekend and ... "
"Wait, uh if I understand well. you all happen to know each other by coincident and I'm the only one who knew nothing about it?"
"Uh, well, know. Oh Carla, I have met them by chance, but if it had not happened, I might not have had the courage to call you and
certainly not start all over. Carla they have just given me a boost"
"Mm, I just do not understand why they have not told me"
"Because I asked them"
"Why?"
"Carla if you had known that I am in Paris, would you be able to control yourself?"
"I'm afraid not"
"Exactly, so I asked them to keep quiet. They had most difficulty with it, they said, because they saw that you were not doing well,
but they respected my request"
"And now?"
"Now we start start with restoring our relationship step by step. We will have to do some more planning, because we both have a job
outside the house now and in the hotel it is very hectic at the moment"
"Oh yes, and I've no nanny, like at Königsbrunn"
"Oh Sophia, I have missed her so. I wonder how she reacts when she sees me come in?"
"Perhaps it is wise if we ask Alain and Alegria to inform her that we are on our way"
"Uh, but we're already there"
"Okay, well then just get in and we'll see how she responds"
Alain saw they were coming and had already opened the door.
"Carla, Stella, come inside. Sophia is in the kitchen with Alegria and knows nothing"
"Thank you Alain. Uh what do we do Stella?"
"Get in the kitchen and we surprise her"
"Mama! You're ... Stella?"
...
_________________ Our live begins to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Martin Luther King
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