A Paris Affair by Adelaide Cole Read Free Book Online Page A

market…what a fun idea. I never go—it’s impossible with the kids,” she said.
    They hopped in a taxi and spent the morning in one of the rambling, labyrinthine markets. They ambled through the alleyways and past the stalls. Oscar bargained with sellers just for fun, and they ate spicy little merguez sausages in baguettes for lunch, and washed them down with beer. “I don’t know when I’ve had so much fun,” Valérie told him, wrapping her arm around his waist.
    Oscar said that he’d never been through any of the city’s famed churches, and so they spent the afternoon exploring Notre Dame and Saint Germain des Pres. Standing on the street and looking at a map made her feel like a tourist. She felt above the bitter bustle of daily Parisian life, above it and apart from it, just like a real tourist.
    “How about a glass of wine somewhere?” Oscar said as they left the cathedral. “Maybe we can find a nice bistro and have a bite for dinner. I don’t want to be the first one to say it, but maybe this is our last evening together.”
    Valérie knew it, but had put it to the back of her mind. “Then let’s go back to your hotel, so at least we can be alone.” They flagged a cab and sat in the back with fingers entwined.
    “I’m not looking forward to saying goodbye,” she said.
    He took her face in his hands and kissed her. “Don’t talk about goodbyes. We still have a few hours…and who knows that we won’t be together again sometime?”
    “We’ll have the Chateau Margaux 1983,” Oscar ordered on the phone to room service. “A confit foie gras de canard maison sauce poire and an escalope de veau ,” he added, reading from the menu. “And a warm goat cheese on toasted brioches from the appetizers.”
    “Our last supper.” Valérie smiled sadly, cocking her head.

    “Listen,” Oscar answered, “never say never. But let’s just remind ourselves of the wonderful time we had…and let’s make one more memory until we see each other again.” He led her to the big bed they’d made love in. She slid out of her shoes and backed onto it as he kissed her, pulling her to him. They rolled on the bed, enjoying each other’s body. “Were we meant to fit together so perfectly?” Oscar whispered.
    Room service knocked. He signed for the food and closed the door again. “Let’s go back to where we were,” Valérie said, taking his hand and leading him back to the bed. There, they made love for the last time. They embraced tenderly and they embraced passionately. Oscar caressed Valérie’s body, and tongued and sucked her nipples. When he thought she couldn’t take any more, he drove his sex into her, and they rode a tide of pleasure together. They played together in bed like new lovers, enjoying and exploring, not knowing what the next moment would bring.
    When it was over, Oscar opened the Chateau Margaux and brought glasses to the bed, where they lay naked in wildly rumpled sheets. “Here’s to us,” he said, pouring the wine. “Here’s to us. Here’s to little holidays from reality…and to little secrets.” They put their glasses together and kissed.

Every Vacation Ends
    Philippe and the children came back without incident, and they were all happy to be together again. The children were tanned and rested, and Philippe seemed to have enjoyed himself despite spending a week with his parents. His family’s happiness was his own. The children’s tan faces reminded him of a week well spent, and he was grateful for the air of calm the week had brought to his wife.
    She felt the letdown that came with the end of every vacation, but maybe it was also a small relief to return to her own surroundings. The children and their din, and Philippe, as he was, were those surroundings. She looked at his tall, thin frame and his slight paunch. She noticed that he was beginning to stoop slightly.
    She didn’t say much about how she had spent her days; she said that there wasn’t much to tell. “Just