and she glanced in the direction of her bedroom as if remembering the phone conversation.
âI spoke with her parents,â she said, looking away.
âThat must have been terrible for you.â
âThey were bereft,â Delphine said, looking down at her hands and then up at Maggieâs face. Tears gathered in Delphineâs eyes. âI cannot imagine the pain of losing a child.â
9
T he sun was dipping behind the Musée de Cluny as Maggie pushed her stroller down the Boulevard Saint-Germain. She hung a left on the Boulevard Saint-Michel at the McDonaldâs restaurant. She knew her new-found friendship with Delphine would probably take a quick nosedive if she were to bring dinner back from there. She remembered there was a decent Thai restaurant a block from Graceâs that did takeout.
âWell! Fancy meeting you here.â
She turned to see Grace striding toward her from the direction of her apartment.
âHey,â Maggie said. âYou didnât need to send a posse out. Havenât you been getting my texts?â
âSorry, darling. I left my cell at Andréâs. Did you have an interesting day? Beatrice told me about the poor dead woman at your auntâs. I couldnât believe it.â
âI was hoping to tell you all about it over a glass of wine,â Maggie said with a frown.
âOh, worst timing ever, darling! I promised André Iâd meet him and a few of his friends. Theyâre childrenâs clothing buyers,â she added hastily. âYou know how it is. There is no nine to five for startups.â
Maggie couldnât believe what she was hearing. Grace was totally bullshitting her. Sheâd eat her shoe if Grace was meeting anyone except André. She bit her lip from saying something sheâd regret.
âIâm moving out for a few days,â she said tersely.
Grace stopped walking. She was well past Maggie and heading in the direction of the Sorbonne when she turned around.
âOh, Maggie, no! I know Iâve been a little unavailable latelyââ
âItâs not that,â Maggie said. âLaurentâs aunt needs some live-in help until she can replace her nurse.â
Grace frowned. âIn that case, Iâm sure Beatrice would be happy to take Mila while youâre gone.â
âBut I wouldnât be happy,â Maggie said with impatience. âListen, Iâll catch up with you later, okay? I need to get back before itâs too late. And keep your phone on you, will you?â
âI promise, darling,â Grace said with a wide smile.
âOh!â Maggie said, turning back again. âDelphine mentioned sheâs having a birthday party at her house in a couple of days. She said I could invite you if you wanted to come.â
âCan André come?â
âI suppose so. But I havenât even met him yet.â
âI know, darling! I hate that. How about tomorrow evening, six oâclock at Les Deux Magots? Can you make it? Sans the little darling?â Grace waggled her fingers in the direction of the stroller.
Maggieâs phone began to ring.
âTomorrow night!â Grace called before turning and hurrying down the sidewalk.
Maggie felt a stiffness develop in her jaw and she fought back a creeping bad mood.
âHello?â she said into her phone without looking at the screen first.
âWhere are you?â Laurent asked.
Maggie turned and wedged the phone between her shoulder and her chin to put both hands back on the stroller handle and begin walking again.
âAbout four minutes from Graceâs apartment. Howâs Jemmy?â
âHe is fine. Your phone was off today?â
âOkay, Laurent, no, it wasnât off. I had it on vibrate. I was at your auntâs today.â
âI knew it!â
âYes, and itâs a good thing, too. Sheâs very upset about the murder that took place practically in her living
Sandra Strike, Poetess Connie
Colin Barrow, John A. Tracy