“That’s an interesting ringtone. Is it for everyone or just for Charlie?”
“That one’s just for Charlie. It suits her personality. The Maserati going one eighty-five, and losing your driver's license—”
“She’s done that?”
“No, but she probably would if she ever got to drive one. I don’t think she’s ever even seen a Maserati, but she got her fair share of speeding tickets in the little Honda Civic she drove.”
“What’s Emily’s ringtone?”
“Hers is piano music from Pride and Prejudice. That’s her favorite book and she loves the movie. She’s my ballet dancer and artist. Not one speeding ticket her whole life. She doesn’t even like to drive. She wants someone else to drive her everywhere so she can read on the way. She’d love New York. No one has to drive at all.”
Gherring chuckled. “And your names? Anne, Emily, Charlotte? Was that a conscious decision or an accident your names match the Bronte sisters?”
“It was on purpose. But I can’t believe you noticed that. Nobody ever does.”
“What can I say? I’m very observant.”
“Not me—I’m kind of absentminded. I get lost all the time and forget where I parked my car in the parking lot. It’s like I don’t have room in my brain for those pesky details.”
“You mean pesky details like what time it is or where your bed is?”
“You’re sooooo funny.”
He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost noon—time for you to call your French lover boy.”
“He’s not my lover boy.”
“Sorry if my choice of words offends you.” She didn’t hear the slightest bit of sincerity in his voice.
“You’re using that yelling tone I was talking about.” Anne scooped up her laptop and headed toward the door.
“I didn’t—”
“Yes, you did.” She let the door slam behind her. For once, she got the last word.
“Henri.”
“Hello angel.” His exotically handsome face beamed at her.
“I’m so excited. My girls are in the air right now on their way to New York.”
“I am happy for you and jealous that I cannot be there to meet them.”
“How are your niece and nephew, and your sister?”
He smiled proudly.
“Anna-Laure is riding on her pony. She holds the reins herself. My nephew is taking violin lessons. He is very talented. And my sister has broken up with the no-good boyfriend. I am so glad she will not marry him and take my kids away. They are like my own.”
Anne smiled. “I bet you’re a good dad to them.”
“But we should not talk about them. I want to know about you. What will you do with your daughters in New York?”
“Everything. We are going out to eat, going to a play, going to the Empire State Building. We’re even going climbing at the gym.”
“Just you and your daughters?”
“Yes, mostly just us. But I have a couple of young boys lined up to go climbing with us.” Anne refrained from mentioning Steven Gherring. She figured Henri wouldn’t be thrilled at he was going. And Steven Gherring’s presence at the climbing gym wasn’t really significant, was it?