One Summer in Paris

While she was talking, she noticed Etienne smiling at Audrey. It seemed likely that Audrey smiled back because he became suddenly flustered and dropped the books he was holding, earning himself an impatient look from Elodie.

Elodie either hadn’t noticed the interaction between them or she wasn’t interested. “She stole from me.”

Grace explained about the cash flow issues. “What she should have done was to discuss it with you, and I’m sure you could have arranged to advance her a little money, but she didn’t want to do that. It might have been a language issue, but whatever it was I guarantee she won’t do it again.” Was she crazy making a guarantee like that? It wasn’t as if she knew Audrey well, but what she did know was that without Audrey she would very likely be without a passport and most of her money. And she liked the girl. Despite David, she refused to believe that her instinct about people had totally deserted her. “I’ll take personal responsibility.”

“I’m not sure.”

To her surprise, Etienne stepped in, talking in rapid French. “Can you remember when you were a student? It is hard at the beginning when you have no money and you’re not paid until after you’ve worked. She has a job at the salon. I saw her in there yesterday.”

“If she had money issues, she should have asked for a loan.”

Etienne frowned. “That isn’t so easy to do. There is pride for a start.”

“So it is better to steal?”

“She borrowed it,” Etienne said emphatically, and Grace was relieved to have that extra voice of support.

“Some translation would be good here,” Audrey muttered, but Grace sensed that Elodie was wavering and made a final plea.

“She is eighteen. Didn’t you ever do anything you regretted when you were eighteen?”

Elodie met her gaze and there was a flicker of something in her eyes. She gave a reluctant smile. “Perhaps, but overlooking the money incident doesn’t change the fact that she can’t communicate with any of the customers. Even if she has French lessons, I can’t leave her in the shop on her own.”

Grace thought quickly. “If I do it with her, she won’t be on her own.”

“I can’t afford to pay

two people.”

“I would be a volunteer.” She had to be mad, surely? Who chose to work on their vacation? On the other hand, this was the strangest vacation she’d ever been on and it might be good to do something she would never normally do. “I can help Audrey when there are customers, and when there are no customers I will teach her French.”

Elodie looked curious. “How do you know each other?”

Grace told Elodie everything, and it was obvious that the other woman was surprised by the story. Etienne was, too.

He grinned at Audrey. “You did that? Incroyable.”

Elodie seemed less enamored. She gave Audrey a long, assessing look. “We will try it again.”

Grace felt a rush of satisfaction and turned to Audrey, finally ready to translate. “It’s all fine. We will both be here in the mornings, and I am going to teach you French.”

Audrey looked uncomfortable. “You can’t spend your mornings here. You’re on holiday. You want to explore Paris.”

That was what she’d planned to do with David, but Grace didn’t want to do the things she would have done with him.

“Working in a bookshop has always been a dream of mine.”

Audrey muttered something about some people having weird dreams. “But thanks. I mean, really. Thanks.” She looked at Elodie. “Sorry about the money.”

Elodie tightened her lips. “We will forget it and make a fresh start, no?”

She could have been describing Grace’s life. She was starting fresh, too.

“I’ll begin right away.” Grace put her bag behind the desk. “I’m going to spend some time exploring the shop, so I have a feel for where things are shelved.”

It felt good to have a purpose, and there was no doubt that the bookstore was charming.

“Our older books are in the rooms toward the back. Fiction on the left, nonfiction on the right.” Elodie stood up and smoothed her skirt over her legs. “Newer volumes are at the front. We have some first editions locked in the cabinet. They are valuable, so we never let anyone browse without supervision.”