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John wanted to show Emily the sights while they still lived in Paris—who knew how long they’d be here? But Paris was teeming with tourists, making it too difficult to see sights, so John invited her over for a movie night.
They brought take-out Indian up to his little room and sat on the edge of the bed, with the table drawn up to eat.
“It’s a bit different from what we used to have, right?” he said.
Emily didn’t answer.
“Don’t tell your mother the size of my new digs,” John said. Emily glanced at him but stayed silent. They opened packets of food and John tore off a bit of naan.
“I haven’t found an Indian restaurant here that does it right, like that place I love on West 48th Street,” John said. “This food is too bland. Toned down for French tastes. But it’s okay.”
“I like it,” Emily said.
“You would, you’re my great girl. Tell me, how’s school?”
“I like English—”
“You can tell me anything, Em.”
“Well—”
“Just spill it out, I can handle it.”
“Dad—”
“What?”
“You’re doing it again!”
“Doing what?”
“Interrupting me constantly.”
“What? Not me!”
“Yes, you! All the time. If I interrupted you as much as you do me, you’d never want to be with me.”
“I’m sorry, Em. Tell me about school.“ He motioned to her to go ahead.
“School’s okay.” She paused and waited for John to interrupt. When he remained silent and attentive, she proceeded. “The teachers give too much homework. I love English lit the best. I have this cute teacher.” Emily smiled slyly. “He’s maybe only ten years older than me.”
“Don’t go there, Em, he’s a womanizer.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He’s teaching in a girl’s school.”
“Oh, come on.”
“What did he assign to read?”
“We just started Lolita—”
“What?”
“We’re reading Lolita,” she said with a defiant look on her face.
“Don’t ever let him touch you.” Lolita! Maybe public school in Paris would be a better place to get an education. The fees were due for the upcoming school year at Em’s private school.
“Oh, don’t worry—”
“How’s Marine? Is she still your bf?”
With that change of topic, they talked happily for an hour. John interrupted hardly at all. At the end of the conversation, it was too late to start a movie and still get Emily back on time. So they agreed to go for a walk.
They strolled up to the Seine to take a look together. The waters swirled with currents and countercurrents.
“Em, I hate to tell you, but I may not be able to keep you in that school.”
“Because of Lolita?”
“Because of the fee. I’ll talk with your mother, but it might not be doable this year. I’m so very sorry, honey, I know you want to be with your friends.”
Emily stared down into the chaotic water.
“Why did you make such bad investments?” she whispered.
“I wasn’t thinking straight. I got greedy. Silver was climbing like a rocket, and I got foolish.”
“And now I have to pay?”
“We’re all paying.”
They stared into the river for a while.
“I think about Javert in Les Mis whenever I cross the Seine these days,” John said.
Emily looked up at him, her face tight with concern. Maybe it was for her own situation and not for him, but regardless, he was proud that she had read all of Victor Hugo’s novels in the original, unabridged version. In French, Les Mis was 1,900 pages. In English, the story took a mere 1,200 pages.
“Don’t worry, honey, I’m not going to do what Javert—or Grandpa—did,” he said. “But Javert was forced to question his deepest values, and he couldn’t stand what he saw.”
Emily was distracted, staring at a group of lithe young men passing. She hadn’t heard him. Maybe just as well.
When she turned her gaze back to him, John noticed with tenderness that the breeze off the Seine stirred wisps of her blonde hair.
“Honey, I had such a nice evening. I love you dearly. I want you to come live with me.”
“In that chambre de bonne?”
Did he detect a sneer? Cassandra was such a bad influence.
“No, that’s just temporary. I’ll get a place with a bedroom for you. I mean it. Just say the word.” Though he had gotten the chambre de bonne because he couldn’t afford a two-bedroom place. Not yet, anyway, there was always hope.
“Well, I need to think,” Emily said.
“Fine. Let me know. As soon as you can. I need to see more of you.”
Emily nodded and stared into the restless water.
