Read Online Second Chance Sister by Linda Kepner - Free Book Online Page B

love the Campard family; they have stood by me through thick and thin. But whenever I mentioned my first wife’s name, they suppressed me firmly. In Virginia, Bishou and the others let me mention Carola, and saw nothing wrong with it. She had been part of my life. I said her name here, thinking no more of it than that, and Etien grew angry. He told me I must not speak of her again. And damn it, no matter how horrible it became toward the end, there was a time that I loved her and she was my wife. I could have grown furious with him — but Bishou was at my shoulder, saying, non, non, he is your best friend, state your reasons for your anger. Work this through. And I did. I told Etien I was
un veuf
, I had a right to live as one. Bishou was there, saying, work this reasonably. We did. I realized I wanted her here, helping me with my life. I had begun wondering what I could do to bring her here, just my little dreams, when she showed up at the Campards’ doorstep. Even she admits it was as if I summoned her.” He stroked her hair. “Now, we are doing what other people have seen in us, all along.”
    “You could be right,” said Bat.
    Again, Louis stroked her hair. “I was — how to say it — badly burnt.
Une vierge trahisée.
” A virgin betrayed. So he knew that.
    “Tough thing for a man to say,” said Bat.
    “Tough thing to live,” Louis returned.
    “Did you ever think about ending it, yourself?” Only Bat would dare ask.
    “Oui, I did. But I think I have never completely given up hope. My dark days, I said, ‘There must be more than this.’”
    “I’m glad,” said Bat. “That augurs good things for the future. Bishou could tell you of the miserable Viet vets washed up on our doorstep, asking for me, saying isn’t there more than this, Sergeant-Major, I need something. Like me, she has always welcomed them with open arms. If they are asking, there is hope. The hopeless ones stay home and eventually kill themselves.”
    “I do understand, Bat. And you understand that there is a place here for you, too, and the boys. You now have a home on each side of the world.” His weight shifted; apparently he and Bat had reached out and shaken hands.
    Bishou shifted and moaned slightly. She sat up. “Mmph. I fell asleep.”
    “You must have needed it,
ma petite
,” said Louis fondly. “You have had a busy day.” He held her as she once held him, long ago in Virginia, half-asleep. He drew her against his body and reached for a cup. “Here. This tea is cool enough now.” She sipped from the cup he held to her lips. “Still sleepy,
hein
?”
    “
Oui
. I must go to bed.”
    “I will take you back to the pension.”
    Bishou sighed. “I might sleep until noon, now that the pressure is off.”
    Bat chuckled. “I’ll bet you’ll wake with the nine o’clock ferry.”
    “I always do,” she admitted.
    “I am the one who will be too excited to sleep,” said Louis. “Even the boys with their
décalage
, they will pass out. They won’t spend a restless night.”
    “We’ll think up something to do tomorrow,” Bat told him.
    “Brother,” Bishou threatened, “you will
not
bring him to church on Friday morning, hung over. I will kick your ass from here to Paris if you do.”
    “No, ma’am,” said Bat. Louis grinned. “We’ll phone and leave a message what we’re doing, once we get a plan. I’m thinking, a whole ocean, we ought to get out on it.”
    “Again, I remind you that alcohol and water don’t mix, no more here than on a New England lake.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Bat lifted up a packet from the floor beside him. “By the way, this is for you. From our parents.” He handed it across.
    Puzzled, Bishou gently untied the string and opened the packet. There were two envelopes, and a tissue-wrapped package that contained a yard of white lace. “Why, this is from Maman’s veil.”
    “Yeah!” Bat was equally surprised. “It’s been in her bureau drawer for thirty years. Who would have