“Absolutely not.” Charlie stood firm. “We came here to see you, not to burden you with two live wires.”
“But you’re on your holidays. I want you to be able to relax.”
“It’s your time off too, Sylvie.” Elda put her arm around her shoulders.
“In that case, bring the bottle outside. We’ll all enjoy firing the pizzas.” Sylvie ushered everyone out of the French doors to the terrace.
When the evening drew in, Charlie scooped up the boys by their little hands and led them up to bed. They both yawned widely before running back to beg for one last drink and to give their mama and Sylvie kisses.
“Good night, sweetheart. Sleep tight.” Elda watched both her babies totter up the staircase, then stretched her legs out in the space they’d vacated on the couch. “And…relax.”
A few more creases had gathered at the corner of Elda’s eyes, but she was as beautiful as ever. Sylvie had witnessed her blossoming career as an artist, as well as her blooming relationship with Charlie.
“What are you thinking?” Elda asked.
“How far you’ve come since we were scrambling to pay our rent in Paris.”
“We’ve both come a very long way.”
“Well, you have.” Sylvie swallowed back the regret. “Charlie by your side, the boys growing up. It’s wonderful to see you all.”
Elda frowned. “You’ve come far too. All the way south, with a fancy new job and another book on the way.”
Sylvie tsked. The promise of future accomplishments mattered so much more than what she’d already achieved.
“What is it?” Elda asked.
“I can’t get away with the new girl routine at work anymore, not in my second year.” She rolled her head back against the sofa in defeat. “I feel stuck. Like I’m spinning my wheels at a roulette table, waiting for my number to come up.”
Elda sat up. “That’s not like you. What’s going on?”
Sylvie put her hands to her burning cheeks, ashamed to putwords around her anguish. “There’s a person. I can’t get them out of my head.”
“Now you have my attention.” Elda edged closer on the sofa. “Tell me more.”
“Her name is Adelaide. Ade.” Goosebumps spread over Sylvie’s arms. Just talking about Ade sent her body into overdrive. “We almost kissed.”
“Interesting.” Elda put her palm to her cheek, her eyes wide with intrigue. “Why almost?’
“My boss interrupted us.” Sylvie groaned, covering her face with a cushion. “It was such bad timing. He dragged us off for Christmas drinks, and I could tell it was the last thing Ade wanted, but I had no idea how to get us out of it.”
“What happened next?”
“We pretended it didn’t happen.” Disappointment rose in Sylvie’s throat.
“Both of you?” Elda laughed. “Was she as into it as you were?”
“I think so. I mean…we haven’t spoken about it. I was feeling pretty bold that night, but now I’ve completely lost my nerve. If he’d seen us, I don’t know what would have happened.”
Elda bit her lip. “Why? What’s your boss’s reaction got to do with anything?”
“She’s a colleague,” Sylvie said with as much clarity as she could muster. “A much younger colleague.”
“How much younger?”
“Twelve years.”
Elda’s eyebrows flickered for just a second. “So what? Is there a rule against colleagues dating or something?”
