<<<

@-'--

Max watched as Kelly walked away, then he turned to look at Iris. She did look like she was telling the truth..but it couldn't be because... As he wasn't sure how, or where to begin, Max� fumbled with his words.

"How did you know....I mean...about Yves...." he stopped, trying hard to organize his thoughts. Yves was a pet name that Max� addressed his father�by a long time ago. It was a common name around the area where he lived, but for some reason his father loved the name, and Max enjoyed calling him that. He would always run out into the streets and call out "Yves" and have ten or more people turning to look at him in response. It was a funny sight that he never grew tired of, and so the name stuck.� It was their little secret which not � many people knew about.� And after his father's passing, Max had never brought up the name again.

As for his mother, all he did know about her � he learned from his father. It had always been the two of them as far back as he was able to remember. Max� finally took a deep breath and blurted. "He told me that you left us, and that you died..." he looked at Iris, as if waiting for an answer.

Iris nodded her head, as if she had expected the answer from Max. She looked at him and said solemnly." I thought he'd say that..."she sighed. " It's a long story Max, maybe I had better start from the beginning..."

She hesitated for a while, then began.

"Yves and I go back a long time ago.� We were very young then. We met and we fell in love. We got married, some would say foolishly. Then we had you..."

Iris spoke in short sentences, as if she had been preparing for this mother-to-son talk for quite some time.

"After that everything started to change..."

"Because of me?" Max asked, his body started to tense up.

"Oh no! It's wasn't you at all..." She sighed. "Yves and I.. We've always had a conflict of views. Only then, everybody else but us were aware of it. We were too much in love to care about that. He was content at the simple, happy life, whereas I was ambitious. All my life I wanted more for me, more for us...and when you were born...I wanted more for you. We thought that after we got married everything will change, I thought I could give up my dreams and just be content but I realize I couldn't...We got into huge quarrels because of this.....then he found out...it was the last straw for him....and I guess he finally gave up on me....said that I will never change.. and one day he just left."

Iris spoke incoherently, never stopping to complete her sentences.

"He took you away from me Max. No letters, no good-byes. When I came back� all that was left was an empty house. I've tried looking all over for you. I've been searching the whole of France.I've even heard that Yves took you to America and went there, but nothing. Days became weeks.. then months and years. I've learnt to cope by myself since. I needed to be strong, so I started building up my life again. It was the only way I know how... I kept on going, because I have never stopped believing that you are alive, that we will be reunited again. Then when I came back to Paris the other day I saw you with Miss Kincaid... but you look so much like him I just had to know...so I followed you....� and I finally approached Miss Kincaid .."

Max remained silent as he listened. He loved his father very much, and although he may have been too young to know any better, he was sure that his father loved his mother too. All the stories he had formed of the mother he never knew... One word kept swimming in his mind. Why?

Iris seemed to have sensed it as she spoke again.

"It's not his fault Max. It was mine... I guess he wanted you to have a perfect mother to look up to, and I just couldn't give him that... "

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"I'm not asking you to accept me or anything Max, I just wanted you to know the truth, why I was never there for you...I never was really given a choice. I just... I just wish you'll forgive me."

She finally paused to take a breather. She didn't sound cynical or angry. It was said with a resigned tone of voice, like she has already accepted the fact that this chain of events had happened and there was no point in blaming anybody now. Iris looked at Max hesitantly but stayed quiet, as if expecting some hint as to whether he was willing to accept her back after all this time, or if Max even believed her story.

He looked at Iris.� She was earnest yet not pushy. Max� guessed that Iris� didn't want to pressure him or frighten him off ~ She had, after all, been gone for most of his life.� Max lingered in deep thought for a moment, but he finally smiled, putting his hands on Iris' as he turned on � his friendly, innocent charm.

" Come on ,� I'll show you around town.."

@-'--

3:47 p.m.

New York Inquirer

"So Miss Kincaid what do you say? It's going to be a great party, and you get to mingle with the guests. Maybe if you're lucky enough you'll get to meet� the Mr. Blake himself before his news conference. Only the most important people will be attending the party you know.."

Folefant paused. Stressing on the word important clearly pleased him, withholding the fact that he wasn't really invited but was on official police business. Folefant had casually left that out of their conversation. After all, the Inspector did specifically want this to be a hush-hush affair, and Kelly probably would not be interested to know about such minor details right? Right.

"Well errmm.." Kelly began. She didn't really have to think very long about it though.� It was the perfect opportunity for her to get an exclusive before the others, and she knew it. This was too good a chance to pass up... well ...'cept for one tiny little catch. The catch is of course, she would have to go with Folefant.

Kelly looked up her table apprehensively. � The Sargent was grinning from ear to ear as he smugly waved the invitations in the air.

Hoo Boy...

Kelly tried hard not to wince at the thought but her face let out a slightly distorted grin as she sighed. The things she has to do � for a story...

"I think it's a great idea Sargent."

"You DO!? REALLY?" Folefant beamed with delight. "It's going to be just great Kelly! I'll pick you up on Friday night then...oh boy oh boy oh boy...this is going to be just great! " Folefant repeated himself again as he babbled out loud.�� "Oh I have to go now, the Inspector and I have something important to attend to." he walked towards the door and opened it. "See you soon Kelly.."�

"It's a date then Sargent." Kelly hurriedly waved back and smiled patronizingly.� Folefant shot a wide grin, � closing� the door behind him.

"Oh boy a date! A date with Kelly..What luck!" the Sargent whistled happily to himself. There was a little added spring in his steps as he headed down the corridor.

The door opened again.�� Max had returned.�

"What was that all about Kelly? I just saw Sargent Folefant with this silly grin on his face when he left the room, he didn't even hear me call him..."

"Oh it's nothing much, I've just agreed to go on a date with him..."

"Ahh.. .that explains a lot." Max grinned as he shifted his eyebrows mischievously. "You must really love your job."

"Oh come on, it's only for one night, how bad can it be?" Kelly looked more like she was trying to convince herself than Max. She quickly changed the subject." Speaking of dates...how did� it go with you and Iris?"

Kelly looked up at Max, clearly interested to know how he was getting along with her. After their little meeting in the cafe this morning, Max had wanted to show Iris around town. Kelly was a bit apprehensive, but she respected his decision.� He and Iris probably needed some time to themselves anyway, and Max was smart enough to take care of himself. Besides, there is unfinished work back at the office which needed attending to. Lupin and Grognard� had given her a lift� back to the office after that, and Lupin has agreed to meet her for breakfast tomorrow at eight.� Tonight he claims, he had an appointment with Mr Blake. Yeah right. Knowing� Lupin, he is more likely steali...'borrowing' some other guest's invitation as she speaks.�

Kelly smiled to herself.� Ars�ne's not the only one resourceful enough to find a way into the party. His method may be slightly unconventional, but� maybe if she's lucky,� Folefant's invitation may just go missing...

"Oh it was great Kelly! I took Iris � to that bakery where they sold the best chocolate fudge cake, then we stopped by the candy store, then we went to this coffeehouse� where they had this cream souffl� and then..."

"Well I trust you've had a wonderful time then, judging by the 'great places' you've chosen to take her." Kelly laughed." By the way, where is Iris? Didn't she come up with you?"

"She had to leave, she said she was here on business and had to meet someone. "

"What business did she say she was in ?"

" I didn't really ask her, But I can if you're interested, we're going out again tomorrow."� the youngster beamed.

"Oh..." Kelly blurted out before she could stop herself. She tried her best to sound enthusiastic about it, but it was clear that she was not overwhelmed. Maybe she was just too tired, or maybe she was just sore that Max is having fun while she was stuck at the office. Kelly just didn't know how to explain herself.

Max seem to have sensed Kelly's reaction. He looked at her thoughtfully and said. "How's about you forgetting about work for a while and we go for some� ice-cream?� It'll be just you and me!" he looked at Kelly and was pleased to see her smile return.

"You'd do anything for ice cream wouldn't you?" she teased as she got up from her seat. Max laughed. He was glad that Kelly was cheerful again. And he didn't mind having the ice cream as an added bonus either.

@-'--

End of chapter two

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