| /N Because it's going to be a while before I figure out how to continue, please forgive me for making this chapter so INCREDIBLY short! BTW - any guesses as to who these ladies are? Like it's really that hard! @--}--- The building wasn't half as nice as the two women wandering the hallways had expected it to be. Yet they weren't in the least bit disappointed. Both struggled with large suitcases, and one heavy trunk of luggage. Both wore large-brimmed hats that had shielded their ebony- stranded heads from the heat of the summer sun, and gauze dresses each of similar style. One of the girls, with sparkling green eyes and anxiousness to each movement that bellied her age, wore a pale violet color. The other woman, who looked much the same, but had a more defined nose because of a riding accident that had once broken it when she was a teenager, wore a dark blue dress with some white lace on it. "I certainly hope we have the right place." The one dressed in red said to her companion in French. "I almost think that this city is larger than Paris." The other woman chuckled silently, shaking her head at her friend. When they finally reached an office door towards the back of the building, both set down their heavy burden, straightened out their dresses, and simultaneously went to knock. Stopping, they gave each other a long look, and then both laughed. Finally, the one in pale violet continued onwards to knock, and they both stood back. A few moments later, a rather large-boned woman with azure eyes and graying golden hair opened the door to look out at them. She seemed a woman about to reach her fifties, who wore a deep green dress of surprisingly thick material for the stuffiness of the building. "Can I help you?" The woman asked patiently, giving them a soft smile. Behind her, an older gentleman was sitting at a desk doing paperwork, apparently oblivious to anything happening around him. The two ladies in the hallway looked at each other again, as though in confusion. Finally, the one in red straightened her shoulders and turned back to the woman. "Nous recherchons Monsieur Erik Genie." She announced quietly. Finally, after a pause and a look of confusion from the elder woman before her, she cleared her throat anxiously. "Erik Genie? Here? Veuillez m'excuser. My English . . . it is not all good." "Mr. Genie? Our resident?" The woman replied, comprehension finally dawning on her. She shook her head quickly. "No. Not here. He is gone away. He is due to come back today." Both women just stared at her in utter confusion. It was obvious their English was more than not very good. Sighing, the woman stepped out of the door and motioned them inside. She quickly led them over to a slate board on which had been drawn a calendar for the month. She looked back at them, pointing to a past date. "Erik Genie gone." She explained simply. "Come back, today." She then pointed to the present date, and motioned to the floor as though to mean 'now' or 'here'. Finally, the women seemed to brighten. One began speaking anxiously in French to the other, and the other motioned wildly about her in excitement before they finally embraced with relief and happiness. "Pardon, ladies . . ." The women looked up to her. "Where are you staying?" The woman pointed towards the younger ladies bags out in the hallway, and then made a shrugging gesture. Once more, the younger women exchanged a look. Finally, one motioned upstairs, and the other nodded eagerly. "Monsieur Genie. With Monsieur Genie." She said quickly. "He . . . back today? When?" The older girl turned to look at the clock uncertainly. Finally, she held up four fingers. "Four o'clock, I'd say." Was her reply. "He left the city. His train should be back around three-thirty. Does he know you're coming?" @--}--- @--}--- @--}--- @--}--- @--}--- @--}--- @--}--- @--}--- Erik did not want to get off of the train as it pulled to a stop. It had been a long and peaceful ride. Yet when he got home, he'd be shrouded in silence. There would be no small sounds of breathing coming from the other room, which he'd grown so accustomed to having Isabelle constantly at his side for so many years. She'd always been home when he wasn't at his offices. This day was going to be a far cry different. He wasn't prepared to sleep alone in that comfortably large bed. It would seem huge without the presence of his wife at his side. And what about his daughter? He really was beginning to wonder why he hadn't allowed them to come along! |