Second Chance Sister Read Online Free PDF Page A

two commissions from me, which I understand is unheard of.” She took another two puffs of his cigarette as they leaned against the stone railing of the library steps.
    His dark eyes wistful, he asked, “The wedding dress?”
    “Oui, she has designed it. I gave her a down payment. I go for a fitting tomorrow afternoon.”
    “What can you tell me about it?” he asked, in the same wistful tone.
    She suppressed a smile. “Well … it’s white.”
    Louis growled, grabbed her, brought her close, and kissed her.
    Bishou giggled. “This is not a good example for a professor to set.”
    “I am not a professor. They had better get used to it.” He hugged her, and released her. A couple of students, sitting on a bench nearby, were grinning at them. “It is not … it is different, is it not?”
    She answered the question he did not ask. “Yes, it is not like Carola’s. I made sure.”
    “I am glad,” Louis said softly. “I want this to be distinctly different. Have you seen the photograph? In Savridges’ window?” Louis meant the photo shop on Rue Marché.
    “I didn’t really examine it. I saw it in the window.”
    “After ten years, it’s still there. I hope … it would be nice if, someday, he trades it out for a photograph of the second Mme. Dessant. But mentioning it would only make things worse.”
    “Probably so. If there were only a couple photographs, you and me together, Louis, and maybe the boys with us, if they come, and the Campards … things that will always be happy memories of that day — that is all I would like. Not to faint from photo-fatigue.”
    “And a wedding-breakfast afterward, on our lawn? That would be nice. And it would be easy enough for Bettina and Madeleine to arrange.”
    “Yes, let’s do that, if they don’t mind.”
    “They won’t mind. In fact, they asked me about our plans. They’re looking forward to doing more entertaining than I do. They’ll hire some help.”
    “Good. Oh,” she said guiltily. “I may need to borrow some money from you, or Bat.”
    “
Borrow
?” he exclaimed.
    “The wedding dress is going to cost more than I thought. And I haven’t done my hair yet, or even looked at flowers.”
    “You little idiot,” Louis said indignantly, “do you think you are paying for all this?”
    “I have a job — ”
    “You are my wife. Whose pride shall be sacrificed, yours or mine?” Louis demanded.
    Faced with that, she replied meekly, “Mine.”
    Louis made a very French, very husbandly, noise, and gathered her into his arms. “I should think so. My pride already has a dent in it, from having a wife who works. I console myself with the fact that she is a professor,
une docteur
, and she is special. But really, Bishou, I have limits.”
    “Good.” She smiled, and touched his face. “Good.” She kissed him. Bishou did not want to let Louis pay for everything, as Carola had — before she’d absconded with his bank accounts as well. Bishou had no intention of setting a precedent. She did not want to take advantage of him, but his male vanity had taken a terrible hit when Carola robbed him blind.
    After a second kiss, Louis mused, “You know — if you do borrow money from me … I can take it in trade, hein?”
    Bishou laughed. “Oui, it’s in the contract.”
    “You will come to dinner tonight,
chez moi
?”
    She teased, “Do we need a chaperone?”
    Louis grinned. “Only if you have an old Parisian aunt. In Réunion, non. But I do not promise to keep my hands to myself, as they say in Virginia.”
    “It sounds worse in French. All right, I have a dress appointment at Nadine’s at three, and then I will come to your place.”
    “Shall I pick you up at Nadine’s?”
    “Don’t you have a job?”
    “Oui,” he admitted sheepishly, “I do. But the boss is amenable to me.”
    “Go to work. I’ll finish my appointment, and take the bus out to Rue Dessant.”
    “All right. Another kiss,” he demanded. He kissed her, and left.
    Bishou smiled