Dark Memories (The Phantom Diaries, #2) (6 page)
Read Dark Memories (The Phantom Diaries, #2) Online
Authors: Kailin Gow
“Oh,
Maman
.
This is Eric.”
“The Eric who helped my little girl
become
the talk of New York?” The pride for her daughter’s success was evident and her gratitude for my part in it touching.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Binoche.”
“Please, call me Michelle.”
“
D’accord
.”
“Look, I only came in this morning to finalize a dress I’d promised to a client. But it’s Christmas Eve and I won’t be keeping the shop open too long. Give me another hour to finish up, then we can go home and settle you two in.”
“
Parfait, Maman
,” Annette said.
“It’ll give me a few moments to show Eric around a bit. Perhaps we could share a beignet.”
We
strolled
the length of
New Orleans was fascinating and I knew I would enjoy our stay here, especially since Annette was becoming stronger.
As promised, we met up with Michelle at the family home and again Annette’s excitement came through. However, less given to being taken in again, Kristine held a firmer grip on the emotions Annette sought to display.
“I’ll set Eric up in the guest room,” Michelle said, opening the door to a simple but comfortable room. “You can take up your old room, Annette. Not much has changed, you’ll see.”
Kristine stood in the hall unsure what direction to take.
“
Don’t be silly,
ma cocotte
,” Michelle said with a laugh as she pointed to her right.
“You haven’t been away so long that you’ve already forgotten your life here?”
“Oh no,
Maman
,” Kristine said. “I’d never forget you or the life I’ve had here.”
It was becoming increasingly difficult to discern who was speaking. Either Annette was succeeding in pushing through or this whole encounter with Michelle had softened Kristine’s resolve.
It almost seemed as though they’d both spoken and Annette’s eyes showed a touch of surprise for the shared response to Michelle.
“Good. Now put your things away and come join me downstairs for some tea.”
Kristine eyed me once Michelle’s back was turned. The emotions that played on her face were new to the Kristine I’d always known. Her pain had always been expressed through violence and anger, revenge and spite. Now a fresh wave of pain appeared in the form of sorrow and regret.
We met at the head of the stairs a few moments later and headed down to find Michelle at the kitchen table with a big pot of steaming tea and four cups set out.
“Expecting company?” Kristine let out.
Michelle smiled and poured tea into two cups.
“
Merci
,” I said as I grabbed the warm cup.
Kristine reached for hers,
then
set it down with an angry clang that almost had its contents spilling out.
Michelle gazed curiously at her, but said nothing.
Again she picked it up and again she set it down, though with more restraint. Holding the cup firmly in place, she reached for the tongs and picked up a sugar cube and dropped it in her cup.
“Since when do you sweeten your tea?” Michelle asked with amusement.
Her second sugar cube held aloft over her cup, Kristine smiled stiffly.
“That’s how they drink it at the Opera House. I didn’t want to make a fuss and have
them
change their ways just for my sake, so I became accustomed to drinking it this way.”
“Oh, heavens.
What else has New York changed about you?”
A blank expression came over Kristine’s features and I had difficulty containing my laughter.
“Well,
Maman
…”
“Is that my princess I hear?”
We all turned to the throaty yet gentle voice that came from the entry hall.
“Luis, honey, I’m so happy you came home early,” Michelle said.
“Look who’s here.”
“I know. I know.” He gazed fondly at Kristine and suspiciously at me.
“And this is Annette’s singing coach from
He put his hand out to me, but the guarded expression remained in his eyes.
“Singing coach, hey? Doing house calls?
All the way from
Soft and melodious, his tone nonetheless gave the impression of great authority.
I couldn’t remember when last I’d been so closely scrutinized.
Putting my hand in his I felt the tinge of power he tried to convey. This wasn’t a man to let his daughter be taken advantage of.
“Eric,” Michelle interjected. “This is Annette’s overbearing and overprotective father.
Please forgive him for coming on like a bear.
As a police officer he tends to take the role of protector a little too far sometimes.”
My surprise was evident as was his recognition of such.
Kristine blanched and I instantly knew the fear this man evoked in her. As a man of the law, he might be more apt to see through her pretense.
“And what has my princess so mute and immobile?”
She rose, steadying herself on the edge of the table.
“Dear, are you all right?” Michelle asked.
“You're positively green.”
“We didn’t get much sleep last night,” I explained in light of Kristine’s prolonged silence.
This garnered me a murderous glare from the police officer.
“We took a late night flight,” I hurried to add. “Only a few moments to close our eyes there and a few uncomfortable hours in a hotel room… two hotel rooms.”
“Oh, stop it now, Luis. Annette is a grown woman and…”
“And she is the unmarried grown daughter of a police officer, need I remind you?” He turned his attention to Annette.
Seeing her still hinged to the table, he walked up to her and pulled her into his arms.
“Nice to have you safely at home.”
He eyed me from above Annette’s head and I swallowed my pride and looked at the floor.
We finally settled down to have our tea. Over time color managed to return to Annette’s cheeks, though Kristine spoke barely a word throughout. I was left to expound of the great success Annette had become in New York and to convey to her father how well-surrounded she was.
“The cast, crew and directors all love and cherish her.
Nothing bad could ever befall her with all the support and help
she
has.”
How was I ever going to explain what had befallen her despite being well-surrounded?
“You look terrible, dear.” Michelle patted Annette’s hand. “Why don’t you go up and get some rest before dinner.”
“I think I’ll do that,
Maman
.” Kristine seemed relieved to be excused from the table.
“I’ll just go up to assure everything is all right.” I displayed the most innocent smile I could in hopes of reassuring the overprotective father that I had no ill intent towards his cherished daughter.
“Keep the doors open.”
Michelle let out a howl of laughter and winked at me as I helped Kristine up.
Upstairs, Kristine seemed concerned.
“You shouldn’t have brought me here.
This was a mistake. How can I possibly get through this?”
“We’ll get through it.”
“No, we won’t.”
“Just let Annette out here and there,” I said.
“Just enough to guide you through this.”
“Oh, she’ll ruin everything.
She might just come out and tell them what I’m doing.”
“No, she would never want to put her parents through that. Annette is strong and independent and would want to deal with this on her own and not involve her parents.” Though meant to reassure Kristine, the message was also intended for Annette. Having a pleasant stay here would calm Kristine and also give me a chance to speak to Michelle about the situation in a calm and productive manner.
“Well, she’d better not.”
“Get some rest.” I patted her on the head like an errant child, kissed her cheek and returned downstairs.
On entering the kitchen I found Michelle heavily engrossed in a telephone conversation while Luis looked up at me from behind his newspaper. I resumed my chair and tried to sip my tea as casually as I could, but the man’s scrutiny was unbearable.
“I assure you I have no ill will towards your daughter, Monsieur Binoche. As a matter of fact, I’m quite fond of her and feel just as protective of her as you do.”
“My daughter is a very beautiful girl, just like her mother. She’s smart, loving and generous, just like her mother.
However, unlike her mother, Annette is still young and naïve, perhaps even a tad gullible.”
“I understand that, sir.”
“I hope you do.” He returned his attention to his paper, just as Michelle hung up.
Her smile was tight and uncertain and I suddenly felt I was missing out on something. She glanced at Luis, her eyes filled with concern.
*****
When Kristine came down an hour later she looked refreshed, but wary.
“Hey, sleepy head,” Michelle said. “I was beginning to think we’d have to go and wake you up at midnight like when you were a little girl.”
Kristine’s smile lit up and her eyes were bright with childhood memories.
“And we have a surprise guest in honor of your return to
Kristine entered the living room and her eyes darkened slightly as she saw Joana, a family friend who had arrived during her nap.
“Annette, sweetheart,” Joana said as she set her tea down and got to her feet to greet Kristine. She gave her a tight hug, squeezing her with love and affection. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“Me, too,” Kristine said, though she was plainly flustered.
Michelle came in carrying a tray laden with golden pastries stuffed with a variety of tasty fillings. “Seeing how you can’t stay for dinner, Joana, I hope you’ll at least have a few bites.”
“
Your
cooking? How can I resist?” She took a napkin and placed three pastries neatly atop.
A conversation that revolved around Christmas traditions,
Glances went back and forth between the threesome and Luis occasionally shot me an accusatory glare.
“Oh, I almost forgot, Annette,” Joana said as she reached for her purse and pulled out a small box wrapped in silver paper and topped with a simple bow. “I wanted to give you a gift before you return to
A little something to keep New Orleans close to your heart.”
