Authors: Nancy Fairbanks

French Fried (32 page)

BOOK: French Fried

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At least I was happy to see my wife unstressed and excited about future sightseeing. “Did the doctor say anything about what you could and couldn’t do while your ankle is healing?” I asked.

“I told you he said I should walk on it, and I have, and I intend to keep doing so.”

“I wasn’t thinking of that,” I murmured and sent her a look that has passed between us many times over the years.

Carolyn started to laugh. “Oh,
that
won’t be a problem, Jason. I’ll just wear the boot to bed.”

“Really? I’ve never made love to a booted woman.”

“Well, we
are
on vacation,” she replied, eyes dancing.

“Vacations lend themselves for new experiences. I wonder when they’ll get out of our room. Not soon, I’d imagine. Maybe we should go out to dinner while we’re waiting. I heard about a wonderful restaurant at the Hotel de la Mirande, very sophisticated.”

“What a romantic woman you are,” I retorted. “I sometimes think you’re more interested in food than you are in me. And just how expensive is this sophisticated restaurant?”

“Very,” she replied, “but worth every penny.”

Was my Carolyn talking about the food or the dessert she’d promised when we got back? Still, we were both alive and on good terms. Why not? “Let’s go.”

She gave me a kiss and jumped up. “We’ll need to get clothes from the room. We can’t go to Hotel de la Mirande dressed in wine-spattered outfits. And goodness, Jason, I wonder if the poison on the fabrics could soak through our skin.”

I doubted it, but just to be safe I agreed to a change of clothes.

Then Carolyn bad another thought. “I wonder if my black dress has been repaired yet. I’ll have Bridget call the shop and ask.”

“Great. Just as a long as you don’t wear high heels.”

“But, Jason, I could only wear one, and then I’d be unbalanced again. Physically. Did you know that Albertine called me deranged?”

I didn’t but had to admit to myself that sometimes my wife, as loveable as she is, does seem a bit deranged. Perhaps
eccentric
would be a better word.

Recipe Index

Tomato Soup with Ginger and Shrimp

Salade Lyonnaise

Cervelle de Canute

Artichoke Hearts with Foie Gras

Bresse Chicken Fricasseed in Cream Sauce

Gratin Dauphinois

Tapenade

Café Glace with Whiskey

Provençal Vegetable Soup with Pistou

Ratatouille

La Daube de Boeuf a’Avignonnaise