The Double Rose (11 page)

“When my grandfather immigrated to America as a young man,” he moved closer and inhaled the inebriating scent of her lavender perfume, “he only brought one small suitcase of belongings with him from Ireland. One of the items in that suitcase was his father’s coat of arms, which depicts a lion. Granddad used to say, ‘You cannot know where you are going if you do not know where you have been.’” He placed a hand on the mantel of the fireplace and fondly looked up at the painting. “He was an authentic history buff.”

* * *

“Your grandfather sounds like an interesting man.” When Marie was in a right frame of mind, and Josh was not pushing her buttons, she had a sincere desire to be kind to him. “Anyway, it is time for me to get started on my search, but the truth is, I don’t know what I am looking for. Where do you think we should begin?”

“Well, we are already in the library. Why don’t we start here?”

It was not long before books were sprawled over the desks. Marie knew Josh was at a disadvantage because most of the books were written in French, which he did not read or speak. Occasionally they would stumble on one written in Italian or English. Marie’s Italian was rough. She did not want to invest any time struggling with it, and therefore, focused primarily on the French books.

Midnight found Marie curled up and yawning on a chartreuse Queen Anne chair she had dragged to the foot of a library ladder. A stack of books had collapsed into disarray over the hardwood floors beneath her.

“Marie, it's late. It has been a long day. We both could use some sleep.”

“Yeah, you're right.” A yawn mingled with barely discernible speech slowly passed through her lips and then she managed to clearly say, “It is best to start fresh in the morning.”

As they ascended the stairs to the bedrooms, an awkward feeling jerked the drowsiness out of Marie.
Maybe it was a mistake to lodge here . . . alone . . . with a passionate, relentless, delusional man
. In an effort to minimize the energy emitting from Josh, Marie focused on the Renaissance paintings hanging as if they were sentries on the stairwell.

The bedrooms that Marianne had assigned them were opposite the hall from each other.
He wouldn’t dare try to kiss me goodnight or would he?

Midway down the hall they reached their rooms. Marie’s racing heart was no secret. Before she could retreat to the seclusion of her room, Josh said, “I think we are off to a good start.”

Relieved that his comment was benign, she turned to face him. “Yes, we are. Thanks for your help.”

Josh ran his fingers through her silky auburn hair, shocking her, then leaned in and gently kissed her right cheek. “Goodnight, Marie.”

Friendship was clearly not on his mind, but at least his kiss was harmless. “Goodnight.” Stunned by his behavior, she quickly vanished behind the bedroom door and immediately fastened the lock as if the man across the hall were a stranger rather than a lifelong family friend.

Chapter 11

Finding the Garden

Languedoc Region, France

Tuesday, 17 July

At seven o’clock, Marie opened her bedroom window to listen to the birds chirp and breathe in the fresh air. The morning was beautiful, not a cloud in the sky.

After a satisfying breakfast of blueberry pancakes at a small cafe, she was ready to plunge into the knowledge hidden in the library. Her renewed optimism seemed to expand in more ways than one—the memory of Josh’s adorable dimple and his flirty little glances while he drowned his breakfast in maple syrup compelled her to smile.

Marie stood in the center of the library, then slowly turned three hundred and sixty degrees as she assessed every wall. “I need an organized plan.” She wished she could absorb—as if she were a sponge—the knowledge from the thousands of authors who contributed to the content of the library, especially the ancient documents. She turned to the small section of books containing manuscripts from the sixteenth century and earlier. “Perhaps this is where I should begin.”

* * *

There was not much Josh could do to help her unless she specifically asked. Restless, he decided to scope out the area. “I want to explore the countryside. Do you mind?”

“Knock yourself out,” Marie hollered from the top of a library ladder, juggling three books under one arm while twisting to reach for a fourth out of her reach.

“Do you want me to pick up anything for you while I am out?”

“Nope. I'm good.
 . . . Oh, wait, on second thought, see if you can find Perrier water.” Wrongly supposing she was finished, he began to walk away. “And limes. That would be great! Thanks.”

He walked slowly as he admired the deep golds and reds of the oriental runner until he was halfway down the hallway.

“Josh!”

He returned to the library. “Yes.”

“Do you mind picking up a pack of gum, too?” She was too focused on trying to reach that fourth book to look in his direction.

“Sure. Anything else?”

“No. That's all. Thanks.”

She was a humorous sight. “Do you want me to help you get that book?” From his vantage point, it was evident that she could never reach it.

“No, thanks. I’m good. I can get it.”

“It is too far from you.” No response. Josh left her to figure it out for herself. He almost made it to the kitchen entrance this time, three quarters down the hallway, when
 . . .

“Josh!”

He chuckled to himself and then returned to the library. “You called, my lady.” He whimsically bowed which compelled her to laugh.

“My favorite flavor is cinnamon.” Like a token bestowed on a jouster, her amused smile became his prize.

“Anything else?”

“Nope. I am good.”

Josh paused around the corner from the library entrance directly across from a crested suit of armor.
I bet the guy who wore that thing had a few stories to tell.
He waited thirty seconds. Sure enough . . .

“Josh!”

He grinned and made the short trek back into the library. “I am wearing the carpet out here.”

“One last thing, I promise. I would very much enjoy a cup of tea tonight. Will you pick up some? Evening tea is sort of a family tradition for me.”

Josh looked up at her leaning over the side of the ladder trying to do the impossible. He filed the vision of her long auburn hair cascading over her back into his memory. “Thanks, Marie.”

“What are you thanking me for? You're the one going on the errands.” His odd statement prompted her to turn her head toward him.

“I like learning little things about you, like the fact that you enjoy drinking tea in the evening.”

“Whatever!” Marie reacted with an unmistakably flirty giggle, encouraging Josh.

He paused outside the library door and waited another thirty seconds.
I guess it is safe to go
. Amused, he finally made it through the kitchen door.

Josh explored the neighborhood. The scenic drive to a market in a small, nearby town was invigorating. He pulled over to have a better look at a pristine lake. There were several families sharing a weekday adventure. The laughter of several children flying kites in an adjoining field completed the picture, arousing his own hopes for the future. Yet as much as he enjoyed the scene, he missed Marie’s company more. He found his way to the market, had a short conversation with an English-speaking baker, purchased a few groceries, then picked up two deli sandwiches.

* * *

Marie finally secured that fourth book, but she had to move the ladder to do it. By the time Josh returned, she was too engrossed in the hard-earned book to leave the library to eat. She curled up in a large chair to devour the book’s contents along with her provolone and avocado sandwich. Josh sat a respectable distance away on the sofa.

Twenty minutes later, lunch was finished, and Marie finally put the aged, discolored book aside. “Anne called while you were out.” She moved the library ladder five feet and then ascended its rungs.

“How is she?”

“Apparently,” her tone shifted to sarcasm, “she is elated. Did you know that my sister and your brother are officially a couple?”

“No, but I am envious now that I do. At least one of the Ryan men has had success with a Fitzroy woman,” he mumbled. Nonchalantly, but not without being noticed by Marie, he moved toward a row of shelves about ten feet from the ladder.

What is Josh inferring? “Excuse me?” With one hand securely clasped to a ladder rung, she twisted her torso to examine his eyes.

“I wish they were saying the same thing about us.”

There was no hint of vulnerability in his confession, nor was there any doubt in his desire for the entire world to know about his feelings for Marie
. Perhaps I should be grateful he didn't hire a blimp to advertise his affection for me over Kansas City.

Josh slowly ran his fingers across book bindings, scanning for recognizable words. “I’m not having luck finding anything in English.”

“Anyway, I guess thinking she is in love agrees with her.”

“What do you mean by
thinking
?”

Do I detect a tone tainted with indignation?

“My brother happens to be a terrific guy. Is it so incredible to believe Anne genuinely could be in love with him?”

“Geez! Don’t get so defensive!” Her arms were full of fresh books. “I think Aaron is a great guy, too. But they have only been dating for a couple of weeks. Come on, they hardly know each other.”

“Hardly know each other? What are you talking about? They have known each other since they were little kids.” He shook his head and, for two seconds, stared blankly out the lattice windowpanes. He turned away from the window, and then walked across the library until he reached Marie, who was precariously leaning on a ladder three feet above his head. “Evading my advances is your prerogative, but you have no right to build a wedge between two other lovers, even if one is your sister.”

Clearly Josh had not the slightest hesitation in disagreeing with her. In fact, it appeared obvious to her that he lived for the opportunity to do so.

In defense, she fired back, “Adults dating is not the same as little kids being forced to spend time together by their parents. There is no way they can know the intimate things people need to know about each other to be truly in love.”

“I never felt forced by my parents to spend time with you and your sisters.”

He is taking this too personal
. Marie had not expected a tough guy like Josh to be so sensitive. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.”

He is such an interference!
She desperately did not want to waste a single second of the few precious days she had in the estate. There simply was not time for all his chatter and chasing her around.

“I know that. You are describing your true perspective about our childhood, which is the polar opposite from mine. But this conversation right now is not about us; it is about Aaron and Anne. Maybe they have been in love for a long time and are only now realizing it.”

Marie climbed down the ladder with two oversized, handwritten manuscripts, and a large professionally bound book with fraying corners. She was determined to find a quiet place to work.

“I'm certain Aaron has had strong feelings for your sister for many years. He was confused by her mixed signals. Anne flirted with him, but then turned him down every time he asked her out on a date.”

His words struck her conscience as they chased her out of the room.
Does Josh know that Anne rejected his brother because of me? Well, it doesn’t matter, because it is not my fault. I didn’t know how Anne felt, nor did I tell her to reject Aaron.

Marie set up her new workstation in the kitchen brimming with antique housewares. A set of blue-and-white china stored behind glass cabinet doors captured her interest as she made her way across the tiled floor to a large butcher-block table in the center of the room.
Finally! This could be what I have been looking for.
After blowing off decades’ worth of dust, she gently passed her fingers over the elegant gold script on the soft, worn, leather cover:
Le Mystère du Mariage
. An hour had passed before she decided it was not worth her time to struggle through the archaic language.

The short reprieve from their battles pacified her, allowing her to own up to her share in their conflict. She returned to the library less agitated and discovered Josh staring out the window. She stepped over a tumbled stack of books littering an exotic oriental area rug. “Hey there.” Though startled, Josh smiled, then joined her on the sofa.

“Any luck with that old book?”

“No.” She sighed in exasperation.

“Are you sure what you are looking for is in a book?”

Marie resisted the urge to get defensive. “No, I’m not sure. I assumed it was in a book because it was the most logical conclusion.” Marie came out of her comfort zone and reciprocated Josh's intimate eye contact. “What are you suggesting?”

* * *

Her words earlier in the day had stung, but he was in love and the love he had for Marie was unconditional. Josh perceived that Marie's apprehension toward a love relationship was rooted in misunderstandings. He spoke, acutely aware of the pulsating of her heartbeat as she breathed. “Consider the possibility that it could be something else. Keep your mind open.” The various shades of auburn and brown in her hair captured his affection as he longingly admired her beauty.

However much he loved her, he understood that it was her life, her decisions, her fears that needed to be vanquished. He could not do it for her, but he took solace in being her assistant when she allowed him to. “Maybe it's not even a thing. Maybe you will have an epiphany while you are here.”

Josh seized the civility of the moment to reach her. He gently placed his strong, warm hand over hers. “Please, give me a chance to win your heart.”

* * *

His words melted into her, but it was too much for Marie to bear. She stood, ignoring his plea.

“I do not have time to watch you perform the role of Romeo,” she sternly rebuked him, then snatched a mountain of books off the coffee table and proceeded to tidy up.

“Marie, you are searching for meaning to the visions of your destiny, but you are ignoring that a destiny beyond our control brought us to France together.”

Although his words evaporated in the air, he continued. “Sometimes I feel like you are looking for opportunities to be angry at me so you can feel justified in pushing me away.”

The war between her heart and her head was raging. He was right, and they both knew it.

“Why don’t you trust me?”

Marie had backed herself into a corner in the conversation. She looked at the Asian rug under her feet, then looked into Josh’s eyes. “I honestly do not know.” Her confession relieved her to a small degree, then she returned to the seclusion of a library ladder.

* * *

Jacques’s warning of rain had been lingering on Josh’s mind, and he needed a break from the intensity of their go-arounds. He decided to take advantage of what might be the last sunny afternoon of the week. “I am going to take a walk around the property to look for a peaceful spot to pray. Would you like to join me?”

“No, thanks. Enjoy yourself.”

Josh walked around the estate until he found a large, colorful flourishing garden with a few benches near a small grove of crab-apple trees. He sat on the lawn for an hour absorbing its beauty and the sunshine. There were several patches of flowers arranged in symmetrical patterns within eye’s view. The local birds kept him company with their melody from the treetops.

Feeling rejected, his thoughts turned inward, causing pain from love unrealized to rise. He knelt to pray. Tears streamed steadily over his cheeks and drizzled onto his firmly clasped, rough hands while his white-washed jeans pressed into the soil. Was his hope for a romance with Marie futile? No. He knew he needed to continue to be patient and draw hope from his strong intuitions.