Teresa was so taken aback by his appearance that she could only stammer. She stared at him, her heart pounding. “Th—thank you,” Teresa said. “I—I—I would like three yards of muslin, please.”
Raoul smiled. “It will be my pleasure. This way.”
It was suddenly difficult for Teresa to concentrate on her errand. She was overpoweringly aware of the young man’s presence, his good looks and charm, the masculine aura surrounding him.
When Teresa had decided on her purchase and Raoul was wrapping it for her, she dared to say, “You’re—you’re new here, aren’t you?”
He looked at her and smiled, and it sent shivers through her.
“Oui. I arrived in Èze a few days ago. My aunt owns this shop and she needed help, so I thought I would work here for a while.
How long is a while? Teresa found herself wondering.
“You should be singing professionally,” Raoul told her.
She remembered the expression on Raimu’s face when he had seen her. No, she would never risk exposing herself publicly again. “Thank you,” Teresa mumbled.
He was touched by her embarrassment and shyness, and tried to draw her into conversation.
“I haven’t been to Èze before. It’s a beautiful little town.”
“Yes,” Teresa mumbled.
“Were you born here?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
Teresa picked up her package and fled.
The following day she found an excuse to go back to the shop again. She had stayed up half the night preparing what she was going to say to Raoul.
I’m glad you like Èze…
The monastery was built in the fourteenth century, you know…
Have you ever visited Saint-Paul-de-Vence? There’s a lovely chapel there.…
I enjoy Monte Carlo, don’t you? It’s wonderful to have it so close to here. Sometimes my sister and I drive down the Grande Corniche and go to the Fort Antoine Theatre. Do you know it? It’s the big open-air theater…
Did you know that Nice was once called Nikaia? Oh, you didn’t? Yes, it was. The Greeks were there a long time ago. There’s a museum in Nice with the remains of cavemen who lived there thousands of years ago. Isn’t that interesting?
Teresa was prepared with dozens of such verbal gambits. Unfortunately, the moment she walked into the shop and saw Raoul, everything flew out of her head. She simply stared at him, unable to speak.
“Bonjour,” Raoul said cheerfully. “It’s nice to see you again, Mademoiselle De Fosse.”
“M—merci.” She felt like an idiot. I’m thirty years old, she told herself, and I’m acting like a silly schoolgirl Stop it
But she could not stop it.
“And what may I do for you today?”
“I—I need more muslin.”
Which was the last thing she needed.
She watched Raoul as he went to get the bolt of fabric. He set it on the counter and started to measure it out.
“How many yards would you like?”
She started to say two, but what came out was, “Are you married?”
He looked up at her with a warm smile on his face. “No,” he said. “I haven’t been that fortunate yet.”
You are going to be, Teresa thought. As soon as Monique returns from Paris.
Monique was going to adore this man. They were perfect for each other. The thought of Monique’s reaction when she met Raoul filled Teresa with happiness. It would be lovely to have Raoul Giradot as her brother-in-law.
The following day as Teresa was passing the shop, Raoul caught sight of her and hurried outside.
“Good afternoon, mademoiselle. I was about to take a break. If you’re free, would you care to join me for tea?”
“I—I—yes, thank you.”
She was tongue-tied in his presence, and yet Raoul could not have been more pleasant. He did everything he could to put her at ease, and soon Teresa found herself telling this stranger things she had never told anyone before. They talked of loneliness.
“Crowds can make one lonely,” Teresa said. “I always feel like an island in a sea of people.”
He smiled. “I understand.”
“Oh, but you must have so many friends.”
“Acquaintances. In the end, does anyone really have many friends?”
It was as though she were speaking to a mirror image. The hour melted away quickly, and soon it was time for him to go back to work.