Page 23 of Here in My Heart (Here Together #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Sylvie checked her lipstick in the reflection of Isa’s sunglasses. “I’m already running behind.”

“Just drink your coffee.” Isa pouted back. “You can be fashionably late. They’re Americans, they’ll just think you’re being European or something.”

“But I don’t want to let Ade down.”

“I don’t know why you agreed to go along with the plans at all. The last time we talked, you were going to keep your distance and safeguard your reputation.” Isa gave Sylvie a wide grin. “That didn’t last too long,” she whispered theatrically.

Sylvie had been over this in her own mind but had been unable to lock down her feelings for Ade.

Putting her in a professional box had failed miserably.

Sylvie deserved a little pleasure, and Ade’s friendship brought just that, as well as a lightness to her day, a gladness in her heart.

She couldn’t explain it all to Isa, but she knew it deep down.

Ade was a friend. Maybe even more than that.

Sylvie had stalled her response to Ade’s invitation just long enough to witness the disappointment spread in Ade’s face and body.

Her shoulders sank, her lips turned down.

Her gaze fell to her feet. Sylvie didn’t want to be the person that made Ade sad.

She wanted to be someone who lifted her spirits, made her confident in the world, spread happiness in her soul and body.

“Earth to Sylvie?” Isa nudged her in the ribs. “You’re miles away.”

“I’m sorry. I was just thinking.”

“About Ade, no doubt.”

There was no point in lying. “I was thinking about whether to take a gift. For her dads. Do you swap gifts on Thanksgiving? ”

“Wow. Be careful, sister. You do not want to fall in deep with this one. She’ll be gone by the end of the year.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Sylvie shrugged. “I was mulling over the social graces of the situation. It’s a perfectly reasonable question.”

“Then why are you blushing?” Isa asked, smirking.

“Because it’s still unseasonably warm for November.” Sylvie gathered her bag. “I’d better hurry. Will you settle the bill for us? My treat next time.”

“Of course.”

Sylvie kissed Isa’s cheeks. Walking away, the second thoughts she’d been entertaining all week boomeranged between her ears. Why was she going to lunch with Ade and her folks? Was it going to be weird?

She twisted and turned through the city’s old town maze of streets.

Christmas trees had started to appear suspended high in the air from tall buildings and at crossroads.

She admired the precision of the red ribbons, tied at the ends of the branches.

She loved this time of year, the coziness of the warm fires and the generous season of gift-giving.

Sylvie had never experienced Thanksgiving but, weaving her way to the restaurant she’d helped Ade pick out, she channeled her most festive feelings for the occasion.

As she approached, she could see that the Poole family had already taken their places at the table by the window.

Stephanie and Ade sat together, strikingly indistinguishable, except for the length of their fiery hair.

Sylvie observed the scene for a moment, as if it were a large tableau at a gallery.

The father figures appeared strong and heavy-set, protective of their offspring like the alpha males of the herd.

One of them gazed lovingly at Ade and pulled her into an embrace.

Ade appeared to freeze for a second, then she melted into the hug.

Steph threw her head back in a hearty laugh that Sylvie couldn’t hear but that reverberated in the deep chambers of her fast-beating heart .

Ade’s demeanor softened in the family portrait. She maintained bold eye contact for longer than Sylvie had ever seen before. Her chin lifted higher, and her hands moved around as she spoke.

Smiling, unwilling to tear herself away, Sylvie hesitated a moment too long; Ade looked out the window, and her eyes fixed on Sylvie as if she’d called to her.

Ade gave her a beaming smile, and Sylvie smiled in response.

Her stomach flipped at the simplicity of their mirrored exchange.

Why did it feel anything but ordinary? Unable to delay any longer, Sylvie strode through the doors and left her coat with the waiter.

“Hey, you.” Ade rose in her chair to deliver three kisses in a row. “Dad, Pops, this is my friend, Sylvie.”

“I understand that’s the accepted greeting in this part of France, Sylvie, but I hope you don’t mind something as reserved as a handshake.” The shorter man rose from the table first, extending his hand. “I’m Nate, Adelaide and Stephanie’s father.”

“Or as we like to call him, Dad.” Steph pulled Sylvie into a hug. “Good to see you again. We met so briefly at that church thing.”

“Nice to meet you, Sylvie. Ade’s been telling us a little about you and the work you do at the university.” The taller man smiled and opened his arms wide, every part of his being extending the warmest welcome around their family table. “I’m Sam, or as the girls call me, Pops.”

“I’m so pleased to meet you all. Welcome to France.” Sylvie took the only available space around the table and adjusted her cutlery. Nerves fluttered in her chest, and she sought out the wine waiter to fill her empty glass.

“We’re very pleased to be here. We couldn’t miss Thanksgiving with the girls,” Nate said.

“So we decided to make a huge trip of it.” Sam placed his hand over his husband’s. “We flew into London and had a couple of days there. From here, we’re going to Florence and Venice, and then we’re planning to travel for six weeks until we meet the girls for their birthday in January. ”

“A grand tour?” Sylvie raised her glass. “What a wonderful idea.”

“Yep,” Sam said. “Plus, I have a big birthday coming up, and Nate always promised me a European vacation. We just never quite found the time before now. I’m even toying with the idea of finishing the trip somewhere warm and super indulgent.

Maybe Morocco or somewhere.” He winked at Sylvie. “Don’t tell anyone.”

“See, we’ve done you a favor, Dad.” Steph tore off a piece of baguette. “Venice is on my list too. Any tips, Sylvie? Have you been?”

“I have, and it’s a wonderful city. Don’t go in the summer: too busy, and it stinks.”

Sam gave a belly laugh. “What do you mean?”

“The canals. They smell terrible in the summer months. It’s best avoided.”

“You okay there, Ade?” Sam focused on his other daughter, his brow furrowing.

“Sure.” Ade shifted in her seat.

She’d lost some of the ease that Sylvie had seen through the window. Sylvie touched Ade’s arm.

“I’m just taking it all in,” Ade said.

“So, tell me about your role at the university, Sylvie. Ade has given us scant details, but I want to hear more.” Nate placed his elbows on the white linen and interlocked his fingers.

Sylvie could see the resemblance between him and Ade in the slight twist of his smile and the furrow of his brow. But his hard outer shell was nothing like his daughter’s. She was soft and fragile, where he seemed bold and unbreakable.

“Well, I assume Ade’s told you I’m a professor of feminism.”

“She sure has. What an interesting area of research.” Sam unfolded his napkin into his lap.

“Are you published?” Nate asked, ripping a piece of bread in two and maintaining intense eye contact.

Sylvie sipped her red wine. “I am. Several times. I came to Montpellier to work on my fifth book.”

That earned a nod from Nate and a high-five from Sam.

“Good job. Nate here is also an academic. I don’t know if you could tell?” Sam poked his husband in the ribs. “He tends to take life pretty seriously.”

“As you can see, Sylvie, my family keeps me pretty grounded.” Nate smiled, a genuine warmth spread to his cheeks and eyes as he regarded the people around the table. “They don’t tend to let me get above my station.”

“What’s your field, Professor Poole?” She guessed at his title.

“Oh, there’s no need for formalities, please.” He held his palms up. “And either way, I’m not a Poole. We gave the girls Sam’s last name when they were born. I kept mine. It’s Ashford.”

“He’s into psychology and social habits. Not that you’d know. He can’t read a room that well.” Steph made a face at her dad and giggled into her wine glass.

“My daughters haven’t really ever paid attention when I explain what I do for a living. It’s nice to be lunching with a fellow academic.”

“Ade is working on her doctorate though.” Sylvie attempted to draw Ade into the conversation. “You two must love a late-night chat about the contrasts between the human and animal societies?”

Ade blinked, leaving Sylvie to fill in the gaps.

“Adelaide is more of a thinker than a talker. But we love her for it.” Nate leaned back as the entrées were brought to the table.

Sylvie had seen that part of Ade. But she’d also seen Ade light up with ideas about the world.

“She’s always been our little angel, haven’t you?” Sam cupped Ade’s chin, and she wriggled away. “Steph came out screaming the house down, but Adelaide had us a little worried.”

Sylvie had gathered the bare bones of this story from what Ade had already told her. But she was intrigued to hear it from her fathers’ perspective. She glanced at Ade for a hint of permission.

Ade raised her eyebrow. “See, I told you.”

“You must’ve been so worried,” Sylvie said .

“Oh, we were beside ourselves. I mean, Professor Control Freak over there doesn’t like to hand over the reins for many things at all.

” Sam gestured at Nate. “And there we were, watching the birth of our daughters with our tongues tied and our hands behind our backs. It was twenty-four years ago, but it feels like yesterday when I think about it.”

“Me too.” Nate huffed. “Most stressful night of my life.”

“And you haven’t had a good night’s sleep since, hey, Dad?” Steph raised her glass in her own honor. “To me and Ady-baby.”

Sylvie chuckled. “Ady-baby?”

“They call me that because I’m the baby of the family.” Ade rolled her eyes. “I try to ignore them most of the time.”

“There’s no getting away from us.” Steph flashed a grin at Sylvie.

The twin thing was rather disconcerting. Steph had the same face as Ade, but she was so different in every other way.

“We just like to look after our little one, that’s all.” Sam put his arm around Ade and squeezed her shoulder.

“Thanks, Pops. I’m doing okay over here though.”

“What do you think, Sylvie? Is Ade doing well at the university?” Nate asked.

“Definitely. Her group of students is thriving, and she’s carved out quite a reputation at the lab.”

“Ah, yes. Always at the lab.” Nate crossed his knife and fork over on his plate.

“Not everyone has an eye for detail and a natural way with the animals like Ade.” Sylvie wanted to tell Nate that he should be proud of his daughter and that, despite every cell in her body telling her to flee, she remained and got the job done.

Instead, she smiled, not wishing to cause a scene.

Under the table, she shifted her thigh and made the slightest of contact with Ade’s.

The thrill raced through her entire body, making her cheeks flush with heat. “Nice wine.”

“It’s a lovely bottle,” Sam said, nodding. “A real treat for a Thanksgiving week. ”

The slate November day looked like someone had switched the sun off.

But inside, delighting in the warm and welcoming coziness of this little troop, doubt grew inside Sylvie.

Why did being this close to Ade feel so good but so hopeless?

Isa was right: within a few short months, she’d be bouncing back home across the Atlantic, back into the bosom of this wonderful family.

And Sylvie would be left fighting fires in the corridors and clawing her way to some sort of promotion.

She couldn’t deny her friendship with Ade had been an unexpected delight this year.

Just as Ade would say: she should stay in the moment and enjoy it.

So why did the anticipatory grief for Ade’s absence weigh so heavily?

Sylvie had seen many friends come and go in the past. Ade would be no different.

But she was different. Sylvie’s fondness of Ade had taken root.

When she pulled herself away at the end of the season, Ade would leave a gaping hole.