Toni heard her door open. She’d almost been asleep.
“I couldn’t find you.” Jack moved unsteadily toward the bed.
“I’m surprised you found anything. You haven’t been in someone else’s room, have you?”
“I don’t know, Pet.” He fell across the bed and Toni got up on her knees and shifted him around lengthwise. He was going to snore, she knew it; all that alcohol he’d had today and tonight. Why would Max give him any more?
Toni flopped around in the bed for a while. There was no way she could sleep through that din, and she got up and went down the hall, looking for his room. She bodily ran into Max, who was coming out of the bathroom.
“Toni? What are you doing up? Lost?” He whispered.
“Looking for a quiet place to sleep.”
“Oh…might I suggest…” A grin spread across his face.
“No. Where’s Jack’s room?”
“Oh, you prefer water tonight?”
“He’s passed out in my bed, Max.”
“You can’t sleep in his room. Killick’s got a cot in there.”
“I’m not sleeping with Killick. There are no more rooms?”
“Not sleepable ones. Sofa?”
“That will work. I’ll get my pillow.” Toni went down the hall and opened the door, Max on her heels.”
“Good God, are you sure he’s human?”
“No.” She widened her eyes as she passed by him.
Max followed her downstairs to one of the living rooms. “This one is comfortable, Toni. Sorry about this.”
“He didn’t need anything else to drink tonight and I’m so tired.” She placed her pillow on one end of the sofa and reached for the throw laying on the back. “This will do.”
“I could lay down with you for awhile.”
“That’s not a good idea, Max, and you know it. Go back upstairs and go to bed with Connie.”
“She’s asleep.”
“Lucky her!” Toni arranged her ‘bed’.
Max went down on his knees beside the sofa and kissed her softly. “I love you, no matter what kind of agreement we made.”
“I love you, too, Max. Please, honey, don’t make this any harder for us.”
“Good night, Toni.” He kissed her forehead and got up and padded back up the stairs.
Toni had the strongest inclination to scream as loud as she could but she didn’t.
“I do apologize, Pet. I can’t think what got into me.”
“Several bottles of something, Jack.” Toni was back in the room, looking for clothes to wear.
“I blame it on the flight. Where did you sleep?”
“Downstairs in the den on the sofa with the scorpions.”
Jack came over and put his arms around her, turning her around to face him, “Forgive me?”
“Of course I do. Be sober tonight?”
Jack smiled, “I will indeed.”
Connie, Donna and Toni went to Gordes to the market. It was the first time Toni had been able to do any sightseeing and shopping.
“How do you stand it, Connie? Look at all this fresh produce and bread. Oh, I love bread!” She began picking up loaves and adding them to the shopping.
“I do enjoy the markets, Toni. Everything is so fresh…look raspberries! I have to have some of them, raspberries and cream fraise, yummy.”
“Is there anything you crave, being pregnant?” Donna asked.
“Oh, tart things, like raspberries and lemon tarts.”
“I was all into salty things,” Donna said. "How about you, Toni?”
“Pizza. Terry would cut it up in little bite size pieces and feed it to me. Otherwise I just gobbled it up. Oh…”
Connie put her arm around Toni. “He will again, Toni, he will.”
“I know. It’s hard, you know.”
“It must be…I know where the chocolatier has his shop. How about it? A girl’s best friend?”
“Chocolate, yes! Let’s do.”
Jack had Jacky in the pool playing with him while Anna, the nanny, watched from a chair.
“Have you got him swimming yet, Jack?” John asked, easing himself into the pool.
“You know, I think he could if I let him go but I won’t do that.” He nodded toward Anna.
“Look how he kicks his feet. He’s a water baby.” John realized what he’d said and looked quickly at Jack. “He’s…not, is he?”
“No, he’s Terry’s. My God man, can you not count?”
“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”
Max came over with the net and scooped some leaves out of the far end of the pool. “Shall I scoop a Jacky out?”
“He thinks he’s a fish.” Jack held him out of the water.
Max got a towel from Anna and took Jacky from Jack’s arms, wrapping him up and drying bits of him off.
“You’re the fish, Jack,” John said.
“I could be. I’m mostly water.” He smiled, ducked under the surface and swam the length of the pool and back.
Later when the women got back, Donna went for a swim. John was still about in a lounge chair.
“John, why don’t we have a pool?”
“I was thinking the same thing earlier. It would be nice, Donna, and for the summer rentals, too. We got the space.”
“Well, let’s have one. This is nice.”
“Has anybody seen my child?” Toni walked out to the pool.
“Max had him last,” John answered.
Toni found Max and Jacky on the tennis court. Jacky was throwing tennis balls back and forth with Max. Toni watched them for a while, hating to break up the fun but it was Jacky’s naptime.
“I hate to interrupt your game and you are clearly losing, Max. Look at all the balls in your court.”
Max laughed, “He can throw a ball, Toni.”
“I know. I have the broken bits at home to prove it.” Jacky came running over to her and gave her a ball.
“No, sweetie. I won’t play tennis with him. He cheats.”
“I do not cheat, Toni.”
“I remember playing tennis with you, Max, so don’t start.” Toni picked the small boy up. “It’s naptime for Jacky.”
“Naptime for me, too. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Neither did I, but I was warding off scorpions all night.”
“Were you really?”
“Two of them, and I’m sure they had family somewhere.”
“I need to make sure all the rooms have lavender. Maybe you’ll get your bed back tonight?”
“Jack promises to be sober.”
“Hmm?” He met her eyes and smiled. “I’m glad he’s here for you, Toni, but I wish it was me.”
“Ahh, Max!” she sighed and stepped down from the court.
“I know, I know. Where’s Connie?”
“Napping. I think the heat and all the walking we did tired her out.”
“I think I’ll join her.”
Toni smiled up at Max. “That’s a good idea.”
A couple of days later they had a visit from Penny Duncan on her motorbike. She came into the house and found Connie in the kitchen making a huge salad. She already had a cheese board set up.
“Penny, to what do we owe the honor?”
“I just wanted to grace you with my presence.” She peered out the kitchen door.
“They’re not out there. They’ve gone into LaCoste.”
“My luck. I came over to invite you all to dinner. Dad says he’d like to meet John and Jack, and it’s our time to feed.” She picked up a black olive.
“When, Penny?”
“Tomorrow night if it’s convenient. When are John and his wife going home?”
“Sunday. They left their kids with a neighbor and two weeks is a long time to baby sit.”
“What’s all this for?”
“An afternoon on the patio. You’re welcome to join us.”
“Sounds de-lish but I have errands to run. Tomorrow about 7:00?”
“I should warn you, Jack, you’ll be interrogated. Be careful what you say.”
“That’s rather harsh, Max,” Connie said.
“He will. Remember Terry’s visit? He does it in a very friendly way but he’s curious and he’s sharp.”
Jack dismissed Max’s concern. “I shouldn’t worry, Max. I shall be on my best behavior.”
“Connie’s family has no idea about us?” John asked.
“It’s not good to spread the magic, John. The fewer people who know, the better. Otherwise we would be inundated with press, questions, and people trying to find the House of Four Seasons. It would cause a riot.”
“This is true,” Toni agreed. “It has to remain our secret.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to believe we came from a movie. We live like everybody else.” Donna sliced off a piece of cheese and began to nibble.
“Not exactly. How many people do you know who send telepathic messages to each other and are basically the same person at different ages?” John asked.
“I’d hate to think I was Max.” Jack picked up his wine glass and grinned.
Toni chuckled, “Max is you, Jack.”
“Oh, that’s worse,” Max groaned.
“No, it gets worse. You’re all me,” John laughed.
Toni smiled, but there was one missing. She glanced out over the garden, wishing he was there with them and praying he was safe.
Aubrey Duncan’s bricked courtyard was host to before dinner drinks. He liked this kind of thing, mingling and getting to know Max’s family.
“I didn’t know you did wine tastings. We should have come over last weekend,” John said, accepting a glass from his host.
“Yes, we do them a couple of times a month in the summer. I sell a lot of wine that way. Gets people interested and they go home and order it.”
“I was telling Max, I was never a wine drinker before I came here. I used to like a Canadian ice wine.”
“Oh, that’s grape juice, John. I’ll serve a good selection with dinner tonight.” Aubrey’s eyes scanned the crowd resting on his daughter, who seemed to have latched onto the big blond brother, Jack. He’d questioned John long enough, knew his background in law enforcement and that he now lived in Maine with his wife and kids. The good brother, he’d been described as, and Aubrey had to agree he was out of the others he’d met, the most down to earth and everyday normal. He had a very bright, intelligent wife at his side.
John got on with most everybody and he liked Aubrey Duncan, a nice friendly guy.
Toni was trying not to be a couple with Jack tonight. She moved over to Max’s side, amused with Penny Duncan.
“Too bad Jack’s married. I think Penny would have him.”
“She would have had me if not for Connie, although I bear no resemblance to Prince Charming.”
“Hmm, depends on what you’re looking for, Max. You were mine once.”
“Really, did you think that way?”
“I did. Summer was always special.” She smiled and moved away before it got any deeper. She’d been observing Aubrey Duncan and wondered if he had a woman somewhere. He was much too vibrant and alive not to. He filled out the shoulders of his dark blue silk shirt quite nicely.
Max looked around and wished Aubrey would get on with it, get the dinner done and get it over with.
“Aren’t you enjoying yourself, darling?” Connie came to his side.
“Sorry. Yes, of course I am. A little hungry.”
“Maybe I should move it along? Dad will drink and talk. John seems to have passed inspection.”
“I never worried about him.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about Jack either. He’s very charming.”
“Yes, but he’s no prince.”
Connie did move the crowd into the dining room. Aubrey had a large round table and he contrived to get Jack seated to his right. Toni ended up on his left with John beside her. Connie, Donna, Max and Penny completed the circle.
“I hear you have some sort of sailing ship?” Aubrey began with Jack.
“Yes, indeed. I command a ship in His Majesty’s Navy.”
“Oh, you mean Her Majesty. You have a Queen, I believe.”
“Quite right. Slip of the tongue,” Jack smiled.
“I don’t suppose she’ll live forever, but I hope she passes that oldest son of hers. I never could cotton to that man. I have heard the British Navy still has a few sails. I didn’t know you were in service. Are you on leave?”
“Ah, yes, as a matter of fact I am presently on leave. My ship is in Portsmouth being refitted.”
“Penny calls you Captain so I suppose that’s your rank?”
“Yes, Post Captain actually.” Jack picked up his wine glass and caught Toni’s eye.
“Are you married, Captain Aubrey?”
“I am, yes. My wife, Sophie, and three children…two girls and a boy. They are presently at my estate, Ashgrove in Surrey.”
Aubrey chuckled, “Well, that puts an end to Penny’s plans for you. Do you get home very often?”
“Not as often as I’d like, of course. I took this opportunity to visit Max. I had not seen his estate.” Jack glanced at Penny. Plans?
Max was beginning to relax. It was all going well. Jack could well hold his own with anyone and Toni, he noticed, was listening to their conversation and would step in if needed.
Aubrey turned his attention to Toni. “And where is Terry tonight?”
“I wish I knew exactly. He’s taken a job in Albania. He’s been gone for almost three weeks.”
“Oh, he’s on a mission then. I thought he’d given that up. I like your Terry. In fact I like the whole family. Connie’s done well I think.” He smiled down the table at his daughter Connie. “When is your husband expected back?”
“I’m not sure. He didn’t know himself.”
“I know you must be missing him.” He patted Toni’s hand.
The meal and talk went on for nearly two hours and finally Connie said she was ready to go and they piled in cars and went back to La Siroque.
Part 7:
“Anyone for a nightcap?” Max asked as they came into the chateau.
Toni went upstairs to check on Jacky, and Connie and Donna declined, settling for a coffee in the kitchen. Max took his decanter and three glasses and went out to the patio with Jack and John.
“That was nice tonight. I liked Duncan.” John accepted a glass from Max.
“He’s basically a nice bloke.” Max poured a glass for Jack and handed it to him.
“What have you decided about your grapes, Max?” Jack took a sip of the excellent cognac.
“I haven’t decided anything really. Upped my price to Duncan.”
“I ran into your man early one morning and he told me about the illegal wine he makes from your grapes. Why have you not joined this venture?”
“Duflot? He doesn’t understand it’s not as simple as he makes it out to be.”
“How so?”
“Because I think he fucked my Uncle Henry over the last few years of his life. It may be true my Uncle did not care or had lost interest, but Duncan knew what he was doing. He paid a pittance for the grapes and made his fortune from them. When I met him he was salivating over the possible acquisition of this property. When he found out I wasn’t going to sell he put forth his daughter, thinking a marriage there would surely marry the two vineyards.” Max took a drink, “I married his daughter, but not on his terms.”
“Why not refuse him the grapes unless he goes in half with you?” Jack asked.
“I’m not sure I want to do that. I need him. He harvests my grapes and makes my wine. It’s convenient. He sends his people over at no cost to me. Perhaps that’s his way of making up for the pittance he paid my Uncle Henry.”
“You could make your own wine here, Max. You got buildings made for that,” John said.
“It would be quite an expense. Uncle Henry made his in the cellar. You wouldn’t believe the equipment Aubrey Duncan has, all state of the art. He’s got a first-rate operation going over there.
“Sounds to me like you got to get over what happened with your uncle, Max. You got an opportunity to make up for that now if you go in with him. You can’t ignore him. He’s your father-in-law.”
“You’re right, John. I can’t ignore him…”
“Excuse me for interrupting,” Toni said from the doorway, “but Anna said Killick took off several hours ago walking toward Bonnieux.”
“God damn that man!” Jack said and knocked back his drink. “Will someone give me a ride into the village?”
“I’ll take you,” John offered, rising from the table.
After they left, Max took his bottle inside and found Toni in the kitchen making a cup of coffee.
“Put your cup away and have a drink with me.” He sat down at the scrubbed kitchen table.
“I’m not sure I need anything else to drink tonight.”
“I think I’m going to bed.” Connie got up and rinsed her cup out.
“I should, too. Jacky will be up early in the morning.” Toni sat back down at the table.
“Well, I’m off. I’ll stay awake and wait for John. I hope they don’t get into any trouble.” Donna left the kitchen.
“Are you coming up, Max?”
“In a minute, love.” He waited until they were up the stairs and turned to Toni. “Why didn’t you leave?” He poured some cognac in her coffee.
“I am…leaving. Don’t put any of that…”
“Look, Toni…I know we made a pact but it’s not going to work for me.”
“Yes it is, Max. It has to.” She sipped her laced coffee. “I can’t drink this.” She got up to go and he grabbed her, pulling her onto his lap and kissed her.
“Max, please don’t!” She pulled away from him. “just…don’t.” Toni ran out of the kitchen toward the stairs.
“You want it as much as I do!” he called after her.
Toni ran up the steps and to her room and closed the door. Connie waited a beat and went downstairs, finding Max with his head in his hands at the table. She went over and put her hands on his shoulders and he turned and put his arms around her, burying his head in her breasts.
“I’ve come to save you, Max,” she said gently. “Come to bed.”
“I don’t know anything about brothels around here, Jack, but there’s a few bars.” John looked for a place to park.
John and Jack walked the streets in and out of places, Jack inquiring in his French and John scanning the crowds. They crossed the square and passed by an alley. Hearing voices raised, they went to investigate. It was Killick in a brawl with two younger locals. Jack physically manhandled Killick out of the alley and John ran the two men off.
A much subdued and drunken Killick sat in the back seat on the way back to the chateau. John was amazed at Jack’s vocabulary and bit his lip to keep from making a sound. He wondered if he’d have Killick before the mast.
Toni sat on the vanity bench, clutching Terry’s tee shirt, crying. She wanted him back. She wanted him back now. She blew her nose on a tissue and slipped the shirt over her head and wondered how much longer she could stand being without him. She needed him and no one else could take his place. Getting up, she opened the window. Voices in the hallway, doors opening and closing, then all was quiet for a while.
She turned as her door opened. Jack closed it, leaning against the door for a moment before coming to her. He said not a word but took her roughly and kissed her. Toni felt all the pent up frustration and emotion explode within her and she met Jack’s passion as he fell on the bed with her and took her hard and fast. He was a raging sea tonight and she rode the wave with him, digging her nails into his back. Her cries were silenced by his mouth on hers.
Jack was up early and went out for a walk over Max’s estate. He’d been down in the vineyards and by the pond, and he came onto the patio where Connie sat with a pot of coffee Ludivine had brought out.
“Good morning, Jack. You’re out early.” She poured him a cup of coffee.
“Thank you.” Jack took the cup and sat down. “I’ve had a walk around.”
“Did you get Killick sorted last night?”
“I did, yes. He’s all right in his own world, Connie, but out here he bears watching.”
“I wonder why you brought him with you? He’s your personal servant, isn’t he?”
“He’s my steward.” Jack sipped his coffee.
Connie smiled a little smile. “What does he do for you that you can’t do for yourself?”
“On board he looks after my clothes, knows the uniform of the day and makes sure I am presentable. He cooks my meals and keeps my cabin.”
“Does he shave you also?”
“Yes…he does.” Jack focused his blue eyes on her.
“Do you dress yourself, Jack, or does Killick?”
Jack’s eyes became light and teasing. “This interests you…Killick attends my dress. It befits my station to have him.”
“I’ve never met a man who didn’t at least put his own pants on,” she smiled and sipped her coffee.
“I assure you, Connie, that I can dress myself and put my own breeches on...as well as take them off.”
Connie laughed a little and wondered if he would shag somebody besides Toni, not that she was putting herself up for that. No, not at all. She was, after all, five months pregnant. She actually blushed a little at the thought.
Jack smiled at her discomfort and blinked and looked away.
Later Toni had Jacky out in the garden walking around with him and Max spotted her, hung his head a little and walked over to her.
“Toni, I want to apologize for my behavior last night. We did make a pact between us, the three of us, whether spoken or not. We know, I know, what we agreed to and why. I’m sorry for making it harder for you than it already is.”
“Thank you, Max, but it’s not necessary to apologize. It was as much my fault as yours.”
“Terry needs to come home,” Max said and squatted down with Jacky.
“Yes, he does and soon, Max…soon.” Toni left Jacky with Max and walked over to the stonewall overlooking the pond and sat down. She could hear Max walking with Jacky, in conversation with her seventeen month old son. Over on the tennis court John and Donna were battering tennis balls. She could hear their occasional laughter. Max stopped by a fountain for Jacky to throw stones into. He wondered how many of the stones in the bottom he’d thrown in over the years.
Jack had been in the pool, but he was out now and dried off on a towel Killick handed him and pulled a shirt over his head. He heard something and looked up. Another damnable plane he thought, and again dreaded the flight back to England.
Max walked Jacky back to Toni. “I’ve discovered many new things in my garden, wocks, weefs and mools. Mools are where you frow the wocks.”
Toni laughed and peeked in Jacky’s pocket. It was full of wocks.
Max noticed the sound, too, and looked up at the sky. “He’s flying awfully low. Look! There he is, coming out of the clouds.”
Toni stood up and shaded her eyes. “I see it. Is it a military plane?”
“I can’t tell.” Max slipped his glasses back on. “Oh, good God! What is he doing?” Max grabbed Jacky up as the plane swooped down just skimming the treetops at the back of the vineyards and then went back up.
John and Donna dropped their rackets and came down to watch from the bridge where Toni and Max were standing.
“That guy is crazy!” John said, shading his eyes and watching the plane bank and turn.
“Oh, I hope he doesn’t crash!” Toni said.
Jack came from the pool area. “Is it French?” he asked.
“No, I saw a flag on the tail. It’s British. I wonder they would allow that in this airspace.”
The plane banked again and leveled out as they watched.
“They’re jumping out!” Donna exclaimed.
Connie came running from the back of the house.“What is it? I heard a roar that made the dishes rattle.”
“It’s a plane, love, and people are bailing out. I have no idea. Perhaps we’re being invaded.”
“There are only two so far,” Jack commented and watched as the plane wagged its wings and disappeared into the clouds.
Toni felt something rise from her chest into the back of her throat as she watched the two parachutes floating downward. She made a little sound and began walking toward the bank and down to the vineyard, ignoring the calls from the bridge. Soon she was running as fast as she could.
He hit the ground and rolled, coming up on his feet, and quickly got himself out of the parachute straps. He saw her running through the vineyard before he hit the ground. Toni didn’t slow down and hit his chest with a thud. She was taken in his arms and swung around and kissed soundly. She couldn’t speak, her hands were on his face, his neck, his arms, his chest.
“I’m okay, Toni. I’m all here.” He smiled a little and held her to him, turning to watch the other jumper as he landed.
“Ya okay, mate?” he called out to Jean Paul and got a thumbs-up from him. Turning back to Toni he just looked in her eyes for a moment. No words were necessary.
“It’s Terry!” John said.
“Leave it to him to make an entrance.” Max shifted Jacky in his arms.
Penny came running up to the group, breathless. “We saw the plane from Chambord, and jumpers. What’s going on? I rode over fast as I could on my bike.”
“We have another visitor,” Connie said, smiling.
“Looks like two. I wonder who that is with him?” Penny strained over the bridge.
Max looked over at Jack. He couldn’t help himself. “Well, Jack, old man, looks like your work here is finished.”
“It was time, Max,” Jack grinned.
When Terry and Toni reached the bridge, Max let Jacky down. He knew who that was walking with his mummy. Terry scooped him up and hugged and kissed him. He received a lot more hugs and kisses when he reached the group, his brothers waiting before jumping him about the whole thing.
Terry introduced Jean Paul to John and Donna, and to Penny, who couldn’t be still waiting for her turn. He’d already met the rest of them when Jack was rescued in Paris.
“Is good to see you, eh, well now.” He spoke to Jack
“I should thank you for the part you played that night.”
Jean Paul gave him a Gallic shrug and smiled.
They all trouped back to the patio. Ludivine had a tray of cold drinks ready and brought them out with a big smile, making sure she got close enough to Terry to give him a little pinch and a wink.
Toni scooted her chair over as close to Terry’s as she could get and Anna came out and hugged Terry, taking a protesting Jacky inside.
“Are you gonna tell us what was so important you had to go do it?” John asked.
“I can’t.” Terry swallowed his drink. “It’s confidential, top secret.” He grinned at John.
“You mean after all this you can’t even tell us who you were rescuing and did it go off?”
“No, Max, I can’t and, yes, it did go.”
“It went like the clockwork. He is good. He knows…he is the best,” Jean Paul added.
Penny couldn’t keep her eyes off Jean Paul. He was as tall as Terry and built right. Dark, almost black, hair brushed his collar and curled a little. He was tanned with light blue eyes, the color of the sky. Several day's growth of beard made his teeth shine when he smiled and he did often at Penny. He was very aware of her and his glance flicked over her from time to time, leaving little sparks behind.
“Tell us about jumping. How did you even know Toni was here?” Donna asked.
“I always know where she is.” He looked at Toni, sending a shiver up her back. “We were supposed to go back to England, but I, um, persuaded a member of the family to drop us here. We’ll meet with them later. They’re going to set something up. Jean Paul, you’re welcome to stay with us when you come over.”
“What family? Who are you talking about, Terry?” Connie asked.
Terry looked up at the sky for a moment. “All I can say is they are highly recognizable. I really can’t say anymore.” He lit a cigarette and offered them around. Jean Paul took one and Max proudly produced a packet of his own, gaining a grin from Terry.
“Would you like something to eat, Terry? I can get Ludivine…”
“Oh, no, we’ve been fed pretty good today.”
Jean Paul agreed and rubbed his stomach.
“Do you live near here?” Penny asked Jean Paul.
“Non, in Paris.”
“You’ll need a place to stay tonight, “ Terry said. “Max, have you got enough room?”
“We do at Chambord,” Penny let roll out of her mouth.
Terry raised a brow and looked at Jean Paul, who was looking thoughtfully at Penny.
“I’m full up tonight but John and Donna are leaving tomorrow.”
“Oh, John, I wonder if I might fly out with you? I really don’t think I…”
“Sure, Jack, we can change our flight. You wouldn’t mind a few days in London would you, Donna?”
“I’d love it,” she smiled. “I’ve never been.”
Toni hadn’t said a word. She’d been concentrating on Terry’s left hand that rested on her thigh. His fingers making slow circles and inching his way up, he finally got as far as he could go with the motion and she made a little sound.
Connie noticed her flushed face and casually glanced under the table. She smiled and quickly looked away. “John, do you want me to make the travel arrangements for you? I do speak the language.”
“Oh, yeah, Connie, that’d be great.”
“Penny, have you got Jean Paul for the night?”
“I need to call Dad first.” Penny moved away from the table and pulled out her phone.
“Well, who is he?” Aubrey Duncan asked.
“He’s Terry’s lieutenant and, Dad, he’s otherwise known as Prince Charming.” She smiled, dimples showing.
Connie pushed away from the table and stood up. “Terry, you look like you could use a rest. Why don’t you take him upstairs, Toni and, um, rest him?"
They all chuckled at that suggestion and Terry stood up, putting out his cigarette. “I think I will. I need a rest.” He smiled up at Connie and took Toni’s hand.
“John, you want to come with me while I call the airline?”
“Yeah, shouldn’t be a problem changing the flight…” He followed Connie inside and Donna went, too.
Jean Paul said his goodbye’s and hopped on the back of Penny’s bike, sliding his arms around her waist as they bolted out of the drive.
Max and Jack were left at the table. “I didn’t have the heart to ball him out, “ Max said, lighting a cigarette.
“It was not the time for that. Let him have his well-deserved welcome. This family he spoke of, who do you suppose it might be?”
“If I did my calculations correctly, Jack, we may be talking about the royal family.”
“Her Majesty’s family…well, I know from personal experience it is good to have a friend in high places.”
Max rolled his eyes over to Jack. “With Terry in the family…we may need a friend in high places."
ON TO TOUCHING THE FLAME
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