Leaving Madeleine - Part 13

Somehow it was past midnight. Not particularly late by any stretch of the imagination, but late enough for Madeleine to wonder where I was and why I hadn't called. The display on my Nokia informed me I had three missed calls, two text messages and a voice mail - all from her. No one was the wiser since I had turned my ringer off before the movie and never bothered to turn it back on afterwards.

As we stepped outside, Patrick suggested we all share a cab. I was the first to back out saying how I felt bad enough for crashing their date and didn't want to deprive them of a romantic taxi ride. Patrick quickly pointed out it was not a date and was about to try and change my mind, when Brigitte interjected with the fact that her aunt's place was in the opposite direction anyway. Still trying to honour what was left of the "man code" and against every urge in my mind and body, I insisted I'd take the métro and bid my friend and potential lover a good evening. I exchanged a genuine handshake with Patrick, a kiss on each cheek and a long "I don't want this to end" glance with Brigitte, and left for Saint Germain station.

It wasn't until I bumped into a woman on the sidewalk that I realized the daze I was in. I felt lightheaded and directionless. The only image in my head was Brigitte's face and the only clear thought was to turn around and find her. I issued the customary "pardon" to the victim of my aimless wandering and had a momentary lapse of reality. "I need to call Madeleine" was the first dose. I pulled out my phone. There was another call from a number I didn't recognize. I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart jumping to my throat. I chastised myself for being so naïve, but had to call just to be sure.

"Where are you?" came Brigitte's voice after a couple of rings.

"Almost at Saint Germain. Where are you?"

"At Saint Germain."

"Really?"

"I took a taxi." And as if reading my mind she added, "I'm alone. Hurry up, there are strange French men looking at me."

"I can see you." I could.

"I see you. "

She was standing on her tip-toes, though I wasn't sure why since there was no one between us. I waved and she waved back. Thirty seconds later, we were reunited.

"Where's Patrick?" I asked.

"I don't know. He put me in the first taxi. Paid too. He's a real gentleman." She reached into her purse. "Can you give this to him the next time you see him?"

I refused. "You give it to him."

"Okay." She put the money back into her clutch.

"So, you want to take the train?" I asked dishonestly.

"We could," she responded. "Or we could walk along the Seine back to my place and watch a Kitano movie..." It was either a question or an offer. Either way, my answer was yes.

"Let's watch a movie," I said.

She smiled a deep, knowing smile, interlocked our arms at the elbow and led us towards the Seine.

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