I manoeuvred carefully out of the window.
No, of course not, I told her. I was expecting you. Besides, Ive nearly finished, and my back is killing me.
Well, if its no trouble
Her manner was different today. There was a kind of crispness in her voice, a studied casualness which masked a high level of tension. She was wearing a black straw hat trimmed with ribbon and a coat also black which looked new.
Youre very chic today, I observed.
She gave a sharp crack of laughter.
No-ones said that to me for a while, Ill tell you, she said, poking a finger at one of the stools. Could I climb up there without breaking a leg, dyou think?
Ill get you a chair from the kitchen, I suggested, but the old lady stopped me with an imperious gesture.
Rubbish! She eyed the stool. I used to be quite a climber in my youth. She drew up her long skirts, revealing stout boots and lumpy grey stockings. Trees, mostly. I used to climb up them and throw twigs onto the heads of passersby. Hah!
A grunt of satisfaction as she swung herself onto the stool, grabbing hold of the counter-top for support. I caught a sudden, alarming swirl of scarlet from under her black skirt.
Armande perched on the stool, looking absurdly pleased with herself. Carefully she smoothed her skirts back over the shimmer of scarlet petticoat.
Red silk undies, she grinned, seeing my look. You probably think Im an old fool but I like them. Ive been in mourning for so many years seems every time I can decently wear colours someone else drops dead that Ive pretty much given up wearing anything but black. She gave me a look fizzing with laughter. But underwear now thats a different thing. She lowered her voice conspiratorially. Mail order from Paris, she said. Costs me a fortune. She rocked with silent laughter on her perch. Now, how about that chocolate?
I made it strong and black, and, with her diabetic condition in mind, added as little sugar as I dared. Armande saw my hesitancy and stabbed an accusing finger at her cup.
No rationing! she ordered. Give me the works. Chocolate chips, one of those sugar stirrer things, everything. Dont you start getting like the others, treating me as if I didnt have the wit to look after myself. Do I look senile to you?
I admitted she didnt.
Well, then. She sipped the strong, sweetened mixture with visible satisfaction. Good. Hmm. Very good. Supposed to give you energy, isnt it? Its a, what do you call it, a stimulant?
I nodded.
An aphrodisiac too, so I heard, added Armande roguishly, peeping at me from above the rim of her cup. Those old men down at the cafe had better watch out. Youre never too old to have a good time!
She cawed laughter. She sounded shrill and keyed-up, her crabbed hands unsteady. Several times she put her hand to the brim of her hat, as if to adjust it.
I looked at my watch under cover of the counter, but she saw my movement.
Dont expect hell turn up, she said shortly. That grandson of mine. Im not expecting him, anyway.
Her every gesture belied her words. The tendons in her throat stood out like an ancient dancers.
We talked for a while of trifling matters: the childrens idea of the chocolate festival Armande squawking with laughter when I told her about Jesus and the white chocolate Pope and the river-gypsies. It seems that Armande has ordered their food supplies herself, in her name, much to Reynauds indignation. Roux offered to pay her in cash, but she prefers to have him fix her leaky roof instead. This will infuriate Georges Clairmont, she revealed with an impish grin.
Hed like to think hes the only one who can help me out, she said with satisfaction. Bad as each other, both of them, clucking about subsidence and damp. They want me out of that house, theres the truth of it. Out of my nice house and into some lousy old folks home where you have to ask permission to go to the bathroom! She was indignant, her black eyes snapping. Well, Ill show them, she declared. Roux used to be a builder, before he went on the river. He and his friends will make a good enough job of it. And Id rather pay them to do the work honestly than to have that imbecile do it for free.
She adjusted the brim of her hat with unsteady hands.
Im not expecting him, you know.
I knew it was not the same person to whom she referred. I looked at my watch. Four-twenty. Night was already falling. And yet Id been so sure That was what came of interfering, I told myself savagely. So easy to inflict pain on others, on myself.
I never imagined he would come, continued Armande in that crisp, determined voice. Shes seen to that all right. Taught him well, she has. She began to struggle off her perch. Ive been taking up too much of your time already, she said shortly. I must be
M-memee.
She twists around so abruptly that I am sure she must fall. The boy is standing quietly by the door. He is wearing jeans and a navy sweatshirt. He has a wet baseball cap on his head. In his hand he carries a small, scuffed hardback book. His voice is soft and self-conscious.
I had to w-wait until my m-mother went out. Shes at the h-hairdressers. She wont be back till s-six.
Armande looks at him. They do not touch, but I feel something pass between them like a jolt of electricity. Too complex for me to analyse, but there is warmth and anger, embarrassment, guilt and behind it all a promise of softness.
You look soaked. Ill make you a drink,
I suggest, going into the kitchen. As I leave the room I hear the boys voice again, low and hesitant.
Thanks for the b-book, he says. Ive got it here with me.
He holds it out like a white flag. It is no longer new; but worn like a book which has been read and reread, lovingly and often. Armande registers this, and the fixed look disappears from her face.
Read me your favourite poem, she says.
From the kitchen, as I pour chocolate into two tall glasses, as I stir in cream and kahlua, as I make enough noise with pots and bottles to give the illusion of privacy, I hear his voice raised, stilted at first, then gaining rhythm and confidence. I cannot make out the words, but from a distance it sounds like prayer or invective. I notice that when he reads, the boy does not stutter.
I set the two glasses carefully onto the counter. As I entered the boy stopped speaking mid-sentence and eyed me with polite suspicion, his hair falling into his eyes like the mane of a shy pony. He thanked me with scrupulous courtesy, sipped his drink with more mistrust than pleasure.
Im not s-supposed to have this, he said doubtfully. My mother s-says ch-chocolate makes me c-come out in z-zits.
And it could make me drop dead on the spot, said Armande smartly.
She laughed at his expression.
Come on, boy, dont you ever doubt what your mother says? Or has she brainwashed what little sense you might have inherited from me right out of you?
Luc looked nonplussed.
I-its just what sh-she s-says, he repeated, lamely.
Armande shook her head.
Well, if I want to hear what Caro says I can make an appointment, she said. What have you got to say? Youre a smart lad, or used to be. What do you think?
Luc sipped again.
I think she might have been exaggerating, he said with a tiny smile. You look p-pretty good to me.