Free The Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey Page B

Loic. “You would be mad to pass up the opportunity to see Provence.”
    “ I see,” Cat said.
    “ So?” Loic had his head on one side.
    “ Only if I can convince your mother to do the right thing. Only if you promise not to convince her otherwise.”
    Loic held her gaze.
    She had only taken one week off work. There was so much to do. The wedding … the idea had not quite taken hold in her mind yet. Paris could be sorted out long distance. Once the apartment was inventoried, and valued, she could get Monsieur Lapointe to write to Loic’s mother since she had to refuse the inheritance under French law. It would be so much simpler.
    “ Maman won’t accept what wasn’t left to her.”
    “ So there’s no chance, then.”
    “ If you never try - ” Loic began.
    Anouk’s phone rang; she answered it on the first ring. Cat couldn’t understand a word. But Loic moved closer to her. He talked quietly, rapid English, just as Anouk went on in French.
    “ They’ve done it,” he said. “The painting’s a Boldini. His wife mentions the painting of Marthe in her memoirs. Marthe de Florian was twenty-four when Boldini painted her.”
    Anouk hung up. She turned to face them. And then, she stumbled across the room to Cat. With her hands, she clutched at Cat’s arms and twirled her around and around.
    “This is incredible!” she said. “This painting is once in lifetime discovery! It will be worth fortune!”
    It was impossible to know what to say.
    Finally, Anouk let go of Cat’s arms. “Do you understand what this means? Everyone goes crazy for this painting if you sell! You need to consult with Loic’s family as to what do with it! You have masterpiece on your hands!”
    Anouk turned to include Loic. “Monsieur, Madame, the team, all of us, we are going out to a wine bar tonight to celebrate! You must come with us! You helped us by finding the wonderful letter. Please?”
    Loic looked at Cat. “I’m in, if you’ll come too, Cat?”
    Cat shrugged.
    “I’ll translate for you,” Loic chuckled.
    “ Oh, I may as well!” Cat laughed. “A night alone in the hotel isn’t much fun, after all.”
    “ You definitely need a night out.”
    Anouk was packing up. “I cannot concentrate any more,” she said. “I am going home to my bath and to get all dressed up!” She picked up her bags. She told Loic in rapid French where they would all meet in a few hours.
    Loic turned to Cat. “Shall I pick you up from your hotel at eight?” he asked, as Anouk walked out the door.
    Cat picked up her thin gs. She needed some time alone to digest this. Finding out that the painting really was a Boldini changed everything. All she wanted to do was go home, to New York, to Christian, but the guilt of this thing was spiraling out of control. The contents and the apartment had to go back to the family. She turned to Loic.
    “ This is getting serious. There’s a lot … involved here.”
    “ I know.”
    “ You have to see reason. It’s nothing to do with me.”
    Loic reached out and placed a tendril of Cat’s hair back in place.
    She took a step back.
    “It’s everything to do with you,” he said, his eyes still on her.
    Cat bustled about in her bag. “The key. It should be somewhere in here.”
    “ You left it in the door.”
    “ Did I?”
    Loic was there before her. He took the key out and handed it to her. “Stay in France for a little while, Cat,” he said. “Help me sort it out. There has to be a way.”
    “ But what about your work? It’s not going to be easy sorting all of this out.” Cat knew this was lame.
    “ I work for myself. I have good people running the vineyard.” Loic held the door open for her and waited while she walked out through it.
     
    The wine bar was full and noisy. Anouk, Pascale and several other people sat around a table in the corner of the room.
    “ Bonsoir!” they called, the men all kissing Cat on both cheeks, shaking Loic’s hand.
    When they were all settled, Pascale turned to