Free Fractured by Amanda Meadows Page B

to having a mother hen for the evening."
    Secretly, she was relieved not to have to spend another evening by herself. She had spent a few more nights out with Hunter's mom, but that was bittersweet. She loved Mrs. Webb but, again, she was a constant reminder that Amber was going home to an empty hotel room.
    Twenty minutes later, Madame Renaud returned, triumphantly waving a bottle of wine in one hand and clutching a handful of fresh-cut flowers in the other. She whirled through the shop, leading the way up a dimly lit staircase to a cozy apartment above the shop.
    Amber was almost embarrassed at living in such luxury all by herself when the Renauds were squeezed into such a tiny apartment. The couple's entire apartment could have fit easily into her hotel suite with room to spare. But she had to admit that each inch of space was utilized. The windows, in particular, lit from behind with tiny Christmas tree lights on the small balcony, were beautiful works of art.
    "Did you do these yourself?" she asked Monsieur Renaud, peering at them in awe.
    "Indeed he did, dearest," Madame Renaud answered for her husband as she handed Amber a glass of wine. "My husband is ever so talented. One of the many reasons I fell in love with him."
    "My wife overestimates my gifts," Monsieur Renaud said modestly. "But, yes, those are some of my first pieces many years ago."
    "I don't know why I've never really appreciated stained glass art before now," Amber murmured, admiring the brilliance of the colors and the spectacular way that Monsieur Renaud had chosen to align each fractured piece of glass.
    "It's amazing how an artist can take something that is broken and make it far more beautiful than the original piece," Madame Renaud said, peering over her shoulder.
    "I think that it is a good analogy to life. If we have the right attitude, we can take the broken bits of our experiences and make ourselves stronger, more beautiful even."
    "Huh," said Amber a bit skeptically.
    She wasn't so sure about that right now. Since breaking up with Hunter, she felt like she was broken up into hundreds of pieces. Each piece was sharp and still painful.
    "Ah! But in the midst of young love, it is hard to see the complete picture," Monsieur Renaud said, indicating that Amber should make herself comfortable on the small sofa.
    "I'm not sure that my broken relationship can be repaired," Amber said with a sigh.
    She had confessed to Monsieur Renaud that the young man paying for her courses was her ex boyfriend.
    "What is this? A lover's spat? What a tragedy for such a beautiful young woman!"
    Madame Renaud leaned forward eagerly, her eyes misting.
    "Now, darling, I'm not sure that Amber wants to discuss her love difficulties," Monsieur Renaud said, squeezing his wife's hand.
    Amber couldn't help it. She laughed at the absurdity of the woman's fascination.
    "I'm afraid that my wife is obsessed with romance," Monsieur Renaud said, smiling ruefully. "I think that reading all of those romantic works for a living has seeped into her very blood."
    "The greatest poets affect me deeply." Madame Renaud sighed dramatically.
    "I have such a wonderful love that I want to share it with the world."
    "Perhaps we should offer Amber an appetizer, darling," Monsieur Renaud suggested, saving Amber at last.
    "Oh, yes! I'm being a horrible host!"
    Madame Renaud leaped up and hurried to the kitchen.
    "Thanks," Amber whispered.
    "She means well," Monsieur Renaud said, sitting in a small leather chair across from her.
    The room was warmly lit and in the soft light he looked much younger. Or perhaps simply being around his wife made him seem that way. In spite of their age, the couple acted like two people newly in love.
    "She's just a hopeless romantic. Be careful or she'll try to set you up with one of her students at the University."
    Amber grinned wryly. "I'm not ready now but I might accept her offer in the future."
    Monsieur Renaud considered her for a moment.
    "Forgive an old man for