Free ROCKED BY THE WAVES by Alisa Grey Page B

asked for tea, orange juice and brioches. I couldn’t help it but notice his French was perfect. When we were finished, we got up and decided to walk for a while.
    «Where did you learn to speak French so well?»
    «I have lived in Paris for a few years. I had business to take care of».
    «You mean... for Alex? What kind of business?»
    «I don’t really feel like talking about it», he said. His voice was sharp.
    «So...», I changed the subject, «where are you taking me?»
    He smiled. «We’re going shopping. You’ll need something new to keep you warm. It’s windy, in Nova Scotia, and the weather is constantly changing. And Halifax’s really foggy».
    «Have you ever been there?» I was stuck.
    He smiled. «No, but my mother’s friends have been living there for many years».
    «Your mother? You never told me about her».
    «My parents don’t love each other anymore. She was a rich Scottish lady; she was very catholic and she married against her father’s will. As the time went by, she got sort of... a call. She now lives in a convent. That’s where I went when I told you I’d go to Edinburgh for a few days.»
    Then he continued. «She’s part of a monastic order. It was funded by an Italian nun. My mother travels a lot. She visits hospitals and so on with her sisters... she is going to help us and you will be able to help young women and their children. Just like you did in London».
    I hugged him.
    «I love you more and more. You’re always so caring...»
    He kissed me on the forehead.
    «My mother once told me that when I found the right woman for me I would inherit all of our family’s money. I told her about you. I told her you were married, that I loved you so much and that we want to be together from now on. I told her you’re the one for me. So now I am... rich. I inherited her money and we don’t have to worry about anything».
    I was speechless.
    «Sam...»
    A sudden thought stuck me.
    «Sam... talking of women...»
    I must have gone red. He looked at me and smiled.
    «You want to know about my past... experiences», he said.
    I shook my head. I was unable to look him in the eyes.
    «When I was fourteen, I gave my first kiss. At sixteen, I fell for someone. At eighteen, I had sex. It happened with a blond blue-eyed girl. She was a friend’s daughter. She was very nice. We used to walk together and have tea. I didn’t enjoy the sex much, though. It was not like... I didn’t feel what I feel with you. And that girl... she was keen on parties, clothes and gossiping with her friends. We were very different. My mother never approved of her. And she was right. And then... well, then I met you».
    I looked at him. «You’re really telling me you haven’t been having sex for three years? but you’re... charming!»
    He smiled at me and he kissed my forehead. «I was waiting for you».
    I hugged him at once.
    «I’m sorry I married Alex. I shouldn’t have».
    «We’re together now».
    We bought a trunk, two cases, warm clothes, boots, jackets, shirts and bed linen.
    We were supposed to look wealthy, but not too much, so we avoided flashy outfits. I was happy about that, because I didn’t like it when women belonging to the upper-class got changed five times a day. It was silly.
    Every shop assistant that we met looked at Sam in a... certain way. He was charming and he was always helping me choose the most appropriate item to buy. At the end of the day, we were exhausted. We asked a bunch of children to help us with our bags and paid them. We washed our hands and got out once again. We needed to get something to eat.
    We had meat in roquefort sauce and roasted potatoes. We drank an excellent wine.
    The day had been very tiring, so when we got to our room we fell asleep at once.
    We woke up very early because someone was screaming. It looked like a gentleman had something to say about his «lady» for the night. He was complaining to the innkeeper. Sam and I got dressed and left.
    We got to the