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*****
Laurel was depressed. Jennifer was depressed. Margaret was depressed. Even Cyd and Kat seemed a little less loud and obnoxious than usual. The first week of the New Year was one of the worst the family could remember.
Laurel sat at her desk in the library staring blankly at the screen in front of her not really thinking about anything when she was startled by a knock at the door.
"Come in," she called.
The door creaked open and Brittney stood in the doorway.
"Brittney!" Laurel stood up and walked to her friend. They hugged for a long time. "Brittney, I'm so glad you're here. I've wanted to see you since that day you were here two weeks ago. I'm so sorry."
"No, I'm sorry. I was too harsh to you. I didn't realize how deeply you felt about Carlos. Of course you couldn't marry Sebastien when you're in love with someone else. I just hope you don't hate me too much for accepting him."
"Oh, Brittney of course I don't hate you! I just want you to be happy. If moving to France will do that I want you to do that!"
"I hate you leave you and Jen right now after what happened to you. Is she going to be okay?"
"Yeah, she will be eventually. You know, she just needs some time by herself for a while."
"What about you? I heard Carlos quit the Nebulas..."
Laurel faltered, "He did. He's also moving back to Spain..."
"Oh Laurel, I'm so sorry!" Brittney pulled friend into another hug.
"I don't know if I'll ever see him again."
Brittney looked troubled for her friend's poor circumstances. "Well I really have to get going; I'm heading for the airport now. I fly New York to Paris tonight."
"I can't believe it. You're really going."
"Laurel, promise me you'll visit?"
"Of course I will! Let me know as soon as you're married, settled and ready to have me!"
"I'll hold you to that you know!"
The girls hugged one last time and Brittney left.
In mid January, Cyd and Kat returned to college since Laurel had made things work out for them to return. Heidi restarted her piano lessons in the house and Jennifer was looking for somewhere to do her veterinary internship and write her final thesis. Laurel was helping her fill out applications when she came across an opening in the city.
"Jennifer, did you see this one? It's at the New York City Animal Hospital. It's right downtown!."
Jennifer looked up, "Yeah, I think I did." She sounded hesitant.
"Jen, this internship would be perfect! You're a great fit for it and it could get you a job anywhere you wanted!"
"Yeah, but do I really want to live in the city?"
"Of course you do!" Laurel stated. "I'm filling out this application and we're sending it now!"
Laurel and Jennifer finished the applications and mailed them that afternoon. Jennifer interviewed three days later and was hired straight away. Laurel helped her to find an apartment online.
"Here's one on 42nd, but it's on the eighth floor and no elevator!"
"Ooooo this one looks good...wait, they want four thousand a month for one bedroom. Who do they think I am, Oprah?"
"Oh my gosh, Jen this one is perfect! Third story in the business district and the rent is great." Laurel had a thought and did a quick Google search. The apartment was literally across the street from the New York Nintendo Offices where David worked.
Two weeks later Laurel helped Jennifer move into her NYC apartment. After everything was moved in they sat in the window seat looking out at the tall buildings of the business district.
Laurel tried to be casual as she sipped her wine, "Did you notice which building is across the street?"
Jennifer peered out the window; "Oh..." she recognized the building.
"Maybe you should call David or MaryAnn to let them know you're living in the city for a while," Laurel volunteered.
"I don't know...I don't want to annoy them."
"Jennifer, it wouldn't be an annoyance. I'm sure they'd be very happy to hear from you."
Jennifer grabbed her cell phone, "Well, I guess I'll text them."
"I'm sure you'll hear back quickly."
The second week of February Laurel received a long anticipated phone call from Brittney Danielson-now Brittney Izambard- in France.
"Brittney! It's so wonderful to hear from you! How was your wedding? Your mother has shared the pictures with everyone in town."
"Of course she has. The wedding was beautiful and the honeymoon was...lovely. We traveled to the coast of Italy for two weeks. Sebastien and I have just moved into our own home on the Northern outskirts of Paris."
"Oh Brittney I'm sure it's lovely."
"Come see it! Can you come visit us? Sebastien says he is more than happy to pay for the flight."
"That's really not necessary, but I will put down my pride and accept it."
"Great! Name the date and a room will be ready for you!"
Laurel flew to Paris in mid February. She had been to France multiple times with her father on wine business, but the site of flying into the city, especially at night, never ceased to take her breath away. The romance of the city was apparent in every site the eye could take in. Maybe it was the beautiful aromas in the air or the beautiful language on the tongue of every Frenchman, but something made Laurel fall in love with the city more and more every minute.
Sebastien picked up Laurel from the airport and was more than happy to see her.
"Laurel!" He greeted her with the customary kiss on both cheeks. "Welcome to Paris! Brittney and I are so happy to have you here! Let me take you home right away so that you can see her."
Sebastien drove Laurel home through the city, slowly touring past many famous landmarks. Laurel didn't mention that she had seen them all many times. She was more than happy to tune out his descriptions and just take in the general splendor. After about an hour they were past the city and driving through various fruit trees when a large brick house came into view. The house was gorgeous. Ivy crept up the front exterior and was trimmed professionally around every window.
Sebastien dropped Laurel off at the front door and drove the car around to park behind the house. Laurel approached the house. Brittney flung the door open and ran down to her friend.
"Laurel! I'm so, so, so glad you are here! Come in and let me show you the house!" The women walked into the house. Brittney started a tour.
"The kitchen...the dining room...formal sitting room...informal sitting room...Sebastien's room...and alas, my room."
Brittney's room was totally her style. Lavender accents stood against grey-blue walls. A dark wood four post bed was the focal point of the room.
"You said this is your room and Sebastien's is down the hall?"
Brittney looked a bit uncomfortable, "Yes. To be honest Sebastien and I aren't totally used to each other yet. We haven't reached...physical intimacy yet. He's been so patient with me and has never been been pushy."
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"No, I'm so glad I finally have someone to tell. I don't know anyone in this country well enough to talk about things like this. My mother left the day after the wedding. The only person I've known for more than a month is Sebastien and I haven't known him for more than four months. "
Laurel placed a hand on her friend's arm. "I'm here as long as you need me."
Laurel and Brittney spent all their time together, walking around the estate and getting lost for hours around Paris. On her fourth afternoon in France Sebastien informed Laurel that he and Brittney were planning to attend the opera in town and they would like her to join them.
"There is no greater joy than the opera," Sebastien stated. "Had I not been in the wine business with my father, I would have been a singer and a very good one."
"Of course you would have dear" Brittney said. Laurel tried hard to suppress her giggles.
"Of course, Laurel you will want a new dress for tonight. Feel free to use my name on credit in town."
"Thank you Sebastien, but I am perfectly capable of purchasing my own clothing," Laurel was not giggling anymore.
Laurel found a dress and was excited to wear it out. 'One thing America has lost is a reason to really dress up," she thought as she zipped the dress up the side. The dress was midnight blue and full sequins. The glimmering material wrapped around her body, fitted to the thigh then flowed out in a mermaid skirt. She fastened a bracelet around her wrist and checked her hair one last time. Satisfied, she grabbed her clutch and joined Brittney and Sebastien in the car. Brittney wore her favorite opera dress-Sebastien had insisted she buy quite a few because they visited the opera so often. They dress was beaded on the bodice and from the waist it flowed down in fire red organdy.
The opera house was as grand as such a building should be. It seemed every surface was marble or velvet, or gold-plated. Laurel was delighted to find that the Izambard box at the opera was a very good one. Plush seats in crimson velvet and ebony sat in two small rows in a balcony box overlooking the stage.
The opera was "Madame Butterfly," and it was absolutely beautiful. Between acts patrons were encouraged and expected to visit each other's boxes and mingle. Sebastien left the two women to greet guests and went out to call on others. Brittney introduced Laurel to many people. She was impressed with Brittiney's control of French, but she had always been a gifted linguist. As the groupings of people drifted out of the box and the lights flickered to warn of the upcoming second act two men slipped in the back door of the box.
The taller man stepped forward and shook Brittney's hand.
"Mrs. Izambard, how are you this evening?"
"Very well, Mr. Gordan. This is my best friend from America, Laurel Bennett. Laurel, this is-"
"Urs!" Laurel interrupted loudly as the other man stepped into the light of the opera box.
"Laurel," he nodded a greeting.
Laurel shook off the shock and looked back to Brittney who was staring at her. "I'm so sorry, how rude of me." She gave her attention to the tall man in front of her.
"I see you know my friend, Miss Bennett," he took her hand. "I'm Josh Gordan."
"Lovely to meet you," Laurel smiled.
"Not as lovely as it is to meet you." Laurel felt a blush creeping in at her cheeks, but then remembered Urs was there.
"How are you Mr. Buhler?" They did not make eye contact.
"I'm doing very well. How is your family?"
"They're doing well. My sister, Jennifer is living in New York City for the spring and summer, did you know?"
"I did not."
Laurel opened her mouth to say something but the lights flickered again.
"We should be getting back to our seats," Urs concluded.
