Paris Summer Read Online Free Page B

you’ll like the market. It’s one of the really
nice things about Paris.”
    As they turned onto rue de Seine, Janine’s first
impression was of confusion. All along the street men
were carrying boxes in or out of shops. People were
clustered here and there; others wandered around,
crossing back and forth across the street. And cars tried to squeeze between those parked on both sides of the
street.

    “Wander around,” Rena suggested, “I’ll take care of
the shopping.”
    Left alone, Janine tried to sort out the different types
of shops. There were dairies, supermarkets, butchers,
fishmongers, a flower dealer, and four fruit and
vegetable stands, whose owners competed in advertising their wares by shouting. The market continued
around the corner, with another butcher, dairy, and
two flower stalls, as well as a bakery, two charcuteries,
and the inevitable cafes.
    Janine was still looking around when Rena spotted
her. “Here,” she said, dumping a pile of packages in
Janine’s arms, “I forgot my basket. I’ll be back in a
minute. I still have to get something for supper.”
    It was closer to five minutes later that Rena
reappeared carrying milk under one arm and some
cheese and a chicken in the other. “Supermarche is out
of bags again,” Rena explained. “Now we just have to
get some bread.”
    It seemed to Janine they must present a comic sight
as they walked along juggling food. “People are used to
it,” Rena responded when Janine voiced her thoughts
aloud. “The real problem will be the stairs.”
    Somehow they managed the spiral staircase, but
both were out of breath when they reached the fifth
floor. Rena fumbled in her pockets and finally found
her keys. “I’ve learned not to carry them in my purse.
Too hard to find if I do,” she explained.
    Laughing, Janine entered first, abruptly halting as
she saw Mark sitting on the daybed reading. “What is
it?” Rena demanded, looking over Janine’s shoulder.
“Mark!”

    She shoved past Janine and set her packages on the
table, then hugged Mark.
    “Entrez” he said affably to Janine.
    “How did you get in?” she asked suspiciously as she
set down her load.
    “He’s got a key, silly,” Rena answered. “But what are
you doing here? I thought you were going to be
working on math all day.”
    “I was, but I decided to take the two of you out to
dinner this evening.”
    “Where?” Rena demanded eagerly.
    “Oh, the Vietnamese place,” Mark replied, smiling
affectionately as he stroked Rena’s hair. “And
afterward I thought we could show your sister around
St. Michel and sample some Tunisian pastry.” He
turned to Janine. “Comment ca va?”
    “Ca va bien, “she replied tersely.
    “Oh, Mark!” Rena protested. “You shouldn’t have
teased Jenny like that, showing off your French!”
    “I thought she spoke French very well herself,” he
answered, “especially since you said she’s never been to
France before. But I’m sorry if it bothered you…Jenny, isn’t it?”
    “Janine, actually,” she said, thawing slightly.
    “Janine,” he repeated. “Well, I hope you like
Vietnamese food.”
    “I’ve never had it,” she replied, “but I suspect I will
like it. You’ll have to suggest what to order.”
    He nodded. Rena started putting the food away. “Sit
down, both of you,” she said. “Jenny is interested in
math, too, Mark.”
    “Oh?” he said politely.

    “I teach in the math department of a small
community college just outside of New York City.”
    “She might be interested in going to some of the
math talks at the university,” Rena interjected.
    “I hardly think she’d be interested or have the
background to understand them,” Mark said, somewhat condescendingly.
    Janine bristled. “Perhaps I should be the judge of
what sort of talks would or would not be appropriate.
Are there any in abstract algebra?”
    “Yes. Every Tuesday, but…”
    “Good. What time