Trouble finding Blondie Read Online Free Page B

was born in Paris.
    “Paris suits you. You look chic.”
    “Well, if that was a compliment, thank you!”
    Andre already had a blanket spread out and basket full of food and wine. Luckily, Stephan and Aurelie had all the necessities for a picnic, like everybody in Paris.  
    “Voilà, je vous en prie Mademoiselle.”
    “Wow, I’m impressed. But I brought these, just in case,” she smiled.
    She pulled out cloth napkins and paper towels. They both started to laugh. It was like the good old times. He walked over and gave her a hug. She got scared but didn’t pull away. He wanted to tell her. He wanted to kiss her. He was afraid to.
    Baby steps. Remember, baby steps. It’s going well. Don’t screw this up! She is scared. Don’t freak her out. She would leave.
    He was hugging her, and was going to hold her until she pulled away. She didn’t.
    Oh, my God. How much I missed you! I miss holding you. I miss your smell. You are so tiny. I want to just keep hugging you. I want to keep my arms around you, to protect you. I want to be with you. Blondie, I know you can feel it. Please, just surrender. Let’s end this torture, please.
    The baby started to mumble. They both turned to the stroller. The hug was over.
    “Can I hold him?” Andre noticed her hesitation, but that didn’t stop him.
    “Rene, come on. I’m Andre. Oh my God, how cute are you?”
    “Andre, he gets freaked out by strangers, and he is really tired.”
    She was ready to take him, but something amazing happened. The baby grabbed Andre’s face, looked at him, freakishly eye to eye, then tapped his face with his tiny hands, and put his head down on his shoulder. They both looked at each other. Andre was in a happy go lucky mood, and Simona was shaking.
    “Did you see that? He likes me. Did you see that? We are buddies now.”
    “Where is the opener? I will open the wine.”
    While Andre was enjoying the baby, Simona was setting up the picnic, drinking wine to settle her nerves. The baby was falling asleep. Andre sat down, still holding the baby. Simona was going to grab him and put him into the stroller, but he made a protesting noise.   Andre laughed, holding him even tighter.
    The phone rang, and Simona looked at the number.
    “Shit! I forgot to call Jacques. Sorry, I have to take this.”
    She took the phone and walked away. Andre was still holding Rene. He took him off his shoulder   and put him into a swaddle position, looking at the peaceful sleeping baby in his cute pajamas. Simona finished the phone call in few minutes, apologizing to Jacques and rushed back. When she came close to the blanket, she was struck by the scene. She kneeled down and looked at Andre. He had tears in his eyes. There was nothing she could say. They both knew… He handed her the baby. When she sat down, the silence was heavy.
    “Who is Jacques?”
    “Hmmm?” That was not a question Simona was expecting. But ok, it was a much easier subject.
    “We are not going to play a game, who, where, what.....right? The orange Aston Martin ride from earlier today.”  
    “Alright, alright FBI. It’s a friend of a friend. We spent some weekends together in a group setting. He is very nice, and he likes cars. That’s all.”
    “Group setting? Elaborate, please.”
    “A group of people getting together for a weekend in the country side.”
    “You mean a ‘summer camp’ for adults?”  
    “That’s it. You are unbelievable and terrible.” She was laughing out loud.
    It lightened the mood, and they finally enjoyed the food, making bites for each other. It felt like years ago, on the floor in Haiku, on Maui. They both thought about the same thing and the mood started to feel melancholic.
    “You owe me an answer.”
    “I’m not sure if I have one. You didn’t like the one I gave you before. I needed a fresh start.”
    “We had plans for the future. We were talking babies. We were in love. What the hell happened?”
    “You said you met somebody.”
    “Hmmm?? What?