Chapter 17

Theo tried to catch up on all her work before Mike arrived. She was buying for fall and winter for Theo.com, and trying to solve a problem with one of Matthieu’s brands. It was what she always did, and had done for a long time, but she was feeling excited about it these days, and wanted to put new life into their brands.

She finished the last of her big projects the night before he arrived. She felt liberated, and he had told her he wanted to go back to Deauville and walk along the ocean with her. He was feeling a rebirth too. After almost dying from his gunshot wound, every day seemed more precious, everything looked beautiful and vibrant to him, and he couldn’t wait to do things with Theo that he had put off for too long. Venice, Rome, or wherever she wanted to go. There was so much they could do together, and she said she wanted to too.

He had lunch with Fiona before he left, and she was carrying the purse Theo had given her. She loved it, and told him what a fantastic person Theo was. He told her the story of how she had lost Matthieu and Axel. Fiona was sobered by it and felt deep compassion for her.

“How do you live past something like that? How do you wake up every day and keep going, and find meaning in life?”

“I don’t know,” he said, “but somehow she does. She’s a powerhouse, always full of new ideas and things she wants to create. She has an amazing head for business, and a vision of things. She can make something out of nothing. I’ve seen her take empty spaces and turn them into magic with a roll of fabric and a staple gun. She’s an inspiration.”

Fiona talked about her own relationship with Ian. “I don’t even know why it works. He drives me nuts some of the time, but the rest of the time I think he’s fantastic. He’s a terrific artist, and he thinks I am too. We’ve been thinking about going to city hall one of these days and getting married, but I’m afraid it’ll ruin everything.”

“Why? Because Mom and Dad were such a mess? That was them. This is you. Don’t let that stop you from leading a life, Fi. Marry him if you want to. You’ve been together for fifteen years.”

“I know. Isn’t that ridiculous?” she laughed. “It shows an epic lack of imagination on both our parts. We’ve never even cheated on each other. That’s pathetic.”

He laughed at his sister’s view of things, but he loved her, as funny and odd as she was.

“Don’t get married until I can give you away,” he called down the subway steps after her and she turned back and laughed.