Rémi yawns. The day began early and has been punctuated by emergencies of every kind, as though the entire city had conspired to ask for bread, demand payment of an invoice or make a surprise inspection. The only reward is that the public health inspector is handsome and gives him very pretty looks. Rémi would gladly have locked him in the basement to discuss something other than the absence of rodent traces in his establishment.
“That was a fine piece of meat,” he tells Lucienne once the inspector has left.
“Your salad bar is full, but all you do is stare at the dessert tray!”
“A romantic occupational hazard, my dear.”
“You sure that’s love? Be real careful, my boy. Don’t play around with love or you’ll end up all alone.”
Rémi would like to tell her that he is already all alone anyway, that inside, nothing seems able to reach him, that it is cold, silent, almost beautiful, but frightening. Disconnected. Still, he yawns.
“No news from Victor?” Lucienne asks.
“No… He’ll come back eventually, and we’ll put our cards on the table.”
“I still don’t understand why this whole thing of yours dragged on.”
“Comfort, no doubt.”
Irène arrives around noon, when the bakery is packed. Since there is no room out front, Rémi makes a place for her beside him in the back while he busies himself preparing more sandwiches.
“Business seems good…”
“On that front, yes. And your Antonio?”
“Who?”
“Has he left already?”
“He is far too young for the word passion to have any substance in his mind. Especially when money is the main driving force behind the caresses…”
“Passion is a big word.”
She agrees with a cheerful sigh.
“So big that we find it very difficult to enjoy…”
“The gentleman wants three sandwiches on baguettes, ham, pickles and Dijon mustard!”
“Thank you, Lucienne!”
“Will you make me one?”
“The same thing?”
“Anything.”
After a pause during which she remains motionless, her head tilted back, Irène says happily:
“It’s nice here. Besides smelling good, something is happening.”
“Routine…”
“No, something else. Life insisting… The sandwich is good.”
“Naturally. There are only good things in it.”
“Do you like what you do?”
“It keeps me busy.”
“Be serious.”
“I am.”
“You should consider a simpler happiness.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Trust a blind woman who sees everything.”
“Rémi!” Lucienne calls. “You got a visitor!”
Rémi wipes his hands on his apron, but the visitor comes to him. Stéphane.
“Well, I recognize the scent of a charming knight,” Irène says, amused. “I should settle in here more often; it would give me ideas for an erotic bakery novel.”
“Hello!” Stéphane says.
“Hello, handsome.”
Stéphane approaches him.
“Don’t I get a kiss?”
“Pretend I’m not here,” Irène declares. “I’m like a mole feeling its way.”
“Go kiss the lady instead, you rude man.”
Stéphane obeys.
“This man smells wonderful,” Irène says.
Rémi accepts a brief kiss, more a delicate bite to his upper lip.
“You didn’t call me last night.”
“I wanted to, but I’d forgotten your phone number here. I’m sorry.”
“Will I see you tonight?”
“Yes, that would be a good idea.”
“I can take care of Lucienne if that would make things easier for you.”
“Rémi, we got company!”
Luc pushes aside the curtain to the back room, followed by an overexcited Lucienne.
“Oh, sorry, I thought you were alone.”
“It’s all right, Luc. You know Irène; this is Stéphane.”
“Labour has started!” Lucienne exclaims.
Luc confirms it:
“It’ll be today or tomorrow!”
“Oh, beautiful babies, beautiful babies!” Lucienne cries.
“They haven’t been born yet,” Luc replies.
“But you know very well they’re gonna be beautiful. You’re both beautiful!”
“She’s already on her way to the hospital. Victor is taking her. Since the hospital isn’t far from here, I thought I’d let you know. I have to run. I’ll call you!”
Luc scurries off as quickly as he arrived. Lucienne claps her hands.
“This is so exciting!”
Rémi watches Luc leave, a sharp point of jealousy driven into his heart. Irène sits down again. Rémi notices the sour smile that seems to betray her bitterness. He approaches and whispers:
“Are you all right?”
She reassures him with a slight nod. A customer enters. Lucienne returns to the front. Rémi smiles at Stéphane, who is looking around.
“Need an employee?” Stéphane asks. “Assistant baker by day, escort by night?”
“That is already far too complicated for our friend,” Irène suggests wearily.
Rémi bends towards her.
“You don’t feel well?”
“I’m fine. Just a wave of sadness. Both of you, give me your hand.”
She brings the two men together as though preparing to marry them. She rises.
“Take care of each other. Happiness is a fragile plant.”
She leaves the room.
“Would you like to go to the cinema with me tonight, Lucienne?”
“The cinema? But…”
Irène bursts out laughing.
Rémi misses the rest of the conversation, so insistent is Stéphane’s gaze.