'Hello, Beau.'
We laughed and then he gathered himself into a more serious demeanor, pulling his shoulders back and tightening his lips.
'I'm glad I've found you alone. I wanted to explain what happened, why I left so quickly when your pregnancy was discovered,' he began.
'I don't demand explanations,' I said, turning away.
'It wasn't the act of a southern gentleman . . . to leave the woman he loved in the lurch. I was a coward, short and simple. My parents were overwrought. My mother was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She thought everyone in New Orleans would learn of the scandal and their lives would be ruined. I never saw my father that low.
'Then they met with Daphne and she assured them she would take care of the problem if they would have me sent off immediately. I tried to call you before I left, but I couldn't get through. I was practically led off in shackles. In hours they arranged for the transportation, the air tickets, the school, my Paris apartment.
'I had nothing of my own at the time. I was completely dependent upon my parents. If I had defied them, they would have surely disowned me, and what could I have done for you, for us and a baby?
'I admit, I was afraid. Before I knew what I was doing and what was happening to me, I was over the Atlantic Ocean. My parents forbade me to have anything more to do with you, but I sent you letters in the beginning. Did you receive any?'
'No,' I said, shooting a quick glance at him. 'I was no longer here, and Daphne wouldn't have made any effort to save them or have them forwarded to me.'
'I never ran out on any of my responsibilities before,' he said. 'Everyone, my parents, Daphne, everyone assured me that things would be all right with you.'
I looked at him. 'All right?' I almost laughed, remembering.
Pain flashed in his eyes. 'What did happen?' he asked softly.
'Daphne sent me to have an abortion in some back-room clinic. Once I set eyes on the place, I realized what I was doing and ran off, back to the bayou.'
'Where you gave birth to . . .'
'Pearl. She's a beautiful child, Beau.'
'And where you got married?'
'Yes.'
He lowered his eyes. 'When I heard you had married, I decided to stay on in Europe. The truth was, I didn't want to ever come home again. But,' he said with a sigh, 'that wasn't realistic. Then Gisselle arrived.' He smiled. 'She's changed, hasn't she?' he asked, hoping for my agreement. 'I think she's finally growing up, maturing. Terrible events like this drag you kicking and screaming out of childhood. She knows she's got to be a responsible person now. She has a fortune to oversee, business interests.'
'I understand you've been a great help so far,' I said. 'I'm doing what I can. Have you seen Bruce?' he asked.
'Yes. Whatever happens to him is only just,' I said. 'Don't worry. I'll make sure he doesn't get a penny more than he's supposed to get,' he promised.
'Money isn't that important to me anymore, eau. Actually, it never was as important to me as it was to Gisselle.'
'I know. I saw the write-up on you in the paper. Do you have a studio like this?'
'Yes, but with magnificent views of the canals. It's in the attic of our house,' I said.
'It sounds wonderful. Gisselle has kept me up-to-date on everything, and from the way she describes . . . what do you call it, Cypress Woods?' I nodded. 'From the way she describes it, it sounds like utopia.'
'I was always happier in the bayou, surrounded by natural things. That was all too much a part of me, of who and what I was, for me to ever give them up.'
'Even for me?' he asked softly. His eyes shone brilliantly with unused tears.
'Beau . . .'
'It's all right. I'm being unfair. I have no right to ask or demand anything from you. You have a right to despise me for leaving you. Nothing that's happened to me or will happen is undeserved,' he said.
'We were both at fault, Beau, and both victims of a cruel fate,' I replied softly. We stared into each other's eyes, drawing each other closer.
'Ruby,' he whispered. He started to reach for me when Gisselle burst into the studio.
'So here you are,' she shrilled. 'I should have known you would find her. Stevens told me you had come, and when I couldn't find you in the office or living room, I just asked myself, where would he go?'
'Hi, Gisselle,' he said. She lunged at him and kissed him fully on the lips, her eyes opened and turned toward me as she did so. 'I missed you this morning,' she said after she pulled her mouth from his. 'When did you leave?'
Beau blushed. 'Early. You knew I had to meet with your attorneys.'
'Oh. Right. My brain is like a bowl of scrambled eggs today. Well, you might as well tell us what you discussed and what we have to do,' she said. 'Let's all go to the office and talk.' She took Beau's hand and, very full of herself, smiled at me. 'All right, Ruby?'
'Fine,' I said, and followed them out.
