Stella hooked arms with her. “Where’s your famous adventurous spirit?”
Back on the bus, Caroline described their next stop. “Honfleur is one of the most romantic port towns along this coast. Impressionists in the nineteenth century were drawn there because of the striking light conditions. And it wasn’t destroyed by bombs in World War II, making it an even more popular location for artists and tourists.
“Once there, we’ll first stop at the Côte de Grâce lookout, where you will have a breathtaking view of Honfleur and the Seine estuary. Afterward, François will take us to the Vieux Bassin, the Old Port, where we’ll have an authentic Norman lunch before we explore the old streets.”
“I hope they serve beer with lunch. All this walking makes me thirsty,” came the voice of the unpleasant man. “I could do with a nice, cold can of Bud.”
Again, Caroline proved to be a professional and didn’t allow the man to bait her.
When they reached the viewing point, Naomi said, “The scenery isn’t quite as breathtaking as Caroline described it. That huge bridge and the freight cranes in the harbor are spoiling the view. But,” she pointed behind them, “let’s go check out this chapel.”
Together they walked to an ancient building made of brown stone. It looked kind of squashed, as if someone once sat down on it.
“The poor thing. It succumbed to the weight of the world,” Stella said.
As soon as they stepped inside, Naomi exclaimed, “Flapping sails!”
Stella reached for a brochure. “The Chapel of Notre Dame de Grâce was built in the early 1600s and is dedicated to sailors and seamen. I guess it explains the boats and images of ships everywhere. Look,” she pointed to a glass window, “even there. I think I’ve seen enough in here.”
As they strolled back to the bus, bells starting ringing. Stella stopped walking and turned around.
“Naomi, look. All the bells are visible behind weathered beams. I wonder why it’s next to the church? Aren’t bell towers always the highest part of the building?”
Caroline approached them, “The bells would be too heavy for the old church and required a more solid foundation. They are called the pilgrimage bells. Missionaries and other travelers who were leaving for the New World came here to pray for a safe crossing. Isn’t their sound one of the loveliest you’ve ever heard? I want to bring every couple who books one of our tours to this spot and let them find peace and tranquility.”
Tranquility, Stella thought. Exactly what I’m looking for.
After a simple but delicious meal of fresh seafood, sitting around a long table, Caroline said, “I think this is a good moment for everyone to introduce themselves.”
One by one, each shared a little bit of their background. Besides François, Caroline, Stella, and Naomi, they also heard from Karen and Jenna, sisters whose family owned a travel agency with several offices in different cities.
Andrew and Sarah were the couple who didn’t seem to be able to stop holding hands and gazing at each other. Stella wanted to get to know them better.
Susan and Lynn were friends who owned a travel agency together. Both were married and had families, but enjoyed going on promotional trips together. Susan said, “Because it’s part of our business,” and Lynn added, “And it gives us some girl time!”
Steve and Linda were a married couple in their sixties.
John and Michael were a couple in their mid- to late thirties. They were so fit, tanned and outdoorsy-looking, Stella never would’ve guessed they were running a travel agency.
And lastly, there was Harry and Julia. The unpleasant guy and the younger woman. When it was their turn to introduce themselves, he informed the group, “I’m Harry. My wife, Emily, owns our travel agency, and I’m a silent partner, but she couldn’t come on this trip. Our oldest son crossed paths with a truck not long ago and now he needs surgery.”
Stella noticed Julia was shaking her head, and even opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again.
Harry went on in his squeaky voice, “I told her to let him deal with it by himself. But poor Emily is too soft and thinks the kids still need her fretting over them, so she told me to go on this trip in her place. Lucky Julia, here,” he patted her hand, which she snatched back and moved as far away as she could without falling off the wooden bench, “is my wife’s friend and her accountant. When Em dropped out, we didn’t want Julia to miss out, too. And she had something else to do in France. What are you here for again?” He looked at her but rattled on without waiting, “It’s not important, eh?”
“Poor Emily should have let Lucky Julia go by herself,” Naomi whispered to Stella. “He reminds me of someone, I just can’t place him yet.”
“And is this what you thought their story would be?”
“Not quite, but I would like to ask her why she agreed to come. She clearly doesn’t like him.”
“Well, he said she had other business in France. And maybe she hoped being part of a group would keep him from acting like an asshole.”
“Assholes don’t change.” Naomi said, and grimaced. “I know one thing for sure, though. I don’t like him.”
CHAPTER 17
Stella—July 2018
“A
ll right, are you tired yet?” Caroline asked once they were on the bus again.
There were a few “yes’s” and a few more “no’s,” and Caroline said. “Having just seen the dreamy town of Honfleur, can you imagine your couples spending a day or two here? Having their photos taken with the harbor in the background? The red and orange sunshades, the shimmering water and the white boats in the port?”
“Marriage is so overrated.” Harry piped up, but no one reacted.
“I’m
