Page 63 of London
“It’s not the woo-woo. I’m not as impressionable as you might think. It’s just… There was something about her, about what she said, that just… stayed with me. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
A terrifying thought occurred to her. What if the warning meant she’d put Giovanni in danger by asking him to snoop into Jane Orwell’s computer? Since she hadn’t mentioned that to Gerard, she couldn’t very well do so now. Time to change the subject. She would go mad if she kept dwelling on this.
“Never mind. It’s silly. She was probably just a con artist trying to make a buck,” she said, making light of it. “If Mariana hadn’t chased her off, she might have.” She chuckled. “But we have more important things to discuss. What did you and Jean-Paul talk about today?”
Gerard turned on his back and drew her into his chest. His tired, satisfied sigh stirred Linda’s hair.
“I’m very happy we came here. I met some of Jean-Paul’s patients, we compared notes, and came up with a plan I think is brilliant—at least he thinks it is. By joining forces, we’re going to make a huge difference in people’s lives.”
Linda leaned on one elbow to look at him. The glint in his eyes was as triumphant as the optimism in his voice.
“You sound so confident. What’s the plan? Will Jean-Paul help you get the approval you need for your serum and his treatment?”
“He doesn’t need to. He’s given me the formula for it. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“What about getting approval from the MHRA and HOPE’s board of directors?”
“I’ve got a way to get around that. As I said, we have a plan. It’s a long story, so I’ll fill you in on the details tomorrow. Now, let’s get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us.”
He kissed her, guided her head back onto his shoulder, and pulled her closer to him.
Intrigued and restless, Linda lay there, not moving, not wanting to disturb him while her mind raced. Had asking her brother to hack Orwell’s computer been foolish and unnecessary? How did Gerard plan to get around all the red tape? She was uneasy and frustrated, wanting answers she knew she wouldn’t get tonight. Her mind still coming up with wild scenarios, she fell into a restless sleep.
The next morning, the neighbors’ infamous rooster woke them again. Who needed an alarm clock with that around? While they dressed and packed, Linda muttered in Italian, recalling all kinds of recipes whose main ingredient wasgallo, the feathered enemy. While to her countrymen, ceramic roosters might symbolize good fortune and good luck, believed to protect their owners from danger, the real ones were noisy troublemakers.
“Do you think we should buy that damn cock and take him home for Pirata? Wouldn’t he have fun with it?”
Gerard laughed, glanced out the window, then cocked an eyebrow.
“From the size of that beast, Pirata might well become his appetizer.”
After a delicious breakfast—Mariana insisting they eat well before hitting the road—they bid each other a sad farewell. Although the visit had been a short one, the two couples had formed a close bond. Despite the difference in age, nationality, and life style, they had so many things in common.
Teary-eyed, Linda hugged Mariana as the men loaded the bags into the backseat of the Jeep.
“Thanks again for the beautiful handmade items,” Linda said. “I’ll treasure them and give them a place of honor in my home.”
“They are a small part of my soul, given to a new friend,” Mariana answered, her voice filled with emotion.
Even Jean-Paul’s eyes were filled with an unusual brightness. He seemed older, not as tall as before, as if he’d lost something essential to his well-being.
Although the Battistes promised to visit London when time and money allowed, none of them truly believed they would ever see each other again.
“Remember what I told you,mon vieux. You’re strong and noble. Michèl would have been proud of you. I, for one, am damn proud. If Mariana and I had had children, I could only wish they would have been like you.”
Obviously touched, Gerard focused on the tips of his shoes before lifting his gaze to his old friend.
“Thank you, Jean-Paul, for everything. I mean it. We’ll talk soon. Take care of yourselves.”
He hugged him hard, then he embraced Mariana and kissed her. With a last regretful glance at his closest friends, he climbed into the car.
Linda swiped discretely at her tears. The parting between the men had seemed wrought with so much more emotion than she could understand.
Unlike the excitement that had accompanied their arrival, the return trip was tinged with sadness and regret that they’d had so little time to spend with their newfound friends. The only thing lifting their spirits was the knowledge that Gerard’s backpack contained a priceless treasure.
Gerard prepared to follow the same route out of the city that he had going in, but the fates weren’t in their favor.
“Damn!” Linda exclaimed. “There’s a detour up ahead.” She frowned. “I didn’t notice any construction yesterday or on the day we arrived.” She shook her head. “Typical. It’s the same thing in London. Clear sailing one day and then miles and miles of roadwork the next.”
