Capturing Paris by Katharine Davis Page B

your sister about buying some of her quilts,” she said. She tilted her head so that her hair brushed across Wesley’s hand. “I have several clients who might be interested.”
    â€œI’ll put Madeleine in touch with you,” Wesley said. “I’ll probably be seeing her soon anyway. I’m going to the States right after the holidays.” Wesley removed his hand from her shoulder and reached for Tom’s glass.
    â€œI think Tom’s already enjoyed too much of your winning wine,” Mary said, forcing a quick laugh. The lines across her forehead deepened. Tom had downed several large glasses of Scotch before dinner. Wesley hesitated but Tom lifted his glass defiantly.
    â€œI’ll be the judge of that,”Tom said. Mary said nothing, but Annie could see the tension in her jaw. Wesley filled his glass and, after serving the others, returned to his place at the head of the table.
    â€œ Qu’est-ce que tu dis ? What are you saying?” Georges asked. “Did I hear something about going to America?” He looked over his glasses at his friend.
    Annie rested her fork on the side of her plate. The beef was too rare and difficult to chew. It had needed more time in the oven. She glanced at Wesley; he smiled, met her gaze, and looked away.
    â€œI’m going to Washington to see about a job.” Wesley spoke easily, as if going to America to interview for a job were an everyday occurrence. “I’ll probably stop in New York on the way home.” He looked down the table at Daphne. “Madeleine lives an hour outside the city.”
    â€œWhat job is this?” Georges asked. “Have you some kind of news?”
    Céleste had stopped eating and looked at Annie as if she should have forewarned her of information of this magnitude. Everyone stopped talking and looked expectantly at Wesley.
    â€œI’m going over for the last round of interviews.” He told them about the job, what he would be doing for the firm in Washington, and how important the move was for his career. He sounded sure of himself, sure that he would get the offer. Annie couldn’t believe he was telling everyone now. It wasn’t like Wesley to speak prematurely about such a major decision.
    â€œBut can you not work for them in Paris?” Georges asked. “Continue in your office here?”
    â€œI’ll still travel to Paris, but they need me there, based in the home office,” he explained.
    â€œBut Wesley, mon chéri , how can you leave Paris?” Céleste asked with earnest concern. “You and Annie are like our family.”
    â€œWe’ll still be like family. You and Georges can come over and visit, and we’ll come back as well.”
    â€œMy, this is big news,” Daphne said. She gave Annie a strange look, as though Annie had misled her in some way.
    Annie felt the evening going sour. The candlesticks dripped globules of wax, some of which pooled on the quilt-covered table. The roses, now fully open, dropped spent petals, but she could not smell their hothouse scent or taste the dinner that cooled before her.
    â€œSounds like a great opportunity to me,” Tom said. His speech slurred and his eyelids drooped. Mary glared across the table at her husband. “Looks like you’ll have to find a new assistant, Mary.” He slumped in his chair.
    â€œThat’s just one of my problems,” his wife said flatly
    â€œWe will miss you, my dears,” Céleste said, having regained her composure. “Georges said the other day we need to start to travel more. So you can be sure we’ll come to see you.”
    â€œOf course,” Georges said. “Your career is important. We must become accustomed to this.” He looked around the table in a paternal manner as if it was everyone’s duty to pull together and support their friends. Céleste agreed with Georges that Wesley’s job was certainly the