Happy People Read and Drink Coffee by Agnès Martin-Lugand Page B

out beside me and took me in his arms. I lost all sense of time. All I felt was emptiness.
    â€œI have to go,” Felix said. “I have to catch my plane. Do you want to come back with me?”
    â€œNo, I’m staying here.”
    â€œI’ll call you very soon.”
    I turned my back on him. He gave me a kiss. I didn’t respond. I could hear his footsteps. He silently closed the front door. I heard his car moving away. I was alone. And Colin and Clara had died a second time.
    For three days, I’d sat prostrate in an armchair in the living room. I kept pictures of Colin and Clara in my hands. Before going back to Dublin, Judith had come to say goodbye. She hadn’t found my wedding ring.
    When someone else started knocking at my door, I dragged my feet while going to answer it. Edward was standing there.
    â€œYou’re the last person I want to see,” I said, starting to shut the door.
    â€œWait,” he replied, keeping it open with his fist.
    â€œWhat do you want?”
    â€œTo give you this; I just found it in front of my house. It must have fallen off the other night. Here.”
    I couldn’t even move. I was staring at my wedding ring swaying in front of my eyes. Trembling, I reached out my hand. Tears ran down my face. Edward gently let go of the chain when I closed my hand around it. I threw myself into his arms, sobbing even harder. He stood there without reacting.
    â€œThank you . . . thank you, you can’t imagine . . .”
    All the tension that had built up in my body over the past few days was released all at once. I clung onto Edward as if he were a lifeline. My tears couldn’t stop flowing. I felt Edward’s hand stroking my hair. That simple touch calmed me down and made me realize whose arms I was in.
    â€œI’m sorry,” I said, moving slightly away from him.
    â€œYou should put it back on.”
    My hands were shaking so much that I couldn’t fasten it.
    â€œLet me help you.”
    He took the chain, opened it, and put his arms around my neck. My hand immediately found the ring, and I squeezed it with all my might. Edward stepped back, and for a few seconds, we stood there looking at each other.
    â€œI’ll leave you alone,” he said, passing his hand over his face.
    â€œCan I offer you something to drink?”
    â€œNo. I have work to do. Another time.”
    I didn’t even have time to reply before he was gone.
    I went to visit Abby and Jack to thank them for their help. They had been very discreet about the situation. Dealing with Judith when I spoke to her on the phone was another matter. She couldn’t understand why I hadn’t told her before. I got the feeling that she was more or less managing to control her curiosity. But I still hadn’t found the nerve to thank my neighbor the way I should.
    I was sitting on the beach in the fresh air when I saw Postman Pat trotting towards me. He came over so I could pet him, then curled up at my feet. He got there just at the right moment; I was starting to freeze and he was already warming me up.
    â€œTell me: do you think you could help me out? I don’t really know what to say to your master. He saved my life again and I don’t want to seem ungrateful. Any ideas?”
    He put his head between his paws and closed his eyes.
    â€œSo you’re no more talkative than he is, eh?”
    â€œHello,” said a hoarse voice behind me.
    How long had he been there?
    â€œHello.”
    â€œIf he’s annoying you, push him off.”
    â€œNo, quite the opposite.”
    Edward smiled a little. I was sure he’d heard everything. He bent down and put a bag on the ground. He took out a camera, lit a cigarette, and handed me the pack without saying a word. I took one and got up all my courage.
    â€œI wanted to thank you.”
    â€œThat’s OK.”
    â€œNo, I want to do something for you. Tell me what.”
    â€œYou’re stubborn.