Guillaume, Her French Husband

Chapter 9

Guillaume

The car was generally silent as Guillaume drove to the airport. He had so much to say but at the same time, he had absolutely nothing to say at all. All he could do was reach across the shifter and hold her hand. Maybe a little too tightly but at that moment, it didn’t matter. All he wanted to do was pull over and just hold her. He could not believe that he had made such a strong connection with a woman in such a short time. Considering that he was not the commitment kind of man. After all, he was usually all about the physical.

Step one: Identify the mark (read girl).

Step two: Get the girl.

Step three: Bang one out.

And finally, step four, lose her number. Okay, maybe keep it in case she was all that.

When he finally got to Charles de Gaulle, he parked the car. He looked at her and forced out a smile.

“Well, we’re here,” she said in a soft voice. “The Charles de Gaulle airport. The end of the road.”

“Don’t say that, mon amour,” Guillaume said in a soft voice and Myka cleared her throat loudly.

“I’ll just get the bags out,” she said before she quickly got out of the car.

“This is hard for me, you know,” Lara said without looking at him. “I haven’t felt like this in a long time. A really, really long time and just leaving after all that time…” she never got a chance to finish what she was saying. Guillaume leaned in and kissed her deeply, swallowing her words. He held the back of her neck and worked his tongue into her mouth, gently caressing her own. She was practically breathless by the time he finally pulled away from her.

“You are not making it any easier, baby,” she said in a whisper as he gently pushed the stray strands of her hair off her face.

“I don’t want you to forget me in the few weeks I will still be stuck here,” he said smiling.

“This is all so weird, you know,” Lara started as she leaned her forehead against his own. “I came out here for a job and now I am leaving as an engaged woman.”

He laughed.

“That is not such a bad thing, huh?” he asked and she shook her head.

“I guess not,” she said, forcing out a laugh. “I just need to get used to the idea. That’s all.”

He stroked her cheek.

“Post production is not going to take long. Just two or three weeks tops and then I will be back in America to hold you in my arms once again. And besides, we will talk as often as we can…Skype, text.”

She nodded.

“Yeah, I guess we can do that.”

He leaned in again and gave her another kiss.

“Come on. I don’t want you to miss your flight,” he said and she nodded.

“Okay,” she said in a soft voice.

She brushed off the tear that had begun rolling down her cheek as he got out of the car and walked around to her side of the car. He opened the door for her and helped her out.

He slipped an arm around her and they walked to the terminal. Again, in complete silence with Myka pushing the luggage trolley in front of them. He turned to look at Myka when they got to the gate.

“I guess this is where I make my stop,” Guillaume said and she nodded.

“Everything about this has been absolutely awesome… I cannot wait for the film to hit the screens,” Myka said smiling. “Thanks for this…for having me.”

“Well, I could not very well have one sister without the other, now could I?” Guillaume said as she said in a soft voice. “And besides, meeting you was an absolute pleasure.”

“I think I might have a new interest in film…something I never thought I had,” Myka said excitedly.

“Well, don’t you dare give up on that music talent. I’ve heard you sing and I think you could very well do both,” Guillaume pointed out.

Myka turned to look at her sister who was smiling, her arms crossed over her chest.

“A lot of people are doing it, you know. Even at home,” Lara pointed out.

“Isn’t that how those musical drama shows were born?” Guillaume asked and Myka nodded. “By the way, I will never know how to thank you for introducing me to that show Empire. By God, I cannot get enough of it. It’s so different. So raw…so dramatic and the music…” his voice trailed off as Myka nodded.

“I hate to say I told you so but I did.”

Guillaume pulled her into his arms and held her in a delicate hug before he kissed her cheek softly.

“You will take care of her for me, won’t you?” he asked and she nodded.

“You can count on me,” she said before she looked at Lara. “I’ll just give you guys a minute.”

“Thanks, Myka,” Lara said in a soft voice as Guillaume took Lara’s hands in his.

“You are going to call me as soon as you get to LAX, right?” he asked and she nodded.

“Of course.”

“But I think life is going to be slightly different now that news that I am starring in the latest romantic film by Guillaume Laurent got leaked to the tabloids,” Lara said matter of factly.

“Well, it is not like you are still working as a hostess in that restaurant or anything,” he said and she shrugged.

“Yeah I guess not but I will be helping Ashley out at The Broken Elbow.” She sighed. “I need to keep busy.”

“Then if you’re keeping busy, you will barely notice the time fly by.”

She forced a smile again before he pulled her close and held her tightly.

“Je t’aime, mon amour,” he said in a whisper and she smiled.

“I love you too,” she whispered back. “I’ll miss you.”

“Me or the food?” he asked. She laughed and bit her lower lip.

“The duck confit and coq au vin will definitely be missed.” She ran her fingers through his thick hair. “But I will miss you too. More than you know.”

“Cherie…” he mumbled before he pulled away and gently kissed her forehead.

“Now go on before I am forced to get you right back in that car and have my way with you,” he said in a whisper and she smiled. “Call me,” he mouthed to her as she walked up to where Myka was.

She looked over her shoulder as she and Myka slowly made their way towards the gate before she turned her head to look forward. And as he stood there looking at them going, Guillaume could feel his heart breaking. It was only a few weeks but having spent the last two and a half months together, almost every waking moment together, he knew that it was going to be hard being without her for the next few weeks. He walked back to the car and sighed loudly as he started the car and then drove out of the airport parking lot.

*****

Lara

By the time Lara and Myka were getting back to LAX, it was a little after four in the morning and thankfully there were not too many people on the floor. But she still saw a number of people sneaking photos on their phones: something she would never really get used to. It was a welcome relief when she finally climbed into Ashley’s car.

“Sorry about the baby seat,” Ashley said as she got into the driver’s seat after packing the suitcases into the trunk of her SUV. “I got the dates mixed up and I had this whole last minute running around day today…I mean yesterday.”

Lara forced a smile.

“I didn’t sleep until after midnight and it was just a power nap so I wouldn’t be late coming for you guys.”

“Thanks for making the time either way. I’m sure it hasn’t been easy being all on your own at the bar,” Lara pointed out.