Barbara McMahon - French Escape

The boy nodded, excitement shining in his eyes.

Matt pointed out rocky protuberances they could use, some sturdy plants, some suspect. Cracks where a foot would find purchase.

Matt rose and looked at Jeanne-Marie. “Any questions?”

“Nope, I’m good to go.”

“You’re climbing? I thought you just wanted to observe.”

“I’ve been listening. I think I can master this. Maybe I’ll find out what all the fuss is about. Like you said, if Alexandre and I have activities in common, we might draw closer.”

“Then follow us up. I want to stay near him.”

Matt had Alexandre go first. Pointing out handholds and where to put his feet, Matt never was more than a foot or two away from him. Close enough to help out if anything went wrong. Close enough to catch him if the child slipped, yet giving him enough space that Alexandre would think he was doing it all on his own.

Alexandre followed Matt’s instructions, climbing up the steep incline slowly and methodically.

Jeanne-Marie waited until they were well ahead and then she began her own ascent, looking ahead like Matt had instructed. It was actually fun to be going from one rock or knob to another, almost like climbing a ladder. The rock was warm beneath her fingers, the sun hot on her head. After a few feet she felt a spark of elation. She had hated the thought of this for so long, but found it was enjoyable. Another place to stand, reach up, hold on and step up.

She might never want to go up a sheer cliff or climb a mountain, but for a gentle scramble, this was turning out much better than she had expected.

“Mama, I’m climbing!” Alexandre called, looking over his shoulder to her.

“Pay attention, Alexandre,” Matt said. “Looking around can cause a distraction. Focus on the rocks.”

“Okay.” He climbed some more and finally reached a wide ledge. Climbing over to sit on the flat portion, he grinned as Matt joined him. “I did it. I climbed!”

“Yes, you did a great job.”

Jeanne-Marie reached the ledge, looking at the two satisfied males sitting there. “I did it, too,” she said, scrambling onto the ledge. It was over a dozen feet long and at least six feet from lip to back wall. A shallow cave seemed carved out behind them. Looking up, the next stage of cliff was steeper.

She sat on the edge, letting her feet dangle. They’d come almost thirty feet. Not a huge distance, but she was grateful for the attention Matt gave her son. “This is fabulous. Look how far we can see, almost to Africa.” She looked at Matt. “I can’t thank you enough. I can almost see what drives climbers.”

He nodded. “The more familiar you become, the more you want a bit more of a challenge.”

“Maybe. But for now, this suits me perfectly. Alexandre, you did so well! You’ll have to tell your grand-père. He’ll be proud of you.”

“Maybe he will take me climbing.”

“I bet he will.” She thought about how he’d lost heart after Phillipe’s death. But a gentle hill like this one would be perfect for him to spend time with Alexandre.

“Now are we climbing to the top?” Alexandre asked, jumping up and looking toward the rim.

“NOT TODAY. We still have to get back down, and it’s harder,” Matt said. “You have to feel for your toeholds, because you can’t see like you can going up.”

Alexandre went near the edge and looked over. Matt casually reached out his hand and took hold of the child’s arm. “Not too close,” he said.

Jeanne-Marie felt another wave of gratitude toward the man. He was patient and alert. She knew Alexandre was safe around him. And this climb had opened her eyes about a lot of things.

In thinking about Phillipe, she knew he’d never have been as patient. He hadn’t been with her. Would he have pushed Alexandre beyond what he was capable of? Or left him behind because he wasn’t as skilled? Would he have taken time to teach him?

The trip back down was harder. Matt went first, and then coached Alexandre. When Jeanne-Marie looked over to try to plan her descent, she couldn’t remember the way she’d come up. It looked steeper than it had coming up. Now she wasn’t sure where she could find a toehold or how to make it down without falling.

“You’ll do fine. Start a little to your left,” Matt called up. He and Alexandre were about fifteen feet below her and to the left. She picked out a couple of places to start and eased over the edge. Reaching down for a foothold, she felt a rock. Slowly she eased her weight on it. It held. Whooshing a breath, she held on with her hands and stretched her other foot lower, moving it back and forth, trying to find a rock.

“Try a bit lower,” he called.

She found the rock.

It was slow going and her arms and legs were trembling by the time she reached the bottom. But she’d made it, thanks to Matt’s prompting the entire way.

Sitting down on a nearby rock, she wrapped her arms across her chest, hoping they’d feel normal in a bit.

“Wow. It’s lots harder going down,” she said.

“You did fine. So did Alexandre.”

“But only because you were here. I might have made it up okay, but I don’t think I ever would have made it down on my own.”

“Sure you would. It takes practice.”

“And a lot of strength. My arms and legs feel like wet noodles.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot about that.” He grinned.

Jeanne-Marie stared at him. He looked ten years younger. It was the first time she’d seen him amused and it made her heart flip over. He was gorgeous. Sadness had robbed him of joy, she knew. But today, going with them, perhaps he’d forgotten for a short time and could enjoy the moment. His eyes crinkled slightly, his teeth shone white against his tan. She could stare at him all day long!

“It was fun, Mama,” Alexandre said, jumping up and down. “Can we do it again?”

“Another day. If I live through this one,” she murmured.

“We’ll walk back to the car and you can rest there.”

“Smart move, bringing the car. I don’t think I could have made it all the way home otherwise,” she said, struggling to stand.

Matt offered his hand and she took it. He pulled her to her feet and gave her hand a quick squeeze. Another flip-flop of her heart. She looked away lest he think she was an idiot. Slowly she started walking to the car. This had been a special day. She had learned more about herself and about the patience some men had. Not that it changed the way she felt about Phillipe, but it did raise questions she’d never thought about. He’d been a man with foibles and drawbacks like any other. Dying young didn’t confer perfection.

Saturday dawned a beautiful day. The sky was crystal clear, the temperature moderate and the light breeze steady from the sea. Jeanne-Marie felt a sense of excitement and anticipation she had not experienced in years. She tried to downplay the climb, but it was all she could think about. She shouldn’t become involved with anyone, especially a guest who was only staying a couple more days. There was no future in that. But she was still struck by his kindness to her son, and his care of her on the face of the rock.

She’d put the thought of his kiss firmly away. It had been a grateful father’s gesture for listening to him talk about his son. Nothing romantic about it. At least not on his part. She would not embarrass herself by making more of it than he had intended.

Today she and Alexandre would spend the day with Michelle and her family, exploring all the booths of the fete, enjoying the parade and ending up in the evening sitting on the veranda to watch the fireworks that exploded over the sea, doubling the enjoyment with the reflections on the water.