“Not tonight.”
“Then yes.”
The trouble arrived twenty minutes later.
Célestine’s former boyfriend, Étienne Delmas, appeared at the café with a woman she recognised from his office.
They had ended their relationship almost a year earlier.
Étienne had been charming when he wanted something and quietly dismissive whenever Célestine wanted anything for herself.
He had recently become engaged.
His new fiancée was beautiful, polished, and clearly enjoying the evening.
Étienne spotted Célestine.
“Célestine?”
She closed her eyes briefly.
“Wonderful.”
Alaric looked up.
“Someone you know?”
“Unfortunately.”
Étienne approached.
“What a surprise.”
“Hello, Étienne.”
His gaze moved toward Alaric.
“And who’s this?”
Célestine opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Étienne’s fiancée smiled politely.
“Are you here alone?”
Célestine felt an old, familiar embarrassment rise in her chest.
She could almost hear Étienne telling his friends how she still hadn’t found a proper job, how she lived in a small rented flat, how she’d always been sentimental about impractical things.
Before she could stop herself, she reached for Alaric’s hand.
“My boyfriend.”
Alaric looked at their joined hands.
Then at her.
Célestine smiled with the quiet desperation of a woman asking a stranger to cooperate in a completely unreasonable performance.
Alaric considered the situation.
Then he turned toward Étienne.
“Alaric von Eltz.”
His handshake was perfectly polite.
His expression suggested he had already found Étienne mildly disappointing.
Étienne introduced himself.
“How long have you two been together?”
Alaric answered before Célestine could.
“Long enough.”
Célestine almost laughed.
Étienne looked surprised.
“Well. Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Alaric said.
The conversation lasted another minute.
When Étienne finally left, Célestine released Alaric’s hand.
“I’m so sorry.”
Alaric took a sip of his drink.
“For the relationship or the coffee?”
“Both.”
“I’ve survived worse evenings.”
She studied him.
“Why did you help me?”
He looked toward the street.
“Because you looked as though you needed someone on your side.”
For a moment, Célestine forgot how to answer.
Then she smiled.
“That’s a rather dangerous thing to say to a woman you’ve just met.”
Alaric met her eyes.
“Is it?”
The fireworks began shortly before midnight.
They stood on a terrace overlooking the harbour.
The crowd had gathered near the waterfront, but their small corner remained relatively quiet.
Red and gold light burst above the Mediterranean.
Célestine leaned against the stone railing.
“Do you believe people can meet at the wrong time?” she asked.
Alaric glanced at her.
“That’s an unusually serious question for someone who spent dinner making fun of my profession.”
“I’m capable of depth.”
“I’ve noticed.”
She smiled.
Then looked back toward the fireworks.
“I suppose sometimes life gets complicated.”
“Usually.”
“And sometimes you meet someone you might have liked under different circumstances.”
Alaric was quiet for a moment.
Then he said, “Perhaps the circumstances aren’t always as important as we think.”
She turned toward him.
He was closer than she’d realised.
