Aubrey: Lost and Found (Continuing Dangerous Shoals)
By Atonia
Part 6
Jack was able to find lodging above a tavern and cleaned himself up as best he could. A good meal under his vest and he felt much better. He still didn’t have his former strength back but it would come, of that he had no doubt. He sat with a glass of port and thought about his meeting with Max that morning. Max had been angry with him and he supposed with good reason, but there was something else going on with Max too. He suspected it was Toni, Max had never got over losing her to Terry. He wondered if Max’s feelings for Connie would ever really take that away. It was possible to love two women, that he knew to be a fact for he did love Sophie.
Toni, he sighed and took a drink from his glass. The two weeks they’d spent sailing down the river to Marseilles had been magical. Yes he had flooded her, pushed out anyone but himself, but it had been worth it. She hadn’t complained about the inconveniences, the lack of food or anything. If he felt guilty for anything it was that he hadn’t been able to provide for her. And now he was awaiting the husband, his brother. He would find out what Terry’s feelings were from him without Max superimposing his own over what Terry felt. Terry had saved his life getting him out of that prison, and perhaps they were even now. He finished his drink and went upstairs looking forward to a bed to sleep in after the straw mattress he and Toni had shared in the boat.
Max took Toni shopping; she’d thrown her underwear away weeks ago and she only had her jeans and the black sweater she’d worn when Terry had rescued Jack. He bought what she needed to get back to the chateau where her luggage waited. Toni picked up some toiletries and a hairbrush. She’d worn her hair braided with Jack; it seemed the easiest thing to do.
Terry called back, it would be eight o’clock in the evening before they would be arriving, a long and frustrating day for him in Cherbourg following Maturin around through art galleries and museums. Max had arranged to stay another night, and called Connie to let her know what was going on. She was glad to hear Toni was back safe and sound. Max wasn’t sure how sound she was.
They were in his hotel room after lunch and Toni was brushing her hair.
“I’d never seen you in braids before.” He said flopping on the bed and pushing a pillow behind his back.
“Jack braided it, I had no shampoo and conditioner; I couldn’t keep it clean.”
“Could you have lived with Jack in that time, Toni, if he’d kept you?”
“He wasn’t going to keep me. I could have, but it would have been very difficult for me to get used to life there. I tried, I had no choice. The landlady gave me a bag of clothes left there by somebody and I washed them and had to wear them, I couldn’t wear a pair of jeans around.”
Max tilted his head, “I’d like to have seen you in period dress.”
“I didn’t have the proper under things to wear with the dresses, I probably looked rather wanton.”
“Did you feel that way, wanton?”
Toni put her brush down and moved up on the bed beside him, “What a question, Max; have you ever known me to be that way?”
“No, I don’t know why I said that.”
“Is that what you think of me now because I spent time with Jack? Was it a year ago I was with you, Terry, John and Jack; was I wanton then?”
“No,” he pushed hair over her shoulder, “you were and are lovely.”
“We aren’t like other people, Max, people we see on the streets; we haven’t lived their lives and nobody has lived ours. Don’t think bad thoughts about me Max, I don’t think I could stand that.”
“I don’t, Toni but I think about all the times I wanted to do what Jack did…and didn’t. I couldn’t bring myself to do that even at the Chateau when I asked and you said no, I could have taken you and you wouldn’t have known what hit you. Terry said he wouldn’t have minded.”
“You told him that?”
“Yes I did, maybe it’s because you were carrying his child. I love you, Toni but you aren’t mine anymore you belong to Terry and whether he minds or not I do. I don’t think that makes me better than anyone else.”
“You’re right there, you aren’t. I wouldn’t have minded either, Max. I wanted you in London, needed you. I’ve spent more time with you than anybody; we know each other inside and out. I spent that time with you because I loved you and still do, you think that stopped? Do you think I don’t remember? You come near me like you are now and the familiar scent of you stirs me.”
“Are you trying to seduce me?” He grinned.
“Would I have to try?”
“You are a dangerous woman, I wonder…does Terry know what he has?”
“Oh yes, he knows he’s responsible.”
“I’m going to kiss you.”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t”
Later he took her to dinner, and as they sipped their wine and perused the menu he wondered if she would tell Terry about their afternoon in his hotel room, she probably would but he knew he would not tell Connie. Not that he felt any guilt, and he was surprised that he didn’t he; would always be Toni’s season and he would be there for her when she needed him.
Back at the hotel Toni moved her things down the hall to a room Max had gotten for her and Terry. Max came with her, “I should go to the airport to pick them up?”
“A taxi would be faster and no parking problems, where is your car anyway?”
“In the underground garage. I don’t know if he will come straight here or meet with Jack.”
“Jack is probably in bed, Max.”
“This early?”
“It was quite a journey down the river especially for him. He still gets tired very easily.”
“Then we’ve got Maturin again tonight, I should find him a room too.”
“Maybe not, he may find Jack, wait and see.”
“Toni, thanks for this afternoon.”
“Don’t thank me, just don’t forget who we are.”
“Are you tired, should I leave you alone for awhile?”
“I’m tired but don’t leave me, it’s been a long day I was awake long before we met up with you.”
“Why don’t you sleep until Terry gets here.”
Toni did sleep and when she roused it was to hear Max on the phone, she dosed again, the door opened and closed, she felt the bed give way and when she opened her eyes she was looking into Terry’s eyes.
“Hello luv”
“Terry,” her arms went around his neck and pulled him down with her. “Oh honey…”
“I can’t breathe, Toni,” she let up on him a little, “You look good.”
“So do you, I’m so glad you’re here.”
He ran his hand down her body, “You’ve lost some weight, are you okay luv, really okay.”
“Yes, I want to go home with you.”
“I’m going to take you home, tomorrow we’ll go to Max’s for a couple of days and then, Toni we’re going home for a very long time. I love you.” He kissed her softly.
“I love you more.” Toni wasn’t aware Max was still there until he spoke.
“Terry, what did you do with Maturin?”
“He wanted to go for walk, maybe he’ll find Jack. I don’t know, I don’t care. I’m that tired of birds and beasts today.”
“I asked them to hold him a room, I’ll cancel it; if he shows up he can bunk with me.”
Terry shifted on the bed, “Max, thanks for looking after Toni for me today.”
Max met his eyes, he knew, “Sure, Terry it was a pleasure, I’ll leave you alone until morning.”
Just as Max had done the day before, Terry woke early and following his instinct made his way to the banks of the canal, there a little farther back in a clearing he saw Jack.
“You’re looking better than you were the last time I saw you.” Terry walked over to him.
“It was Toni that saw me through, cared for me and made me well again. How are you, Terry?”
“Better now that she’s back, don’t ever summon her again.”
“No, I will not. Had I not been so ill it wouldn’t have happened. You have been very generous with me, I don’t like to think I took advantage of that, but perhaps I did. Whatever you may think of me I would not give back the last two weeks I spent with her.”
“I wouldn’t have minded had you let me know what you were doing. I began to wonder if I had misjudged you. It was a chilling thought I had that you might not bring her back through to me.”
“She would not have allowed that, Terry, she is very strong and it was always her desire to go to Provence and so I brought her here. I have not thanked you for getting me out of that prison where I would have died in due course, I am in your debt.”
“We’re even, Jack let’s keep it that way. Is Maturin with you?”
“I left him at the tavern where I found lodging, we will take that little boat through the canal to the sea and find passage to England. Toni and I came down the river in that boat and it took us two weeks to get here. Think what you will of me.”
“We understand each other, Jack, I wish you a safe passage…brother.” He went to shake Jack’s hand and Jack hugged him.
“Thank you, Terry for everything.”
Terry untied the boat from the pylon and tossed Jack the rope, he watched him set the sail and move out into the misty canal. Looking up where the first hint of dawn paled the sky he smiled to himself, he’d not been wrong about that bond he shared with Toni.
He jogged back across the bridge to the hotel where she waited for him.