A clear day
The previous day had been clear and luminous. When they rose in the morning, after a quiet night, Sarah saw through their room’s window, which opened on the distant vineyards, that a fine rain was falling on the hills. With Paul they came down for a light breakfast, and Paul explained what he had planned for the day. He suggested a visit to the cathedral, then after a bit of window shopping in the centre, they would meet his friend, Solange, for lunch. Solange was then in her last year of medical school, and she wanted to tell Paul what she was thinking of doing for her specialisation year.
Reims
For Paul it was an opportunity for Sarah and his friend to meet and get to know each other. Sarah was looking forward to meeting Solange at last. By the time they got on their way the rain had stopped and the sky was a pale autumn blue. Paul drove with dexterity through a labyrinth of small roads, and they finally reached the suburbs of Reims. Paul explained that the city had been reorganised under a new administration, as most other French cities. They could see the cathedral without scaffolding, a first in nearly a century of ceaseless ugly contraptions covering its façade. The traffic was light. Paul seemed to find his way easily around the centre, and parked the car in a small square not far from the church.
L’Ange au Sourire
Hand in hand they walked to the parvis. Reims was one of the most beautiful gothic French cathedrals, with Amiens, Paris Notre Dame, now restored to its glory, Chartres, Strasburg and Rouen. On the parvis Paul showed Sarah l’Ange au Sourire, which Sarah recognised as Julian had a picture of him and his study. The angel’s enigmatic smile had survived centuries of a violent history. His smile reminded Sarah of passionate moments with Julian. She looked at Paul, held his hand to her lips. They stood there a long time, as tourists walked by around them. Paul told his mother a summary of the church’s history. For Reims, with the basilica in Saint-Denis and Notre Dame in Paris, was deeply linked to the French monarchy. There Joan of Arc had escorted the future king to his coronation. There the fake emperor had placed the crown on Josephine’s head. The cathedral had miraculously escaped, with some damage, the heavy bombardment of 1915-16.
Julian’s writings
They spoke at length of the transformation of France and Europe since Paul’s childhood. A flood of images floated in Paul’s mind, and some of them puzzled him, for most of the views of this part of country were inspired by his readings of Julian’s writings, but some, appeared from nowhere, at least he thought so at first. But perhaps they were older, inspired by Julian’s unwritten dreams. As they left the cathedral, after a visit inside, Paul explained to Sarah how he had met Solange, in Kaliningrad. They walked around the central avenue. Paul’s account of his meeting with Solange resonated with Sarah, as she thought of her own meeting with a young Julian, in Berlin.
They stopped at one of the older brasseries in the centre for coffee. They talked again of their plan in Berlin. Would they travel straight there after their visit to Chalons? Paul looked at his watch, the time to meet Solange had come. Hand in hand they walked to the small restaurant he’d agreed to meet his friend. Sarah’s mind was both deep in anticipation but also some anxiety. They reached the place, walked in. They were led to a table in a comfortable and light small room, there a young red-haired woman was waiting.
Solange
Solange stood up, embraced Paul and then Sarah. She was a tall woman, overly dressed in a pale green dress, flat shoes, and a sober make-up that enhanced her luminous skin. Sarah realised who it was she reminded of immediately: a young woman Julian had presented her once, but then she could not recall her name. They sat down and the two young people exchanged news. Sarah noted how Solange’s eyes did not leave Paul’s face for some time, then the two of them spoke to each other. Soon Sarah was under Solange’s charm. The young doctor was explaining how she wished to specialise in pediatry, then the conversation moved to Berlin. Solange seemed aware of the place the city had in Paul’s family history.
A waiter came to take their orders. The menu was a magic blend of what Champagne, the country, has to offer. They toasted to Solange’s success, then to their friendship, then to the renewal of France, and to Germany. At once Sarah remembered the name of the girl Julian had presented to her: Melissa.
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