Evening
They take a walk on the lake front, and then retire to the apartment for coffee and more wine. This is now the second half of June, and, with the long days, there is plenty of light on the balcony. Paul opens the photo guide Sarah gave him. He knows this book, which used to belong to Julian, he finds Sarah’ list, and decides to study it the next day. Browsing through the pages, he notices another piece of paper, apparently a letter, addressed to Julian. Paul decides to leave that too for inspection the next day. They open a bottle of dry Rhein wine, and continue the conversation into the late evening. Solange and Phillip speak about her studies, and how she will soon graduate in paediatrics at La Charité. Paul feels proud of Solange, her achievements, her ability to adapt to her new life in the city. Sarah says they both hope to continue to see them regularly, even if they are likely to live in France. Paul is not surprised, other than perhaps wonder who she will put in charge of her UK business, but decides to discuss this later with his mother.
It is now getting darker, the moon crescent is high behind small evanescent clouds. They wish good night, Sarah and Phillip quickly disappearing in their room. Solange and Paul start kissing on the sofa. She drags him to their room and they make love for the next two hours, eventually falling asleep.
Morning
In the morning Paul makes coffee and starts looking at Sarah’s list. He recognises some names, people Sarah and him met in London or Berlin, and a few known to him as Sarah’s business associates in Germany. There are also friends of Jane, and then names he recognises from Julian’s diary: friends of his parents when they lived in Berlin. Paul runs through almost the end of the list, then a name attracts his attention: Ms Agnes Baudoin. Paul pauses, his mind suddenly taking a new direction.
A letter
Baudoin was Melissa’s family name. He’s never heard of Agnes Baudoin, and decides to ask Sarah who she is. Solange is now up and comes round in her pyjamas for some coffee before going back to the bathroom. Paul is now in deep thoughts. He recalls seeing something else in the guide book: a letter addressed to Julian. He pulls the thin piece of paper that is hand-written, a beautiful hand writing, almost classical. It is dated a few days after he, Paul, was born. There is no signature. He reads the letter:
“My dear Julian, nothing could have made this woman happier than learning of the birth of your son – I nearly wrote, our son. I know, he is not ours but yours and Sarah. I wish him (but how are you going to name him?) a long and successful life. This letter may, or may not, surprise you. I was aware of you leaving the city, and no longer communicating with anyone. I was told, don’t ask me by whom, that you were unwell. That year, the year you left, was a terrible year, and I had the premonition that I would never see you again. This is what prompted me, more than anything else, to attempt to leave something, someone, some continuity to our lives. Agnes was born four years ago, she’s therefore four years younger than your son, and she has traits inherited from her dad, from you, Julian. She reminds me of you, of the wonderful day we last had together, yes, just under five years ago, in Paris. I fear that you may not read this letter if I was to send it to to you directly, so I may attempt to send it indirectly… If I fail, maybe, one day, your son will find it. You and I had stranger events in our lives. I love you, will love you to the end.”
Paul closes the book. Did Sarah leave both the list and the letter in the book intentionally? He goes to the kitchen for more coffee, and prepare breakfast, soon join by Solange and Phillip who start setting the table. Paul goes to stand on the balcony looking at the morning, and the small sailing boats on the lake. Sarah joins him. “Yes, I wanted you to know. I thought, if Agnes is your sister, you would want to meet her.” “Have you met her?” he asks, “No, but I have spoken with her…” replies Sarah, an arm around her son’s shoulder. Silently Paul sees that this revelation is proving several things: one, Sarah’s revelations to Phillip were either a show of naivety, or of duplicity, and, much more significant to himself: Melissa, if she wrote the letter, was real, a live woman, and future mother.
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