"He's tipsy," I said, opening my arms to her. "He'll be fine, he just needs to cool off. How are you?"
“Just a bump on the butt," she said, coming into my hug. I held her for a moment, relishing the feeling of her in my arms. "Damn, I forgot my jacket inside."
"Forget the jacket, you can wear mine," I said. "You played wonderfully. Come, let's go chase down Francois before he gets too far away. I’m sure he could use a hug too right about now.”
Chapter 23
Jordan
The next morning, as we drove from Stuttgart to Paris, Francois showed a talent that I hadn't heard before. Namely, snoring in loud, rumbling snatches as he slept off his evening's activities in the back seat of the Renault. At least in bed, he wasn't much of a snorer. Felix drove while I rode shotgun, watching the roads roll by. "Any reason you wanted to drive and not use the trains?" I asked. "I've never really ridden the trains before."
"You haven't? I keep forgetting sometimes — a lot of Americans haven't used the trains as much as I have," Felix remarked, surprised. “When we leave for Albania after this, we'll take the trains. We can put this car in storage, or just leave it at the farm house in Valence."
I nodded happily. "Thanks. It won't put you out?"
Felix shook his head. "Other than catching a cab ride from the train station to our house in Durres, not at all. The train would be more relaxing than driving anyway. So I guess you've never had sex on a train either?"
I chuckled and looked out of the corner of my eyes at Felix. "Why, Mr. Hardy, I do believe that’s a proposition."
"It is," he said with a grin, glancing over before returning his eyes to the road in front of us. "Do you think it might be accepted?"
"Like I could ever resist you," I said with a light laugh. A few more kilometers rolled by, and something came to mind. "Felix, do you mind if I ask about your Father and Syeira and Charani?"
"What would you like to know?"
"Charani told me that technically she and your Dad were never married. Your grandfather insisted that Syeira be the one to be legally married."
Felix sighed and nodded. "My grandfather was . . . he was a conservative old-fashioned codger most of his life," he finally said after thinking deeply. He was choosing his words carefully, I could tell. "He was riddled with the old superstitions, the old ways of thinking, all of it. He never did understand that there could be ways to set it up that it didn't matter what some church or city official said. Nope, he had his old style Romani honor, and that meant that his eldest had to be the married one. Regardless of if the difference was just thirty minutes, Syeira was the one who HAD to be married. It was strange growing up with him that way."
"Charani said you've done a lot to try and make things more equitable between you and Francois. Why?"
Felix shrugged. "Despite the differences between us, he's my brother. It's not his fault that he was born a few minutes after me, and he certainly didn't rate the dismissal that my grandfather gave him. He's just as capable as I am, and could have done my job just as well as I have. In some ways better, perhaps."
"How so?" I asked. "He didn't seem nearly as controlled as you last night, and I take it that self control is essential for your line of work."
"It is, but Francois's passion is also his strength. He wants to continue, to prove he’s the best. Me, I'm ready to move on from being a thief, to settle down and find a new chapter to my life."
"Such as?" I asked. Felix fixed me with a meaningful look until I blushed. "Really?"
Felix nodded. "Really. I know, it's only been a few months, but to me, you’re as vital to my life as the very air I breathe, and I could see myself spending the rest of my life with you.”
"Me too," I said without thinking, then stopped, startled. "Wait, did you just ask me to marry you?"
Felix shook his head. "Yes and no. After all, like my father and my mother and her sister, it can’t be done with all three of us. And I won’t do to Francois what was done to his mother. So I guess I have to ask, would you be willing to just live with us, even though we won’t be legally married?”
I didn't even have to think about it. I didn't need a ceremony with a white dress or somebody else to verify the relationship between the three of us. "Yes. Of course I will. But what will Francois think?"
Just then, a loud rumble of a snore, followed by two snorts and a blowing out of air gave us Francois's answer. "I think he likes the idea, but we should double check when he wakes up."
* * *
The bed in the barge wasn't quite large enough, but I didn't care. I was lying under the covers, waiting for Francois and Felix to get cleaned up.