I click away from the screen and open my YouTube app. Before I rushed over, my afternoon plans included rewatching clips of the best performances of Swan Lake, from London to Singapore, and Rio to New York City. For an hour or so, I travel around the world through Odile.
When Dr. Pastels walks back into the room, she’s holding a sheet of printed paper.
“Now,” she says, sitting next to me on her couch, “I need to tell you that my research is not an exact science. The only way to be a hundred percent certain that Degas painted your ancestor would be to ask either one of them.”
“And that would be a little challenging,” I joke nervously.
“En effet. Louis mentioned this was very important to you, so I don’t want to get your hopes up.”
“I understand,” I say, sneaking a glance at that piece of paper. My heart rate quickens as she flips it over.
“That’s it?” I ask when I glance at the mere three lines on the page.
She nods. “Based on all the information you gave me, and the photos, I can say that, if Edgar Degas painted élise Mercier, it would almost certainly be one of these three works of art.”
“Thank you,” I say as she hands me the list.
“It’s my pleasure. It’s not so often that I help solve family mysteries. Oh, and, again, you’re so lucky…”
She pauses, and I hold my breath. Is this about Louis?
Dr. Pastels smiles. “The paintings on this list, they all happen to be in Paris.”
My jaw drops. “You mean I could actually see them? Like, soon?” I run my eyes over the column indicating the location of each painting.
“It’s not that simple. One may not be on display. I’ll need to check. And another is part of a private collection. I’ll have to call in some favors, so it may take a few days, but yes, I think it can be arranged.”
I thank her about another dozen times as I get up to leave.
She walks me to her door, and, there, she has one more question for me. “Do you want to tell Louis about my new findings or should I?”
My heart stops. She can’t know the turmoil this creates inside me. What if I did talk to Louis, but only about this? Would I even be able to? Every time I’ve seen him, all my good intentions have evaporated with just one of his smiles. Monsieur Dabrowski was very clear with me. I can’t let him down again. And I won’t. I’ve put hours, days even, into my Swan Lake rehearsals. I’m not going to miss a step again. So what does it matter if I use the little bit of spare time I have to track down a painting that means so much to the women in my family?
“Mia?” Dr. Pastels says when I still haven’t responded.
I take a deep breath. I need to give her an answer, and deep down I know what I want it to be. The fact is, this Degas mystery is Louis’s adventure, too. I’d never be this close to an answer if it weren’t for him.
I take a deep breath. Stop overthinking everything, Mia. “I will.”
I press the “Call” button while I go down the stairs, but the line is still ringing when I exit the building. Why would he pick up? He must hate me. But then, just when I’m about to end the call, I hear a sigh on the other end.
“Hi,” he says, his voice small.
“Hi,” I respond, placing a hand over my rapidly beating heart. “I have something important to tell you.”
Silence on the other end. It’s not going to stop me.
“I’m really, really sorry for the things I said to you. I don’t actually believe that you have no passion in life. In fact, you’re probably the most passionate person I know. I was hurt and I lashed out. It’s none of my business who you date or dated.”
“Mia, I tried to tell you…”
“Whatever,” I say. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t want to leave Paris feeling like I made an enemy.”
“You didn’t.”
“Are you sure? Because there’s something I want to ask you. And I completely understand if you don’t want anything to do with me.”
“I’m listening,” he says. It’s not the warm, charming Louis, but that’s okay.
“First, I have to tell you about my afternoon.”
I explain everything, from my call to Dr. Pastels to the list of three paintings.
“Ha,” Louis says. “If I were you, I’d be racing around the city already.”
“I don’t want to do it without you.”
Another silence. I just have to power through it. “You believed in this mystery as much as I did, even when you didn’t know me at all.”