BRIDGES OF TIME

CHAPTER FIVE

Entering the opera house Remie was delighted to see the beautiful grand dame of the theater restored to its rococo wonder. The facade was adorned with stunning, rich marble sculptures such as The Dance by Carpeaux. The walls were adorned with rich red damask set off by gleaming gilt trim. She lay back her head and stared at the magnificent ceilings painted by Marc Chagall. They had been cleaned and restored, the colors as clean and fresh as if he had just painted them. She could not believe her good fortune in getting a contract to work here, and for pay. Unable to stop staring up at the ceiling she wandered around like a tourist reveling in the glorious surroundings when she heard her name.

“Mademoiselle Chandler? Remie looked up and standing on the bottom of the marble staircase was a well-coifed middle-aged woman.

“Yes,” she said walking toward the woman, “I’m Remie Chandler.”

“We have been expecting you Mademoiselle Chandler,” she said extending her hand to greet her as she crossed the short distance between them. “I’m Alix Lemieux. We talked on the phone?” Her soft hands and gentle eyes belied her stern exterior and Remie felt herself warming up to her immediately.

“Please, Madame Lemieux, call me Remie,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t come straight to the office, but I couldn’t help myself, it is all so wonderful here, better than I remembered.”

“It is beautiful,” Alix said letting her eyes take in the splendor around them, “especially now that the renovations have been completed. Come, there will be plenty of time for you to investigate and enjoy your new surroundings. I’ll show you your office and introduce you to the rest of the staff. Everyone is anxious to meet the *American*.”

Remie and Alix walked side by side through the double doors located behind the stairway that opened up into a vast central hall echoing with an overload of intermingled sounds and scents that became magic to her. The day, indeed the weeks passed by in a blur as Remie worked 12-18 hours a day. A little overwhelmed by the amount and difficulty of work she had assumed, Remie was nonetheless pleased with the obvious results. Even the calls from her mother had become a little less frequent and a lot more civil. Things were working out. It was a lovely afternoon during her third week that Remie found herself laying down her glasses and rubbing her temples as she rolled her neck around to ease the mild ache in her head.

“Hello, may I come in?” Alix called as she knocked on the door.

“Of course, please do, I’m just taking a break,” Remie said smiling. Alix crossed the room and stopped behind Remie laying her hands on her shoulders. Gently she started to massage her shoulders.

“Um...” Remie said, “That feels wonderful.”

“You know dear, we’re very pleased with your work but we all feel that you’ve been working too many hours and much too hard. Why don’t you take the afternoon off? In fact, take tomorrow off and make it a long weekend.”

“Thank you,” Remie said as a flush of pride spread through her at the compliment. “But there is still so much work to be done, do you think this is a good time for me...”

“Yes,” Alix said, cutting her off mid sentence. “Now gather your things and shoo,” she said. Helping Remie on with her jacket she walked her to the door, a charming smile crinkling around her eyes as she said, “After all you are in Paris.... I’m sure a beautiful young woman like you can find something interesting to do.”

to be continued....

© 2003 Rose Carr

Contact the author:  Rosematuse@aol.com

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