Chapter 31

Paris? Grace wanted to shop for clothes in Paris. I shrugged my shoulders, called Ellora and informed Sally we were going to Paris. They needed to be in on the debacle.

"That's France, David," Grace told me... "Not Georgia ... France."

"Yes, Dear ... France," I agreed. "Please ... I have calls to make."

Grace looked pretty amazed. "You're kidding, right?"

"Shush!" I apologized to the phone, "Not you. My sister. Montreal for four to connect with the steamer to Le Havre. Steam train if you have it." I waved at Grace ... she was jumping up and down. I put my finger to my lips, "Yes, Sir..."

"David Austin and party"

"Yes, sir...

"First class."

"Steam?"

"Great ... I love steam trains."

"What?"

"The whole trip?"

"The ship?"

"Connections to Paris?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Will Carte Blanche do?"

I fumbled with my wallet and spilled the damn thing. Grace was a recovering angel and picked it out of the pile.

"Sorry ... dropped my wallet. I'm excited."

"My sisters idea."

"She wants to shop."

"Yes, the numbers ... yes ... XXX-XXXX-XXX-XXXX. Confirmation number? Oh ... on the back."

"Never used it before."

"No ... with my first million."

"Always paid cash."

"Phone number? Oh... 936"

"Ann Arbor."

"Yes ... I know it's a low number."

"I'll be busy ... I need to transatlantic."

"Hotel Reservations."

"You do that too?"

"I'll ask."

"Hi Ellora ... Sally ... we're going to Paris..."

"Sorry, sir. Excited females..."

"You do?"

"Exactly."

"Could you tell me what my limit..."

"None?"

"Isn't that unusual?"

"Not with my balance?"

"Please ... it's not that funny."

"Grace ... he wants to know how long."

Grace burst into tears, "I'm so happy ... happy ... I - sob - don't -sob - know. Sniff - Ellora, how llllong can we be gone?"

"Not more than a month ... David?" she batted her eyes and jiggled her tits ... the tits were much more effective than the lashes. "Can I visit England?"

"Yes."

The man on the phone interrupted a perfectly good ogle.

"How much?"

"Is that all?"

"Tips, meals, penthouse?"

"Sounds pretty cheap to me. This is good accommodations?"

"Call Carte Blanche."

"I'll hold."

They had to confirm. That was when daddy found out his dearest twins were going to Paris for a month.

Mother wanted to go ... thank God, Charles was still missing.

I spoke to the phone, "I'll ... no ... you call me. Mom emergency ... you might want to figure a fifth person. I'll never get to go if she doesn't."

"Umh ... fifteen."

"And twenty-two and eighteen."

"Scared ya, didn't I."

"Girls."