Michelle continued to enlighten. "When we spent this wonderful night in Hamburg, I found a message on my mobile phone the next morning saying that he would bring the children to the USA if I wasn't in Paris by noon. I had no choice but to immediately pack up a few things and get on the next plane to France.
I just didn't know how to explain it to you. Our night was so magical, so gigantically beautiful. I've never experienced anything like it. I didn't really
want to ruin
it.
Of course I know that I have questioned everything with my disappearance and the subsequent silence. I would have understood if you never wanted to see me again, but I wanted to protect you at all costs. I was afraid, first and foremost for Theo and Thula, of course, they can do nothing for all this. But I was also afraid for you. He stops at nothing. I'm so glad you're here and we can finally talk.
Matthieu is a great danger for the children. I'd do anything to free them from his clutches. But he has the upper hand. “
Adolé shook his head repeatedly in bewilderment. If only she had known all this, she would have been a help to Michelle.
"I am so glad that nothing more serious happened to you in that accident on Sylt. When I found you in a ditch in the middle of the night - I really thought you were dead for a few seconds..."
"What?! ", it took Adolé incredulous, "You found me?!?!". Adolé looked up and looked at Michelle as if she hadn't heard right. "Yes. Of course." replied Michelle. "Didn't you know that?"
"No," Adolé returned in disgust. "Of course not. Otherwise I'd have said something about it long ago! And I thanked you and everything. “
Unbelievable! Why didn't Roswitha tell her before? Although she continued to follow the conversation with Michelle that she had been waiting for so long, it was working feverishly in Adolé's head. "What a coincidence! " it flashed through her mind. "On the other hand, can it really just be a coincidence? Isn't it already destiny?"
Surprised, Adolé collected the facts. "So you're riding a bicycle in the middle of the night across an island you hardly know and you're looking for a woman who just now screamed at yo
u in no uncertain terms and accused you of only being after her because she was a suitable victim for your trophy collection. And although you don't know anything about Sylt, you unerringly find your way to me and manage to save me after I inexplicably fell so badly - which nobody could have expected. Right? After all I know my way around the island very well - at least I thought so. And I can ride a bike, too. “
Michelle, who had listened attentively, slowly found her composure again and nodded mischievously. Yes, these facts were probably true. "Yes, I suppose they were. It was really terrible to see you lying there so hurt and not being able to help you. It was terrible when I did not know what was wrong and had to wait so long for the ambulance. And afterwards I wasn't allowed to come to you - we are not related. But I am glad that I could give you something back from what you gave me. At least I could make up for some of the trouble I caused you during the days in the studio and afterwards. “
29.
They had talked for a while. Michelle had explained everything to Adolé. Adolé's head was spinning, she was both infinitely happy and incredibly shocked. Now she finally had the desired explanation for everything, for Michelle's strange behavior, an explanation she had not expected at all. What's more, now she even officially knew that Michelle, against all expectations, returned her feelings, that she had not just imagined their attraction to each other. This magical night they had spent together in Hamburg had also meant something. And even more - she had even found her way to her in an absolute crisis situation, against all odds and then not hesitating to help her for a moment.
But the situation was also difficult at the same time. On the one hand, they were determined to give their love a chance. They were sure they wanted to stay together and would therefore have to think about how they could do that in the future. After all, they were both coveted items in the Yellow Press - a scandal of such kindness would suit them just fine and would increase the circulation immeasurably.
On the other hand, if they didn't want to stay in touch using only mobile phones and skypecalls, sooner or later they would have to find a way to synchronize their respective appointments, performances and other commitments. At the very least, if they didn't have engagements in the same city, they shouldn't be too far away from each other, so that they could visit each other at least briefly in between. Her managers would have to let her in on it.
At first it also seemed most important to them that no one else, and certainly not Matthieu, could somehow find out about their connection in order to blackmail them with the threat of passing everything on to the press and thus the public. Adolé, however, was quite sure that no French court would award him the children if they could show how violent he was. Also, the fact that Michelle was homosexual and with a woman would not be a reason to deprive her of custody from a judicial point of view. In fact, there was no reason to make such a secret of their relationship.
And the more they thought about it, the more a crazy thought settled in their heads - an innovative, courageous solution, so that in the end they would not be at the mercy of Matthieu and his whims forever.
Although Adolé was actually also interested in keeping her private life private and thus keeping her career as undisturbed and promising as before, she finally agreed to this plan. Despite her principle of not letting unknown factors influence her career, they agreed in the end to present their daring plan to their female managers.
As crazy as their plan was, if it worked, it would be a rescue. And it felt good - and right.
In the end, it was Michelle who suggested that they should both go out for a meal with their managers as soon as possible in order to have this decisive conversation, and so it wasn't long before Roswitha and Ella also arrived on Sylt - for a "completely normal" meal with their respective protégées alone. At least that is what they thought. They had no idea how wrong they were.
30.
It had worked out surprisingly easily to agree on a common date with Roswitha and Ella. In the middle of Westerland, both had reserved a table in a quiet restaurant, whose speciality was fish dishes. "How obvious. ", thought Adolé about the offer when she and Michelle fleetingly studied the menu after they had sat down. To be on the safe side, they had arrived at the restaurant very early - they didn't want to risk arriving after the two managers.
A short moment later Ella entered the restaurant and looked around inquiringly. Shortly afterwards, the waiter courteously brought her to the table, skilfully removed her coat and then retreated as discreetly as he had come. Ella looked at Adolé in amazement, but first greeted Michelle warmly. They had not seen each other for a long time.
A few more minutes passed until Roswitha also joined the round. She took off her coat, laid it on one of the chairs that were standing at the next table and greeted Adolé first. She immediately noticed from the embrace how many question marks were buzzing around Roswitha's head. At first Adolé did not react to her murmuring "What is going on here?!!".
Michelle first ordered an aperitif for everyone and then made sure everyone had a card to delve into. Adolé was relieved to see that, as far as could be seen, everyone was busy choosing their table drinks and food.
She felt Michelle's closeness and insecurity at the same time, sitting right next to her, thigh to thigh. Under the table and out of sight of the managers they had placed their feet so that each could feel the other. This gave them the necessary security for what lay ahead.
When the waiter had taken her order, the conversation slowly picked up speed.