Damien considered. “What women say, what they do, what they think and what they actually want… Almost never the same.”
“That’s why I’ve always given her what all women want.”
“If so, why were you at Jones & Jones?” Damien asked mildly. “No, don’t answer. I don’t need to know the details. But let me offer some advice. You didn’t marry Amandine because she was just like every other woman out there. So don’t give her what you would give every other woman out there.”
Gavin paused. He hadn’t thought of it quite that way. “Then what the hell am I supposed to give her?”
Damien laughed. “How should I know? She’s your wife.”
* * *
The lunch ended at almost three in the afternoon only because Damien and Victoria had to get to the airport. Otherwise it might have turned into dinner. Amandine enjoyed the conversation, and as Victoria had suggested, she faked it when she wasn’t sure. No one seemed to notice or care, and she found herself looking forward to it when they promised to get together again back in the States.
Gavin drove to the Lloyd family vacation home. The road was just wide enough for two cars, the asphalt shimmering black and perfectly smooth. Tall trees lined each side, their green leaves broad and lazy.
Amandine looked up. “Are those banana trees?”
“Yes.”
“Are they native to Thailand? I don’t remember seeing any at Damien’s place.”
“Thailand has dozens of varieties, but these were specially planted.”
“Why?”
He slowed and seemed to be searching for something off the road. Finally he pulled over and pointed. “Look.”
A very large shadow was slipping along, back among the trees. “Oh my god. Is that an elephant?”
“We call him Lou.” The Bentley’s engine idled, humming smoothly. “Wanna see him up close?”
“Is it safe?”
“Sure.” They got out of the car. “Just don’t do anything to startle him.”
Lou moved slowly, surprisingly quiet for such a large animal, his trunk curling around bunches of bananas and feeding them into his mouth. She hovered back, uncertain how to approach.
“Just walk up to him from the front,” Gavin said. “Pet him if you want. He’s very tame.”
She started toward Lou in measured steps. “He doesn’t have a collar.” Do people collar their elephants? Keep current on shots and stuff?
Gavin chuckled. “He stays on the property. It’s all right.”
“Is he yours?”
“Well, he’s sort of a communal elephant. Ethan, Mark and I adopted him when he was a baby. He wandered onto our beach somehow, but nobody could figure out where he’d come from, so we thought why not?” Gavin pointed at the green banana bunches on the trees. “Workers cut them down every other morning.”
“But they aren’t ripe.”
“Lou’s a smart guy. He waits until they’re soft and sweet.”
Amandine was finally close enough to touch Lou. He towered over her, his massive gray body as solid as the banana trees around them. His head was enormous. Unlike what she’d assumed, the top of his skull wasn’t bald. Several strands of short and wiry hair stood up straight from his head. His long-lashed eyes shone with curiosity and intelligence as he studied her.
“Hey, big fella.” She put a hand out, palm up, but the elephant didn’t react. Well. What was she thinking, treating Lou like a dog? She doubted he was interested in sniffing her.
Gavin picked up a few lone bananas from the ground and handed them to her. “Feed him. He’ll love you forever.”
She offered one of the ripe fruits to the elephant. The trunk came questing for it, snuffling. He took the banana from her and munched on it.