Chapter 81

“Do you want some, Joe?”

“No, I’m all right.’’ Joe stood in the crowd of women and men, with his hands in the pockets of his new jacket, happy to be here. All around him, couples strolled by, carefree for one precious evening, choosing to forget their misery for just a night in the week. Here they were, all of them willing to be enchanted once more, aching to believe in the possibility of joy. Joe had never felt connected to people the way he did now, in this moment. The whole chaos of this place, with its electric white lights and circus colors, its noise and eccentric performers, had his head swimming. Joe looked over to see Christophe walking back to him with his hands full of treats.

The man was insatiable. His appetite for life great and inspiring.

“You’ll get a toothache.”

“Yes, I probably will.” But Christophe popped another hard red candy into his mouth. “Show me everything.”

“Follow me.”