Chapter 10

They walked over the bridge, crossing the river onto the other bank where the historic part of the city remained. Pierre followed Antoine past the ornate older buildings with their sculpted exteriors, down to the main square containing a large fountain filled with classical sculptures of fantastic beasts—mermaids, gods, and mythical beings. They sat on a bench facing the fountain.

“So, why here?” Pierre asked.

“I like looking at the sculptures. They’re timeless, aren’t they?” Antoine said.

Pierre studied them. They were of an older style of art than the works that he and Leon were creating in their studio, but he supposed that they had their charm.

“Which one do you like?” Antoine asked.

“I like the mermaid,” Pierre replied. “She’s calling to the others while sitting on that rock, not hiding from view. She’s assertive.”

Not like the girls in his paintings...He wanted Antoine to be drawn to him in the same way, too. He wanted to have the same confi