Page 52 of It Happened In Paris

Miriam and I talked as she showed me old photos and shared funny stories about Richard as a young boy. By age eight, he’d already had a custom-made three-piece suit matching Patrick’s, which he wore proudly as he shadowed his father at work. I could easily picture him—a tiny CEO in the making, already mastering his destiny.

Chelsea sat with me and held my hands for a time. “They’ll be fine, I’m sure of it. They’re Buchanans, after all. Their bloodline is incredibly strong. Rex once told me about his family, tracing back to Scotland’s history. They were survivors of the Battle of Culloden, and that fierce legacy gives them the strength to overcome anything.”

I managed a tearful smile and replied, “Then I call upon the ancestors to help them through this.” I sputtered a smile through tears. “They have to come out, okay? Paris is myeverything, and Richard—he’s meant the world to me this week.”

“Who knew he could have such a big heart beneath all that gruff exterior?” Chelsea remarked, gently squeezing my hand.

“He told me he loves me.” I dabbed at my eyes with a tissue. “I couldn’t bring myself to say it back, even though my whole heart was there with him. Why couldn’t I speak those words? What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing is wrong with you. Look at everything you’ve endured in the past—of course, you’d have some trust issues. But I truly believe you’ve captured the heart of a man I thought had long given up on love. After what Janet did to him, he became so wary of commitment. Can you imagine someone plotting to kill her husband for money?”

“She didn’t deserve him…” And I’m so glad. I couldn’t imagine the difficulty if he’d been married, then found out about Paris.

“Luck was with him to find out on his wedding day and call the whole thing off. Both of you have faced enough to scare anyone from committing again.” At that moment, she waved over Rex, who arrived, handing out cups of coffee.

“Thank you,” I told him, using the cup more to warm my hands than for the brew, grateful for any distraction from the constant stream of tissues clutched in my grasp.

“Anyway,” Chelsea continued, “my point is that you and Richard have a solid foundation—a great start. Don’t let him go, Vivian. Give him a chance. I have a good feeling about the two of you.”

Rex took a seat beside her. “Talking about my brother? You’ll find no one more loyal to those he cares about.”

I listened half-heartedly as their conversation drifted from topic to topic, eventually touching on her sister Maisy, who had returned to the science vessel for the rest of her researchcontract. Then Rex said he got a text from his friend Brooks, mentioning they’d spent the night together at the Plaza Hotel after Chelsea’s wedding. “It’s a shame when two people can’t see what they have right in front of him,” Rex commented. “Not like us, sweetness—we knew immediately that we were meant for each other.”

Chelsea laughed, lightening the mood in the otherwise somber waiting room. “You did, but you nearly ruined it with that first proposal of a marriage of convenience.”

“It took me realizing how deeply I love you to end up groveling on my knees. I persisted because I knew I wanted you—And what a Buchanan wants?—”

Chelsea and I finished for him, chanting, “—A Buchanan gets.”

He tilted his head and said, “That’s why I know Richard won’t give up. He’ll wait for you, Vivian. Now that he has a daughter, he’ll be even more determined to get who he wants.”

His words provided some reassurance. As we all waited, Flora brought out an apple pie to share, though I couldn’t eat a bite. She joined Keaton and me, and together we prayed.

“It isn’t easy being a mother and watching your child go through such trials, but you’re doing an incredible job, Vivian—keeping it all together for her sake. Just remember, Paris has many years ahead of her. I know in my heart she’ll make it through this, and so will you, because you have all of us supporting you.”

“Thank you, Flora. That means so much to me,” I said, and we embraced before I turned to Keaton. With another two hours looming, the stress of it wore on me.

“Come here, lean over,” he urged, draping his arm around my shoulders so I could rest my head. “You’re the bravest woman I know, Viv.”

Bravery was exactly what Rex had urged Paris to show, and if they could be that brave, then for their sake, I had no choice but to summon that courage as well. Everyone around me was so kind and caring as we waited. All I could do was pray.

For the first time in years, my prayer wasn’t for money. Or for miracles. Only for love to survive—for the two people I loved most in this world.

When the doctorsconfirmed the operations were successful, my heart soared with joy. They planned to keep a close watch on Paris to ensure her body accepted the kidney, and their report filled me with hope.

In the recovery room, the only sounds were the beeping monitors and the rhythmic thumping of my heart in my ears. I sat beside Paris’ bed, holding her hand as her skin gradually warmed. Eventually, her eyelashes gently fluttered open.

“Mommy?” she murmured.

“I’m right here,mon cœur,” I answered, kissing her fingers softly. “You’re okay.”

She frowned and tried to sit up, wincing as she did, so I helped her settle back against the pillow.

“Lie back. You need to rest for now, sweetheart,” I advised.

“Where’s Daddy?” she croaked.

The strong bond between them made my heart skip a beat. “He’s resting in his room. You both came through the surgeries very well.”

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