Page 17 of Boarding Pass
“So you’re taking time off?” Élise quirks a brow.
Inadvertently, I sigh. “Uh…yeah. I guess so.”
“It’s always important to have mental space to figure out what’s next.” Claude nods as if he understands completely.
“Yeah. Though it’s strange after working so hard.” I fidget with my napkin a bit. “I guess I need to figure out what I want to do in this next chapter.”
As the conversation flows, I learn about Sophie’s family story. I knew she was born in Paris, butClaude fills in some details about how they ended up in the US.
“I fell in love with an American.” Élise serves herself another helping of salad. “We met while he was traveling in Paris.”
Claude chuckles. “I was young and reckless. No plan, no direction—just wandering Europe, trying to ‘find myself.’ I met Élise at a café, and, well…” He shrugs like the rest is obvious.
“I was working as a waitress,” Élise says in her charming accent. “And he could hardly order coffee. He asked me out, but I rejected him of course. He kept coming back. Every day for a week. Eventually, I gave in and we went on a date.”
“Six weeks later, we were married,” Claude finishes, grinning.
I’m visibly shocked. “Six weeks?”
“When you know, you know.” Claude wraps his arm around his wife. “Why waste time?”
They laugh, and Élise pats his hand affectionately. “We stayed in Paris for a while, but when Sophie was born, Claude’s work moved us to the US. We ended up in New York until a few years ago.”
“You put up with it.” Sophie leans against her mother but looks at me. “Mom hated the cold.”
“It was unbearable.” Élise shudders dramatically. “When Claude retired a few years ago, I insisted we come back to France. Paris is too expensive, but here outside of Bordeaux felt like the perfect place to settle.”
I glance at Sophie who watches her parents with a mixture of fondness and quiet amusement. “Now they can’t stop reminding me how much better life is here than in New York.”
“Because it is.” Claude ruffles her hair. “Though I’ll admit, the US has its charms.”
“It does, there’s nowhere else like NYC.” Sophie gazes at her dad fondly.
After a pause, Claude’s eyes flick back to me. “So, Miles.” He taps the table with his finger. “What about you? Any great love stories in your past?”
Here we go. The interrogation.
I shake my head. “Nope. I spent my twenties building my company. No time for a nerdy computer geek like me. But, then my best friend got engaged to my twin sister, so I think I caught a bug.”
“Only a nerd would liken me to a bug.” Sophie smirks, nudging me with her elbow.
I’m pretty sure my face is as red as a tomato.
Claude chortles. “Well, you seem to have a forgiving heart, my sweetheart.”
The air shifts slightly. Probably because the three of them are recalling Sophie’s previous relationship. Sophie ducks her head, focusing a little too intently on her plate. I don’t know what to say. She was coming here to spend time with them because they thought she was brokenhearted.
Instead, she brought me.
I don’t know how to put a label on whatever this is between us yet—but I can’t ignore how much the comment stirs something deep in my chest. I’d never do anything to hurt Sophie. If we were together I’d cherish each day. Each hour. Each minute. Each second.
Élise looks pointedly at me. “You seem like a very kind man, Miles. And a respectable one. I hope you’ll enjoy Bordeaux.”
“I already am.” I can’t help but to glance at Sophie.
As dinner winds down, the conversation drifts to other topics—Claude’s workshop. Élise’s favorite florist. The best bakeries in the area.
To me, though, Claude’s earlier words linger long after the plates are cleared and the laughter has faded.
