Page 11 of Forgiving Paris
Precious Ashley, I can picture you being old and gray one day and finding these letters and knowing—to the core of your being—that your father and I believed in you. Truly, honey, one day people will line up to buy your artwork. And all the world will see home and family and faith through your beautiful eyes.
Unbelievable. As if God Himself had led him to these very letters. With the greatest care, John folded up the second letter and started on the third.
Dear Ashley,
Today I was missing the moments when you were in fifth grade. Remember that Peter Pan play you and your friends put on when you were in Mr. Garrett’s class? You wereWendy and you had your own ideas about how things should go at the end. Neverland forever! That was your way of playing the part, and so you did. It was a moment I will remember always, sweet girl. Your love for your life, your determination to never grow old!
John smiled. A single tear fell onto his cheek and he brushed it away. He remembered that performance. How Ashley called for Peter Pan to turn the boat back to Neverland. And how later that month she had her siblings all sign a contract promising to never grow up. He found his place on the letter.
Such good times, Ashley. So, since I was missing those days, I went down to the basement where you keep your paintings. Every one of them. And I was simply breathless, precious daughter. You have been given such a great gift from God. Remember when Dad gave you that art book after we moved here from Michigan? A fresh new book?
Ashley, my dear, look at what your simple drawings have become! I believe that one day, Ash… one day you will have a gallery show in Paris, France. Yes, all the way across the ocean in Paris. Where art is so important, and people expect the very best. And there you will be, among the greats.
But between you and me, you’re already that good. Even if your gallery is only here in the basement for now. I love you always, Mom.
Three in a row! John had hoped to find even one letter where Elizabeth talked about Ashley’s painting. Then it hit him. He leaned back in the chair. He hadn’t happened to find the only letters in the stack where Elizabeth encouraged Ashley as an artist. That was something Elizabeth had done as naturally as breathing.
Of course, Elizabeth would want him to go to Paris, to surprise Ashley at her art show. An hour later, John knew he was right. Every single letter Elizabeth had ever written to Ashley involved some mention of her artwork. Even after she had gone to Paris and given them few ways to reach her. Elizabeth had only written their daughter even more letters. Like the one in his hand now.
Ashley,
We haven’t heard from you in a while. You’re still in France, and I know you’re figuring things out, and that’s okay. Your father and I are praying for you every day. God is with you, we know that.
But even though you are struggling, I am convinced of this. You’re supposed to be in Paris right now. I’m not sure why, Ashley, but I can feel it every time I pray. God is usingyou there. Maybe because you really are going to showcase your paintings in France—either now or later.
Or maybe He’s doing something else with your time away. Whatever it is, I am at peace. Because God is working in your life, sweet girl. I know He is.
I love you always, Mom.
Wow.John could hardly believe it. He wiped another tear and folded the letters. Yes, Ashley had copies in a book somewhere in her bookcase. But had she read them lately? He would put Elizabeth’s words together for her somehow and he would give them to Ashley on her big day.
Then, as John set the stack of letters in the bottom of the old box, he felt something hard and plastic. Careful not to harm the item, John pried it from between the flaps of cardboard where it had apparently gotten stuck.
His breath caught as he held it up. “What in the world? Elizabeth… when did you do this?”
It was a cassette tape, and in the notes section beneath the plastic cover it said simply,Messages to my children.Only this wasn’t a series of letters. It was voice messages… one for each of them. Words that none of them had ever heard before. John remembered to exhale. Then he set the cassette on top of the pile of Ashley’s letters.
An audio message for each of the kids from Elizabeth?He could hardly wait to tell Elaine… and the kids. But without a doubt the first person to hear what Elizabeth had left for them would be him. Alone. But before he could do that, he had to do something practical.
He had to find a cassette player.
5
Love was the last thing Jessie Taylor had expected to find when she signed up for Indiana University’s summer semester in Paris. She wasn’t like some of her friends, looking more for a husband than a degree. At twenty-two, Jessie had dreams and plans, and she intended to live them out.
Paris was part of that. Gabriel Michel was not.
Their class on French Impressionists was just letting out and Gabriel quickly fell in beside her. “I know I was supposed to be studying all that famous art.” He was quite a bit taller than her. Dark hair and tanned skin. “But I couldn’t stop thinking about something else.”
He stopped and she faced him. “You, ma chérie.” He touched her face.
She smiled. “You say that to all the girls.”
Gabriel’s face fell. “No, mon amour. You know that.”
Actually, she did know. Gabriel was a rare diamond of a guy. He was her age, but with the faith and wisdom rare in Paris or anywhere else. “Just teasing.” She held her books close. “Let’s get coffee.”
He looked like he wanted to kiss her. But this wasn’tthe time. They’d only been dating a few weeks, and their first kiss hadn’t happened yet. Which was how Jessie wanted to keep it. She had no intention of falling for some Parisian boy and then getting her heart broken ten weeks from now when it was time to go home.
