Page 40 of Forgiving Paris
“Our son.” Landon’s eyes were kind. He understood her so well.
“Yes. Cole.”
“How about you brush your teeth, and we go to bed?” He took a step back. “Doesn’t sound like you got much rest.”
She sighed. “Sleeping sounds good. Tomorrow is a new day.” She wanted to believe it. The whole week couldn’t possibly go like this.
Like so many times, Landon was right. Before they fell asleep, he prayed for her and recited Philippians 4 over her. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, and thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
And finally, in the shelter of that timeless truth, safe in Landon’s arms, Ashley fell asleep.
The memories would be back, because there was more to the story. But for now, they left her alone, and when morning came, her headache was gone. They were meeting Jessie and her new boyfriend today.
Ashley dressed in her summer capris and a white T-shirt.Help me, God, to take every thought captive today. The past is gone. Protect me from it, please. Give me back my joy, please.
She prayed until she was with Landon in the livingroom. “It’s going to be a great day.” By then she believed it. She smiled at him and kissed him. A kiss that lasted longer than she intended. “Tomorrow is our anniversary.”
“I’ve been thinking about that.” He kissed her again. “I love you, Ashley. You’re the greatest gift God’s ever given me.”
“I love you.” Her heart danced. Yes, today would be good. She was ready.
They stepped outside and a black SUV pulled up. They had a private driver today, someone who would wait for them while they had lunch with Jessie and as Landon took her to Palais Garnier, the opera house in the ninth district, a place Ashley had never visited before.
The driver helped them out of the car near an outdoor café in the eighth arrondissement near the Champs-Elysées. Ashley saw Jessie right away. Her niece ran to them, a handsome young man standing by the table where the two had been sitting.
Landon squeezed Ashley’s hand. “She looks happy.”
“She does.” Ashley felt so much better. This was her life. Not the memories that had haunted her yesterday. And now they would have a beautiful lunch with Kari’s oldest daughter.
“Aunt Ashley! Uncle Landon!” She reached them, breathless. “I can’t believe you’re here.” She was in their arms in a rush. “Seeing you here, it’s like a piece of home.”
The innocent joy in Jessie’s eyes was the same as Ashley’s had been when she stepped off the plane here twenty-three years ago. If only she hadn’t gotten pulledinto the world of Jean-Claude Pierre. Ashley banned the thoughts. “You look marvelous, sweetheart.” She glanced back at the table. “Introduce us to your guy.”
Jessie’s eyes lit up. “He’s wonderful, Aunt Ashley. You’ll love him.”
Together they hurried to the table and Jessie introduced them to Gabriel Michel. The young man was twenty-two, the same age as Cole. He was polite and well spoken, and his English was beyond fluent.
When they were all seated, and after the waitress had brought them their salads, Gabriel looked at Ashley. “I see Jessie in you. The two of you are very alike.”
It was true. Ashley smiled at Jessie. “One day soon the gallery show will be hers.”
Jessie beamed beneath the compliment. “I hope so.” She looked at Gabriel and then back at Ashley. “So what do you think about Gabe’s mother?”
Ashley wasn’t sure what her niece meant. “His mother?”
“Yes… the story I told you when you were boarding the plane.” Jessie bounced a little. “Do you think it’s possible?”
Landon chuckled in Gabe’s direction. “I’m in the dark on this one.”
Gabe laughed. “My mom told Jessie a story a few days ago. In fact… she’s meeting us here in a few minutes. If that’s okay.”
“Of course.” Landon set his fork down. “We’d love that.”
Clearly, Jessie wanted to get back to the story. “I triedto tell you the other day.” She could barely contain her enthusiasm.
“Oh, right…” Ashley remembered. “You were saying something at the end of the call. But it broke up. We lost connection.”
“Got it.” Jessie settled back in her chair. “I wondered how much you’d heard.” She looked at Gabriel and back at Ashley and Landon. “I’ll let Gabe tell you.”
