Page 68 of Forgiving Paris
“Or…” He wasn’t looking at the expansive view of Paris. He was looking at her. “How it feels right now. I think this might be even better.”
She turned to him and they came together in a longhug. “Thank you, Landon. For insisting I take this trip. For being with me every moment of the way.” She kissed him, slowly with the passion of a lifetime. Then she pulled away a few inches. “I’ll remember this forever. You… the show… our time here. This.” She looked out again. “It’s all I’ll think about now… when I think about Paris.”
They walked around the summit to the other side, where there were fewer tourists. The spray from the wet sky wasn’t as strong here because of the direction of the wind. Together they leaned against the center wall, as far from the rain as possible. Ashley pulled a letter from her jeans pocket. “I brought this.”
Landon hadn’t seen it before. He looked at the writing on the front. “Who’s Mia?”
“I don’t know.” Ashley slid her finger beneath the envelope flap, careful to keep it dry. “Emilie gave this to me. Before the show last night.” When it was open, Ashley lifted the contents from inside. There was a letter and also… a photograph.
A blond woman maybe in her forties… and a younger one, the woman’s daughter maybe. That must’ve been it, because the pair looked so much alike. The girl was maybe in her late teens or early twenties.
“Do you know them?” Landon peered over her shoulder at the picture.
“I don’t think so.” There was something slightly familiar about the woman’s face. And the girl… she almost looked like Cole. But Ashley was sure she didn’t know either woman. “Here.” She handed the photo to Landon.A strong breeze made its way across the open summit. Ashley held tight to the paper. “I’ll read the letter.”
She opened the single page and started at the top. “?‘Dear Ashley,… you don’t know me. My name is Mia Barrons. I’m enclosing a photo of myself with my daughter, Estelle. We live in Normandy, where my husband and I are dairy farmers.’?”
“Dairy farmers. Hmm.” Landon glanced at Ashley. “Maybe they’re inviting you to come milk the cows.”
“Stop.” She swatted at him. Ashley still didn’t know where this was going. She kept reading. “?‘We have a big family and a beautiful life. But all of that… all of it is because of you. Because of your courage. Let me explain.’?” Ashley lowered the letter and looked at Landon. “What in the world?”
“Let her explain. Keep reading.”
“Okay, okay.” She lifted the page and found her place. “?‘Twenty-three years ago, you were not the only one traipsing around Paris with a married man. With Jean-Claude Pierre. I, too, was one of his many paramours. I escaped the man’s evil empire by moving to Normandy.’?”
For a minute, Ashley and Landon said nothing. The pieces were beginning to add up. Did that mean… was the girl… “Dear God…”
Landon wasn’t laughing now. He moved closer to her. “Read the rest.”
“?‘Yes, my time with that horrible man left me pregnant. Just like you.’?”
“Ashley…”
She took the photo from Landon again. “The girl… she’s Cole’s half-sister. I can’t believe this.” Her hands were shaking now. The rain was falling harder, and Ashley raised her voice to be heard. She found her place in the letter. “?‘Anyway, I was in the waiting room in the clinic about to have an abortion when they called your name. I knew who you were. I worked in the shop across the street from the Montmartre Gallery, and I would sometimes see you with Jean-Claude.’?”
Suddenly the memory came back. “I saw Mia with him, too. A few times. I knew he was having an affair with her… same as me.”
“I’m sorry.” Landon rubbed her back. “I love you, Ashley.”
Those were the only words she needed to hear. Her time with Jean-Claude had been so tawdry, so shameful and dirty. Ashley took a shaky breath and finished the letter. “?‘As fate would have it, there we were… you and me… at the same abortion clinic. Both of us pregnant… by the same man.’?” Ashley exhaled. This was so much. Not in a million years would she have imagined this coming. “?‘You didn’t see me, but when they called your name to take you back, you didn’t go.’?”
Ashley’s voice cracked under the weight of this. She forced herself to keep reading. “?‘You didn’t do it. Instead… you ran from that clinic. You ran and never looked back.’?” Ashley paused.God, help me get through this.
She found her place once more. “?‘Five minutes later, Iran out of that clinic, too.’?” Ashley lowered the letter and lifted her face to heaven. “Thank You, Jesus. Thank You.” She had seen someone else in the waiting room that day, she remembered that now.
“Ashley… this is incredible.” Landon pressed his face to hers. The wind was picking up, making the moment feel intimate. Like the Eiffel Tower was theirs alone.
She steadied herself and read the last few lines. “?‘So you see, because of your courage I have my daughter. My Estelle.’?” Ashley pressed her fingers to her lips.God… You are so good.“?‘And I… I believe our children would be half siblings. I’m including my phone number and email address. If you ever want to be in touch. If not, that’s okay. We had to leave before your show, but I wanted to thank you. I’ve always wanted to do this. Sincerely, Mia Barrons.’?”
“Cole has a half-sister he’s never met.” Landon sounded dazed. “A girl who wouldn’t be alive if…”
“Just like Cole.” Ashley put the letter and photograph back in the envelope and returned it to her pocket.
“Like Gabriel, too.” Landon turned to her. He put his hands on either side of her face and searched her eyes. “That Scripture we read together… before the trip.” He shook his head. “God gave that to us, Ash. So we’d be looking. Can you see that?”
Ashley nodded. This was more than little boats. “Lives were saved…”
“Because of your time in Paris.” Landon kissed her then, just long enough to remind her how much he cared.
