Page 17 of Forgiving Paris
“That couldn’t have been easy.” Alice felt for the girl’s mother.
“It wasn’t. But they made another attempt and they found love again. And my mom got pregnant.” Jessie smiled, despite the sadness in her eyes. “With me.”
Gabriel put his hand on her shoulder. He looked like he might stand up and take her in his arms. His desire to protect this college girl was palpable.
“What a gift you must have been for them after their near breakup.” Paul set his napkin by his plate.
“Yes.” Jessie nodded. “But there was a complication. Tim—my father—still had to deal with the female student. She didn’t want to end things, and so she invited Tim back to her apartment one more time.”
“Oh, no.” Alice leaned in.
“It wasn’t like that. My father went only to tell her things were over. He had no intention of returning to her. He wanted to stay with my mom forever. And with me.” Jessie paused. “But the student had another admirer. An athlete at the school, a young man on steroids. He had been stalking the female student.”
“This is the part I do know.” Gabriel still hadn’t taken his eyes off Jessie. “It’s so sad.”
“It is.” Jessie nodded. “That night my father stopped at the store and bought a pink rabbit for me. Then he drove to the student’s apartment to tell her things were over and not to call ever again. But the stalker was waiting outside her apartment and… when my father stepped out of his car and walked up to the front door, the young man shot him.”
Alice gasped and put her hand over her mouth. “Your father?”
“Yes.” Jessie looked from Alice to Paul. “He died there on the sidewalk. Before he could give the student the letter saying it was over.”
“Oh, Jessie.” Alice stood and went to the girl’s side. She hugged her shoulders and pressed her face against the girl’s. “I’m so, so sorry.”
“Me, too.” Jessie’s expression was sober. “When I was five, my mom gave me the pink bunny. I still have it.” She took a full breath. “A year after my father’s death, Ryan Taylor came back into my mom’s life. The two fell in love and got married. When I was two years old, Ryan adopted me. He’s the only dad I’ve ever known… and one of the best men on the planet. For real.”
Alice gave Jessie another quick hug and then took her seat again. They had definitely gone deep tonight. “Thank you, Jessie. For sharing that.”
Gabriel looked proud of his friend. “See?” He kept his eyes on Jessie. “There is no redemption without brokenness.”
“Talk about poets. Gabe needs to be a writer.” Jessie’s smile was back. “Your son has a way with words.”
“He always has.” Paul smiled at Gabriel. “If he doesn’t become a lawyer, I think he’ll be an author one day. He sees life through a different lens. His beautiful heart.”
Gabe put his hands up and chuckled. “Okay, okay.” He looked at Alice. “Jessie says her aunt’s story is powerful, too. She suffered a terrible car accident, and then came here to paint.” He turned to Jessie. “What happened to her?”
Jessie slid her plate back a bit. “Here in Paris… she connected with a man who did not have her best interest at heart.” She hesitated. “My aunt came back to Indiana pregnant. The man… he was a married artist here in Paris.”
“Oh, my. I’m sorry.” Paul’s eyes were warm with sympathy. “Much brokenness.”
“And much redemption.” Jessie’s expression held a deep peace. “Today my aunt is married to the only man she ever loved. They have four kids and her dreams of being an artist came true.” Jessie paused. “God is so good.”
“He is.” Alice was quiet for a moment. Was this the time to talk about her own story? Maybe it would help Jessie know her better.
Gabriel looked at her, like he could read her mind. “What about you, M’man? Share your story.”
“Okay.” Alice took another sip of water. “My mother raised me by herself and at first our life was beautiful. The two of us took trips on the weekend and frequented thezoo when the weather was nice.” She smiled at the memory. “But in my early teens I hurt my ankle in a footrace. The doctor put me on pain medicine for a short while.” She allowed a small shrug. “I wanted more. At a party one weekend I found the answer in a small vial of heroin.”
Shame came over her the way it hadn’t in many years. How could she have given herself to that monster drug? She had lost so many years, and almost her life. Gabriel’s life.
Paul put his arm around her and kissed the side of her head. “You don’t have to tell us, Alice. It’s okay.”
“It’s behind me. But it’s part of my life.” She looked at Jessie. “Do you have time?”
“Of course.” Jessie was clearly rapt. “They say heroin is addictive from the first time you take it.”
“They’re right.” Alice heard the sadness in her voice. “It didn’t take long before I would’ve killed for my next heroin hit. When I wasn’t high, I was in pain. At first the drug offers the greatest euphoria of your life. But you only get that once. Then heroin takes away your normal.” She paused. “You spend the rest of your days trying to feel like you did before your first hit, trying to keep from feeling drug sick.”
The four of them were quiet for a few seconds.
