Page 16 of Forgiving Paris
Alice took the girl’s hands as she stepped back. “Yes.Enchanté.” She smiled. “Gabe has told us so much about you.”
“And you.” Jessie grinned. Then she held up a brown paper bag. “We brought blueberries. Gabriel said they were your favorite.”
It was Paul’s turn, and he kindly shook Jessie’s hand. “Dinner is ready. We have so much to talk about.”
Never mind that Paul was one of the most powerful lawyers in Paris. He was gentle with people. His guiding principle—at work or at home—was that all people had worth. Everyone had a story. And always people deserved kindness. Alice had heard her husband say those words often.
The group headed for the kitchen and Alice opened the bag of berries. “They smell delicious.”
“Just picked. Got them at today’s market.” Gabriel kissed her cheek and took a deep breath. “Mmm. Your famous steak frites.” He glanced at Jessie. “I told you she was the best cook!”
When they were settled at the table with the meal spread out before them, Gabriel prayed over the food. “And thank You, God, for Jessie. In all the world, that You might lead her here, to me. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Alice caught the hint of a smile on Jessie’s lips. The depth of her son’s feelings for this girl was matched by hers for him. No question.
They talked about the art class Gabe and Jessie were taking, and how Jessie wanted to be an artist, like her aunt. “She’s having a show here in Paris. At that little gallery, Light of the Seine.”
“An artist.” Alice sat her fork down. “That’s interesting, Jessie. Not many American artists are celebrated here.” She hesitated, not sure if she should continue. Maybe this wasn’t the time. “I knew an American artist once. A long time ago.”
Gabriel spoke up then. “Jessie and I were talking about that. How we each have such interesting stories. How God spared us through really hard times.” He winked at Jessie. “Same with her aunt. I’m sure I’ll hear those details eventually.”
“Yes. I was about to tell your son her story when he whisked me off on a trip through the tops of the trees.”
“Oh, my.” Alice looked from Jessie to her son. “Do tell.”
“Aventure Floreval.” Gabe laughed. “Jessie was quite good at it.”
“Except the time when Gabriel had to catch me.” The girl’s eyes lit up and her cheeks grew pink.
“You were harnessed.” He looked at her, like they were the only two in the room. “Nothing would’ve happened to you.”
“Because you caught me.”
Gabe turned back to Alice and Paul. “Anyway, about our stories.” He hesitated. “There are similarities between Jessie and me, Mère.” He looked at Jessie. “She should tell it.”
“We’ve only just met your sweet friend.” Alice smiled at the girl. “We can save deeper conversations for another day.”
“Honestly…” Jessie took a sip of water. “I don’t mind sharing. Redemption isn’t redemption without the broken path that took a person there.”
“See?” Gabriel seemed to reach for the girl’s hand under the table. He grinned at Paul and then Alice. “This is what I like about Jessie Taylor. She speaks like a poet.”
Again Jessie’s cheeks darkened. “Gabe.”
“She paints like one, too.” Once again, her son seemed to remember his parents. “Even the little I’ve heard, her story is like a movie.”
“Well, then… I’d love to hear it, Jessie.”
“Me, too.” Paul dabbed a napkin at the corners of his mouth. “Your story starts in Bloomington, Indiana?”
“It does.” Jessie took a quick breath. “My father was a professor at Indiana University. My mother had spent all of high school loving her boyfriend, a football player named Ryan Taylor. But they had a misunderstanding and things fell apart between them.” She glanced at Gabriel.
Alice doubted her son and this girl had gone through any fallings-out of their own. Not according to the way they looked at each other.
“Anyway, my mom and Ryan ended things… and my mother fell in love with a young teacher’s assistant. A man studying to be a professor. Tim Jacobs. The two married, but a few years later my mother learned Tim was having an affair with one of his students.”
This was a lot. Alice didn’t take her eyes off Jessie. Next to her, Paul was also riveted.
“My mom begged Tim to stay in her life. Begged him to break things off with the student.” Jessie didn’t hide the pride in her voice. “My mom didn’t believe in divorce. She still doesn’t. She forgave her husband and prayed he would come back home.” She hesitated. “Which he did.”
