Page 52 of Forgiving Paris
The rest of the tale came out in broken bits and pieces as Marie remembered the details. She had helped Alice find her way back to school, and not long after, Marie had met a wonderful man and the two married. “Money was less tight. Alice had the best schools. She became a teacher and she met Paul Arquette.”
“My husband.” Alice smiled. “The love of my life.”
Marie explained that Paul had loved Gabriel from the moment he met the boy. “Paul is the only father Gabriel has ever known.”
Ashley looked at her husband and the two shared a brief embrace. “Landon is my Paul.”
“I thought so.” Marie smiled. “Ashley, I began praying for Alice before her overdose, before she found out she was pregnant. Long before she came home.” Marie hesitated. “But you… you were the answer to my prayers. I wanted to look into your eyes and thank you. From this mother’s heart, thank you for giving me my girl back.”
Tears shone in both Ashley’s eyes and Landon’s. “Your story is very important to us.” Landon cleared his throat. “Thank you… for sharing it.”
“And now look…” Marie laughed and it eased the heaviness at the table. “God has brought you two friends back together. And our Gabriel is dating your niece. We need only look to see the miracles of our God.”
They ate their dinner, and Ashley invited Marie and Alice to her show. They both agreed to go. “We wouldn’t miss it!” Alice reached across the table and took brief hold of Ashley’s hand. “You’re having an art show in Paris, Ashley. Look at us! All because of God.”
Indeed. Marie sat back and watched her daughter laugh and talk with her American friend.Thank You, Father, for this.She kept her prayer silent as she blinked back tears. What if she hadn’t fallen to her knees that long-ago night in her chilly bedroom? And suddenly Marie wished for just one thing. That she could tell her own mother how things had worked out, how they were still working out.
All because Marie had finally been willing to pray.
THE MORNING OFher gallery show, Ashley woke up just before sunrise. Landon was still asleep, so she slipped out of the bedroom and moved to the desk on the other side of the door. It sat near the window, and from there Ashley could watch Paris come to life.
Somewhere out there, people are making plans to attend my show tonight,she thought.How is that even possible, God?
Her heart felt deep and full, like she could stare out the window and cry a million tears over the faithfulness of the Lord and the love of Landon and her family. If only her dad and Cole could be here today. The two of them would make her feel like her own mother was actually here.
Which she was.
Mom… you’ll always be with me. And tonight… you’ll have a window. I believe that.
Tears trickled onto Ashley’s cheeks and she blinked them back. No matter how many years it had been, she felt close to her mother this morning. Hearing Marie’s story had done that for her. Listening to Alice’s mother say many of the things her own mother would’ve said if she were still alive.
The heartache of the silent months, the longing for a daughter lost, the photo albums with proof of happier times. All of it had been Ashley’s mom’s life, as well. If Ashley could have it to do over again… If only she had another shot at that year, she never would’ve let so much time go by without calling home.
Of course the messages from her mother had gottenthrough to Ashley. She simply hadn’t wanted to call back. Selfish and young, caught in a web of immorality and wretched decisions. The last thing she wanted was to hear her parents’ voices on the other end of the line.
Especially her mother’s.
Ashley wiped at her tears. Light was piercing the darkness over Paris. A smile tugged at her lips. Wasn’t that the truth, though. She felt for her new necklace again. The sunrise was nothing to the way heaven’s light had shattered the darkness of her days in Paris.
She closed her eyes for a moment and let the memories come again. Not about Jean-Claude, but about her time at the boulangerie. The days when the men were following her. When she wondered if she’d live to see the morning.
Of course, she remembered giving Alice the Bible and showing her the pregnancy book. She had purchased the guide because she had no idea what to do. What to eat or how to care for the child growing within her. And by then she was too ashamed to call home.
Ms. Martin had turned into a completely different person when she heard about Ashley’s baby. And she definitely knew—before Ashley even had the chance to tell her.
“Marguerite informed me of your pregnancy.” Gone were the warmth and camaraderie. The woman rolled her eyes. “You will pack your things and be gone in the morning, Ashley.” Her look screamed disappointment. “I had such hopes for you.”
Ashley looked at the city lights again. With nowhere to turn, she had hauled her suitcases to the hostel twelve blocks away, not far from the bakery. She was running out of money and had no friends, no phone to call home even if she could muster the courage to do so.
And it was in that desperate place, across the street from the hostel, that she saw the old bookstore. “I need help, God,” she had whispered. “If You love me, show me.”
She walked into the bookstore with eleven francs in her pocket. Just eleven francs. Somehow she found the used pregnancy book.Six francs.And then, on the next aisle tucked between dusty cookbooks, was a Bible. In English. Seven francs, the orange sticker read.
Too much.Ashley’s heart sank. She was about to pay for the pregnancy book when a shop clerk walked up. “You want that Bible, mademoiselle?” The man was probably in his seventies, but he had a sparkle in his eyes. Like he loved being surrounded by old books.
“I do.” She felt so ashamed. A pregnant American with nowhere to turn. “I… I can’t afford it. Maybe another time.”
The man reached for the Bible. “Here.” He handed it to her. “Today is buy one, get one free.” He grinned. “For you, mademoiselle.”
