Page 63 of Forgiving Paris
And he had no idea what to do about it.
Later Ashley told him about what Jessie had said. As it turned out, they’d given the young couple the same advice. Let God lead. Take it one day at a time. Even an ocean away, no goodbye was forever. Not for people who believed in the promises of Jesus.
Landon took a deep breath and glanced toward Ashley again. It was so easy to see her the way she looked a thousand different times in their lives. But right now, he remembered her on their long-ago prom night. The first time he kissed her.
He could hardly believe that when the show was over, he got to go back to the hotel with her, that they could kiss anytime they felt like it. He started to walk toward her, but as he did, he felt his phone vibrate. Instantly he was on alert again.
Who would be calling him in Paris? No one here had his number. He pulled his phone from his pocket and saw his father-in-law’s name on the home screen.John Baxter?Why was he calling now? Then it hit him. The man must’ve figured out the time difference and he was calling to congratulate Ashley. So kind of him.
“Hello?”
“Landon! How are you?”
“Great.” The connection was surprisingly clear. “Goodto hear from you, John. Her show is still going on. She has another hour left. Let me get her for you.”
“Wait!” John laughed on the other end. “How about you step outside, instead.”
Maybe his father-in-law had hired a local flower delivery. “Okay.” Landon stepped out into the cool July night. He wasn’t five feet from the building when he stopped short.
John Baxter and Cole were standing there at the curb, both of them dressed in dark suits, dress shirts and ties. Landon could’ve cried, but he was too happy to see them. “Are you kidding me? You actually pulled this off? How did you… when did you decide to do this?”
“We talked about it, remember?” John was still laughing, his eyes damp.
“But you never told me you actually… John, this is amazing.”
“I couldn’t miss it.”
“Me, either.” Cole threw his arms around Landon’s neck. “Hi, Dad. You look sharp.”
“You, too.” Landon couldn’t begin to imagine what their being here would mean to Ashley. “I still can’t believe this.”
“Wait till you hear! I almost didn’t make it.” Cole looked back at his grandpa and grinned. “It’s a long story. Let’s just say only God could’ve gotten us here.” He gave Landon a hearty pat on his shoulder. “Okay, already. Take us to her. I need to see Mom in her element.”
Even after everything that had happened today, thismoment, seeing her father and son at her show, was going to leave Ashley speechless. After this, Paris would be an entirely different place for her. A place of true romance and laughter, accomplishment and blessing. And something else.
The very sweetest redemption.
ASHLEY WAS MID-CONVERSATIONwith an older woman who spoke little English, and Emilie was standing nearby translating when out of the corner of her eye, Ashley noticed a group of people enter the gallery. An hour into the show, most patrons were here and deciding which painting to purchase.
She looked that way and gasped. “How… Dad! Cole!” Ashley looked at the older patron. “I’m sorry, pardon me.”
Emilie was grinning, like maybe she had known about this. Ashley would find out later. All that mattered now was that they had come. They had flown across the ocean to surprise her on her big night.
Her heart was so full she wondered if she could take it all in. She moved past other gallery visitors, and in as much time as it took her heart to beat again, Ashley had her arms around both of them.
Landon stood next to her dad and Cole. “Look who I found outside.”
“You came!” Ashley hugged Cole for a long while, rocking him, breathing him in. Cole, who wouldn’t bealive if her first trip to Paris had turned out differently. “I love you, son. I can’t believe you’re here.”
“It was Papa’s idea.” He stepped back and put his hand on Ashley’s father’s shoulder. “He asked if I wanted to surprise you.” Cole kissed her cheek. “I wouldn’t have missed it. Being in Paris with you, Mom.” He looked around the gallery. “Seeing all of this.” His smile lit up the room. “Congratulations.”
How was this really happening? The child she had nearly lost, the one who changed her life, was here in Paris and they were celebrating her greatest artistic achievement? The miracle of it was almost more than she could take in.
“Yes, honey, congratulations.” It was her dad’s turn. He took her in his arms and held her close, his hand on the back of her head. “I always saw this. Your mom did, too. She would’ve loved to be here.”
Ashley couldn’t stop her tears. The happiest and saddest tears she’d ever known, all mixed together. “I feel her with me, Dad. I do.” She pressed the side of her face against her father’s. “Thank you… you’ll never… you’ll never know how much this means to me.”
He stepped back a few inches and smiled at her, that look of love and pride and approval that could only come from a father. “I was there when you made your first drawing, Ashley. I took you to your first art gallery.” He put his hand on her cheek. “I do know. That’s why I had to come.”
