One Summer in Paris(113)

“A change of circumstances called for a change in look.” She hugged Sophie. “Are you doing okay?”

Sophie clung to her. “I’m so sorry.”

Grace stroked her back, aware that David was looking at her searchingly.

“Is everything all right?”

“Everything is fine.” Had he known Lissa would call? No, probably not. And maybe she’d tell him at some point, but not right now.

Sophie pulled away. “Is Monica mad at me?”

“No. She’s grateful to you for handling everything in such an adult way.”

Truthfully, Grace had been afraid that Monica might blame Sophie, but that hadn’t been the case at all. Monica had bravely digested the facts and looked honestly at her relationship with her daughter without shifting blame.

Grace decided not to relay the details of the conversation where poor Monica had blamed herself and her parenting for Chrissie’s sudden rebellion.

It’s my fault, Grace. I held on to her too tightly.

Grace could sympathize, because to some extent she’d done the same with David. She glanced briefly at her husband, who was talking quietly to Sophie. Had she looked honestly at their relationship? Was she willing to admit that she was at least partly responsible? It was so much easier to wholly shift the blame onto another person than to take responsibility oneself.

She sat down on the opposite side of the table, facing David and Sophie.

“I was so stupid.” Sophie’s eyes were swimming. “Chrissie went totally crazy and I didn’t want to say no to her. When she collapsed, it was terrifying. And I couldn’t speak Italian so no one understood me.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You stuck with your friend,” Grace said, “and that’s important. If you hadn’t been there, maybe Chrissie wouldn’t be alive and flying home with her mother.”

A waiter appeared by her chair. “Would madame like to order?”

“Just coffee, please.”

David ordered the same for himself. “How was London? How is Audrey’s mother?”

“Recovering. Audrey is back in Paris.”

“Will I get to meet Audrey?” Sophie looked curious. “You’ve talked about her a lot. Will you stay in touch when you come home? She’s obviously important to you.”

Grace thought about what the last month would have looked like without Audrey.

She would have lost her purse and all her valuables on day one for a start.

Would she have had the courage to contact Philippe if Audrey hadn’t pushed her? Probably not. She certainly wouldn’t have changed her hair. Audrey had made her question everything. Inspired her.

“Yes, you’ll get to meet her. We’ll be staying in touch.”

They talked a little about Sophie’s travels and when David excused himself to use the bathroom, Sophie leaned forward.

“You really do look great, Mom. When you told me you were doing okay, I thought you were probably being brave, but you weren’t. You seem to have really enjoyed yourself.”

“I have.”

If David hadn’t left her, her summer in Paris would have looked very different. She wouldn’t have worked in the bookshop. She wouldn’t have met Audrey.

She thought about Audrey and Etienne and smiled.

Would their relationship work out? It was impossible to say, but it was obviously good right now. When it came to relationships there were no guarantees. Not after twenty-five days, and not after twenty-five years. Sometimes good right now was enough.

Sophie fiddled with her cup. “Do you think you and Dad might get back together?”

“I don’t know. It’s much too soon to even think about that.”

“He loves you, Mom. He really loves you. He did a stupid thing, just like Chrissie. And me.”

“Taking a single Ecstasy isn’t quite the same as having an affair after twenty-five years of marriage.” On the other hand maybe it wasn’t so far removed. Each offered the promise of adventure. A moment away from the routine of daily life. Excitement. What had Lissa called it?

A few breathless minutes on a roller coaster.

Sophie looked pleading. “You’re the one who always says that everyone does stupid things sometimes. You can hate the action, but not the person, right?”

“I don’t hate your father. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to trust him again.”

David arrived at the table at the same time as Grace’s coffee.

A woman at the table nearest to them sent him a lingering glance and for a moment Grace saw him as another woman might.

Dark hair. Strong shoulders. That knockout smile.

He really was good-looking, but that wasn’t what had attracted her to him in the first place. What had drawn her were his values. His sense of responsibility. His kindness. He was a man who stood by his word and would never let you down, or so she’d thought.

Was she willing to move past that one mistake? Was she able to move past it or would she always feel suspicious? She didn’t want to be in a marriage where she didn’t trust her husband.

On the other hand, when had he ever let her down before this? Never. And when she’d called him about Sophie, he’d come immediately, even though she’d been pretty rude to him in their two encounters before that.