One Summer in Paris(92)

For the last few months he’d been conflicted and confused. She’d been the strong one, but not today. Today he was the one showing strength and determination. It was as if he knew, finally, exactly what he wanted. She was the one who felt wobbly and uncertain.

Maybe it wasn’t only the flight and the journey. It was being here, in Paris.

She’d firmly closed the lid on her past, but now it was open again.

“Is she coming here?”

“Yes.” David poured water into a glass. “But not because of me. Because of you. She was furious that I’d brought you here. She’s on her way. She wants to check on you.” He lifted the glass, and she noticed that his hand shook a little. He was nowhere near as steady as he pretended to be.

“You’re nervous.”

“I’ll handle it.”

She grabbed his hand. “Don’t make her unhappy, David.”

“I already did. What I’m trying to do next is put it right, and I’ll keep working on that even if it takes me the rest of my life.” He handed her the water. “I don’t expect you to understand. You’ve never done something and then looked back afterward and realized you were a total and utter fool.”

“We all make bad decisions, David.”

Perhaps that was why she was so willing to forgive him. She knew what it was like to question a decision.

“What if Grace won’t listen to you?”

“I’ll keep trying. I don’t want you to worry.”

“I’m officially worried.” What worried her most was that Grace might already be involved with another man. What if it was too late?

Mimi took a few sips of water and then handed the glass back to David. Anxiety had formed a solid lump in her chest. She really was too old for all this.

She’d thought being back in Paris would be exciting, but it simply felt exhausting.

Maybe it was being in this stifling hotel room.

“Do me a favor, David. Open the windows.”

“Are you sure?” He frowned. “It’s pretty noisy out there. It will stop you resting.”

“I like the noise.” She heard the persistent honking of car horns and her eyes drifted shut. “It takes me back.”

He poured her another glass of water and put it on the nightstand, close to her. “Close your eyes and I’ll wake you when Grace is here.”

She knew she should probably question him more about what he intended to do, but she didn’t have the energy. She needed to sleep for just a little bit.

She woke to the sound of knocking and then voices.

David’s voice, deep and level and then Grace’s softer tones.

Mimi opened her eyes. For a moment she couldn’t remember where she was. She’d been dreaming, and in her dreams she’d made different decisions. If only life were that easy.

“Grace?”

The door between the rooms opened, and Grace appeared.

Mimi almost didn’t recognize her.

Her hair was short and curved inward in a sleek bob and she was wearing a white summer dress that made her look decades younger.

The only time Mimi had seen Grace wear white was on her wedding day. It wasn’t a practical color, and her granddaughter was nothing if not practical.

At least, that had always been the case in the past.

There was nothing practical about the outfit Grace was wearing today. It shrieked confident woman, and there was a glow in her cheeks that Mimi hadn’t expected to see.

Oh, David, David, Mimi thought. You are in trouble.

“Mimi.” Grace crossed the room in a swirl of perfume and smiles, her eyes alight with happiness. “I can’t believe you’re here!” She sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped her arms around Mimi, rocking her gently. “I missed you so much.” There was strength in her hug, and an energy that had been missing in the few months before she’d gone away.

Mimi felt relieved and afraid at the same time.

This wasn’t a vulnerable, pliable Grace.

How was she going to react to what David had to say?

“I missed you, too.” She closed her eyes. “You smell amazing and you look wonderful. Paris suits you.”

Grace laughed and pulled away. “I’m loving Paris.”

Was it Paris, or something more? Someone more?

Mimi studied her. “I think you look better than I’ve ever seen you. I love your hair. You’ve never worn it short before.”

“I decided it was time for a change. My friend Audrey did it. Remember I mentioned her? Why are you here? I tried to persuade you to come to Paris so many times. You always said there was no reason to come.”

“You gave me a reason.”

“You should at least have told me you were coming.”

“That was my fault.” David spoke from the doorway. “I wanted to see you. I need to talk to you.” His voice was firm and steady, but Mimi saw desperation in his eyes.

Had Grace seen it, too?

“You came all the way here for a conversation?” Grace’s tone went from warm to polite, bordering on chilly. “You couldn’t have just picked up the phone or sent an email?”

“What I need to say is better said face-to-face.”

Grace’s smile disappeared. “So for that reason alone you dragged my grandmother halfway across the world?”