“Thanks, Dad,” I say, trying not to show how puzzled I am as I try to put together the missing pieces of my new, improved life.
My dad climbs into the other car with the rest of the group while Samuel lifts my suitcase into the trunk. “Wait,” I tell him. “The newspaper in the front pocket.”
Samuel hands me the crisp paper, and as I unfold it and skim the front page, the headline toward the bottom catches my eye.
“United States Senator stabbed to death in a lover’s quarrel in the Alps,” I translate aloud. “Reported by International Correspondent…Jillian Chambord.”
I wrote this?
By the look on Samuel’s face, I can tell he is just as clueless as I am about how the Morel–Williams scandal wrapped up after our most recent seventy-five-year time hop on the Orient Express. I fan out the paper between us so we can scan the article.
“So, in this new version of events, Hélène still did have an affair with Senator Williams,” I say. “And she still stabbed him to death in that freaky white palace hidden in the middle of the French Alps.” My memories of our terrifying voyage through the snow-covered mountains are fading, but they haven’t faded enough to take away the shiver that turns my blood cold as I think about the crazed Morel women and their affinity for daggers.
“And Williams was still a perverted creep,” Samuel adds after reading the part about Williams’s involvement in the murder of two teenage sisters and a child prostitution ring back in D.C.—a story I am still quite familiar with, and as this article proves, a story that I still worked hard to expose, even in this new version of my life.
“But Williams never harmed Isla,” I say, letting out a relieved breath. “She never even crossed paths with him because we have a new family now. This also means the abduction never even happened, and the other two innocent girls—Emma Brooks and Francesca Rossi—are alive.”
Samuel turns to me, grinning. “And you, Jillian Chambord, are a kick-ass international correspondent who just traveled back from the Alps after covering a gruesome murder. I imagine right about now, you could probably use some delicious French pastries for breakfast followed by a little Paris birthday lovin’…Am I right?” He surprises me with another sweet, passionate kiss, making me so incredibly happy that if we had to make this journey…at least we made it together.
“That sounds perfect,” I tell him as he closes the trunk, then opens the car door, gesturing for me to get in.
As we slide into the back seat together, a silver-haired couple sitting in the front of the car turns around to face us.
There, in the driver’s seat is Georges, the chauffeur, and next to him, his twin sister, Madeleine.
Georges tips his black hat as Madeleine flashes us a bold smile.
“Jillian, Samuel,” Madeleine says with a nod. “We’re so happy you made it…back to 2013 that is.” The French that rolls effortlessly off her tongue is just as impeccable and elegant as she is.
Samuel shoots me a worried glance, but I place an assuring hand on his knee. “Samuel, I’d like you to meet Madeleine, my aunt, and her twin brother Georges, my uncle.” I turn back to the mysterious pair of twins, remembering the clues and the help they provided along my journey to rescue Isla.
“So you two had something to do with all of this—sending us back in time to save Rosie, and ultimately to set the past straight?”
Madeleine nods as Georges puts the car into drive and takes off down a tree-lined Parisian boulevard.
“Yes, we did,” she says. “And while I’m sure both of you have many questions about how exactly all of this works, unfortunately we don’t have much time.” Madeleine reaches over the seat, handing us each a small, folded piece of paper.
“You see,” she continues, “it was not a coincidence that the two of you were chosen to complete this mission together. You are both exceedingly strong and resilient, and your love for one another is unique…and powerful. Because of your fearless quest to right the wrongs of the past, you have changed so many lives for the better, including mine and Georges. On behalf of everyone you’ve helped, we would like to thank you. And, if you’re up to the task, we would like to offer you another opportunity to travel back…” Madeleine nods at the tiny papers in our hands.
“Go ahead, open them,” Georges pipes up from the driver’s seat.
I gaze over at Samuel, and we nod at each other in unison before unfolding the papers.
“You will have forty-eight hours to make a decision,” Madeleine says as we read the description of our next possible mission.
The words on the page run laps around my dazed head as I fold up the paper and grasp Samuel’s hand.
“Paris in the 1920s could be quite an adventure you know,” Georges says.
Madeleine nods in agreement. “And you two certainly have the class to pull it off.”
A sly grin slides over Samuel’s lips as his gaze locks on mine. “What do you think, Jill? You and me solving a mystery in 1920s Paris? It could be fun…”
Just as I am about to answer him, Madeleine interrupts.
“The real question is, did each of you keep your lifetime passes to the Orient Express? I hope so, because you will definitely need them.”
THE END
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A huge, heartfelt merci goes to my fabulous editor, Kelli Martin, and to the entire team at Amazon Publishing and Montlake Romance for working so hard to bring my Paris stories to readers. If only I could take each of you to Paris to celebrate over champagne and Nutella crêpes…maybe one day!
To my amazing agent, Kevan Lyon, for your loyalty, expertise, and support. I couldn’t have come this far without you, and I am truly grateful for everything you’ve done to get me here. A Paris trip is definitely in order one of these days.
I would like to thank my close friend, Sophie Moss, for reading early drafts of this novel, for our weekly writing pep-talks, and for your constant encouragement and support. I appreciate it more than you know. And to Marion Croslydon and Tracy Hewitt Meyer, I am so grateful we met and became instant friends.
To Alana Albertson, thank you for “getting” my writing and for your help with this novel. I’m so happy to have found such a wonderful writing pal in San Diego!
I’d like to send a warm thank you to my D.C. critique group: Karen, Sharon, and Mary. Over lattes and pastries, you taught me how to write, and I am forever grateful. I miss you all every day.
To my husband, my friends, and my family: Thank you for understanding why I have gone off the map these past several months. Writing a novel—or, in my case, writing two novels simultaneously—is an all-consuming passion, and I’m thankful that you’ve stuck by me even when I disappear into my writing cave for weeks at a time and forget to change out of my pajamas.
And finally, to my incredible readers. I dedicated this book to you because you are the reason I get to wake up every day, stay in those pajamas, and write love stories based in the most romantic city in the world: Paris. The next time I’m in France, I will eat a buttery chocolate croissant in your honor.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliette Sobanet earned a B.A. from Georgetown University and an M.A. from New York University in France, living and studying in both Lyon and Paris. She worked as a French professor before turning a new page in her career, penning romantic women’s fiction with a French twist. She is the author of Sleeping with Paris, Kissed in Paris, Midnight Train to Paris, and the upcoming Dancing with Paris. Today she lives with her husband and two cats in San Diego, where she devotes her time to writing and dreaming about her next trip to France.
This book was originally released in Episodes as a Kindle Serial. Kindle Serials launched in 2012 as a new way to experience serialized books. Kindle Serials allow readers to enjoy the story as the author creates it, purchasing once and receiving all existing Episodes immediately, followed by future Episodes as they are published. To find out more about Kindle Serials and to see the current selection of Serials titles, vis
it www.amazon.com/kindleserials.
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