Jean-Paul turned so that she was leaning against the apartment door. He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’re pretty cute when you’re sleepy.”
Ooh, and she loved this. Her sleepy brain = less filters and somehow the words, “Are you going to kiss me goodnight?” slipped out of her mouth.
His lips twitched into a cute lopsided smile. One hand came up and wrapped some loose curls around a finger. “I love your curls.”
Her curls? Was he trying to change the subject? Dodge the end-of-the-date kiss? A little wedge of hurt crept in.
He let the curls slide free from his finger, then cupped the side of her face with his hand, his thumb brushing over her cheek. Her eyes drifted closed as he leaned down and placed a sweet kiss on one cheek, then on the other. His lips lingered on the last kiss. She inhaled as she felt the skin of his cheek brush against hers, the combination of his cologne and stubble from his five o’clock shadow creating crazy reactions all over her body. Then his lips landed on the arch of her neck, nibbling where her pulse beat like the hectic tempo from the discothèque.
Beep-Beep-Be-Be-Beep!
The moan that escaped wasn’t one of pleasure, but one of annoyance for her friends honking their car horn. At least Jean-Paul’s groan accompanied hers. They both held very still as they steadied their breathing.
Jean-Paul pulled back, regret on his face. “Do you have your keys?”
Her keys? Oh, for the door. She handed them to him. She heard Hugo running toward the door at the sound of the lock turning.
“Have sweet dreams,” he said, then he dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose before opening the door and nudging her safely inside, depositing the keys in her hand.
“Goodnight,” she said, sad for the evening to end. She locked the door and listened as his footsteps clomped down the stairs until they faded away. Everything inside of her wished she could call him back and make time come to a halt so they could just be together. Most of all, she hoped that her heart, which had completely tumbled into love, would be safe in his hands.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Monday, October 9th
DELPHINE DRAGGED HER WEARY BODY into a sitting position at the edge of her bed Monday morning. She glared at the clock, noting that it was already after nine and she had lost at least an hour of productivity. She tried to calculate how to catch up on her work, then collapsed back onto the bed. Who was she kidding? After sleeping most of the weekend, she still wasn’t completely recovered from her late night at the discothèque. She was a pathetic excuse for a party girl.
Still, a smile tugged at her lips as she closed her eyes and remembered dancing with Jean-Paul. The touch of his hand on her lower back, sending tingles along her spine. How their gazes came back to each other like magnets when he twirled her around. The tug and pull of attraction, like chemicals mixing in a beaker. Bubbling, simmering, just waiting for the right combination of energy and matter to lead to the grand finale.
She sighed. All the ingredients were there and should have culminated in their first kiss. Blast her friends for interrupting what would have been a beautiful moment.
Hugo jumped onto the bed and licked Delphine’s hand, reminding her of his presence and need for his morning walk. “All right, I’m getting up. Just give me a minute to put on shoes.”
She changed into yoga pants and a sweater, then slipped her feet into some shoes. Hugo pranced in excitement as she clipped his leash on. The brisk morning air did a fine job of waking Delphine up as they walked down the block to the neighborhood park. She pulled out her phone to check her messages and smiled when she discovered one that Jean-Paul sent earlier in the morning.
I’m on the train, heading for Bordeaux to meet with your publisher about their online marketing and author websites. Wish me luck! Psst‒have you recovered yet, sleepy head?
She smiled, happy that Michel contacted Jean-Paul to set up a slew of meetings over the next few days. It would be a wonderful boost for Jean-Paul’s business. She quickly typed a reply.
Still sluggish, but Hugo is relentless. Walking to the park now. Hoping it will help my brain wake up so I can get some productive editing done. Good luck today! Looking forward to hearing all about it.
As soon as they were near a grassy area, Hugo ran for the nearest bush. Delphine shifted her weight from one foot to the other, trying to keep warm until he returned to complete their walk. Autumn is certainly in full swing, she thought, taking in the changing color of leaves and the blooming Black-eyed Susans and mums in the flower beds. It was a beautiful time of year. She stopped in a small alcove to do some stretching, then she and Hugo headed back toward home.
As she came up the stairs to her apartment, her phone rang. The screen displayed her father’s name, and she swiped the screen to answer. “Bonjour, Papa. How are you?” She placed the phone in the crook of her neck as she unlocked the door.
Her father’s voice sounded tired and cracked when he said her name. “Delphine, ma petite. We need to talk.”
No good conversation ever started out with the words ‘we need to talk.’ Delphine sank onto the couch as he delivered news about her Maman.
“I had just gotten out of the shower and was getting dressed when I realized the house was too quiet. Apparently, she decided to go outside, but the rain made the steps slick and she took a tumble. I discovered her lying on the ground in the courtyard.”
“Oh no,” Delphine gasped, horrified as she imagined her Maman losing her balance and crashing down the stone steps, landing on the equally hard paved courtyard. All sorts of horrid scenarios ran through her mind at lightning speed. Was she bleeding? Had she injured her head, broken any bones, or any other of the myriad injuries older generations were prone to? How long had she been lying there in the cold rain? “Is she okay?”
“She has some nasty bruises and they’ve admitted her for observation. Her confusion about where she is and why, combined with the constant changing of nurses and doctors, has been problematic to figure out if they’re signs of a concussion or symptoms from the Alzheimer’s.”
Her eyes stung and her lips quivered as she tried to hold back the firestorm of emotions rushing through her. “Oh, Papa, I’m so sorry. Let me come help. Give me a few hours and I can either be on a train or a flight.” She stood, making her way to her bedroom, intent on packing, her mind already creating a to-do list of items to take care so she could leave right away.
“Ma petite, no,” her papa said. “It would be better to wait until your Maman is out of the hospital. I think she will be less confused when she has returned home.”
Even knowing her father spoke the truth, being asked to wait felt like a dagger piercing her heart. All she wanted was to be by her Maman’s side, to soothe and comfort her. It was crushing to realize in an emergency situation, her presence would have the opposite effect.
“Right now, the plan is to keep her overnight for observation. So perhaps Wednesday or Thursday?” he suggested.
“Very well. I will look into train tickets and airfare,” she said, trying not to sound discouraged. She certainly didn’t want to put more on her papa’s shoulders.
“I will keep you updated. Try not to worry too much, okay?”
They both knew his request was pointless, but she murmured her agreement nonetheless.
“It will be good to see you, Delphine. Je t’aime.”
“I love you, too, Papa,” she said before disconnecting their call. Her hand dropped to her side, still clutching the phone while she remained frozen in her bedroom doorway. The desire to curl up in her bed and have a good cry was so strong, she nearly gave in to it. The only thing stopping her was knowing her Maman would want her to stay strong. But even strong women cried, she thought, wiping at her wet cheeks.
She needed to make a list and prioritize what needed to be done. Yes, she needed a plan. She grabbed a pen and notepad off her desk, then settled into the overstuffed chair beside the window, hoping the sunlight might work a li
ttle magic on her downhearted spirit. She put her pen to the paper and the list began. And grew and grew. She reviewed the many to-do items and divided it into more realistic Today, Tomorrow, and Next Week lists. If she planned to leave Wednesday, she needed to make the most of today and Tuesday. She wanted to be solely focused on her family while she was in Switzerland. The new lists refined the next week into more manageable tasks while helping her to also feel a bit more in control as well.
The next few days were hectic as Delphine bounced back and forth between the first full read-through and edit of her manuscript, talking with her papa, booking her train tickets, and packing for both her and Hugo. She missed Jean-Paul and wished he wasn’t in Bordeaux. She was grateful for the success he was having at his meetings, but she yearned for the simple comfort of putting her head on his shoulder.
Even though they were both running in different directions, Jean-Paul let her know she was at the forefront of his thoughts by sending messengers with surprises each day. Monday it had been a bouquet of printer ink cartridges accompanied with a fun set of colored pens and sticky notes to help her jump-kick her editing week. Tuesday afternoon he sent a variety of chocolate for her and doggie treats for Hugo for their trip. The gifts left her feeling loved, but also deepened her longing to see him.
*****
Wednesday, October 11th
Delphine rushed through the train station Wednesday morning. Her stupid taxi had arrived late to pick her and Hugo up, then SHE had to fight her way through a large group of tourists crowding the entry into the station. She glanced at the departure list and times on the wall, noting that she had fifteen minutes before her train departed.
The platform she needed was just ahead. She drew in a deep breath, grateful she didn’t need to make a full-out run for the train. The combination of pulling her suitcase and hoisting Hugo in his carry bag was awkward, to say the least, but she could manage for just a few more minutes.
“Delphine!”
She turned when someone called her name, sure it was meant for someone else. Then she stumbled and froze in the middle of the walkway. Jean-Paul navigated through the crowd, rushing towards her, a duffle bag swinging awkwardly over one shoulder. She blinked, sure she must be seeing things. He was stuck in Bordeaux until that evening, with one more day of meetings. How could he be here?
His breath came out in hard pants when he stopped before her. He dropped his bags at his feet before pulling her into a hug. “I couldn’t let you go to Switzerland without seeing you first.”
Hot tears stung her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her fingers gripping the fleece material of his jacket. “I can’t believe you’re here,” she said, her head buried into his shoulder as he held her tight while Hugo barked up a storm from inside his bag.
Jean-Paul gave her another slight squeeze, then stepped back, his hands moving to her shoulders. “I wasn’t sure I was going to make it.” His eyes darted up to the clock, then back to her. “We need to hurry to get you to the train.”
He slung his bag over his shoulder, then grabbed her suitcase in one hand and clasped her hand with the other. When they reached the platform, he signaled for a porter and tipped him to take care of her luggage for the trip.
“I was—” she started, but he shushed her.
“We only have a minute. Let’s not waste it talking about luggage,” he said. He lifted her hand and kissed the inside of her palm. “I know you’re terrified to make this trip. There are a lot of unknowns lying ahead.”
She blinked, trying to ward off prickling warning at the back of her eyes. Instead she bit her lip hard, hoping to not turn into a puddle of mush.
He stepped in close and cupped her face with both hands. “It’s okay to be scared, Delphine. Courage doesn’t mean no fear. It means you keep moving forward and facing the challenge anyway. You can do this. I have faith in you.”
A sob escaped. Those words. How did he know she needed them? His thumbs swiped at the tears streaking down her cheeks. She opened her mouth to say something, but couldn’t form any words.
“It’s okay. I know,” he said. Then he kissed both her cheeks. The conductor’s call for final passengers echoed down the platform. “It’s time. The train is going to leave.” He helped her up the steps to board the train. “Be brave,” he said in a final parting.
Delphine pushed her way onto the train car, maneuvering Hugo’s bag down the narrow aisle, then sat in a seat at a window nearest to Jean-Paul. She pressed her palm against the cool glass and mouthed ‘Merci’ as the train lurched forward, taking her away from the man she needed and toward the journey she wasn’t sure she was ready to face.
*****
“Ma petite, it is so good to see your lovely face,” Papa said as he greeted Delphine late Wednesday evening. He pulled her into an awkward hug, patting her shoulder before stepping back. “Come,” he said, ushering her inside. “Your Maman is already in bed, but you might pop in to say goodnight.”
Delphine nodded, then swallowed past the lump. Be brave, she reminded herself. Perhaps her Maman would be doing better now that she was home.
She entered the dimly lit room, which had remained much the same since they moved here during her teen years. She remembered many nights entering her parents’ bedroom to check in after late night evening activities and finding her Maman just as she was now, snuggled up in bed with the quilt pulled up to her shoulders, a word search and pen in hand.
Maman looked up when she entered the room, and her pale green eyes brightened. “Oh, my dear, I’m so happy to see you!”
Delphine’s heart skipped a beat. Perhaps this trip was the miracle she needed, a bit of time to talk with her Maman. Gratitude for this moment swelled inside, making her heart feel as if it would burst. She moved quickly to the bed and set her hand on her Maman’s leg. “You are looking so much better, Maman.”
Maman’s face twitched, and confusion clouded her gaze. “Are you feeling okay, Valérie?” She reached out and patted Delphine’s hand where it rested.
Reality crashed around Delphine, like an asteroid striking the earth and leaving a crater the size of Mount Everest in its wake. She tried to make her quivering lips form a smile, but she was sure she failed miserably. “I'm just tired. It’s been a long day of traveling, but I’m so happy to be here with you now. Perhaps I’ll leave you to your word search so I can finish my unpacking.”
“That seems sensible, dear,” Maman said, patting her hand once more.
Delphine dropped a bise kiss on her Maman’s cheek and whispered a quick, “Je t’aime.” Then she made a hasty retreat to her bedroom. She wasn’t ready to confront her mother’s illness. She let the tears freely fall. Tomorrow would be soon enough to put on her brave armor.
After getting Hugo settled and herself unpacked, she let Hugo out into the backyard for a bit of fresh air and joined her father in the kitchen.
“Your timing is just right,” he said, pouring his homemade chocolat chaud into large white bowls and setting a plate of sliced brioche on the table.
“Merci,” she said, taking a seat across from him. She broke off a piece of brioche, dipped it into the chocolat chaud, then popped it into her mouth. Sweetness burst across her taste buds, reviving memories of all the mornings her family shared this simple breakfast together. “How is Maman truly doing?” she asked, then lifted the bowl to sip some cocoa.
The round slump of his shoulders matched the deep, heavy exhale that escaped as Papa tapped the side of the bowl with his fingertips. “She was lucky, ma petite. Her injuries could have been much worse.”
She covered his hand with her own, noticing for the first time the loose, dry skin that bunched up into wrinkles beneath her fingers. A contrast from his once strong, firm hands. “But she is okay. We have that to be grateful for.”
“This time,” he responded, before going to the hutch and retrieving something from a drawer. He set a pile of pamphlets on the table when he returned.
“Wh
at are these?” she asked, spreading them out on the the table. Words like respite, professional, and facilities jumped out at her. She met her father’s concerned expression with one of her own.
“The doctors recommended that we begin to consider care facilities,” he said.
“You would send Maman away?” Delphine shoved the pamphlets away, unable to believe he would do such a thing.
He carefully restacked the pamphlets and held them in his hands, his eyes not leaving the top one. “There will come a time when I won’t be able to take care of her, Delphine. The doctors recommend making a plan before that time comes.”
“How can we abandon her, Papa?” she asked with a grief-stricken voice. “How can we just drop her off, then drive away to live our normal lives?” She dropped her head into her hands. She wasn’t ready for this conversation, for this stage of her mother’s horrible illness.
“I have been battling with the same questions for many months. There is one option I’d like you to consider.” He set the top pamphlet on the table and slid it across to her. “It is a village for families who have loved ones with memory loss. It’s like any other small village; it has a doctor’s office, grocery store, homes, and parks. But everyone who works there is trained to care for and help people with memory loss. Rather than a care center where your mother would be left behind, I could move here with her. We could live in a true community, one that understands and takes care of each other.”
She hesitantly pulled the pamphlet toward her with her fingertips, but couldn’t force herself to open it. Her Papa’s warm hand covered hers this time, sending a measure of comfort.
“Look it over while you’re here, ma petite. I won’t make this decision without you.”
She nodded, then bid him goodnight, taking the pamphlet with her. When she and Hugo were settled for the night, she looked at the pamphlet setting on the side table.
Once Upon a Wish (Destined for Love: Europe) Page 8