Be brave, Delphine.
She snatched it up and opened it quickly before she lost her nerve. There were pictures of various shops and people in the community. They looked happy, content even. Could that be possible for her mother? Or would the new location only serve to confuse her even more? She continued reading about the trained professionals who worked and some who even lived in the community—from police officers to medical professionals to the clerks at the grocery store. Each of them knew how to interact with and care for the people who lived in their small community. She set the pamphlet back on the side table, then readjusted her position in bed, wondering about possibilities for her parents’ futures.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Tuesday, October 17th
TUESDAY MORNING, Delphine woke up in the comfort of her own bed. Hugo was snuggled up at her side, his blankets bunched up around him like a warm cocoon.
The trip to Switzerland had been difficult, but it also revealed some things she missed before. While she had previously focused on how difficult her mother’s illness was, what she discovered on this visit was how much her father valued his relationship with Delphine at this point in their lives. Their conversations were much more meaningful, and they even spent time playing chess and actually laughing together as they shared favorite family memories. They also spent some time discussing the future and even set a date to tour the community Papa was considering. It was an unexpected turn of events, but one that soothed the ache she felt for her Maman. And in a way, a blessing for both her and Papa.
But now she was back in La Rochelle. She needed to pull out the to-do list of items she pushed off to this week and refocus. Plus, she was anxious to see Jean-Paul, to tell him how much his support meant. They had texted while she was gone, but she craved some face-to-face time.
She dived into her morning routine, planning out her day. As she finished breakfast, the doorbell rang. She looked through the peephole and saw a messenger with flowers on her doorstep. After accepting them, she closed the door and set the flowers on the desk in the living room. She stepped back to admire the beautiful autumn colors bursting from the blooms. She slipped her thumb under the envelope and opened the card.
Welcome home.
XOXO - JP
She couldn’t help but smile with delight as she dialed his number.
“Bonjour,” he said, answering the call.
“I just received the most gorgeous delivery of flowers. Merci beaucoup,” she said, adjusting the flowers to the perfect spot so she could view them while she worked throughout the morning.
“Mmm, it’s so good to hear your voice,” he said.
His words sent a fluttering feeling throughout Delphine, making her grip the phone as if it could substitute for a hug. “Ditto,” she replied.
“I have a proposition for you,” Jean-Paul said.
“What is it?” she asked, swaying from side to side and feeling all flirty.
“Would you like to meet at our cafe for chocolat chaud at four o’clock this afternoon?”
She wanted to shout yes! Instead she reigned her enthusiasm in. “I would love to.”
“Perfect. I can’t wait to see you,” he said before ending the call.
Delphine spun in circles, her arms open wide. Hugo yipped and jumped around, joining in her jubilee. She was going to see Jean-Paul in seven hours! Just seven more hours!
She crashed into the couch and plopped down, laughing when Hugo jumped up, licking her face and yipping at her silly game. She took a deep breath as she calmed down, looked at the clock, and began the countdown.
How in the world would she survive the next seven hours?
*****
Fleurette greeted Delphine and Hugo when they arrived at the café later that afternoon. Since Jean-Paul wasn’t there yet, Delphine grabbed a table and ordered a chocolat chaud. Once she was seated, Hugo circled, then settled with his front paws over one of her feet.
“Would you like a treat?” Delphine asked, pulling out a doggie treat and offering it to Hugo, which of course the spoiled little guy was happy to receive.
Delphine rested her elbow on the table, admiring the changes the mid-October season had brought to the plaza since that fateful day almost a month ago when she first met Jean-Paul. The sea breezes had an underlying cooler tone, making her grateful for her cozy cardigan. The trees’ leaves were turning fiery shades of yellows, oranges, and reds, making even the glow of the sun’s rays seem filled with more warmth. Autumn was an enchanting season.
“It’s a beautiful day, is it not?” Fleurette asked as she set the cup and saucer on the café table.
“It really is,” Delphine replied. “I need to soak in as many of them as possible before the season changes and everything moves inside for the winter.”
“Oui, our manager has already scheduled to close the patio in about three, maybe four more weeks. How is your latest book coming along?”
Delphine smiled. She had spent a lot of time writing at this café over the past few years and had developed a wonderful relationships with most of the staff. “I’m almost done with the first round of edits, so it’s moving along. Although this isn’t a work visit. I’m meeting a friend soon.”
“Bien,” Fleurette said, with a nod of her head. “I will let you enjoy your drink and will check back on you in a few minutes. Oh, before I go, I was asked to deliver this to you.” Fleurette pulled a little white envelope from her apron.
Delphine hesitantly took it. “What is it?”
“I guess you’ll have to read it to find out,” Fleurette said, repeating a phrase Delphine often said when asked questions about her books. “Oh, the bill has already been taken care of.” The pretty waitress winked before leaving.
Delphine slid her hand over the smooth envelope, noting the high quality of the paper. Did Jean-Paul realize he wasn’t going to be able to meet her and sent a note to break the news? Wouldn’t he have just sent a text, though? She turned the letter over in her hand, not wanting to open, worried about what was inside.
Hugo yipped from his spot below. Well, if it was bad news, at least she had him to comfort her. She broke the seal and pulled out a sheet of thick paper. She recognized Jean-Paul’s handwriting, then focused on the actual words.
Delphine,
It’s been four weeks since our first meeting. It seems like the right time for a little adventure. Location #1 - the café where we had our first conversation. Your next stop‒the record shop.
See you soon!
Jean-Paul
A wave of relief washed over her. She could handle this. She quickly read over the note again, a smile tugging at her lips. It looked like a scavenger hunt of sorts. She quickly drank her chocolat chaud, then set the cup and saucer aside. “I have a feeling we’re bound for a little adventure, Hugo.”
He jumped to his feet, tail wagging and ready to explore. His enthusiasm matched her own as she wondered what Jean-Paul had schemed up.
“Have fun,” Fleurette called from where she was greeting another customer.
Delphine waved, then set off for the flea market, keeping an eye out and trying to spot Jean-Paul. Was he watching her progress from afar, or had he planted all the clues in advance and was simply waiting for her at the final destination?
She arrived at the vinyl record booth, not sure how to go about searching for the next clue. She scanned the tables, looking for an envelope tucked under the corner of one of the boxes, but didn’t find anything.
“Can I help you?” A middle-aged man sporting a Nirvana concert shirt approached her from the other side of the table.
“I’m not sure. I’m looking for something a friend may have left behind.” She felt silly. How did she explain that an adult was on a scavenger hunt?
“You know, I’ve heard that girls just want to have fun. Does that help?”
Delphine’s eyes widened, remembering the conversation with Jean-Paul about the various records they’d discovered. “Cyndi Lauper!”
“Mademoiselle, may I?” The vendor produced a canvas bag and tucked the record inside before offering it to her. “It was purchased for you.”
“Really? Thank you,” she said, filled with delight.
“Enjoy the rest of your day,” the vendor said before turning his attention to a group of college students browsing the record collections.
Delphine stepped out of the booth, then walked out of the crowd of vendors to a bench where she could sit and read the next clue.
Delphine -
Michael Jackson’s Thriller may not be for you, but there’s another location where the view is more than thrilling‒it’s stunning.
See you soon!
Jean-Paul
Along the bottom of the note, he sketched the skyline of the port. During their trip to the tower, Jean-Paul said the view was stunning. That must be the next destination. “Allez, Hugo,” she said, and they set off. When they arrived, she looked at all the stairs and knew poor Hugo’s legs must be getting tired with all their exploring. She bent and picked him up, then began the ascent. Every step closer had her wondering if Jean-Paul would be there to meet her. Perhaps to recreate their almost first kiss. Anticipation filled her like bubbles fizzing and overflowing from a soda can that had been all shaken up.
She didn’t see Jean-Paul when she emerged onto the tower’s deck, so she circled around, from city-side to ocean-view side. And there, on one of the tower ledges, was a small green box topped with a white envelope with her name scrawled across the front. It was strange how disappointment could well up, yet at the same time, an even more intense sense of yearning to reunite with Jean-Paul pulled at her. She peeled off the envelope, impatient to see what the next clue was.
Delphine -
Time for a short break‒I’m sure Hugo’s paws will appreciate it. Enjoy the view before moving on to the final destination . . . where our journey first crossed paths.
See you soon!
Jean-Paul
She lifted the top of the box, then peeked in and found a postcard of the tower, a disposable bowl, a bottle of water, some doggie treats for Hugo, and a bag of dried mixed fruit for her. Part of her just wanted to keep going, but looking down at Hugo, she knew Jean-Paul was right. The little guy needed a bit of a break. She set the bowl on the deck and poured a little water inside. Hugo happily lapped it up. She munched on her own treats and sipped on water while she looked out over the ocean, reflecting on the last time she and Jean-Paul were here.
Over the past few weeks, she had shared some of her favorite spots in La Rochelle with Jean-Paul, each time also opening up about different aspects of her life. Their conversations and time together continued to strengthen their friendship, bringing him much closer to her than any other man had come. Part of that realization was nerve-wracking, but it was over-shadowed by her desire to grow closer to Jean-Paul, to discover what their next steps could be together. Feeling the urge to reach the final destination, she cleaned up their snacks, threw away the trash, and stowed the postcard and envelope with the other items in the canvas bag before picking up Hugo.
One more stop to meet the man she had very much given her heart to.
*****
Jean-Paul paced in another circle around the fountain, his heart beating hard against his chest as he waited for his first glimpse of Delphine. He had fun using his sneaky skills to set up each stop of the scavenger hunt, staying only about fifteen minutes ahead of her to make sure the plans were all in place. This last stop was tricky because he had no way of knowing how long she would linger at the tower. The waiting was driving him crazy.
He shifted the velvet bag full of coins from hand to hand, the clinking sound providing some distraction from constantly searching the faces nearby. Finally, there she was, with Hugo leading the way across the plaza toward where he stood. His feet suddenly glued themselves to the cobblestones, unable to move even though all he wanted was to rush forward and pull her close.
“Bonjour,” Delphine said, a pretty flush rising on her face as she lifted to her toes to place a kiss on his cheek. Hugo jumped up on his leg, demanding his own greeting as well.
He wrapped one hand around her waist, keeping her close, breathing in the light scent of her cherry-vanilla lotion. “I missed you,” he admitted. “Six days apart is way too long.”
“Agreed,” she said, resting against him in a light embrace for a moment before pulling back. “Hugo and I had a fun adventure with your scavenger hunt.”
With all the stress of her deadlines and the trip to see her parents, he was relieved to see some lightheartedness in her expression. He felt a rush of pride that he helped to put it there. Now, on to what he hoped was a turning point for them.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He reached down and patted Hugo’s head to appease him before continuing. “So, it’s been almost a month since we met right here, two strangers making wishes for their careers. Thankfully the Fairy Godmother over the wishing fountain stepped in and intertwined our paths.”
Delphine smiled. “Either I’m rubbing off on you, or you have a gift for words I didn’t know about.”
He reached up and tucked her silky hair behind her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek before dropping to capture her hand in his. “Oh, it’s definitely you.”
“Good, I like that,” she said, her smile making crinkles around her eyes, happiness radiating from her.
He lifted his other hand with the bag of coins, opened it, and pulled out just one. “There’s this old saying that if you wish for true love with your back to the fountain and toss the coin over your shoulder, your wish will be granted.”
He transferred the bag of coins from his hand to hers, placing her free hand over the top so the bag was securely in her possession. “We were brought together by wishes that had nothing to do with romance, but the way I feel about you has my heart all wrapped up and labeled with a tag that has your name on it. So here’s my wish.” He held up the coin. “I wish for enough time together that I can grant you all the wishes you desire, and when that bag is empty, I hope we’ll choose to fulfill each other’s wishes forever more.”
Delphine’s eyes softened as he kissed the coin, then closed his eyes and tossed it over his shoulder to the fountain behind him. He opened just one eye to see Delphine tilted to the side, watching the coin’s journey. “Please tell me it actually landed in the fountain,” he said.
Delphine giggled, then looked back at him. “The fountain’s Fairy Godmother has successfully received your wish.”
“Whew,” he said, pretending to wipe sweat from his brow, waiting for her reaction. He knew it was all rather corny, but the combination of corny and geeky seemed to be part of what drew them together.
Delphine hefted the coins in her hand. “Any wish I desire?”
“Anything,” he said, hoping his promise would prove to always be true.
Her smile turned devilish, her hand coming up to caress his jaw line. “Even a first kiss from the man I’ve fallen in love with?”
His breath caught, joy swelling like an explosion of atoms when stars are born in outer-space. “I would be happy to grant that wish for the woman I love.”
He brought both hands up to cradle her face, her long blonde curls moving with the gentle breeze. He dipped his head and captured her lips with his, tender and lingering. She melted into him, her hand slipping to the back of his head and sinking into his hair, turning their kiss from sweet to passionate before he remembered they were in a public place and reined himself back in. He softened the kiss before breaking it and resting his forehead against hers. He took her hand holding the bag of coins and rested it against his chest.
“Being with you is the best wish come true,” he said, with a perfect hope for their future together.
; Visit the Destined for Love website.
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Once Upon a Wish (Destined for Love: Europe) Page 9