Christmas in Paris (A Master Chefs Series Standalone Novel)

by Kailin Gow

  Taryn was in school at that time, and she was on pins and needles with worry as she tried to get in touch with her mother at the family restaurant Sam’s, which was close by the Twin Towers. She found Bobby in his class and together they waited at school until someone would pick them up.

  She had never been so scared in her life, and when the school lost electricity from a power failure, leaving Taryn in darkness, she felt herself beginning to panic. She was gripped with terror as one of her biggest fears seized her. Then she felt Bobby’s small hand on her shoulder, “Taryn, Taryn, it’s okay.”

  Taryn slowly opened her eyes, while Bobby pulled at her sweater. “We’re going home.”

  “Mom’s here?” she asked. “Is Mom alright? She’s here? Oh thank God!”

  She turned to look at where Bobby was looking, and instead of seeing her mother, she saw the outline of a broad-shouldered large man walk towards them.

  “It’s Sous Chef Tom,” Bobby said. “Mom must have sent him to get us.”

  Taryn took Bobby’s hand and walked with him towards Sous Chef Tom, who was still wearing his apron. He must have been in such a rush to get to them that he didn’t have time to change.

  Tom’s face looked like he was about to cry as he bent down to wrap his big arms around Taryn and Bobby.

  “What is it?” Taryn asked. “Is it Mom? What happened? What’s going on?”

  Tom shook his head. “No, your mother is safe at the restaurant, but people are pouring in, injured, covered in ashes and dust. We have firefighters in there who were telling us how they’ve lost some of their colleagues trying to rescue as many people as they could from the building. Sam’s become a makeshift hospital and shelter as people tried to walk their way to someplace safe.”

  “Can we go home?” Bobby asked.

  Tom nodded and said, “For now, it looks like the streets to your apartment is clear. I can take you two back or you can come with me to Sam’s to be with your mom. I know your Mom could use my help at Sam’s right now, but it’s probably not a good place for you kids to be right now.”

  “We’re going with you,” Taryn said looking at Bobby. “We’re going to be where Mom is. We’re not going to be separated again. Right, Bobby?”

  Bobby nodded. “I don’t want to go back to the apartment if we have to stay there alone. What would happen if our building was blown up? What if we all get lost?”

  “Home is where family is,” Taryn said. “Mom’s all we’ve got since Dad left. We’re not leaving Mom alone while we stay home. We’re going to her. Please take us to her, Tom. We will feel safer knowing where she is and that she’s alright.”

  For the first time since seeing the large burly sous chef, Tom’s face broke out in a smile, as he said, “Alright. We’re all go back to Sam’s. We could use both your help handing out drinks to the firefighters.”

  Taryn remembered the look on everyone’s faces when they arrived at Sam’s. She would never forget how shock and in disbelief everyone looked as they realized their beautiful homeland had been attacked, and the way of life they knew before would change. That day on September 11, the innocence of before was shattered as people faced the reality that there were some bad people out there who wanted to hurt as many people as they could and destroy places in order to get attention for their agendas. Taryn didn’t understand their reasoning, nor could she understand why people would want to hurt so many people.

  Fourteen years later, despite the large number of deaths and destruction, she still didn’t understand why.

  “President Hollande was at the game,” Lisbeth said. “They were able to get him out safely, Dieu merci. He was just as shocked at first like the rest of France, but he said he will take action.”

  “How could we not? France was attacked on our own soil. Must we just sit and wait for further attacks? Be an open target? It is such a grim day,” the old man said, his brow creased with worry and chagrin. “Once the Nazis were defeated, I thought I would never have to live through another war, but if we have to pick up arms to defend our country, even I at my age, will do my part.”

  Taryn was shocked to learn there had been so many attacks throughout the city, so many wounded, so many dead.

  The news announcer on the screen spoke of pain and sorrow as the image behind her showed people setting down flowers in several locations; in front of Le Carillon and Le Petit Cabodge among them. It was heartbreaking.

  Taryn looked at the old man with a little more appreciation. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

  “It’s my duty… our duty, to help one another,” he said with pride. “Fraternité, egalité, liberté. Paris is strong. We’ve been through a lot, and we’ll make it through this as well.”

  “Absolutely,” Taryn said. They were silent for a moment as the weight of the situation sunk in. “How long have I been here?”

  “Almost a day and a half.”

  “What?” Taryn exclaimed. “I’ve been out that long? I knew I was exhausted and bone tired after everything, but I didn’t realized how much! What time is it?”

  “Almost eleven.”

  “At night?”

  He shook his head. “In the morning.”

  “My family, my friends. They have no idea where I am. They don’t know if I’m alive or dead. I have to contact them.”

  “We tried to find identification on you, but you had nothing on you,” Lisbeth said.

  “I lost my purse. I must have left it at the stadium when we ran to get out.” She sat back and sunk into the pillows. “Oh, poor Henri. He must be so worried.”

  “Dis is your husband?” Lisbeth said.

  Taryn chuckled. “No, he’s a good friend. My husband is out of town and Henri was nice enough to take me out before I had my baby.”

  “So sweet.”

  “Yeah, he’s a really good guy.” Taryn clamped her jaw tight as she thought of him. He must be beside himself with grief.

  “We’ll get in contact with your loved one soon enough,” the old man said. “We don’t have a phone. I’m afraid I lost mine during our run out but I will go to my friend and he will loan me his portable phone.”

  “That would be…” The image on the television screen suddenly caught her eye. The reporter had been giving people the opportunity to show on air their missing loved ones when a familiar face, though a little cut and bruised, came on.

  “Elle s’appelle Taryn. Her name is Taryn.” He held up a photo; a wedding photo. “She’s my wife, and she’s pregnant, very pregnant. Please…”

  “Mais,” Lisbeth shouted. “C’est vous!”

  The old man gawked at the screen then back at Taryn. “Yes. Yes. It is you.”

  Taryn brought her hand over her mouth as she smiled. “Oh, Errol. When did you get back to Paris?”

  “Errol?” Lisbeth said excitedly. “Errol King? The world renowned chef? I thought he looked familiar.”

  “Lisbeth,” the old man said in reproach.

  Blushing, she clasped her hands before her and looked to the floor then demurely said, “I took a few cooking classes a while back, and dreamed of studying with Chef Errol. I run my small boulangerie patisserie and try to save enough money to take more classes. I love to cook, and I love to create. I am a really big fan.”

  The old man smiled and his disposition softened. “And she has real talent, too.”

  “I think we should call the number on the screen,” Taryn said politely, trying to bring the conversation back to her need to contact her husband.

  “Yes!” the old man said. “Absolutely. Lisbeth, write down the number. I am going to go see Bertrand to borrow his phone and be right back.” He patted Taryn’s swollen ankle. “Don’t move. It will only be a minute.”

  Taryn nodded and smiled as he hurried out of the room. “You don’t have to write down the number,” she told Lisbeth who was frantically looking for a pen and paper. “I know it by heart.”

  “Oh, of course.” Lisbeth came to the bedside and glanced down at the b
owl of untouched stew, her face suddenly sad.

  “I’d almost forgotten,” Taryn said quickly, taking the tray. “I’m famished. And now that I don’t have to worry about contacting my family, my appetite is back.” But before she could bring the fork to her mouth, Lisbeth stopped her by gently setting her fingertips to Taryn’s wrist.

  “It is embarrassing. You are the wife of a talented chef. My food is, well, I am just a humble…”

  Taryn took a bite despite Lisbeth’s protest and took the time to savor it. “Your food is delicious. This is wonderful.”

  “You are just being kind.”

  “I do not lie about good food, believe me. If this was bland or badly seasoned or under cooked, I would be the first to tell you.” She held up another mouthful. “Chef Errol would be proud.”

  Lisbeth smiled. “In that case, it is an honor to have you eat my food.”

  Suddenly sincerely hungry, Taryn ate the stew with relish.

  “Is good nourishment for the baby as well,” Lisbeth said with beaming pride. “When is the baby due?”

  Taryn smiled. “Any day now. I just hope all this stress didn’t…” Her smile quickly faded as a sharp pang seized her belly, and she doubled over. “Oh! My baby…”

  Chapter 6

  Errol

  A few moments before

  Leo tapped Errol’s shoulder. “Maybe we don’t have to go all the way down to the studio after all. Look.” He pointed to the news crew nearby.

  His eyes wide with desperation, Errol headed to the reporter. “My wife,” he said as he held up Taryn’s photo. “I can’t find my wife. Elle s’appelle Taryn.”

  The reporter, eager to help out, turned her microphone to him.

  “She’s my wife and she’s pregnant.”

  “If someone has seen your wife, where can they contact you?”

  He quickly rattled off his phone number.”

  “More slowly,” the reporter suggested. “Give people a chance to jot it down.”

  But Leo, who’d taken the time to clearly write the number down, came into the shot and held the paper up to the camera.

  Errol smiled sheepishly as he repeated the number more slowly. “Please call me if you’ve seen her.”

  The reporter looked at Errol as she suddenly recognized him. “Are you…? You are, aren’t you? You’re Chef King.” She turned back to the camera. “We have here Chef Errol King is who is looking for his wife. If anyone has seen this woman, has any clues as to her whereabouts, please contact this number.”

  “She’s pregnant,” Errol repeated. “And she’s due any day now.” He wanted to say more, so much more. He wanted the world to know how much he loved her, how much she meant to him. “Please.”

  Others gathered around the reporter hoping for the same opportunity to show their missing loved ones on screen and Errol stepped back to give them a chance.

  “Now what?” Errol said to Bobby and Leo.

  “We wait,” Leo said.

  They didn’t have to wait long. Only minutes later Errol’s phone rang.

  “Yes,” he shouted into the phone. “Oui. Yes, this is he. Have you seen my wife?”

  “Oui,” a man said. “She is with me.”

  “Where? Where are you? Where is she?”

  “We are going to the hospital. The one near you. I think your baby is coming.”

  “The baby’s coming,” Errol said to Bobby and Leo. “They’re bringing her to the hospital.” Then back into the phone, “We’re close by. We’ll be there in a minute.” He hung up only to realize he’d neglected to ask the man’s name. “Let’s go.”

  They ran to the hospital, all three of them huffing and puffing by the time they reached the hospital’s main entrance.

  “Maternité,” Errol said to the first nurse he saw.

  The young man gave him the directions and soon the trio were waiting outside the delivery room. Errol spotted an older man wringing his hands as a young woman looked expectantly up at him.

  “Papa,” she said as she repeatedly slapped the old man’s arm. “C’est Errol King.”

  The man turned to him, his eyes wide with joy and sorrow. “Monsieur King. I am the man who brought your wife here. I am so pleased to meet you. My daughter, Lisbeth, is a very big fan.”

  Errol smiled at the young woman, but got straight to the point. “Thank you for taking care of my wife. My wife. Taryn. Is she already in there delivering the baby?”

  “Not yet, but it won’t be long,” Lisbeth said.

  “I’m sorry it took so long to contact you. Your wife wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t tell us who to call.”

  “That’s all right. The important thing is that I’ve found her now.”

  “We had to run out of the stadium, and I was so afraid of another bomb going off. And, of course, the shock of it all. I think it overwhelmed her. I didn’t want to move her too much. In her condition, she is so delicate and…”

  “I understand.”

  “And the hospitals are so busy.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Errol said, trying to soothe the man’s obviously guilty conscious.

  “She could have been trampled. Everything was so horrible.”

  “I appreciate everything you did for her,” Errol said as he set a reassuring hand on the old man’s shoulder, but looked around for a doctor or nurse. “I won’t forget it.”

  “You’ll see when you have your child. When you become a parent you will become very protective, even of the young women with child who are not your own. Children are so precious. As a parent, you will see, they are the ones we must protect the most. They are our future.”

  Errol nodded, as he gazed into the older man’s earnest eyes. He didn’t realized what the older man meant fully, but he loved Taryn, the mother of his child, so much, he could imagine loving his unborn child very much as well. The thought of becoming a parent, a father for the first time emotionally overwhelmed him, and he desperately wanted to see both Taryn and his child be safe and healthy in his arms.

  A doctor came into the waiting room.

  “Who is with Madame King?”

  “Me,” Errol said as he bolted forward. “How is she? Is the baby okay? Has she given birth yet? Can I see her?”

  “Monsieur King,” the doctor said with a light chuckle. “I’m Dr. Evelyne Dupré. Your wife is fine. The baby is fine. No, she hasn’t given birth yet, and yes, you can come see her.”

  “Where?”

  “But I must tell you, your wife may not be able to give birth naturally. The baby is…”

  Errol barely heard the rest of what the woman in front of him said. Taryn had diligently taken prenatal classes, eager to bring her first baby into the world in the most natural way possible.

  “Follow me,” the doctor said.

  He turned to Bobby. “Call your mother and tell her where we are. She’s going to want to be here.” He turned and followed the doctor through the double doors where he was handed scrubs and instructed to thoroughly wash his hands. His heart pounded at the thought of finally seeing his wife again.

  Chapter 7

  Taryn

  Taryn stared at the ceiling as she awaited the results of the latest tests. While the doctor hadn’t said much, she had a feeling something wasn’t right with the baby. Closing her eyes, she tried to put her worries aside and think positive thoughts.

  And her first thought was, as usual, of Errol. She missed him terribly and wished he was there at her side, but she knew how important his work was. Leo was a good friend of his and helping him out with his new restaurant meant the world to him, but she couldn’t help but feel a little left behind.

  Never one to feel down on herself, or to be overly dependent on anyone else, she now found herself needing a hand to hold onto. Even Sam wasn’t there to assist her with the delivery.

  On arriving, she’d asked the nurse to call home to tell her mother to come to the hospital, but wondered if the call had actually been made.

  Every
one at the hospital was so busy dealing with the injured after the previous night’s attack, and she felt certain making a phone call wasn’t among their priorities. It was understandable, but frustrating all the same.

  “Come to the hospital, Mom,” she mentally called out. “Come be with me. I need you. My baby needs you.”

  Once again, her thoughts returned to Errol as his face came to her mind’s eye and she remembered the very first time she met him at the Culinary Institute. She’d heard rumors that her professor was a handsome man, but she hadn’t expected just how handsome he truly was and she remembered with startling clarity how flustered she’d been. She was attracted to him at first sight, and when she learned who he was, the famed chef, she admired him all the more.

  Smiling, she thought back to the hot and heavy romance they’d shared. Errol had found the way to draw out the animal in her, the animal she didn’t even know was there, and once it’d been released, it was insatiable. How wild they were together. Just thinking about it brought an arousing chill to her swollen body, and made her miss her husband even more.

  She smiled as she rubbed her belly, thrilled with the result of that passion.

  Who would have ever thought she’d find herself ready to deliver Errol King’s baby? She was thrilled, and anxious, and eager, and afraid, and sad all at the same time.

  “Oh, Errol,” she said as tears streamed down the side of her face. “I just wish you were here.”

  They were soon going to cease being a simple couple and become a family. She tried to imagine what the baby would look like; who it would look like? Would it be a little girl with her father’s devilish grin, or a little boy with his mother’s smile? Either way she was eager to meet this new person, this bundle of joy.

  Although she’d refused the opportunity to find out if the baby was a girl or boy at her last sonogram, she was now eager to find out.

  The doctor and a nurse came into the room, both with stern expressions on their faces.

  “We don’t like the position of the baby,” Dr. Dupré said. “It’s putting pressure on the umbilical cord which is restricting the flow of blood and oxygen to the baby.”