By Kelly Gombert
This is her first chapter of a recurring story.
This is her second recurring story with us
“Yeah, right? I was going to stay longer in Paris but this opportunity came up. My friend from college, Jill, her family has this place so it’s rent free for a week on the beach. Can’t pass that up.”
“So, tonight’s your only night here.” The elevator jerked to a stop. Carried along by the crowd, they found themselves jockeying for a space at the railing.
“Wow.” Jess pointed her phone in several directions. She took a couple steps back to include Ian in her photos. She glanced at her watch and started walking around. “So, um, I hope you don’t mind but I want to see as much of the city as I can before noon tomorrow. I know it sounds terribly touristy but I figure I can get to the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées and the Notre Dame before the metro closes. Then walk to the Louvre, Opera Garnier and eventually back to the hostel. You don’t have to come with me but that’s my plan.”
“Sheez, don’t you think that’s a bit, um, ambitious for one night?”
“Maybe it is and I won’t do everything but I want to try, you know? I want to experience everything I can because that’s what life is all about. Experiences. I don’t want my life to be about watching tv or I don’t know, other mindless crap. When I’m old and gray, I want to be sitting in my rocking chair in the nursing home looking back and remembering everything. I want to remember writing the great American novel and spectacular waterfalls and medieval castles and Philly sub sandwiches and standing at the top of the Eiffel Tower with a good-looking guy.”
Ian smiled and tried to hide his face.
“What do you want to remember, when you’re old and gray and toothless?” she asked.
“Me? Well, I want to remember designing spaces and homes, um, Winged Victory at Samothrace, fish and chips at the Peahen Pub in London with my mates and standing at the top of the Eiffel Tower with a cute girl.”
“Oh, you just said that because I did.”
“Yeah and because it’s true.”
“Come on, let’s go.” She reached for his hand and they headed for the elevator.
Once down on terra firma, they made their way to the Bir-Hakeim metro station. They slipped their tickets in the machine and headed up the stairs to the crowded platform. The approaching train was also jam-packed but when the doors opened, Ian crammed in pulling Jess in behind him as the red light flashed and the buzzer sounded announcing the doors were closing. Just then someone on the platform yanked hard on Jess’ cross body bag and pulled her out of the car. The door closed with Ian still inside and the train left on its northward journey. Jess looked around but did not see who had accosted her, her assailant having disappeared. She examined her bag and found a fresh knife cut but the steel cable in the strap foiled the attempted robbery. She stood there and realized she had no way to contact Ian. They had not exchanged phone numbers. As a little girl, her mother had always admonished her that if she got lost, she was to stay put until her mom came to find her. But she wasn’t lost and she was no longer a little girl. She could wait to see if he came back, but what if he didn’t and how long should she wait. The overhead sign said the next train would arrive in three minutes. What if he decided to take this opportunity to ditch her? She hoped not; she liked him. Two minutes. If the situation was reversed, what would she do?
What if she was hurt? She was OK, Ian told himself. He could see through the window that Jess had been the target of petty thieves. Thieves were only about credit cards and euros. He was fairly certain she was not physically hurt. He got off at the next stop. Maybe he should have stayed on until the Charles de Gaulle – Etoile station. No, he would wait here for the next train. But what if she was waiting for him to come back? Should he run over to the opposite platform? He paced to relieve the nervous energy that filled him to help him make a decision. Lights filled the tunnel. He watched the cars fill the station, slowing down. The doors opened and there she was. Without a thought, he wrapped her in his arms, kissed her quickly and hugged her tight. She reached her arms around his neck and said, “I thought I’d lost you.”
