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This year, between my rift with my mother, the FBI breathing down our necks, and the divide over how to proceed with the press conference, I am glad to be away from it all.
“Mademoiselle, bienvenue à Paris,” the concierge says as he opens the door to the room Simon booked for us. He is still downstairs making some arrangements, so for the time being, I am alone.
I gasp as I step into the sumptuously decorated room. It steals my breath.
The sun spills in from a window dressed with linens which by themselves would have been the masterpiece in the room. But they are just a part of the decadent, light green palate that is our room’s theme.
There is beautiful green, velvet daybed against one wall that serves as the anchor for a painting of a girl who looks like she was all dressed up with nowhere to go.
Our bed, too, is a masterpiece. A tufted, light green headboard in the most unusual shape rests on a dark green wall. I can’t believe my eyes.
I let myself fall backwards on to the bed and just lay there with my eyes closed, thinking about the man who has made all of this possible.
If I had dared to dream what falling in love would be like, I wouldn’t have dreamed anything as wonderful as what it has been with Simon.
I’ve spent most of my life planning to be alone, and if not alone then without a true partner. Simon has walked into my life unexpectedly, and even though he didn’t make it easy, he showed me beauty beyond anything my heart could have imagined.
The last couple of months have been a blur, we’ve been through so many ups and downs, but our path now seems so clear. I love this man. I can’t wait to tell him. I know, even though he hasn’t said the words, that he loves me, too.
I hug my pillow and sigh. Just then, I hear the door’s security panel beep and sit up just as Simon steps inside.
“Simon! This room, this hotel. It’s incredible.” I walk over and place a kiss on his lips. “Thank you, baby.”
I look him in the eye. He smiles, a slow, sexy smile that makes my toes curl before he says, “Oh, you just wait. I have a surprise for you.”
I forget any semblance of sophistication and I squeal. Squeal. As I jump up and down, clapping my hands. “Really? Oh, my God! Really? Tell me! Where are we going? What are we doing?” I can’t contain my excitement.
He roars with laughter.
“Saturday is a surprise. Let’s head to Cara’s. You said she took today off to cook Thanksgiving dinner, right?”
Shit!
I’d
been so caught up in my room and my thoughts of love I hadn’t even called Cara.
“Let me text her and tell her we’re on our way.” I grab my phone, but Simon stops me. “I already texted Louis. The concierge ordered our car. Which is actually already here. Are you ready to head downstairs?”
I’d hoped to freshen up, but I know I’ve already killed too much time. “You go down, I just want to change my shirt and wash my face, I’ll be down in five minutes.” I give Simon my most pleading look.
“Okay, but, babe, really. Five regular minutes. Not five Addie minutes,” Simon quips as he heads out
I am digging through my suitcase when my phone rings. It’s Milly. I feel guilty as I hit decline, but I don’t have time. And if I’m completely honest, I don’t want to talk to her.
I decide to leave my phone off for the rest of the weekend. I drop it in my suitcase and pull out a clean white t-shirt and my toiletry bag.
Three minutes later, I am on my way downstairs, and on my way to celebrate Thanksgiving in Paris!
November 28, 2014
Paris
My first American Thanksgiving was interesting. Besides being a day late, Cara cooked a chicken instead of the traditional turkey because it was just four of us and apparently turkey is a very large bird.
It’s so strange to see Louis in this domestic set up. He has been a living caricature of the young, rich aristocratic playboy until now. That he has fallen so hard for the best friend of the woman I’ve fallen for is bizarre.
“These women, they just need a voice. It’s been incredible to be that for them. I never thought I’d actually feel like a lawyer, but I do.”
