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“Once I got your letter, I called your mother and here I am. I want you to come back to London, Addie. But if you won’t, I will find a way to be here. Obviously, I’d need to go back and sort things out, but being apart from you has only confirmed for me that you are the family I choose. Henry misses you. I am barely functioning without you. I know your career is—”
She cuts me off.
“My career was. It was, Simon. Our time apart and a conversation with my mother, the crafty little minx,” she chuffs “helped me realize that our relationship is what makes me happy. I’m not ashamed to say that it is the most important thing. I want to come back home, to London, with you. I resigned from my position today and was planning on leaving for London in two days.”
I am speechless. I have a speech prepared about how she needed to give us a chance. I’m prepared to upend my life and move to this country. I am not prepared for her to be willing to move to London again. A trickle of reality cuts into my haze of happiness.
“What about your job? I mean, I can support us, I’ve made a lot of money in this deal with the Royal Albert Hall, so I can more than take care of us, all of us, but I know how hard you worked to be a lawyer.”
A smile nothing short of beatific spreads across her face. “Well, I have an interview with Sister to Sister next week for the position of assistant General Counsel. They know who I am, but don’t care. In fact, Simon, apparently no one but Montiva does.”
“Well, with Matthew gone, I don’t know if they will care much longer. Would you go back to LaSalle and Willis if they asked you?”
I don’t even have to think about my answer. “No. I wouldn’t. The chance to work for an organization that is focused on helping women find their voices and get back on their feet after escaping abusive situations sets my blood on fire. And I can’t wait to go home. I am beyond excited for this, Simon.”
I sit back in my chair and look at her. The dim light of our restaurant is casting shadows across her face. It can’t hide the energy bursting from her, she is incandescent in her happiness.
This moment burns itself in my memory. In a city where dreams are made, mine is sitting across me, and I know wherever she goes I will follow.
She is my lodestar; the love of my life.
I smile at her. “Me, too, Addie. Me, too.”
6 Months Later
Versailles, France
“Simon, slow down! I want to actually enjoy the garden.” I call after Simon, who is practically racing through the gardens behind The Grand Trianon. This palace, separate from the Versailles Palace, is where Louis IVX actually lived.
We are in Paris to visit Cara and Louis for the weekend. Simon really wanted to visit Versailles, and I was game since the weather is beautiful. But now that we are here, he has barely looked at the palace.
I break into a jog and catch up with him.
“Simon! What in the world?”
“Oh, sorry, babe. I just want to see it all and get back to Paris before dark.” He smiles at me, but it’s not a genuine smile at all.
We’ve been together for 9 months and living together for the last four months. We’ve actually bought a place together close to where I work in Wimbledon. Well, Simon bought it. My new job pays some bills, but that’s about it.
Yet, I am happier professionally than I have ever been. I feel like a real social engineer as the organization I work for is focused on pushing government to create policies which support women who are in difficult domestic circumstances. It has been extremely rewarding.
The Royal Albert Hall renovation is being lauded as one of the greatest architectural projects of the last decade. Simon’s firm has received commissions on projects all over the world, and his designs have been nominated for major Architectural awards.
While Henry, Simon, and I moved into our new house together, Kyle stayed in the flat. Kyle is graduating this summer and has a job with a big investment bank lined up already. We couldn’t be prouder.
My mother came over and spent Christmas with us; she and I spent so many precious hours talking during her visit. I am happy to have a relationship with her. She loves Simon, and he always says he finally feels like he has a mother.
Life is great and this weekend was supposed to be a relaxing getaway.
Yet, I know something is bothering him. “Right. Why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you?” I plant my feet and make Simon stop and look at me.
“Nothing, Ad. I swear. I am sorry. Let’s slow down. You’re right, we aren’t really enjoying it.”
He smiles again and puts his arm around my waist as he steers me back onto the path we’ve been on.
I decide to let it go even though I know he’s not telling me the truth. But, it is too beautiful here; I really do want us to enjoy it, so I start walking.
The gardens here at the Grand Trianon are much smaller than the Versailles gardens, though they are almost overrun with flowers.
