Chapter Two The Beginning of Something #3
Camille stayed beside her, still finishing the last of the croissants. The automatic doors ahead opened and closed as travelers moved in and out. Just before they reached the exit area, Camille slowed.
Then she stopped. Simone took another step before realizing Camille wasn’t beside her anymore.
She turned. Camille was staring ahead.“Simone.”“What?”Camille pointed toward a man standing near the pickup area.
He was dressed in a dark suit, standing neatly with a small sign held in front of him.Both of their names were printed clearly across it.
Camille looked back at her. “Why is there a man holding our names?”Simone looked over.
“Oh,” she said casually.“That’s our ride.
”Camille blinked.“Our, ride?”Simone started walking again.
Camille didn’t move.“Simone.”Simone turned back, smiling slightly.
Camille was still standing there looking completely confused.
Simone walked back over, reached for her hand, and gently tugged.
“Come on.”Camille let herself be pulled forward, still staring at the sign as they approached.
The man straightened when he saw them. He lowered the sign and gave a polite nod.
“Bonjour, Mesdames,” he said warmly. “Welcome to Paris.”Simone returned the greeting with a small smile.
“Bonjour.”The driver gestured politely toward the curb outside.
“If you will follow me, your car is ready.”He took the suitcases from Simone and began leading them toward the pickup lane.
Just beyond the curb sat a black Cadillac Escalade, polished and waiting.As driver opened the back door, Camille paused for half a second before stepping inside.
Simone slid in after her. The driver placed their luggage in the rear compartment before closing the door.
Inside the car, Camille slowly looked around.
Then she turned toward Simone. “How did you get this last minute?”Simone leaned back comfortably.
“It’s not last minute.”Camille paused for a second before she spoke.
“You planned this?”Simone smiled.“Relax,” she said.
“Enjoy yourself.”Camille stared at her for another second.
Then she shook her head, laughing quietly.
“You are full of surprises today.”Outside, the chauffeur slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
The Escalade pulled away from the airport curb.For a moment neither of them spoke as Camille looked around the interior of the car.
Soft leather seats. Tinted windows. The smooth sound of the engine. Then she looked at Simone again.
“You planned this?”Simone smiled but didn’t answer. Up front, the chauffeur looked toward them briefly through the rearview mirror.
“Mesdames,” he said politely, his accent smooth and formal.
“If you would like, there is champagne available for you.”He gestured toward the small console between the seats where a chilled bottle rested in a silver holder beside two glasses.
Simone didn’t hesitate.“Of course.”Camille turned toward her.
“Really?”Simone raised an eyebrow.“Yes.”Then she nodded toward Camille’s outfit.
“It’s not like you’re wearing scrubs saving lives right now.
”Camille laughed.“That’s true.”Simone reached for the bottle.
“We’re on vacation,” she said.She carefully opened the champagne, the soft pop filling the quiet car.
“And you deserve to relax and enjoy yourself.”She poured a glass and handed it to Camille.
“And maybe be pampered a little too.”Camille took the glass, smiling.
“Thank you.”She took a small sip before looking back at Simone.
“You always know how to make me feel better.”Simone looked at her.
A little longer than necessary. Then she said softly,“You’re my favorite person.
”“If you’re not happy, neither am I.”Camille tilted her head just a little, looking at her.
Simone noticed. “What?”Camille shook her head lightly.
“Nothing.”She lifted the glass slightly toward Simone.
“Thank you anyway.”Simone smiled and leaned back in her seat as the car continued driving away from the airport.
Camille took another sip of the champagne, still looking around the inside of the car like she wasn’t completely convinced it was real.
Then she looked back at Simone. “So,” she said slowly.Simone raised an eyebrow.
“So?”Camille tilted her head slightly.“What else do you have planned?”Simone leaned back in the seat.
“Just a few things.”Camille narrowed her eyes a little.
“What kind of things?”“Things I thought we’d enjoy.
”She looked over.“That’s suspicious.”Simone laughed softly.
“It’s not suspicious.”“It is,” Camille said.
“You planned the flight, the driver, the champagne,”She gestured lightly around the Escalade.
“Which I still can’t believe, by the way.
”Simone smiled at that.“We deserve a nice trip.”Camille leaned her elbow against the door.
“How long have you been planning this?”Simone didn’t answer right away.
She looked out the window for a second, watching the airport buildings slide past as the car pulled onto the road.
Then she looked back at Camille. “Long enough.”Camille stared at her.
“Simone.”“What?”“You’ve been planning this for a while, haven’t you?
”Simone gave a small smile but didn’t say anything.
Camille shook her head, amused.“Of course you have, you’re a caterer and event planner.
”Simone laughed quietly, but inside she was nervous.Was it too much?
She had spent months putting the trip together.
Thinking about the tiny details. The hotel.
The places they’d go. The things Camille always said she wanted to see someday.At the time it felt exciting.
Now, sitting here across from her, Simone suddenly wondered if she’d gone too far.
She didn’t want Camille to feel overwhelmed.Or worse, pressured. This wasn’t supposed to feel like a grand gesture. It was supposed to be a relaxing week together.
Simone cleared her throat before she spoke.
“If it’s too much,” she said, trying to keep her tone casual, “we don’t have to do everything.
”Camille looked at her.“What?”“I mean it,” Simone said.
“We can change plans. Skip things. Do whatever you want.”Camille frowned slightly.
“Simone.”“What?”“This is amazing.”Simone hesitated.
“I just don’t want you to feel like,”“Like what?”“Like I planned your entire life for a week,” Simone said with a small laugh.Camille stared at her for a second.
Then she shook her head.“You didn’t.”She lifted the champagne glass again.
“You planned a vacation.”Simone looked at her.
Camille smiled.“And honestly?”She leaned back in the seat.
“I think I needed someone to do that for me.”Simone exhaled.
Camille took another sip of champagne.“So, relax,” she said.Simone laughed quietly.
“Me relax?”“Yes,” Camille said. “You.”Simone shook her head.
“Not likely.”Camille grinned.“Well then at least tell me one thing.”Simone looked at her.
“What?”Camille leaned forward, curiosity bright in her eyes.
“What’s the first thing you’re making me do in Paris?
”Simone smiled,“You’ll see.”For a second Simone let herself breathe.
One week. One city. One chance she had been building up courage for longer than she wanted to admit.Outside the window, the road stretched ahead. And somewhere beyond it waited Paris.