Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
Traffic was snarled on the N13, so by the time Julia and Piper reached the arena on the outskirts of Paris, the lights inside were already down, and the opening act was already on stage, crooning about seeing the love of his life in blue jeans the day they met.
As Piper led them quickly to their seats—on the second level—Julia had a fleeting burst of sadness.
Sam had written lyrics for her, too, but that was before he’d run away to live forever in the bathroom of Le Maison Grog.
But the ache in her chest wasn’t really about song lyrics; it was about the thought that her last chance for love had gone up in smoke this week.
That was another ridiculous thought, though.
Even in perfect health, could she really believe that an attraction sparked during a vacation in Paris would turn into anything?
She and Sam would almost certainly have gone their separate ways at the end of the week, anyhow.
Somehow, still, she genuinely couldn’t shake him—so much so that when they’d entered the arena, she’d had the weirdest thought that the posters of Jackson Quick—all stylized and shadowy and shot from the side—looked a little like Sam.
But of course that was ridiculous; in the photos, you couldn’t even see Jackson Quick’s face except in profile.
She shook herself out of her cloud of self-pity and nudged Piper. “I’m sorry we had to leave Nicolas outside.”
Piper smiled. “He and his buddy are going to try to scalp some tickets in the parking lot. He’ll text me if they get in. Besides, Mom, this is our night.”
Aside from the traffic, it had been a dream traveling to the concert in the back of a limo.
Nicolas had even provided a bottle of champagne on ice, and he’d insisted on sitting up front with his friend to give Piper and Julia some time together.
They had popped the cork, poured some bubbly, and spent a wonderful hour toasting to the week they’d had in Paris and the magical memories they’d made.
“It was really nice of him to do that for us,” Julia said. “He’s a good guy.”
“He really is.” Piper got a dreamy look on her face as the opener started singing again, a song about high highs and low lows, and for a second, it felt to Julia as if the song was speaking directly to her.
It was amazing how music could do that sometimes, how a universal message could feel so specific in the moment you needed it most. This week had been full of the highest highs and the lowest lows, and Julia supposed that she was lucky to have felt so much—even the heartbreak.
When the song ended and the singer began talking again, Piper turned to Julia. “Do you actually think Nicolas and I will stay in touch?”
“Of course,” Julia said without hesitation.
The way Nicolas looked at her daughter wasn’t the way one looked at a fling, and when he’d promised Julia at the café that he’d look out for Piper, she had felt the weight of his words.
“And I think you should plan to come back to visit him soon, or have him visit you.”
“Mom,” Piper said softly, tears shimmering in her eyes.
“But also,” Julia said, putting an arm around Piper, “stay open to all the possibilities, okay? Nicolas may be an incredible man, but who knows yet if he’s the right one for you?
Sometimes people come into our lives to show us the way to the next step instead of staying around forever.
” Sam flickered across her mind once more, and she pushed the thought away.
“And maybe Nicolas will be here forever. Maybe he won’t be.
But however it turns out, it’ll all be okay in the end. ”
“How will it ever be okay if you’re not here?” Piper said softly.
Julia blinked away tears. “Because life goes on, honey. And you’re going to have a beautiful, brilliant one.”
Up onstage, the opener pulled a piece of paper from his pocket.
“Before I dive into the next song, which’ll be my last, I’ve been asked to do a favor.
” The singer squinted at the paper. “Okay, I’m supposed to ask Julia and Piper Glover to go to guest services behind section 103.
Ladies, looks like you’re getting some upgraded seats. ”
Julia turned to Piper, who was looking at her with wide eyes. “Did he just say our names?” she asked in astonishment.
Piper’s cheeks had gone pink. “Oh my gosh, Nicolas must have arranged something!”
Julia put her arm around her daughter again. “This really is the perfect evening. I can’t believe he did so much.”
Piper grinned. “Come on. Let’s go see where our seats are. Can you imagine if we get to sit right by the stage?”
Linking arms and laughing in disbelief, they set off to find section 103.
The opening act had just ended and Melanie had reached her seat—front row, to the right of center stage—when a handsome man about her age arrived, guiding a very old woman with long white hair shuffling toward them with the assistance of a walker.
As they made their way toward her, she realized with a start that this must be Celeste.
“Bon soir,” said the man as they reached the seats beside hers. “You are the granddaughter of Henry McGee?”
Melanie smiled. There was an openness to the man’s face and a charming gap between his front teeth. “And you must be the grandson of Celeste.”
His smile widened. “I am. Jean-Luc Manard. And this is my grandmother, Celeste Didier.”
“Melanie Chaulet.” She smiled first at Jean-Luc and then at Celeste.
The old woman nodded politely, but her eyes were darting around, and she looked nervous.
“Here, why don’t you have a seat, madame?
” she said to Celeste, helping her into one of the chairs facing the stage.
“That’s it. Jackson Quick will be on soon. ”
“I don’t know him,” Celeste said, her gaze alighting on Melanie for a second before flitting away. “I don’t know why I’m here.”
Jean-Luc and Melanie exchanged glances. “We’re here because your friend Henry has invited us,” Jean-Luc said with a gentleness that moved Melanie. “He has a surprise for you.”
“Who is this Henry?” Celeste asked, and again, Melanie met Jean-Luc’s eyes. This boded poorly, the way the old woman already looked so overwhelmed. Melanie hoped Grandpa Henry knew what he was doing.
“Henry is someone who loves you very much,” Melanie said. “He is also my grandfather.”
Celeste studied her for a moment and seemed to relax a bit. “You don’t say.”
“Yes, madame. A long time ago, he wrote a song, and he wanted you to hear it tonight.”
Celeste looked concerned. She leaned forward and said in a whisper, “But you see, I can’t hear very well.”
“It’s why he wanted to bring you here,” Melanie said with a smile. “You’ll be able to feel the song as well as hear it. He hopes it will bring back memories.”
Celeste looked at Jean-Luc. “Did you know about this?”
Jean-Luc glanced once more at Melanie. “Yes, Grand-mère. Henry has written you one of the most famous songs of the past thirty years.”
Celeste put a hand over her mouth. “For me? How romantic.”
Jean-Luc glanced at Melanie again and smiled. “It is indeed.”
Just then, out of the corner of her eye, Melanie saw Gilles approaching.
Her heart began to hammer. She still wasn’t sure what to do, but seeing the scene between the American couple play out this morning at Café Le Petit Pont had reminded her that she needed to ask herself what she really wanted, not just what she owed her husband.
Still, as Gilles came closer, she realized she’d missed him, despite herself. And she was relieved that he hadn’t let her down this time; he had shown up just as he’d said he would. He was clearly trying, and that had to count for something.
“Mon amour,” Gilles said, kissing her on both cheeks as he arrived beside her. “You look wonderful.”
“Thanks. You do, too.” But as he pressed up against her, she was startled to feel a sudden and visceral need to pull away.
“I’m very sorry about everything,” he whispered, oblivious to her discomfort, his breath tickling her ear. “I’ve been such a fool, Melanie. I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”
“I—I don’t know if that’s enough, Gilles. But this isn’t the time,” she replied softly. She glanced at Jean-Luc, who was watching them. “Gilles, this is Jean-Luc Manard, and his grandmother, Celeste Didier. They are my grandfather’s guests tonight.”
“Enchanté,” Gilles said briefly, effectively ending the conversation by turning his back to them. Jean-Luc caught her eye, raising his eyebrows as if to ask if she was all right. She gave him a small nod.
“If you could just give me a second chance, Melanie—” Gilles began again.
“Please, Gilles. Let’s just enjoy the concert, okay?
This means so much to my grandfather.” As the lights in the arena dimmed, and as the crowd began to scream, she leaned pointedly around Gilles and smiled at Celeste and Jean-Luc.
“Show’s about to begin!” she said. Jean-Luc smiled at her, but Celeste just looked worried.
“Why are people yelling?” she asked, looking back and forth from Melanie to Jean-Luc.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” Jean-Luc said, putting his arm around his grandmother and then catching Melanie’s eye, and for a second, Melanie wondered if his words were meant for her, too.
Julia couldn’t believe their luck; when she and Piper got to the customer service kiosk behind section 103, they were presented with four front-row tickets, four VIP passes, and no explanation. “How on earth did Nicolas manage to do this?” she asked Piper, who beamed at her.
“I have no idea. Maybe he has a friend who works here,” Piper said. “I’ll call him now and tell him and Bastien to come sit with us.”