Chapter Fourteen
Carla was back in Paris a few days later. Falcon’s house was now in its last stages of completion and she felt confident leaving the men to do their finishing job.
“They probably need a break from me as well,” she thought.
She took the jeep and made the 5-hour trip at dawn. The idea to return to Paris hit her while she was in bed the night before. It brought along a sense of nostalgia for the place that had brought her so much happiness in the past.
She drove through the wide tree lined avenue soaking in the sights of the shops, restaurants, and monuments along the way. She stopped by Arc De Triomphe and climbed again all the way to the top. The view was less dramatic during day light but still equally stunning. Then she made her way to the other side of the avenue and drove slowly till she spotted L’Atelier. It was the restaurant where she and Falcon had diner on her first night in Paris. She entered and took a spot as the restaurant began to fill up for the lunchtime crowd.
She left the restaurant after settling the bill and made her way to the Louvre. She paid the entrance fee and gazed once more at the beautiful masterpieces that lined its halls. She left the museum and drove to the Palais Garnier. The beauty and opulence of its gilded halls still stunned her.
She left the palace, sure where she wanted to go next. But she wasn’t as confident she would find it. She grabbed a street map and searched for her next stop. It was where she needed to be. She glanced at her watch and knew she had to hurry.
Place du Trocadero was a beehive of tourists lugging cameras and taking pictures using their cellphones. She was approached by a number of street hawkers selling miniature replicas of the Eiffel tower. Carla smiled and shook her head.
The tower loomed in the distance as Carla located the exact spot where she and Falcon stood watching the light show.
As if on cue, the tower lit up with all the pulsing lights and powerful beams that made it such a magical show. Carla watched mesmerized until the light show came to an end. She closed her eyes relieving that exact moment when Falcon kissed her on the lips.
She could have stayed there all night but her reverie was broken by the shrill ringing of her cellphone.
It was Margaret Dubois on the line.
“Hello, Margaret,” Carla greeted her friend.
“I just received a most surprising call from someone truly unexpected,” Margaret said.
Carla thought she sounded rather excited. “Who?”
“Falcon Manchester.” Margaret replied.
“What… err… how... I mean…he doesn’t know a thing about you,” Carla stammered.
“I wondered myself until he explained that Jacques called him and told him about your situation with the baby.”
“Jacques,” Carla was even more surprised.
She thought that Jacques had been more attentive than usual, hovering around her, always anticipating her needs. He must have been more worried about her and therefore called Falcon, knowing she never would.
“Wh-what did you and Falcon talk about?” Carla asked.
Margaret laughed, “A lot of things really. I think I should consider taking a second career as therapist since people tend to open their hearts to me.”
“What did he say,” Carla insisted.
“He was mostly worried about you and the baby. I gave him a lengthy medical explanation about congenital heart disorder in infants. He asked a lot of questions and I tried to reassure him as much as I could. But just like you, I couldn’t give him any promises.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Carla replied. “Just knowing that he cares about this child, it makes me feel less alone, you know, like there’s someone else out there for me.”
“I know he’s there for you,” Margaret replied softly, “but that’s not all.”
“What?” Carla shot back.
“He offered his heart.”
“What do you mean?” Carla asked confused.
“He made me promise that I would exhaust all means so that the baby could live a normal healthy life. Then he said that if all else fails, he was willing to donate his own heart…be a heart transplant donor, for your baby.” Margaret’s voice cracked.
