Turning my attention back to the large book in front of me, I flip to the next page and dig back into my research.
The alarm on my phone goes off two hours later.Due to expected bad weather, the library is closing early today.It shouldn’t.If I’m willing to give up my holiday to be here, they should let me stay.I roll my eyes as I stand, gathering my belongings.Outside the window, I see a man sit down on a bench.The wave of his brown hair reminds me of Oliver’s shaggy hair.It’s not him...though after getting the mysterious Eiffel Tower this morning, I kind of want it to be.
“We’re closing now, Miss,” an older man in a bow tie and cardigan says from behind the information desk.
I grab my backpack and pull it on.When I pass him, I smile, and say, “Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year.”
Three days until theNew Year begins and I’ve got a case of the holiday blues.It happens every year around this time, but this year I didn’t go home and with my friends gone, I’m feeling very alone.
I actually went on two dates this semester and neither was worth a second.It was a bummer too because on paper, one of them should have been a perfect match for me.He’s in the Bio Engineering Program, likes sushi, but not spicy Mexican.He drinks wine, appreciating quality instead of chugging beers like other college guys.He has never been in a fraternity, although he did do the pentathlon last year for the Sigma Chi’s.He was even from Pennsylvania like me, but he was so boring.
Sitting up suddenly, I stare down at the sushi in front of me.Oh my God!Am I boring?
Bewildered by this thought, I shake my head.I’m not boring.I’m fun.Totally fun.Adventurous.I mean, I went to Paris all by myself, after all.If that doesn’t shout fun I don’t know what does...
Smacking my hand to my forehead, I hear Oliver’s words come back, “Step out of your box and live a little.Don’t just exist.Live.”
Live.
Am I living life?
Experiencing all life has to offer?
The answer is too depressing, so I try to ignore it.I ignore it until the next day when another package arrives on my doorstep and I can’t ignore the fact that the best time of my life was in Paris.I pick up the box, a little bigger than the last, but not by much.This time I don’t hesitate, I just open it.Inside is a shiny, silver engraved keychain with a key attached.The engraving reads, Mon coeur t'appartient..There’s a note inside this time.I open it quickly.Il en va de même pour mon appartement.
Rushing to my computer, I sit down at my desk and open a search engine.As soon as it’s ready, I type the phrase engraved on the keychain.
My heart is yours.
Leaning forward, I rest my head on my hand while trying to calm my quickening thoughts and heart.Olivier.
Taking a deep breath, I type in the phrase written on the note—Il en va de même pour mon appartement.
So is my apartment.
Tears flood my eyes unexpectedly and I run to the door to open it wide.Stepping into the hallway, I call, “Olivier.Oliver.Are you here?”
When no one replies, I try again, “Oliver?”
I’m disappointed again.I go back inside my apartment and close the door.I mentally tally the gifts, trying to piece together who sent them.
An Eiffel Tower.
A key to an apartment that I don’t even know where it is.
Going back to my computer, I type in Olivier DeMarche and wait as pages upon pages fill the screen.Duke Olivier DeMarche, served in the French military as well as from a noble family by birth.I read further, scanning the page until I see his descendents—Grace Hanning, Chicago.Married to George Hanning.Two sons—Christoph and Oliver.
When I click on images, photos of the Duke pop up.I scroll down the page and pics of Grace and George, Christoph, and Oliver show up.My heart stops momentarily as my gaze lands on the man who crushed me with his lies.Why did he have to do that?Why couldn’t he just be Oliver Hanning from Chicago?
Why is he contacting me now?Why is he sending me gifts?There is no other reasonable explanation.They have to be from him.This makes me happy in ways it probably shouldn’t, but maybe I can forgive.And if I can, where can I find the apartment this key unlocks?
