As her siblings started to bicker over which movie to watch, and Abby pleaded with Tom to go out to the kitchen and get the wine, Blake sat back and slowly forked lasagne into her mouth. As much as her heart yearned for Paris, she also loved this, just being with her family and knowing what a tight unit they were. But she couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen one day, when Abby inevitably met someone and started a life or even a family with that person, and Tom finally found the right girl. Would she be left alone, resentful of the siblings she’d dedicated her life to?
Blake shut her eyes as tears formed again, because even if she wanted to go back to Paris, it wouldn’t be to Henri, not after the way they’d left things. But being in France, even without him, had brought her back to life; it had reminded her of the little girl she’d once been, with dreams. And discovering what she had about Evelina had made her want to be as fierce as her great-grandmother, too.
If only she was brave enough to do what she knew she needed to.
‘Twice in one week?’ Blake said when Abby walked into her apartment unannounced.
‘I actually called your office first, but they told me you hadn’t come in today.’
‘I decided to work from home.’ Blake gestured to the laptop on her knee and the notes beside her.
‘Are you still working on your final article for the website?’
‘I am.’ Blake sighed. ‘I thought it would be the easiest of them all, but somehow, it feels like the hardest. I feel like I’ve let everyone down by not discovering who Evelina’s lover was, butthen I keep telling myself that it was Evelina’s story they wanted, and I’ve uncovered so much.’
‘I can understand why you’re feeling conflicted. You’ve dedicated a huge part of yourself to producing these articles, and it’s taken a lot out of you. It must be hard imagining that it’s over.’
‘I keep thinking about Evelina and what it must have been like for her, and I wish that Grandma was still here. It would all have been that much more special if she could have been part of the journey.’
Abby came and sat beside her, producing two paper bags. ‘I would have got coffees, but I wasn’t sure if you’d definitely be here and I didn’t want them to go cold.’
‘So you got…?’
Abby grinned and passed her one of the bags. ‘Croissants.’
Blake opened the bag and looked inside, and she was immediately transported back to France. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
‘I’m actively trying not to think about Paris,’ she said, holding up her croissant to take a bite. ‘But thank you.’
It was then that Blake realised Abby had another bag with her. She set it down between them on the sofa.
‘This is for you.’
Blake put down the croissant and brushed the crumbs from her fingers. ‘What is it?’
‘Just open it and you’ll find out.’
Blake reached in and took out an envelope, but Abby shook her head. ‘Open that last.’
She did as she was told and reached back into the bag, taking out a large book. It was matte black with a gold-foiled Eiffel Tower on the front, and she didn’t have to open it to know what it was for.
‘Design brings you to life, Blake, and I thought if I gave you this, you’d have no excuse not to start drawing again.’
Tears immediately formed in her eyes, and she took a moment to run her hand across the cover before leaning forward to give her sister a hug. ‘This is the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me—it’s beautiful. And you’re right, I won’t have any excuses now.’
‘When you were in the shower the other night and I saw your old design book,’ Abby said, ‘I just, I guess it broke my heart to think that you’d turned your back on something that clearly brings you so much joy.’
The next thing in the bag was in a box, and when Blake opened it, she discovered a framed photo of the three of them, taken a few years earlier. They were all laughing, heads bent together, and she smiled just looking at it and remembering what a fun day they’d had.
‘Thank you. I love it.’
‘I wanted you to have a reminder of us with you, all the time.’
Blake looked up, confused. ‘Reminder of you? You’re talking like I have Alzheimer’s, or that I’m not going to see you again.’
‘Open the envelope.’
‘Abby—’
