‘Henri,’ she replied, still self-consciously brushing at her cheeks with her fingertips. ‘I, ah?—’
‘What a surprise to see you in Paris,’ Henri said.
‘I didn’t intend on coming back so soon, but here I am.’ She didn’t know what else to say, or whether he was just being polite even speaking to her.
It took a moment before either of them spoke, and as Henri looked away, Blake couldn’t help but notice he seemed a little shy.
‘Blake, I want you to know that I read your last two articles. They were brilliant. You write in a way that truly makes the reader feel as if they’re right there with you, on your shoulder.’
Blake smiled. The irony was that hehadbeen right there with her through much of it. ‘Thank you. It’s been an interesting experience. I’ve never had so much contact with readers, or connected with so many people.’
‘Well, I’m only sorry I couldn’t track down who Evelina had the baby with. I did keep trying for some time after you left, as I know how much you wanted to discover that final piece of the puzzle.’
She looked at the ground before feeling brave enough to lift her gaze and meet his. ‘It’s fine. Honestly, after what happened, I didn’t expect you to keep helping me anyway. I wasn’t sure you wanted anything to do with me.’
‘Blake, I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I’m so sorry for what I said to you, and I should have said that before you left. I should have begged for your forgiveness, I can see that now.’
She smiled despite the upheaval she felt inside. ‘It was a summer romance, Henri. I shouldn’t have?—’
‘No,’ he said, shaking his head as he reached for her hand. ‘What we had was more than that, and I ruined it. The way things ended? It was all my fault.’
She let him hold her hand, unsure what to do next. She’d hoped to see him, but at the same time had hoped not to, and now that they were standing face to face, she suddenly had no idea what to say.
‘Would you come with me?’ Henri asked. ‘Please?’
Blake started walking and then stopped, letting go of his hand as she realised that he wasn’t nearly as surprised about seeing her as he should be. ‘Henri, it’s too much of a coincidence, us just seeing each other like this. I’ve only just arrived in Paris, and yet somehow we meet each other on the street.’
He looked away before glancing back at her, his eyes telling her that it wasn’t a coincidence at all.
‘Your sister called me.’
‘Abby?’ she gasped. ‘Abbycalledyou?’ How embarrassing. She was going to kill her! How did her sister even know how to contact him?
‘She told me when you were coming back. Please don’t be angry with her, she wanted me to know in case I wanted to see you.’
Blake laughed. Of course Abby had called him. ‘And you knew I would come straight back to my favourite neighbourhood?—’
‘To your favourite patisserie,’ he finished for her, catching her hand again.
‘I’m sorry she called you,’ Blake whispered as Henri stepped closer to her, hesitantly lifting his hand and touching her face. He gently brushed the back of his knuckles across her skin, just by her mouth. ‘She had no right to interfere.’
‘I’m pleased she did,’ he whispered back.
‘I have pastry on my face, don’t I?’
He laughed. ‘Not anymore.’
And then it was Blake laughing; laughing and trying not to cry as Henri leaned in and pressed his forehead to hers.
‘I’ve missed you so much,’ he murmured. ‘More than you could ever imagine. I don’t even know how that’s possible, but I have.’
‘I’ve missed you, too.’
‘Then come with me, please,’ he said. ‘I have somewhere I need to take you.’
Blake nodded, forgetting all about herpain au chocolatas she pressed her palm to Henri’s and walked with him down the beautifully manicured street, her surroundings suddenly, comfortably familiar. When she was there last time, she’d fallen in love with the beautiful old buildings and cobbled streets, the thick green trees and bicycles left against walls, not to mention the cafés with little round tables spilling out onto the streets.
She glanced at Henri beside her and dropped her head to his shoulder, inhaling his citrus cologne as they strolled.
