One Summer in Paris

Mimi made an unladylike sound. “Paris is for everyone. Don’t romanticize, Grace.”

“I haven’t traveled alone since I was eighteen, and even then I stayed with the French family you put me in touch with.”

“Then it’s time you traveled alone again.”

“I booked an expensive hotel.”

“Quelle plasir,” Mimi murmured. “I don’t see the hardship. You will have to spell it out for me. Go! You might surprise yourself and have a good time.”

Grace’s expression said that the chances of that were zero. “You want me to do this for Sophie.”

“I want you to do it for you. You will do it and send David pictures so that he can see for himself what a fool he is.”

“I don’t know how to live without him, Mimi.” There was fear in her voice, and Mimi felt the same fear.

What if she couldn’t help Grace through this? She’d failed her own daughter. What if she failed her granddaughter, too?

She punched her way through it.

“You know what I’ve always said—a man is icing on the cake, that’s all. And with all the new research on the dangers of sugar, maybe you’re better off without.”

“You can’t possibly understand. You’ve never been in love. You can’t imagine what it feels like to lose it.”

Mimi felt pain slice through her. She knew exactly how it felt. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can’t survive without David. Life might be tougher, and different, but you will find a way.”

She’d found a way. There had been times when she’d thought that living without him might kill her, but it hadn’t. A broken heart, she’d discovered, was rarely fatal. Instead, it inflicted a slow, painful torture.

Mimi was too old to do many things but remembering was one skill she hadn’t lost. She often thought about him. Of dancing late into the night, strolls along cobbled streets wrapped in the darkness of Paris, long nights entwined together with the open window letting in the breath of wind and street noise.

Was he still alive? Did he ever think of her?

Did he consider her the love of his life or his biggest mistake?

Grace fumbled for her bag. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be doing this to you. You shouldn’t have to deal with this.”

“I’m providing a sympathetic ear and a shoulder, that’s all.”

Grace found a tissue and blew her nose. “It’s everything. I have no one else I can talk to. I can’t believe this has happened to us. To me. I feel helpless and out of control.”

And feeling out of control, Mimi knew, would be the most frightening thing of all for her granddaughter.

It broke Mimi’s heart to do it, but she did it anyway. “Get up, Grace.”

Grace lifted her head, her eyes glazed with pain.

“Up!” Mimi said sharply. “Lying there howling never gives you anything but a headache, and the only good reason to get a headache is because you’ve drunk too much champagne.” She patted Grace’s shoulder in a brisk fashion. She wanted to stroke and soothe, but that would help neither of them.

Grace stumbled to her feet, confused, and Mimi nodded.

“You see? You can stand without him.”

Grace looked wobbly and wounded. “You think I’m being pathetic.”

“I think you’re underestimating yourself. You didn’t have a choice about your marriage ending, but you have the choice about what happens next.”

“You think I should lift my head high and show David I’m fine without him?”

“No, I think you should hold your head high and show yourself that you’re fine without him. You love David. You miss David. But he isn’t necessary for your survival. You might want him, but you don’t need him, honey. You can do this. You.”