Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Good enough.” I grab her hand.
The Champs-Élysées is a wide boulevard lined by trees. I take in the beautiful Parisian architecture and the bustling energy of the locals and tourists who are on the same walk.
This famous avenue is renowned for its luxury shopping, and I want to buy Maddie something special. I don’t know if our relationship will continue once we arrive back in Colorado, but it means enough to me that I want her to remember it. We stroll by brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Chanel, but I don’t take Maddie for a designer fashion girl. She’d consider such decadence a waste of money when her family is struggling.
The street is also dotted with cafés and brasseries. I suggest stopping for a coffee or a pastry, but then think better of it. She said she wanted to take in as much as possible, and we just had breakfast.
We walk by the Théâtre Marigny, and toward the eastern end, we find the Jardin des Champs-Élysées, which turns out to be a green space that offers a refreshing contrast to the urban surroundings. If we were staying in Paris longer, I’d arrange to have a picnic here and enjoy the tranquility amidst the bustling city. We stop to snap a few photos at the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, and then we reach the Place de la Concorde at the end of the Champs-Élysées. It’s an expansive square dominated by the hieroglyph-laden Luxor Obelisk—I think back to that sphinx and its riddle back at the Louvre—and surrounded by extravagant statues and fountains.
Time to turn around and go back toward the Arc. Maddie is still staring up at the obelisk.
I place my hands on her shoulders. “Did anything strike you?”
“Strike me?”
“Yeah. I said I wanted to buy you something. You hardly looked twice at the high fashion shops.”
She blushes. “That stuff isn’t really me.”
I shrug. “It could be.”
She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t feel right spending so much money for something I can get at the local mall for a tenth of the cost.”
“Ah…but that one won’t have a Gucci label.”
She laughs. “So?”
I like this woman. I mean, really, really like her.
It scares me a little, especially since my whole world has been turned on its axis recently.
“How about jewelry, then?” I ask.
She twists her lower lip and then lightly bites it.
Bingo.
Maddie likes jewelry.
“Come on.” I pull her into the nearest jewelry shop.
The shop is called Luxe Bijoux Paris. The interior is pure opulence, complete with plush carpet, a crystal chandelier, and a marble reception desk where a well-dressed young man sits.
“May I help you?” he asks.
“We’re just going to look a bit,” I say.
“Of course. Please let me know if I can be of assistance.”
The jewelry is displayed within glass cases. Each piece is illuminated by soft, diffused lighting, which accentuates the gemstones’ sparkle. Diamond necklaces, emerald earrings, sapphire bracelets, and rare timepieces sit behind the glass.
Maddie’s gaze settles on the display of engagement rings.
Uh-oh.
But her gaze doesn’t linger. She heads straight toward a display of necklaces and bracelets.
“Is there something you like?” I ask her.
She nods but then looks at her feet. “But this is way too much, Dave.”
I smile. “Don’t be silly. This is our last day in Paris, and whatever happens between us in the future, I want you to have something to remember our time together.”
I nod to the man at the desk.
He walks briskly toward us, a big smile on his face. “What can I help you with this day?”
I nod to Maddie.
“The pearl pendant, please,” she says. “The one with the blue and red stones.”
“Oui, mademoiselle. A beautiful piece.” He unlocks the case and pulls out the necklace.
“It is set in fourteen karat yellow gold, and it is a cultured saltwater pearl surrounded by rubies and sapphires. Blue, blanc, et rouge. Or as you say in the States, red, white, and blue.” He places it in Maddie’s hand.
“It’s such a unique piece.” Maddie holds the necklace up to the light. “Did you design this?”
“No, but all our pieces are crafted by individual designers whom we commission. It is one of a kind.”
“How much is it?” Maddie asks.
I shake my head. “Don’t tell her that. We’ll take it.”
“Dave…”
“Please, Maddie. Let me do this. We’re both giving up our vacation, and I want you to have this necklace.”
She nibbles at her bottom lip again, and I wish I were doing the biting.
“Your young gentleman is very generous,” the jeweler says.
“Yes, he is.” She looks up at me, meeting my eyes. “You sure about this?”
“Absolutely sure. And you know I can afford it.”
She scratches her arm. “I wasn’t worried about whether you could afford it. I just don’t…” She bites her lip. “I’m thinking about what my father would say.”
“Yes, your father’s a proud man, and I get that. But this is a gift from me.”