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“No, actually she’s not fine,” said Amy under her breath, giving her husband a quick glare.

“What do you mean? What’s going on? IS KATE OKAY?”

“Yes,” said Rick calmly. “She doesn’t know that we’re here, but Amy wanted…” he stopped short when he was elbowed in the ribs, “we wanted to come speak to you before your trip tomorrow.”

“Okay,” said Ian, settling back into his chair. “Go for it.”

Amy opened her mouth to speak, but Rick put a gentle hand over hers and began to talk. “Ian, we think it’s great that you and Kate are friends again. We both really like you, and we really like spending time with you. You fit really well into the group. We hope you stick around long term.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” said Ian.

“You’re going to Paris with Kate,” interrupted Amy.

Ian looked quizzically over at Amy, who was obviously upset about something, but he couldn’t for the life of him figure out what it was. “Do you have something to say to me, Amy?”

“You bet I do,” she replied. Rick took a deep breath and looked his wife in the eyes, apparently having a secret conversation with glances and eyebrow movements that were some sort of secret spousal language. When they had reached some sort of agreement (although Ian had no idea how) Amy calmly began to talk.

“Ian, we’re here today because we love Kate. She is so excited about going to Paris with you tomorrow. And she says that she can just be a friend to you and everything will be fine and dandy. But I’m worried for her. I’m worried because I don’t believe her. I think if she was being completely honest with herself, she would admit that there is a part of her that hopes you’ll fall in love with her and sweep her off her feet. She doesn’t want a friend right now. She wants a husband. She wants a father to her future children. But since she hasn’t been able to find that anywhere else, she’s holding on to the hope that you’re the one. And I don’t think you’ll ever want to be the one for her. Am I wrong?”

Ian looked up at the ceiling, his hands rubbing his forehead.

“No,” he said meekly.

“Look man, I get it,” said Rick. “You like having a woman around. Every guy does. And you’ve kind of got the best of both worlds right now. You’ve got someone who you can be close to and who is always there for you, but you’ve got no real commitment to her. She won’t freak out if you don’t call her every day. If you want to spend a Friday night with the guys, she has no grounds to get upset with you.

“But what’s wrong with that? Lots of men and women have these types of relationships and are just fine.”

“We’re not talking about lots of men and women, though,” said Amy. “We’re talking about you and Kate.”

“So what are you saying? You’re saying I shouldn’t be taking her to Paris?”

“I’m not saying that,” replied Amy. “You just need to be aware of what you’re doing to her. I don’t think she even quite realizes what it is that you’re doing to her. And trust me, she’d be livid if she knew we were having this conversation right now. I do want you to be her friend. But not blindly. Don’t treat her like you would treat a girlfriend. Think about what you do and what you say. Realize that there should be boundaries. And, for heaven’s sake, if for any reason you change your mind about her, you better be able to commit.”

Ian sat in silence, unsure of how to respond. He was grateful when Rick jumped in. “We’ve taken up enough of your time. You probably still have packing to get to. We really do hope you two have an amazing trip.” Rick and Amy stood up from the couch and Ian followed them to the door. Rick stuck out his hand and patted Ian twice on the back in a very manly hug. “Just do the right thing, and you’ve got nothing to worry about.” With that, the Baileys walked out and closed the door behind them.

Ian stood by the door for several minutes without moving. Did Kate really want something more with him? Hadn’t they worked through all of this? He had been trying to do the right thing, darn it! He made sure she was okay with everything before even asking her to Paris! “I will never understand women,” he muttered as he trudged back up the stairs towards his partially full suitcase.

“Welcome aboard, Mademoiselle Henry,” said the flight attendant in a thick French accent and nametag which read Juliette. “Do you care for some champagne?”

Kate was overwhelmed as she settled into her large leather seat in first class next to Ian. “Champagne? Why…yes, champagne would be lovely. Ian, do you want anything?”

“Oui, merci madam,” said Ian to Juliette with a lovely lilt in his voice. “Deux champagne sil vous plait. Et deux oreiller aussi.”

“What did you just ask for?” asked Kate quietly as Juliette walked slowly down the aisle to take requests from the other first class passengers.

“Oh, just two champagnes and two pillows.”

“First of all, how did I not know that you speak French? Second, I’m still in a state of shock that I’m actually in first class. I can’t believe you bought me a first class ticket. And thirdly, I thought you didn’t like champagne.”

“Let’s see…well, my grandmother on my father’s side is French Canadian and she used to speak it to me growing up, and I always thought it was a beautiful language so I took it in high school and in college, but I always just had a knack for it, which is why I never needed you to quiz me with note cards…did you actually think I was going to make you ride in coach when my firm bought me a first class ticket…and I normally don’t drink champagne, but it just seems fitting on a flight to Paris. Does that about cover everything?”

She nodded and accepted the pillow and champagne that Juliette handed to her. She managed to squeak out a soft “merci,” but intended to let Ian do most of the talking while in Paris. They settled in to their comfortable seats with their books and both glanced up to look out the window a few times as they left the ground of America to head across the ocean.

“Thanks for coming on this trip with me,” said Ian.

Kate smiled at her friend and started to daydream about the adventures that she’d soon be having in the city she’d always longed to visit.

~~~~~

“Bon soir, Monsieur Rutherford. Welcome to Paris. I will have your luggage sent up to you. Here is your key, and please let me know if there is anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable.”

“Merci,” said Ian to the hotel clerk. A bellhop hurried to load a cart with Ian and Kate’s luggage while the pair set off to find their room.

“So…we just got one hotel room, then?” said Kate cautiously.

“Yes, but don’t worry. I made sure that it has two beds. I figured we wouldn’t be spending much time in the room anyway. I…I hope that’s not a problem,” Ian said, suddenly worried. “It’s a one bedroom suite. I can sleep on the couch and you can have the bedroom.”

“No, don’t be silly,” she said. “As long as we’ve got two beds, it’s fine. No big deal.” They reached the door to their suite and Ian swung open the double doors.

Kate’s eyes widened and her breath caught in her chest. She walked into the room slowly without a word. Making her way over to the huge window just past the living area, tears came to her eyes as she gazed at the incredible view of the Eiffel Tower, which was sparkling with thousands of tiny lights. Finally exhaling, she shook her head in amazement. “Oh Ian. It’s more beautiful in person than I ever imagined!” She turned to him and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing me here.”

Kate’s wild hair covered Ian’s face. “How is it possible that you smell this good after an international flight?” he said.

She pulled away, embarrassed, but determined not to let it show. “It’s a mystery of womandom. Don’t ask questions,” she said with a smirk. “Okay, my body is so confused. We flew all night, but it’s nighttime now. I guess we should try and get some sleep to adjust to the new time zone.”

“That’s exactly why I kept you awake on the flight.”

“And here I thought you were just being annoying. Monsieur Rutherford, you are trés brilliant!” Kate said with a horrible French accent, exaggerated to sound even more ridiculous. She opened the door to the bedroom and immediately threw her purse down on one of the beds. “I call the bed by the window!”

After Kate and Ian took turns getting ready for bed in the bathroom, they both settled into their beds and shut off the lights. Kate kept the curtains cracked open so that she could lie on her side and peek out at the Eiffel Tower. She could tell from Ian’s rhythmic breathing that he had fallen asleep quickly, but she had too many thoughts running through her head to even consider closing her eyes in spite of her exhaustion. “I’m in Paris,” she whispered to no one. She eventually fell into a deep sleep with a slight smile still lingering on her face.

~~~~~

Kate awoke when she heard Ian softly calling her name. Opening her eyes, she saw Ian standing over her, fully dressed in a suit and tie. “I have to go to a meeting,” he said. “And then I’m taking the clients to lunch. But I’ll be back in the early afternoon and we can spend the rest of the day together. Are you going to be okay until then? Do you need anything?”

“No,” she replied with a scratchy morning voice. “I’ll be fine. Have a good meeting.” Ian rushed out the door and Kate sat up in her bed and stretched towards the ceiling. “Good morning, Paris,” she said. She swung her feet over the side of the bed and shuffled to the bathroom. After showering, she got dressed in khaki capri pants and a sleeveless top that was the perfect shade of green to make her eyes pop. She bounced out of the room and onto the streets of Paris.

The hotel was on the edge of the first arrondisement, which the hotel concierge explained is one of eighteen neighborhoods that Paris is divided into. The first arrondisement is in the center of the city, just a short walk or metro ride away from many of the city’s most famous sights. Armed with maps from the concierge, Kate set off on a walk to the Jardin de Tuileries, which is the extensive garden just outside the Louvre. She walked slowly to take in all the sights – parents walking with children in uniforms and backpacks, men in suits on bicycles, and buildings older than Kate had ever seen with incredible architecture and detail. When she reached the garden she stopped at a small stand to buy a croissant and a cup of coffee. It seemed appropriate for her first meal in Paris. She strolled around the garden, stopping periodically to let the cool water of a fountain run over her hand or sit on a bench and people-watch. It all seemed so historic and important.

Pulling out her map, she saw that she was very near the Seine River. After a short walk she reached the banks of the river that were lined with all sorts of locals. There were people sitting with only a book and a coffee to keep them company, others surrounded by friends talking loudly and laughing, and couples apparently just out for a stroll on this perfect Paris morning.

Kate found a quiet spot and settled onto the ground with her journal. She wanted to capture all of these memories on the page so that she’d never forget a moment of this amazing trip. She was deep in thought when she heard a man ask a question in French. She looked up and saw a smiling white-haired couple, strolling with arms linked. The man was holding a leash to a small white dog. “I… I’m sorry sir, but I don’t speak French.”

The man chuckled. “It is all right, I speak very good English,” he replied with an accent. “Lots of French people do. But most of them won’t admit it.”

Kate smiled at the couple. “It’s a beautiful language. I wish I could speak it. What is it that you asked me?”

“I asked you if you are enjoying the lovely weather today.”

“Oh, yes, I am. It’s perfect. This is my first day in Paris, and I’m just out taking it all in.”

“No!” cried the woman. “You have never been to Paris before? A beautiful young woman like you?” The dog, who had been sniffing on the ground, made its way over to Kate where he nuzzled up to her hand.

Kate began to rub the dog’s head as she replied, “No, I have never been here before. A friend of mine is here on business, and he brought me along with him.”