Remembering You (7 page)

“What, Grandpa?” Ava again thought about him on the plane, studying his maps. Moving from the hand-drawn battle-site map to the topography map. He studied every turn in the road and every hill, as if he was trying to find a path he couldn’t quite place.

“What matters most is returning to the places that mattered to me.” His voice rose in volume. “I didn’t spend all this money just to see a hill someone else fought on.” He leaned against a high-backed red velvet chair for support.

Tana looked to Ava. “I don’t think I said the right thing.”

“It’s not like he’ll have a chance to come back in a few years,” Ava whispered, more for herself than Tana. She’d never gotten around to apologizing to her grandfather for their last confrontation, and even though they both tried to pretend it hadn’t happened, the underlying tension was there. She couldn’t imagine the tension—the sadness, the regret—if they didn’t get to tour the battle sites.

Then again, could she do it alone? It would mean renting a car and driving in several countries. There were people who liked to prey on tourists. They could get lost or robbed. Her grandpa could get sick…and then where would she turn for help?

If they went to Austria, everything would be paid for. She wouldn’t have to worry about food, hotels, the dangers of solo travel—or the limited budget on her credit card.

Then again, she also had her assignment to consider. Todd was expecting video footage from battle sites. He’d gone out on a limb to help her. There were
two
guys counting on her. Her boss and her grandfather. She didn’t want to disappoint either one.

“Have you seen Paul? Or Dennis?” Grandpa Jack scanned the room, his eyes widened, desperate. “I’d like to talk to them. Maybe we can make different plans than the rest of the group.”

Ava looked around too. A boulder grew in her stomach, and she wished she had made more of an effort to talk to Dennis on the ride over. Maybe she should have apologized for what had happened so long ago. Maybe now that he knew it would be her with Grandpa Jack, he was hightailing it—trying to put some space between them.

Ava rubbed her forehead, and she wondered when the guys had gotten the news. Surely if Dennis had known about the problems with the tour, he would have said something.

He didn’t even say good-bye.

“You’re right, Grandpa, we need to talk to Dennis and Grand-Paul.”

“Ava, what are you going to do?” Tana no longer seemed put together or sophisticated as she chewed her thumbnail, eyes wide.

“I’m not sure,” Ava muttered, pressing her fingers to her lips. She didn’t need to worry about where Dennis was. Even her worry over her job took a backseat for the moment. The videos weren’t the most important thing here. She needed to focus on her grandfather first. He needed this.

Ava turned to Grandpa Jack and saw the deep sadness in his eyes. Tana grabbed Ava’s hand and patted it. Then she pulled Ava to the side. “Look at him, he’s heartbroken. You have to go.” Tana squeezed her hand tighter.

“I’m not sure I can do it. I’ve never travelled in a foreign country. This isn’t like driving from Seattle to Northern California. I don’t know the language, or rather the
languages
. I don’t know how to drive on the roads.”

“It’s not that hard. If I can survive here, so can you.”

“Can you come with me? It would make me feel a whole lot better.”

“Sorry, I have to work. But I can help you with the arrangements.”

As Ava watched her grandfather’s age-spotted hand wipe tears—tears he was trying to hide—she knew what she had to do. She had to drive Grandpa Jack across Europe, taking him to the places that mattered most.

He had places he needed to go, and a past he needed to confront. And she was the only one who could take him.

Ava took a deep breath. “Okay, where do I start?”

Chapter Seven

Ava paused at the hotel room door before knocking. She heard voices inside and a tinge of anger punched at her lungs, making it hard to breathe. Grandpa Jack had asked the hotel clerk if Dennis and Paul had checked into a room. To Ava’s amazement, they had. Either they were clueless about the problem with the tour, or maybe they had the same plan as she did. Maybe they were going to strike out on their own.

But Dennis could have at least let her know he was heading up to their room. He could have looked for her to try to talk about changes in their travel plans. Obviously, if they hadn’t taken the time to find her in the lobby, they weren’t interested in Ava and Jack’s plans. Ava wasn’t here to ask for company. She needed advice, though.

She knocked, and Dennis answered the door.

“Did you hear about the big problem?”

“The tour cancelation? Yeah, I heard about it, but it’s not going to change our plans. I was on the phone with the rental car place asking if I could keep it for another week.”

“So you’re not going to get on the bus?”

“No. I know my grandpa wants to spend time with his friends, but he didn’t come this far to miss out on the battlefields. I was going to talk to you to see if you’d be interested in going together—following the original route.” He sounded all business.

“Yes.” The word slipped out of her mouth and with it, some of her pent-up anxiety. “We’d already decided that too—that we weren’t going to head to Austria with the others.” She bit her lip. She looked into Dennis’s dark blue eyes and heat rose up her neck. She looked at his jaw, his neck, remembering when she’d snuggled under his chin with his arms wrapped around her. Ava pushed her lower lip out, trying to hide her attraction. Even though he wasn’t the same charming Dennis she remembered, she couldn’t deny how handsome he was. She hoped that the uptight Dennis from earlier was gone. He seemed a little more at ease, and he had asked if she would—they would—join them. “I’ve never driven around Europe before. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do it alone.” She tried to make her voice sound natural.

“Great.” Dennis nodded. “We’ll head out in the morning.”

“You want to meet downstairs at breakfast?” Nervous energy seemed to radiate from her chest, and she wondered if he could feel it. They were really going to do this—head off across Europe alone. The small hairs on her arms rose at the thought of all those miles spent together. As she looked at him, it was the old Dennis who stood before her. There was no snobby attitude, just an easy presence that made her wish they could begin their adventure now.

“Sounds like a plan.” He stepped back from the door.

Ava turned and started down the hall.

“Ava!” he called after her.

She turned. “Yeah?”

“I’m sorry you thought I abandoned you.”

She knew he was talking about today, but deep down she wished the apology was for fifteen years ago. Even though she was the one who’d broken things off, she wished he had come after her. She wished the apology was for all the times between then and now that he could have reached out.

She brushed her hair over her shoulder and shrugged. “That’s okay. No harm done.” She thought about saying more—about adding that she was looking forward to the coming week. He stepped back inside the door before she could.

As she hurried to find Tana, she smiled at the adventure awaiting them.

The elevator doors opened, and another hotel guest waved her inside. Ava crossed her arms over her chest as she stepped into the small elevator. A handsome Parisian with slicked black hair and wearing a business suit eyed her, but she focused instead on the lighted, numbered panel. Even then, she could feel his eyes on her. His closeness. She was consumed with his presence in the small space. Being in close proximity with Dennis in a car for a week would have the same effect. She wanted to be close to him but feared it just the same. Feared all the memories it would bring back. Feared attraction and yet another longing for something—someone—she couldn’t have.

Chapter Eight

After Ava checked in, she made sure her grandfather got dinner. Then she and Tana hoofed it over to a mobile phone shop around the corner and picked up a cell phone for Ava, putting Tana’s number on speed dial. While her grandfather got ready for bed, Tana called to check in with her boyfriend, Pierre, and Ava found their previous itinerary online and called the hotels. She also took a minute to check to see if she’d gotten a return e-mail from Jay, but there was nothing.

“You’ve come here at a good time.” Tana linked her arm through Ava’s as they walked down the hall toward the lobby. “Europeans go on holiday in August. It’s a nightmare trying to find a rental car and hotel rooms then.”

“Good thing World War II ended in May. Wouldn’t want to mess with everyone’s holiday.” Ava chuckled, trying to ignore the unsettled feeling she had over using her expense credit card for the room. Todd knew that her expenses would be on the card, he just didn’t realize how much they would be. She’d thought about calling him and explaining, but he hated dealing with the financial side of things. It would be better for her just to take care of everything when she got home—save him from all the forms that needed to be submitted, the hassle. She also tried to ignore the unsettled feeling she had over Jay’s not e-mailing her back.

She pushed both thoughts out of her mind and squared her shoulders. A lot had happened to disrupt their plans, but tonight was her one and only night with Tana. She needed to be present for that.

She scanned the front lobby of the hotel. The clock was already inching toward ten o’clock. Her stomach grumbled, but she doubted there would be a restaurant open this late. Ava had eaten her last granola bar hours ago when her grandfather was enjoying dinner with friends.

The foyer that had previously been packed with old men, suitcases, and anxious family members was now empty, and Ava assumed everyone was on their way to Austria. Well, everyone except Grand-Paul and Dennis. She hoped they were upstairs resting peacefully.

Grandpa Jack had told her he planned on hitting the sack after dinner, and even though it meant waiting longer, Ava made sure he had everything he needed before she headed out.

Ava yawned and rubbed her eyes, wondering if she would be able to keep going despite losing half a day and sleeping poorly on the plane ride. But instead of being tired, she was excited and anxious. The idea of heading off across Europe with a map, Dennis, and their grandpas was as good as two venti lattes, at least.

Tana knew a great restaurant within walking distance, and Ava wondered what type of place would be open this time of night.

Just go with it, Ava. It’s Paris. Let your hair down,
she thought as she played with the red beads on her bracelet and cautiously scanned the near-empty streets for any sign of danger.

A few cars passed, but no one seemed threatening. She walked by Tana’s side through what appeared to be a shopping and business district and passed a plain-looking bank with an ATM machine on the side of the building, just like at home. She was disappointed to see that so many things—like the ATM—were similar to Seattle. She found herself wishing that every street was filled with ornate architecture and quaint shops.

As they walked, Ava’s heels echoed off the pavement, and Tana rattled on about Pierre’s parents.

“Fabian and Magalie have an estate thirty minutes south of the city. Magalie is his third wife, and much younger. They built a house for Pierre’s sister when she married, and Magalie’s hinted about us looking at house plans. Not that I’m ready to marry anytime soon. That’s what I like about the French, though. Family matters. They dislike the idea of living too far apart, unlike Americans who scatter around the country like tiddlywinks. Oh,” she continued hurriedly, “you should see their swimming pool… .” Tana rattled on. Ava’s mind was on her grandfather, the trip, Jay, and Dennis, but she feigned interest.

As she glanced at her friend, Ava remembered that they used to have deep, insightful conversations, but she couldn’t remember what they used to talk about. Their lives had gone down two different paths, in opposite directions. Tana lived in the Paris art scene and lived a creative lifestyle with no regular schedule. Ava organized her day down to the minute. She needed to pull off a show every day, five days a week.

A soft breeze blew, ruffling Ava’s hair, and she brushed it out of her face, worried the same thing would happen with Dennis. After all these years, was it foolish to believe they’d still enjoy each other’s company? She pulled her arms tighter to her, considering what a long ride it would be with someone whom she no longer connected with. Maybe teaming up with Dennis hadn’t been the best idea. This had the potential for being the longest week of her life.

Just when Ava seriously doubted Tana knew where she was going, they turned onto a street with a few lighted restaurant windows. Tana led Ava into one, and she sucked in a breath as she entered. Stepping through the front door was like moving from a black-and-white movie into a 3-D, Technicolor adventure. Every table in the place was full, and there were people ahead of them waiting to be seated. Blue smoke trailed through the air, and Ava attempted to stifle her cough. Glancing around, it was evident she was far, far from Seattle.

As Tana jabbered with the host in French, Ava felt her senses being assaulted. Everyone spoke rapidly in words she couldn’t understand. Music played in the background. The scents of warm bread and garlic made her stomach growl again. Even the air felt thick, heavy, warm, strong.

Tana returned to Ava’s side just as Tana’s cell phone rang. She picked it up immediately. From the brightness in her friend’s eyes, Ava assumed it was Pierre yet again. Ava watched her and shook her head in amazement as her friend rattled on in French.

Ava glanced around and attempted to focus on different conversations, trying to pick out a few words. It was hopeless. She’d taken Spanish in high school and college, and that did little to help her here.

Finally, a waiter approached, and Tana continued to chat on the phone. The waiter spoke quickly, and Ava shook her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

His eyes widened, and he smiled. “American, yes. Come with me.” He grabbed two menus and placed his hand on the small of her back, leading Ava to a tiny table. Very tiny. The table was nestled between two others of equal size, with only a foot or so between them.