Everyone went back to the hospital in the morning and was surprised to see Chloe packed and ready to go. The doctor came in a few minutes later and told them that Chloe would recuperate much better if she is in her own environment.
Alicia suggested that she move in with the twins for a few weeks to oversee Chloe's recovery and knew that it would give Lorraine peace of mind. Both the twins were happy with the arrangement and knew their mom did not like New York and wanted to get back home.
Alicia left to book out of the hotel and packed her stuff to move in with the twins. Jonathan took Chloe home and made sure she was comfortable before fetching Alicia from the hotel.
Lorraine decided to stay for another few days just to make sure everyone was settled completely, and felt relieved that everything worked out so perfectly. She was just in a different state of mind, and couldn't decide if she wanted to go back home or if she wanted to go to back to Paris. She wanted to see Alex so badly, but she didn't want him to think that she was arranging her schedule to fit in with him.
She sent him a text message and told him that Chloe was discharged and that Alicia was staying behind to oversee the kids.
Alex felt extremely excited after he received the text message from Lorraine. He didn't want to ask her when and if she was coming back to Paris but it made him feel excited just to hear from her. He had spent every waking moment after she left at the chateau, and he wanted her to see the complete product once she arrived back. He was driving the workers crazy to finish the work on time and he was very relieved to know that they were busy with the finishing touches.
He loved that place, and still couldn't believe that he was the owner. He felt like the king of the town when the building inspector finally handed him the key and told him that it was done.
He drove down to the chateau and couldn't believe how perfect everything looked. He was just waiting for his queen and then he would be the luckiest man on earth. Caroline's mother finally agreed for her to take a year off and to come and stay with him in Paris, and he couldn't wait to spend a whole year with his daughter.
Caroline had spend her whole life in South Africa and she had long since made peace with the fact that her parents were not going to get back together. She saw her father every eight weeks and he spoiled her rotten the times that she did. She was looking forward to spending some time with him in Paris, and she hoped that her mom would finally find someone on a more permanent basis.
She was not aware that her dad was seeing someone and she knew that they would be able to spend some more quality time together. She loved art just like he did and knew that someday she would take over the gallery permanently. It was a well established business and she wanted to learn more during the year that she was going to spend there.
She loved spending time with Francois and although he was much older than she is, they had quite a good connection and frequently chatted via text message. At this stage they were good friends, and perhaps now that she was older they could explore their relationship a bit more.
She had no idea how her father would feel if she dated Francois, but her father had always been open minded and he might not have a problem with it. Caroline was literally counting the days before her flight...
The next few days were calm and peaceful in New York. Lorraine asked Chloe if she did not want accompany her to Paris, but Chloe declined. She said that it would be too difficult to travel with the cast on her leg, and she had to get back to work. Even though she'd be working from within a wheelchair for a few weeks, she felt that she was missing out too much.
Alicia went out nearly every day to spend a few hours with her new doctor friend, and it seemed like it was moving into a more serious relationship very soon. Jonathan went back to classes and tried to catch up as quickly as possible. It was clear that Lorraine was not needed and that each of them were just continuing with their lives.
Lorraine started to feel in the way, and on Friday night announced that she was going back to Paris the next day. She had some unfinished business there and she needed to settle that before she went back home. Lorraine and Alicia exchanged a look, and Lorraine knew that Alicia approved of her decision.
She had booked her flight the day before, and didn't even tell Alex that she was coming back. She wanted it to be a surprise. She said her goodbyes that afternoon and Jonathan suggested that he take to the airport, but she told him that she had already arranged for a car as her flight was leaving just after four. She wanted to be there early and sleep on the plane.
They all promised to meet in Chicago for thanksgiving and laughed when Alicia asked if she could bring a date. Everyone made fun of Alicia and they all knew that it was the first serious relationship that she had in years, but they approved. Everyone had such a fun day together and looked sad when Lorraine excused herself early to go pack for her trip back to Paris.
Just after three o clock she went downstairs where the car was already waiting for her. She was excited to get back to Paris and to see what they had done to the chateau while she was away. She didn't want to sleep on the plane, because she wanted to read a script that her agent sent her. She was interested in taking the part, and part of the movie would be shot in Paris. She was seriously contemplating taking the part but she didn't want to decide before she saw Alex.
The flight was uneventful, and landed just after eleven o clock that night. The car she arranged dropped her off at the Ritz and she was welcomed again with open arms. They booked a room on the same floor as previously but it had a better view, and she could see the Eiffel tower from her balcony. It felt extremely good to be back and she couldn't wait for the morning to phone Alex to invite him for breakfast.
She poured herself a drink and took a sleeping tablet to prevent jet lag, and went to bed straight away after unpacking her clothes. The combination did her well, and after sending a text to Alicia, and setting her alarm for seven o clock, she was asleep within half an hour. She woke up just before her alarm went off and after drinking a cup of tea, she took her phone and typed Alex a message.
"Can I pick you up for breakfast?"
Alex was still in bed when he received the message and felt overjoyed. His heart was bouncing and he couldn't believe that he was going to see her within the next hour. He told her that he would pick her up on their usual place and that he would arrange for breakfast.
He jumped out of bed and took a quick shower before phoning the delicatessen to arrange for a breakfast basket. He phoned Francois to take care of the gallery and told him that he would see him in a day or two. He planned to spend every second with Lorraine. He wanted to show her the chateau and he couldn't wait to see her reaction.
It was just after nine when he drove to the Ritz. Lorraine was dressed in the same pair of jeans and jersey she wore on their date to the chateau and she looked ravishing. She was already waiting for him outside when he stopped. He jumped out of the car and when he wanted to kiss her on the cheek she turned his head and kissed him right on the lips. It turned into a very passionate kiss and both of them were surprised at how good it felt. Neither of them said a word, but you could feel the energy between them from a mile away.
Lorraine instantly knew that she made the right decision to come back and Alex was a happy as a seagull when he started the car to drive to the chateau.
-To be continued-
