Author's Note: This story begins three months after the season finale. Not much background to it because you kind of discover it along the way. I wanted to do a story that delved deeper into the Sadie and Jude relationship as well. Mainly though, it was this idea that started it all—What happens when Jude and Sadie go to Paris, France? And what happens when Tommy shows up there as well. Considering the last time he was there was spent with Sadie, how will this particular trip turn out. Will it be a recipe for disaster? Please R&R. Smiles.
"Jude! You have to see this!" Sadie cried from the living room downstairs, and I flinched as I pulled away from the song I had diligently been working on. I loved Sadie dearly, but there were times when she got overly excited that her voice tended to remind me of fingernails trailing down a chalk board.
"It better be one of those 'you just won a million dollar check' kind of occasions Sades because otherwise I might have to go all Hannibal Lecter on you." I shouted in homicidal fashion back down at her as I walked over to the top of the stairwell. I could hear Sadie rummaging through the house like a mad woman as I stood there, and I—surprisingly—found myself very curious as to what had her so keyed up. Her face suddenly appeared from down below—eyes glowing in excitement as she looked up at me before disappearing again. 'What the hell?'
"You won't believe this!" I heard her squeal as I started to descend the stairs haltingly. Believe what? I winced as I heard something crash in a storage closet down below me, and I groaned as I thought about the strewn contents that were now more than likely sitting stoically in the middle of our living room. Ohhh, not the closet Sadie! That closet was the perfect example of how organized us Harrisons really were because that was one of those doors you just never ever opened unless you really really needed something. I quirked a brow in genuine amusement as I finally walked up to find her leaning over into the pile of rubbish she had just unleashed—her head eaten up by the shadows within the enclosure while her rear end was stuck up shakily into the air as she dug.
"Are you having flashbacks of a previous life as a squirrel or is there a particular reason you look like you are nesting for the winter." I asked on a chuckle as Sadie pulled her head out of the space long enough to throw me a scathing look. I just shrugged.
"I'm looking for that big suitcase mom bought when we went on vacation years ago." Sadie replied evenly as I cringed at the memories that suddenly bombarded me—memories of a laughing family unit actually enjoying the chance to spend some time with each other. Those days had long since passed.
"Suitcase?" I asked her uneasily as she climbed out of the middle of the mess with a sigh.
"Are you going somewhere?" I asked her again before she even got a chance to answer my question. She shook her head slowly before grabbing me by the hand—stuffing a small envelope into my palm as she did.
"Nope, we're going somewhere." She replied with another small, excited squeal as I pulled out two airplane ticket stubs from the inside of the white interior. Oh my God!
"What….?" I began as Sadie shook me by the shoulders in genuine joy.
"I sent in some publicity stills of me to a modeling agency, and they want to use me in an ad of theirs. Can you believe it! They're sending me to Paris for a month, and I want you to go with me." Sadie explained as I felt my jaw drop to the floor leadenly. I couldn't leave.
"Sades…" I started again slowly in a saddened tone as Sadie placed her hand over my mouth to keep me from talking.
"Uh uh, no arguing, Jude. I already got the studio to release you for four weeks. It's been three months, Jude. He's not coming back. You need to get away for a little while. Maybe meet a few French men. Oui Oui." Sadie complained as I looked down at the chipped fingernail polish on my toenails. Maybe, she was right. Maybe France would inspire me. And, I couldn't help but feel proud of Sadie's sudden achievement. Besides, 'he' haunted me—even after all of the success and accolades I was receiving upon hitting number one on the billboard charts. He still haunted me.
"When do we leave?" I asked insistently—suddenly very keen on the opportunity Sadie was offering me—a chance to escape. Sadie grinned at me before diving back into the closet. I looked down at the stubs in my hands. The date on it was marked for tomorrow. Geez! Sadie whooped when she found what she was looking for.
"Viva La France!" she yelled before falling back into the rubble in satisfaction. What had I just gotten myself into?