AWAKENING, CHAPTER 35: Se séparer est un doux chagrin
Dockside in Calais, Peter waved gamely as his sisters boarded the ferry back to England. Louis, standing beside him, gave his elbow a squeeze.
"You'll see them in a few weeks," he said.
"I know that," Peter said with a warm smile. "It's just… everything's coming to an end, isn't it?"
"Everything? Oh, I wouldn't say that," Louis said. "It's you have your whole life ahead of you."
They turned and walked away from the quay as the ferry chugged out into the harbor and disappeared from view. "Back to England," Peter said. "Didn't think I'd like Paris so much."
Transitions, Louis thought. He'd had too many in recent years, and there were very hard for him. He had a surprise for Peter, something he thought would help as he left Paris, but he'd wanted to keep it secret. He decided on the spur of the moment to tell him.
"I think I'm going to come with you when you go home," Louis said.
The expression of glee that crossed Peter's face could have lit the night. "Really?"
"Why not? The restaurant closes for the month of August. Danielle has agreed to vacation with her parents one last time…"
"One last time?" Peter wrinkled his nose. Where was she going?
"… yes, one last time before we get married again. We've agreed. Next April," Louis said with a smile.
"That's marvelous, Louis! You were an idiot to let her go in the first place, you know," Peter said.
"Yes, I know that. Believe me, I know," Louis replied. "So in the meantime, I'll accompany you to England, and we'll have an adventure, alright?"
Peter nodded, unable to suppress a grin. He had a few more weeks in Paris, and he planned to make the most of it. There was tennis to watch, a bicycle race to follow, and friends to hang out with.
In under a month, he'd see Colonel Hogan again, and his sisters, and Mrs. Holtzman, and Dottie. He'd have to say goodbye to a few people, and he gulped as he thought about it. But he'd come back to Paris, and they'd come to London. That's how it would have to be.
In the car ride back to Paris, Peter gazed at the window, taking in everything that was now so familiar. He could read French now. Bloody hell, he could speak French now. And julienne vegetables like nobody's business. And play a bit of tennis. And talk about ballet. And ask a girl on a date. And ask a boy to... No. He wouldn't think about that. Not now.
Yes, he thought, there were going to be adjustments. But he'd manage. He'd change. He'd have to do.
Author's Note: After debating for months, I've made the decision to cut this story off here and pick up with a new story. This one is almost 100,000 words, which is pretty long, and I think it will work well as a two-parter. So please stay tuned for another installment starting in the spring. Title to be determined, but it will definitely be a continuation. Thank you for reading and sticking with me for so long!