Chapter 5: Sous le Ciel de Paris (Under The Paris Sky)

In French:

Sous le ciel de Paris
Marchent des amoureux

Hum-hum

Leur bonheur se construit
Sur un air fait pour eux

Sous le ciel de Paris
Jusqu'au soir vont chanter
Hum, hum
L'hymne d'un peuple épris
De sa vieille cité

In English:

Under the Paris sky
Lovers walk about

Hum-hum
Their happiness is built
On a tune made for them

Under the Paris sky
They'll sing until dusk

Hum, hum
The hymn of people in love
With this old city

Edith Piaf

Maddie and David took an 11-hour overnight transatlantic flight, First Class, to Paris for their honeymoon. The entire trip was a wedding gift from Alex and Virginia. David fell asleep almost the instant the plane took off, and slept for a lot of the flight, but Maddie was more of a nervous flyer. She laid her head on David's shoulder, held his hand, and dozed a bit off and on. Maddie felt very warm and safe next to him. They arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport in the late morning, went through customs, and took a taxi to their hotel. They were staying at the Hotel Plaza Athenee, on Avenue Montaigne in the 8th Arrondissement in Paris, on the right bank of the Seine. As the taxi pulled up to the hotel, a porter immediately whisked their bags into the hotel.

David and Maddie walked through the revolving front door of the hotel into the beautiful marble-floored lobby, which was decorated with a large crystal chandelier and flanked with marble columns and beautiful floral arrangements. They went to the front desk to see if they could check in – they were a bit early for check in time but they both hoped they could go ahead and get in to their room to relax after the long flight.

Maddie: "Bonjour, je m'appelle Madolyn Addison. Nous avons une reservation pour une suite. C'est mon mari, David. Il ne parle pas Francais. C'est son premier voyage a Paris." Maddie chatted and laughed with the desk clerk in fluent French about their reservation – and told him that it was her husband's first trip to Paris and that he did not speak French.

David stood there absolutely bewildered, having no idea what they were saying. He also had no idea that Maddie spoke perfect French – and it really turned him on. He ran his hand through his hair, shoved his hands in his pockets, and smirked.

The desk clerk said in perfect English: "Ah, but of course. Welcome to Paris and the Hotel Plaza Athenee, Mr. and Mrs. Addison. Congratulations on your recent wedding! And Mr. Addison, I understand this is your first trip to Paris. We hope you enjoy our wonderful city. Your beautiful wife speaks perfect French. Magnifique! Your suite is ready - Jean-Pierre will show you to your room. Please let us know if there is anything you need."

Jean-Pierre led Maddie and David up the elevator to the top floor of the hotel to their room, The Eiffel Suite, where their luggage was waiting for them. The suite was decorated in soft greys and pinks with high ceilings. It had a king size bed, a living room with a gray velvet couch and pink velvet armchairs, a grand piano, a marble bathroom, tall picture windows, and a balcony with a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. There was a beautiful pink and white floral arrangement on the coffee table with a card that said "Congratulations, Maddie and David. We honeymooned in Paris too and we hope you have as wonderful a time as we did. Love, Alex and Ginny (Mom and Dad)."

When they were alone, David put his arms around Maddie and kissed her. He stroked the back of her hair with his right hand and gazed into her eyes, giving her a sly smirk.

David: "Wow, check out this room – and this view! I didn't realize you spoke French, Maddie. Are you fluent? Wow. You are so unbelievably sexy. Say something dirty to me in French, baby."

Maddie: "David! I wouldn't say I'm fluent – I took four years of French in high school and two more years in college, and I spent a lot of time in Paris off and on when I was modeling." Maddie smiled at David, and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Gosh, I am so tired. That 11 hour flight almost did me in. I don't know how you sleep so well on a plane. I just can't do it."

David: "C'mere." He and Maddie took off the clothes they'd been traveling in and laid down under the cool sheets on the king bed in their beautiful hotel room. David put his arms around Maddie and she leaned back against him – he rested one hand on her baby bump. They both fell fast asleep – for hours.

David awoke groggily in the late afternoon sunshine to someone whispering something he couldn't understand. "Maddie?!"

Maddie: "Shhh." She put her index finger over his lips and kissed his cheek, running her lips along the stubble on his face before kissing her way to his ear and whispering: "Je t'aime de tout mon coeur, David. Je ne peux pas m'empecher de penser a toi. J'ai envie de te faire l'amour."

David: "I don't know what you just said, Goldilocks, but I have never been so turned on. I think you should start speaking French all the time. Maybe wear a little French maid costume too?"

Maddie: "Addison!" She smiled and stroked the side of his face: "I said - I love you with all my soul, David. I can't stop thinking about you. I want to make love to you."

She climbed on top of him and gently kissed his forehead, eyelids, nose, mouth, and chin. She kissed her way along his neck, down his chest and belly, then took him in her mouth. She kissed her way back up to his face, then began kissing him passionately, touching her tongue to his. Maddie slipped him inside of her and made love to him in the late afternoon sunshine.

David looked up at Maddie and tucked a bit of her hair behind her ear. She was so beautiful. Her breasts were fuller and she was really starting to show. It turned him on even more to think of his child growing inside of her.

David: "Jesus, Maddie, you are so beautiful – and so hot. I love you, honey."

Afterwards, they held each other close, then got up, put on their plush hotel robes, and checked out the view of the Eiffel Tower from their hotel suite.

David: "I like this city already. Wow, what an incredible view."

Maddie: "It's really special. This place is amazing – you should see some of the places I stayed when I was here modeling – definitely not five star hotels like this one."

Maddie and David both took a shower, got dressed, and went for a walk. It was a beautiful summer evening and the sun was just starting to set. They walked to the Pont de l'Alma and took an evening dinner cruise on the Seine to the Ile de la Cite and Ile Saint-Louis, around Notre Dame, and back to the Eiffel Tower. They held hands, kissed, and took in the romantic evening sights of the City of Lights. They walked back to their hotel, hand in hand, and talked about their life together and all of the crazy things that got them where they were today.

David smiled and kissed Maddie's hand: "Are you happy, Maddie? I just can't believe we're here in Paris together."

Maddie: "I've never been happier."

David: "Maddie, after some of our conversations in Vegas, I have something gnawing at the base of my noggin – how many guys have you been with?"

Maddie: "David!"

David: "I'm serious Maddie – no secrets between us. Can I count the number of guys on one hand?"

Maddie: "No"

David: "Two hands?"

Maddie: "No, David." David had a shocked expression on his face. "Don't be shocked, David. I mean we've both had a past. Why do you want to know? Does it matter?"

David: "No – I guess the whole time I knew you at Blue Moon – you know, before me. And Sam." David winced at the thought of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. "I didn't really see you going out a lot – or really involved with anyone."

Maddie: "I was in a difficult place, David, for a long time, before I met you. If you're asking me if I slept with anyone then, the answer is no. I hadn't been with anyone since…." Her face looked sad thinking of John. "But before that, I had my share of relationships, and encounters."

David: "Encounters? You mean one night stands?"

Maddie: "I wouldn't say that, David. I mean, maybe a couple, when I was younger. For me, I think it's important to make a connection with someone before being intimate, you know? What about you? I heard all about your bartending days in New York from Fish, Mike, and Rick. And certainly, since I've been at Blue Moon, I've seen some things..." Maddie paused, then continued: "Do you really want to know my number? And if I tell you, will you tell me?" David nodded but was starting to think that maybe this conversation was not one of his better laid plans. Maddie asked: "Are we talking dozens?" David looked sheepish. "Fifty?" David had a fretful look on his face. "A hundred?" David was starting to sweat. "You know what David, maybe I don't want to know. Maybe we can just agree that we both have, um, a certain level of experience, and we are where we are today because of our past?"

They walked back into the Plaza Athenee and took the elevator up to their room.

David: "Fair enough, Blondie Blonde. Am I the best lover you've had?" David pushed Maddie against the wall of the elevator and leaned against her, kissing her deeply, running his fingers through her hair.

Maddie, without any hesitation whatsoever: "Absolutely."

David smiled as they walked down the hallway to their room. David opened the door and they walked inside.

David: "Where's the weirdest place you've ever done it?"

Maddie laughed, kicking off her shoes: "You mean besides with you in my parents' library with them asleep upstairs? Or with you in that coat check room at Le Saint Germain - I can't believe no one walked in on us! Or with you on that pool table in Vegas? Or in the elevator in Century City?" Maddie laughed. "I think all of my weird places have been with you."

David smiled – and smirked, kicking off his shoes and untucking his shirt: "What can I say - I can't get enough of you, baby. I've never felt this way about anyone else."

Maddie: "Okay, I have a question for you. What's something you've always wanted to do and no one would do with you?" She leaned in and brushed her lips across his cheek before she whispered in David's ear: "Whisper it to me and we'll do it tonight. Tu peux me prendre dans tout le sens."

David: "What did you just say, honey?"

Maddie: "It's French for you can have me any way you want." Maddie grabbed his tie and pulled him towards the bed.

The next day, David and Maddie slept in, then ordered room service for breakfast. They sat outside on their balcony and enjoyed breakfast with a view of the Eiffel Tower and the Paris rooftop – a typical French breakfast of croissants, yogurt, fresh fruit, coffee, and freshly squeezed juices.

David: "This is the life, baby."

Maddie: "It's pretty great great, as Agnes would say."

David snapped a photo of Maddie with her breakfast on the balcony, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. His dad and Stephanie got them a Nikon 35mm camera as a wedding gift and he was determined to become a good photographer before the baby was born.

After breakfast, Maddie and David went to The Louvre. David wasn't so sure about spending hours in an art museum but Maddie insisted he needed to go – it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see some of the most famous art in the world. Once he discovered all of the Greek and Roman nude sculptures, he decided it might not be so bad after all. Maddie found him gazing agape at the Nike of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo and rolled her eyes.

David: "These sculptures are really sensual, Maddie. Wow."

They walked hand in hand through the Grand Galerie and looked at all of the famous paintings there by Leonardo DaVinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian, Delacroix, and Vermeer, among others.

Maddie: "Do you hear that sound – like muffled talking? You can follow it to the most famous painting in the world - The Mona Lisa. This is a huge museum but you can always find her by just following the voices."

Maddie and David followed the sounds to The Mona Lisa. There was a crowd gathered around her, taking photos, pointing, and talking. David snapped a photo too.

David: "She's a lot smaller than I expected her to be. And why is she behind glass? But wow - look at that face, and that smile."

Maddie: "She's kind of smirky like you are! I think the glass is there so no one tries to steal or damage her. I wonder what she's thinking about?"

David: "Sex? That's usually what I'm thinking about."

Maddie: "Addison!"

They continued walking through the Grand Galerie, David's arm draped over Maddie's shoulder.

David: "Wow – look at all these nakes."

Maddie: "David!"

David: "Sorry, I meant nudes. Nakes have staples. I'm kidding Maddie – these are all really beautiful, and this gallery is pretty fantastic. I'm glad you took me here." He leaned over and kissed her.

Maddie: "Let's go grab some lunch, David. And then I have something special planned for us this afternoon."

David: "Sex?"

Maddie: "Addison!"

Maddie and David stopped by a bistro for lunch. The menu was on a small chalkboard – and all in French. Maddie ordered for them. "Bonjour! Je voudrais commander un omelette, si'l vous plait - et pour mon mari, je voudrais commander un croque monseigneur et un verre de vin blanc. Merci!"

David: "I have no idea what you just said but I am so turned on."

Maddie rolled her eyes and laughed: "David, will you stop! I ordered you a ham and cheese sandwich and a glass of wine."

David wasn't so sure about the sandwich he got that had to be eaten with a knife and fork – hot ham and cheese with béchamel on the top and a green salad on the side – but he had to admit it was delicious. He had a few bites of Maddie's omelette too – it was pretty and rolled with herbs on top and didn't look like the omelets he'd gotten at diners in LA.

After lunch, Maddie and David took a taxi back to their hotel and went to the Dior Spa at the hotel. Maddie had booked a couples massage for the two of them. The room was dark, calm, and relaxing, with soft lighting and soothing French music. They both took off their clothes and changed into plush robes, before getting on massage tables next to each other in their private massage room, and covering up with sheets. They each had a masseuse who gave them deep massages with aromatherapy oils scented with lavender and eucalyptus. David reached over and grabbed Maddie's hand - it was an intimate, sexy time for the two of them, and they were able to relax together and enjoy this experience. By the end of their massages, Maddie heard the slightest snore from David – he was so relaxed that he had fallen asleep on the massage table. After their massages, they sat together in plush chairs in their massage suite and enjoyed drinks - infused water for Maddie and a glass of champagne for David - then got dressed and went back to their hotel room.

David: "Wow, I've never done anything like that. It was so sexy – and so intimate being there with you."

Maddie: "I love getting a massage. It just takes all the tension out of your body." Maddie smiled at David, and touched his face with her hand. "I don't know if it's the massage, or these pregnancy hormones, or what – but God, David, I have to have you." She pushed him up against the wall and kissed him passionately, biting his lips and touching her tongue to his, running her hands through his hair.

Suddenly, both of them were on fire. They couldn't get enough of each other. They moved around the room, hands and lips everywhere, discarding the clothes they were wearing. They bumped against the grand piano in their suite. David picked Maddie up and gently sat her down on the piano keys They made love against the grand piano, the occasional sound of piano notes mingled with the sounds of their lovemaking.

Maddie: "I think we have a new 'Where is the weirdest place you've ever done it?'"

Maddie and David spent the next few days exploring every corner of The City of Lights. They took photographs of each other all over the city with their new Nikon camera – they'd get the film developed when they got back to LA.

They walked along the quays of the Seine with picture perfect views of the city and went to the Ile de la Cite – the oldest part of Paris. They visited the beautiful Sainte-Chapelle with its ethereal stained glass and deep blue ceiling covered with gold stars. They went to Notre Dame Cathedral where David lit candles before they climbed to the top to see the famous gargoyles and amazing views of Paris. They visited the bouquinistes along the Seine, where they both looked through magazines, books, and records. David perused dirty French magazines and Maddie rolled her eyes at him. David also found French magazines from the 1970s with Maddie on the cover, which he bought for the framed cover collection in her bedroom. They both bought vintage record albums – David got a couple of old Motown albums with covers in French and Maddie got an Edith Piaf album.

They visited the famous left bank English bookstore Shakespeare and Company where Maddie picked up three copies of Ernest Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast", which he wrote while he lived in Paris – one for her mom, one for Stephanie, and one for herself.

Maddie: "Now here's some dirty books for you David – have you ever read Anais Nin or Henry Miller? They both have a huge history here in Paris."

David joked: "Are they illustrated?" Maddie rolled her eyes. "I'm kidding, Maddie. I know who they are."

Maddie: "I'm getting these too." She picked up copies of "Delta of Venus", "Little Birds", and "Tropic of Cancer".

Maddie paid for their books and got the famous Shakespeare and Company store stamp inside of each book – a wonderful Paris souvenir for book lovers.

David and Maddie grabbed ice cream cones at the world-famous Berthillon. David was thrilled to find they had five different flavors of chocolate ice cream and, like a little kid, he got a triple scoop with three different flavors of chocolate. Maddie had a cassis (black currant) sorbet. They sat on a bench on the Ile de la Cite and watched the passersby and David made up stories about them.

David: "See that guy over there who is dressed like a stockbroker? He's really a hit man in the French mafia."

Maddie: "Is there really a French mafia, David?"

David: "I don't know, Maddie. Just play along. See those two women with the long haired guy? They are meeting up for an afternoon menage a trois at his apartment around the corner."

Maddie: "David!"

David: "See that older couple with the little dog? They've been married for 50 years and have 5 kids and 17 grandchildren."

Maddie: "Aww, that's sweet."

That evening at sunset, Maddie and David dressed up and went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and had dinner at the famous Le Jules Verne - Ginny had made a reservation for them. David wore a dark suit and tie and Maddie wore her white and gold evening gown. It was a prix fixe meal and David opted for the wine pairings with each course – Maddie had sparkling water.

The waiter served them their first course. David: "What is this, Maddie?" He tapped his fork against the shells in the small round copper dish that were covered with herbs and butter.

Maddie: "Escargot. Snails baked in butter, garlic, and herbs. They're delicious."

David made a face: "Snails? No thanks. Here, you can have mine."

Maddie: "Don't you want to try them?"

David: "No. But I will have some of that baguette."

The next course was beef bourguignon. David: "Now we're talking! Maddie laughed.

After a glass of wine with each course, plus a glass of brandy at the end of the meal, David was very drunk. They walked back to their hotel –David was staggering a bit, with his arm around Maddie. As they walked back, they could hear jazz musicians playing "La Vie En Rose" along the Seine.

David: "I love you, Blondie Blonde. And this city is amazing. Apart from them snails at dinner. God, you are so sexy in this dress."

Maddie: "You're drunk, David. Here – let's get you back to the room and in bed."

David: "Can't keep your hands off of me, huh, Mrs. Addison?"

They got back to the hotel and Maddie helped David get undressed and in bed before he passed out, fast asleep on his stomach, snoring lightly. Maddie laughed – she supposed this was going to happen every now and then and she may as well get used to it.

The next morning, David and Maddie slept in and made love slowly and sweetly, gazing into each other's' eyes. David was none the worse for wear after his night of drinking. They got showers, got dressed, and walked down the Champs Elysees. They climbed to the top of the Arc du Triomphe where they took in some of the most beautiful views of Paris. David took lots of pictures and bought Maddie a necklace with a little Arc du Triomphe charm on it. They shopped along the Champs Elysees and Maddie enjoyed the high end fashion houses there, including Dior, Chanel, and Hermes. They went to Laduree for their famous macarons and had some shipped to Chicago for Alex and Virginia. They went to the famous Bar Hemingway at the Ritz. David had a couple of cocktails and Maddie had club soda and they both enjoyed the "American" bar snacks – olives and almonds and chips and mini burgers.

On their last day in Paris, David and Maddie went to Montmartre, the hilltop neighborhood in the 18th arrondissement with sweeping views of Paris, winding cobbled streets lined with cozy bistros, windmills, vineyards, and cafes spilling out into the street. They went to the Sacre Coeur Basilica and David lit candles and had a moment alone in the sanctuary. They walked through the artists' market and bought a painting of the views of Paris from the top of Montmartre. The artist told them "This is my Paris. This is what I see." They grabbed Nutella and banana crepes from a street vendor for lunch, which David thought was probably the best thing he'd eaten in Paris. They sat on the steps in front of the Sacre Coeur, hand in hand, with David's arm around Maddie, and watched the gorgeous sunset over the city. Afterwards, they went to the Moulin Rouge in Pigalle for their famous cabaret show and dinner.

They went back to their hotel suite and Maddie got a bubble bath while David laid on his stomach on their bed, reading Anais Nin out loud. "Maddie, this book is really hot – you weren't kidding! 'He was now in that state of fire that she loved. She wanted to be burnt.' Wow. 'When she closed her eyes, she felt he had many hands, which touched her everywhere, and many mouths, which passed so swiftly over her, and with a wolflike sharpness, his teeth sank into her fleshiest parts.'"

David licked his lips and walked into the bathroom – completely naked. "I have to have you, baby." Maddie got out of the tub and David got a towel, helped her dry off, and walked hand in hand with her back to the bed. They made love in the moonlight.

Maddie: "You feel so amazing. I love you, David."

David: "I love you too, Maddie. I've never been happier in my entire life. It's going to be hard to leave this beautiful city but I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, honey, and have a family with you."

Together, repeating that famous quote from Casablanca: "We'll always have Paris…"

"Moonlighting: A Cookbook and Culinary History - Recipes, Restaurants, Clubs, and Cocktails Featured in the Iconic 1980s Series" coming August 2025!