Chapter 13

Maddie and I take the Métro to the Arc de Triomphe that stands proudly at the western end of the Champs-élysées. It's a monument honoring those who fought and died for France.

"Do you want to go to the top?" I ask Maddie.

She shakes her head. "Let's just walk along the street. That was your original idea, and I like it. We can take in as much Paris as we can before we have to leave."

"Good enough." I grab her hand.

The Champs-élysées is a wide boulevard lined by trees. I take in the beautiful Parisian architecture and the bustling energy of the locals and tourists who are on the same walk.

This famous avenue is renowned for its luxury shopping, and I want to buy Maddie something special. I don't know if our relationship will continue once we arrive back in Colorado, but it means enough to me that I want her to remember it. We stroll by brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Chanel, but I don't take Maddie for a designer fashion girl. She'd consider such decadence a waste of money when her family is struggling.

The street is also dotted with cafés and brasseries. I suggest stopping for a coffee or a pastry, but then think better of it. She said she wanted to take in as much as possible, and we just had breakfast.

We walk by the Théatre Marigny, and toward the eastern end, we find the Jardin des Champs-élysées, which turns out to be a green space that offers a refreshing contrast to the urban surroundings. If we were staying in Paris longer, I'd arrange to have a picnic here and enjoy the tranquility amidst the bustling city. We stop to snap a few photos at the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, and then we reach the Place de la Concorde at the end of the Champs-élysées. It's an expansive square dominated by the hieroglyph-laden Luxor Obelisk—I think back to that sphinx and its riddle back at the Louvre—and surrounded by extravagant statues and fountains.

Time to turn around and go back toward the Arc. Maddie is still staring up at the obelisk.

I place my hands on her shoulders. "Did anything strike you?"

"Strike me?"

"Yeah. I said I wanted to buy you something. You hardly looked twice at the high fashion shops."

She blushes. "That stuff isn't really me."

I shrug. "It could be."

She shakes her head. "I wouldn't feel right spending so much money for something I can get at the local mall for a tenth of the cost."

"Ah…but that one won't have a Gucci label."

She laughs. "So?"

I like this woman. I mean, really, really like her.

It scares me a little, especially since my whole world has been turned on its axis recently.

"How about jewelry, then?" I ask.

She twists her lower lip and then lightly bites it.

Bingo.

Maddie likes jewelry.

"Come on." I pull her into the nearest jewelry shop.

The shop is called Luxe Bijoux Paris. The interior is pure opulence, complete with plush carpet, a crystal chandelier, and a marble reception desk where a well-dressed young man sits.

"May I help you?" he asks.

"We're just going to look a bit," I say.

"Of course. Please let me know if I can be of assistance."

The jewelry is displayed within glass cases. Each piece is illuminated by soft, diffused lighting, which accentuates the gemstones' sparkle. Diamond necklaces, emerald earrings, sapphire bracelets, and rare timepieces sit behind the glass.

Maddie's gaze settles on the display of engagement rings.

Uh-oh.

But her gaze doesn't linger. She heads straight toward a display of necklaces and bracelets.

"Is there something you like?" I ask her.

She nods but then looks at her feet. "But this is way too much, Dave."

I smile. "Don't be silly. This is our last day in Paris, and whatever happens between us in the future, I want you to have something to remember our time together."

I nod to the man at the desk.

He walks briskly toward us, a big smile on his face. "What can I help you with this day?"

I nod to Maddie.

"The pearl pendant, please," she says. "The one with the blue and red stones."

"Oui, mademoiselle. A beautiful piece." He unlocks the case and pulls out the necklace.

"It is set in fourteen karat yellow gold, and it is a cultured saltwater pearl surrounded by rubies and sapphires. Blue, blanc, et rouge. Or as you say in the States, red, white, and blue." He places it in Maddie's hand.

"It's such a unique piece." Maddie holds the necklace up to the light. "Did you design this?"

"No, but all our pieces are crafted by individual designers whom we commission. It is one of a kind."

"How much is it?" Maddie asks.

I shake my head. "Don't tell her that. We'll take it."

"Dave…"

"Please, Maddie. Let me do this. We're both giving up our vacation, and I want you to have this necklace."

She nibbles at her bottom lip again, and I wish I were doing the biting.

"Your young gentleman is very generous," the jeweler says.

"Yes, he is." She looks up at me, meeting my eyes. "You sure about this?"

"Absolutely sure. And you know I can afford it."

She scratches her arm. "I wasn't worried about whether you could afford it. I just don't…" She bites her lip. "I'm thinking about what my father would say."

"Yes, your father's a proud man, and I get that. But this is a gift from me."

Finally, she nods. "Absolutely. It's a gift, and instead of bothering you about it, I should be thanking you." She grabs my hands and gives each of them a gentle squeeze. "So thank you, Dave. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"I will ring you up at the cash register," the jeweler says. "This will be on a credit card, I assume?"

I nod and pull out my American Express Platinum. The jeweler takes the card, runs the transaction, and then places the necklace in a black velvet box with the jewelry shop's logo on it.

"I think I'd like to wear it," Maddie says.

"Absolutely." I take the box from her.

She pulls her hair up behind her neck, and I clasp the chain, my fingers grazing her soft skin.

She turns around, modeling it for me. "What do you think?"

My God, it's like the piece was crafted for Madeline Pike. Not only do the colors accentuate her features beautifully, but the necklace just… It matches her spirit. The pearl at the center was once just an unassuming grain of sand until it ended up by chance in the right oyster, which then turned it over time into a thing of great beauty.

Like the pearl, Maddie and I have been through a lot in the past few days, and we've got a lot ahead of us, too. But everything that we go through only serves to bring out our most beautiful selves. The pearl doesn't realize how beautiful it is for its trouble, and neither does Maddie.

Of course, she's a thousand times more beautiful than any pearl.

The sapphire and rubies sparkle around the pearl, and the light bounces off them onto it, blending into a light lavender. The gold chain brings the whole thing together.

I realize that my mouth is wide open. I close it before speaking.

"It was made for you. It's perfect. The chain brings out the gold flecks in your eyes."

"I have gold flecks in my eyes?"

I smile. "Yeah. You didn't know that?"

She purses her lips. "I just thought they were plain brown. Callie's are way prettier than mine. She has that light amber color."

"Your eyes are perfect just the way they are, Madeline Pike." I brush my lips over hers and then turn back to the jeweler. "Thank you."

"Je vous en prie. Have a lovely day in Paris with your lady."

I could tell the jeweler that we're not officially together—at least not yet. But I don't. I like the idea of Maddie being my lady. Without a word, I offer her my arm and escort her back onto the bustling streets of the Champs-élysées.

By now, our breakfast has worn off. "Let's find a café and have a quick bite," I say. "Then it's back to the hotel to pack, and then to the airport."

My skin prickles as I say the word airport. I'm not looking forward to getting on a plane.