Page 71 of Too Much In Common
“We are trying.”
“Try harder.” Mr. Johnson closed his eyes. “Would you mind escorting me to my room?”
Chris walked back to his own lodgings, not paying attention to the architecture or the sites. Tian was right, their careers were going to be in the way. And if he took the offered job, even more in the way. He was torn. He liked kids and working with Candace at her outreaches at the schools and children’s hospitals. From the outline he was given, he’d also have an opportunity to plan much of the security.
He could turn it down. His position with Hastings wouldn’t change. Tian need not know he gave up a promotion for her; she was worth it.
* * *
“Come on, Tian.” Simone stood next to Brit in the doorway.
“But Dad—”
Tian’s mother crossed her arms. “I’m staying with him. Go.”
“But—”
“You have two days in Paris. These passes will let us take a peek at some of the sites. You can’t miss this.”
“Go, or I’ll write you out of my will.” Dad’s voice was weak but firm.
Tian threw on her jacket. “Fine, I am going.”
Brit rushed them to catch a hop-on-hop-off tour bus which took them to the other side of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. The line to go up snaked around part of the park. An attendant informed them that without a specific appointment, their wait was likely to be more than three hours.
“This must be the most sought-after Valentine’s spot in the city.” Brit opened her phone app. “There’s a boat tour on the Seine. We should take that.”
“I loved those in the old movies. Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn took a dinner cruise in one. It looked so cool.” Simone did a little twirl more reminiscent of another Audrey Hepburn movie.
“I don’t think this has any food, but it would be a fun way to tour and see lots of things.” Now that she was out of the hotel, Tian’s eagerness to see the city increased.
“Maybe we can find a crepe cart on the way.” Brit gestured to the street they should take to get to the river and the dock.
Nutella tasted better in Paris. Tian wiped the last of the hazelnut-chocolate spread from her fingers. They neared the point of departure. The line was only thirty people or so long. They joined it and waited for the next boat.
“Tian, will you hold our places? I need to find a restroom.”
Before her sister and cousin returned, the line moved forward.
Tian: They are boarding.
Brit: In a second. Save us some seats.
She found three seats next to a huge window and claimed them by laying her jacket across two of the plastic seats next to her. Staring across the water, she wondered which buildings were significant. The engines of the boat rumbled. Tian looked around. They were leaving. Where were Brit and Simone? They had to be on the boat. She stood searching the back of the viewing room. The door behind her opened.
“Excuse me, are you saving this seat?”
That voice. It couldn’t be. She whirled around, nearly bumping into Chris. He braced her by the elbows. “Surprise.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Truth? It had just gotten a whole lot happier. “How...?”
Chris sat and pulled her down next to him. “Candace arranged this.”
“What? Why?”
