Chapter Fourteen
Carla was back in Paris a few days later. Falcon’s house was now in its last stages of completion and she felt confident leaving the men to do their finishing job.
“They probably need a break from me as well,” she thought.
She took the jeep and made the 5-hour trip at dawn. The idea to return to Paris hit her while she was in bed the night before. It brought along a sense of nostalgia for the place that had brought her so much happiness in the past.
She drove through the wide tree lined avenue soaking in the sights of the shops, restaurants, and monuments along the way. She stopped by Arc De Triomphe and climbed again all the way to the top. The view was less dramatic during day light but still equally stunning. Then she made her way to the other side of the avenue and drove slowly till she spotted L’Atelier. It was the restaurant where she and Falcon had diner on her first night in Paris. She entered and took a spot as the restaurant began to fill up for the lunchtime crowd.
She left the restaurant after settling the bill and made her way to the Louvre. She paid the entrance fee and gazed once more at the beautiful masterpieces that lined its halls. She left the museum and drove to the Palais Garnier. The beauty and opulence of its gilded halls still stunned her.
She left the palace, sure where she wanted to go next. But she wasn’t as confident she would find it. She grabbed a street map and searched for her next stop. It was where she needed to be. She glanced at her watch and knew she had to hurry.
Place du Trocadero was a beehive of tourists lugging cameras and taking pictures using their cellphones. She was approached by a number of street hawkers selling miniature replicas of the Eiffel tower. Carla smiled and shook her head.
The tower loomed in the distance as Carla located the exact spot where she and Falcon stood watching the light show.
As if on cue, the tower lit up with all the pulsing lights and powerful beams that made it such a magical show. Carla watched mesmerized until the light show came to an end. She closed her eyes relieving that exact moment when Falcon kissed her on the lips.
She could have stayed there all night but her reverie was broken by the shrill ringing of her cellphone.
It was Margaret Dubois on the line.
“Hello, Margaret,” Carla greeted her friend.
“I just received a most surprising call from someone truly unexpected,” Margaret said.
Carla thought she sounded rather excited. “Who?”
“Falcon Manchester.” Margaret replied.
“What… err… how... I mean…he doesn’t know a thing about you,” Carla stammered.
“I wondered myself until he explained that Jacques called him and told him about your situation with the baby.”
“Jacques,” Carla was even more surprised.
She thought that Jacques had been more attentive than usual, hovering around her, always anticipating her needs. He must have been more worried about her and therefore called Falcon, knowing she never would.
“Wh-what did you and Falcon talk about?” Carla asked.
Margaret laughed, “A lot of things really. I think I should consider taking a second career as therapist since people tend to open their hearts to me.”
“What did he say,” Carla insisted.
“He was mostly worried about you and the baby. I gave him a lengthy medical explanation about congenital heart disorder in infants. He asked a lot of questions and I tried to reassure him as much as I could. But just like you, I couldn’t give him any promises.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Carla replied. “Just knowing that he cares about this child, it makes me feel less alone, you know, like there’s someone else out there for me.”
“I know he’s there for you,” Margaret replied softly, “but that’s not all.”
“What?” Carla shot back.
“He offered his heart.”
“What do you mean?” Carla asked confused.
“He made me promise that I would exhaust all means so that the baby could live a normal healthy life. Then he said that if all else fails, he was willing to donate his own heart…be a heart transplant donor, for your baby.” Margaret’s voice cracked.
Carla couldn’t say a word. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on ends. A kind of tremor passed all over her body she couldn’t respond. She gripped the cellphone breathing hard into the mouthpiece.
Then Margaret continued on, “I wanted to laugh so hard if it weren’t so…so romantic. It almost killed me to tell him that an adult donor heart isn’t compatible with a little baby.”
Carla heard her stifle a sob.
“Margaret, I-I…” Carla felt incoherent.
“I know,” Margaret’s voice came through the line, “In all the years of my medical profession, I have never encountered someone healthy and strong offer their own heart for some else.”
“I should call him and say thank you,” Carla said.
I heard him say he was in Paris tom….”
“He’s here in Paris?” Carla cut in abruptly.
“Yes.”
“Margaret I’m here in Paris too. I spent the whole day going back to all the places where we’ve been together. Last night, I felt so nostalgic it was almost painful. I missed him terribly and thought Paris could comfort me somehow. I left Riquewihr early this morning,” Carla added.
There was momentary silence at the end of the line.
“Carla, I have been a doctor for half of my life. I shouldn’t believe in things without scientific explanation. But what are the chances of you both being in the same place, on the same day, without knowing it? This is fate Carla.”
“You think I should go see him,” Carla asked, knowing Margaret’s answer before she uttered a reply.
“You would be the stupidest girl I know if you didn’t.” Margaret ended the call.
***
Carla gripped the wheel as she slid out of the parking lot. Her palms felt clammy and her heart was racing fast making it difficult to think clearly. Margaret didn’t mention where Falcon was staying. But Carla was certain. It had to be at Hotel Plaza Athenee. Same floor. Same suite.
Uncertainties raced through her mind.
What if he isn’t in his room and I don’t catch him…
He may not be happy to see me at all…
He’s still angry with me…
“Stop it!” she scolded herself. “I’m letting my fears get ahead of me. I’m my own worst enemy. I’ll knock on his door and if he isn’t in, I’ll stay at the lobby and wait for him to return. If he is still angry then I just have to find a way to talk to him and tell him I’m sorry.”
She still couldn’t get over what Margaret shared. Falcon offering his own heart was the most awesome thing she had ever heard. She was the one carrying the baby and the thought never even occurred to her to offer her own.
It still gave her goosebumps just thinking about it. At the very least she could show her gratitude and say thank you.
The Plaza Athenee came into view. She couldn’t help feeling nervous as she parked and headed for the lobby. It was buzzing with guests, some checking in and others trailing bellhops pushing carts with luggage piled high.
She tapped her foot as she waited for an elevator that would ferry her to Falcons’ floor. The elevator door pinged and she entered. Now that she was actually here, she felt that sense of anticipation coupled with a tinge of fear. Her gut felt all twisted and funny inside. The pores of her skin felt moist and sweaty.
Please be there. Just please be there. Please. Please.
The mantra kept repeating in her head. She knew that if she missed to see him tonight, the opportunity may never present itself again.
She walked down the familiar hallway until she reached the door to the suite. With bated breath she raised her knuckles and tapped lightly on the door.
It felt like an eternity before Falcon opened the door.
They stared at one another, Carla unbelieving that he actually answered, Falcon astonished at the sight of her.
It may have been just seconds, but Carla was surprised at the amount of information that her brain processed. He was in a gray pinstriped business suit, minus the coat. The sleeves of the white linen shirt were rolled up his elbow. His tie hung loosely around his neck, the top button of his shirt undone.
His hair was windswept like he ran his fingers through it several times. His eyes looked tired and bloodshot like he hardly had any sleep at all. A six o’clock shadow creased his chin and Carla had to stifle the urge to reach out and stroke it.
The eyes that stared at her came alive and then just as suddenly the light was gone. She saw his jaw twitch in surprise and then become stiff once more.
“Carla?” Falcon greeted in disbelief.
“Hello, Falcon. May I come in?” she asked.
“Of course,” he replied hurriedly ushering her inside. “You took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
They sat across each other like two formal strangers meeting for the first time. Carla knew the ball was in her court and needed to get the conversation going. There were a lot of things she wanted to say, but the words fled her mouth before she could begin talking.
Relief over seeing him again swept like waves from an incoming tide. Although she didn’t mean to, tears gather in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks just the same.
“Carla,” Falcon said gruffly, “please don’t cry.” He stood and sat down besides her, putting an around her shoulders trying to comfort her.
His nearness was like an intoxicating drug. Carla buried her head on his neck and sobbed.
“Is it the baby? Did something happen?” Panic was clear in his voice.”
“No, the baby is fine,” Carla sniffled.
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Margaret called and told me about your conversation. She told me about the thing you said, how you were willing to offer your heart in exchange for the baby’s life. It blew me away.”
“Carla, if I can do more than that, I would. I just want you to be happy.”
“But why,” Carla asked looking up at him.
“Do you really need to ask? Because I love you.” Falcon replied
Carla felt a great weight lift off her shoulder. She was drowning for a long time and suddenly a warm swirl lifted her body and brought her back to the surface. She felt like she had come free from the shackles that held her back for so long.
“You do?” She asked still unbelieving.
“Of course, I do. I was hurt when I first learned that you wanted to keep the baby a secret from me. But I realized I must have hurt you too when I forgot about that night in my apartment. I didn’t really forget. It was just so frenzied, so unromantic, and I didn’t feel right about it,” Falcon revealed.
“Being in Paris with you was more my idea of wooing and courting you. But I didn’t want to come on too strong for fear that you may runaway. So, when you finally came to me that night, I knew it was how things should be.”
“It killed me thinking you and Lindsay were back with each other. I thought I have lost you forever. I held on to my pride because it was the only thing that was keeping me sane. When you offered to raise the baby with me, I thought it was only because, for you, it was the right thing to do.” Carla confessed.
Falcon exhaled. He reached for her chin and tilted her face. “Carla, with or without the baby, I love you. But there was always something that kept holding you back. I couldn’t understand. I had this feeling that you weren’t in love with me enough to want to be with me for always. That was the reason I asked you to stay at the house and finish the job. It was the hardest the decision for me to leave you there. But I hoped you would find what it was you were searching for.”
“Margaret explained it to me so clearly. She said I had this idea in my head that I was imperfect and that I kept on searching for the perfect me that would fit the perfect you.” Carla said.
“Oh Carla. I don’t need a perfect you. I just need you.” Falcon replied.
Carla kept quiet. She never felt happier or freer in her entire life.
She felt Falcon relax and loosen as she leaned against him.
“So, you’re okay with being here with me tonight?” Falcon asked as he stroked her hair and caressed her ear.
“There’s no place I’d rather be, “Carla replied with a soft sigh.
The feel of his touch made her quiver. He was so close she could feel every rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. He smoothed the front of her shirt and caressed her belly. She had begun to show, although not big enough for anyone to notice.
“I still can’t believe you’re having my baby,” he confessed.
Carla tensed. “Falcon, what if…”
“Shhhh. Its alright. We’ll do everything that needs to be done. We’ll consult the best specialists and seek treatment wherever we can find it. We’ll do it together, I promise.”
She felt the earnestness in his assurance. It vibrated through every pore of his being. Carla realized then that she would never be alone.
“It’s still a long way off. Things can still change. I hope it will,” Carla prayed.
Falcon fingers run through her hair. He gazed into her eyes with an expression so tender it took her breath away.
His fingers followed a trail down her nose and caressed the soft outline of her lips. He bent down and brushed his lips against hers. Carla’s body shivered at the feel of his warm breath. He brushed his lips against the hollow of her neck and scattered soft kisses on her jawline.
Carla felt the familiar stirring between her legs come alive. He had been gone for so long that the anticipation was an ache that needed to be appeased. She reached out and pulled his mouth to hers.
He kissed her tenderly, gently, but it wasn’t tenderness that would relieve the longing she felt for him. She knotted her fingers around his and brought them to her breast. Falcon groaned softly before his arms circled around her waist and lifting her up, he stood and brought her to the bedroom.