Down the road of memories

It's in my blood

Elle POV

Noah and I have been in Paris for 5 days. We have 2 days left before we fly to Rome and Italy. I loved coming back to Paris and showing Noah all the places I loved during the 18 months I spent here. We saw the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre Museum, the Paris Opera. We also took a day trip to see the city of Le Havre and the mont St-Michel. Today, our plan was to go see Notre-Dame de Paris and the banks of the Seine.

When I opened my eyes that morning, Noah had just closed the door with 2 coffees in his hands and a small paper bag probably containing some pain au chocolat which I stock up on before leaving Paris. If there's one thing I've missed from Paris, it's these rolls.
- I didn't think you would wake up as soon as I entered the room." Noah said to me with a smile as he took off his shoes before sitting in bed next to me. "You appeared to be fast asleep and snoring peacefully when I left this room a few minutes ago.
- I must have a sixth sense for caffeine and sugar." I told him, holding out my hands for my coffee.
- Sorry for leaving you but we were going to miss breakfast if I let you sleep." Noah said, kissing me on the lips before giving me my coffee back.
- Whose fault is it for keeping me awake part of the night?" I asked him before taking a sip of my coffee.

Noah started laughing before telling me :
- You seemed very interested in my proposal." he said to me while trying to tickle me.
- It's in my blood to participate in your ideas, Mr Flynn!" I said to him, reaching for the paper bag containing the breakfast. "But now I'm hungry and for the record because of you!
- Mmm! A hungry Shelly should be avoided at all costs! I learned it the hard way." he said to me, smiling before handing me back the bag from which I took out a little pain au chocolat.

A few hours later, Noah and I were crossing the square in front of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral. It reminded me of when Noah took me to visit Boston during his freshman year of college. We visited Trinity Church which I found magnificent but nothing compared to Notre-Dame de Paris. The entire building attracts us to wonder.
- That's wonderful! Lee must have really liked it when he came to see you in Paris last year." Noah said to me, taking my hand.
- He arrived with an exhaustive list of everything he wanted to see. And especially what he didn't want to eat." I said to Noah, laughing.
- Probably all French cuisine but certainly more than all... duck confit." Noah said, joining me in my giggles.
- Exactly!" I answered him.
- Mmmm! For my part, I would like you to take me to one of the restaurants near here that you liked the most.

I dragged him to a small, casual bistro with French cuisine a few minutes' walk from Notre-Dame de Paris. We quickly looked through the menu and Noah decided on a bourguignon-style beef fondant while I opted for the chicken paillard. It's really great to go to restaurants with Noah and even cook for him because he's always willing to try a few things new. The complete opposite of Lee...

We were talking about our day of discovery and the rest of our trip that awaits us when I heard behind me :
- It's really you, Rochelle Evans...

I saw Noah's face tense before I turned to look behind me.
- Friedrich...

Flashback to Paris in May, 3 months before the reunion in front of the Kissing booth

- Il va falloir que tu fasses très attention avec cette jambe cassée Roland. » I said with the best of my French to the little boy sitting on the hospital bed in front of me.
- Est-ce que ma jambe va redevenir forte, docteur? » he said to me with worried eyes.
- Oui, si tu me promets de ne pas mettre de poids sur ta jambe avant que je te dise que tout est correct. Ton corps a de petits soldats qui vont construire un nouvel os mais il faut leur permettre de travailler. Entre-temps, tu laisses ta jambe bien droite sur l'appui jambe de ton fauteuil roulant et tu laisses les petits soldats faire leur travail. » I said to him, looking into his eyes.
- D' accord docteur! » he answered me.