Remembering You (6 page)

Tana waved a hand. “I called in sick. I couldn’t wait to see you. Oh, and Grandpa. Where is he?”

Ava turned and helped Grandpa Jack out of the car. “Grandpa, do you remember Tana?” She felt bad for leaving him there while she hugged her friend. She felt worse realizing how embarrassing it must be for him to receive help just to climb out of the backseat of a car. She had to remember to help Grandpa first. Dennis was on the other side of the car, helping his grandfather out too.

Grandpa Jack neared Tana, eyeing her. Then he tapped his chin. “Well, I recognize those eyes, but what happened to the purple and orange streaks in your hair?” He held tight to Ava’s arm, trying to get his balance.

Tana shook her dark locks. “Actually, I think I was blond at that last Thanksgiving our senior year of college, remember? It was blond until I jumped into a hot tub at a New Year’s Party and the highlights turned the most horrible shade of green. I cringe just thinking of it.” She laughed, and again her laughter caused more of the locals to turn and look. Despite the number of people on the street, the atmosphere was quiet, subdued. They obviously didn’t appreciate loud Americans.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, ladies, but this is a no parking zone.” It was Dennis’s voice. He touched Ava’s arm, getting her attention. Grand-Paul was at her side and his face was pale.

“If you help me get your things from the car, Ava, I can lead the guys inside. There are a few steps they might need help with. Then I can park. ”

Her skin burned from his touch, and Ava mouthed “thank you” just as he turned away. She saw something in his eyes, something deeper, pained. Something that had nothing to do with their grandfathers. Could Dennis’s heart really be broken after all these years? They’d had that perfect summer, but they’d been so young. When they parted, Ava had hoped for a while that he’d contact her and try to reconcile. When he didn’t, she assumed he’d found someone else. But what if he hadn’t? Could he still care for her? If he did, he had a funny way of showing it.
I’m just imagining things, aren’t I?
She tried to catch his gaze again, but he ducked his head into the trunk as he reached to retrieve her bag. Ava turned away, focusing again on the Parisian street, reminding herself she was really here.

There was a bakery next to a flower stand. Taking a deeper breath, the air smelled of flowers and…
Frenchness,
which was the only description that came to mind. It was May, so she expected the air to be light and fresh, but it was more than that. It was as if scents from the sunshine, flower boxes, cafés along the boulevard, and the park across the street melded into something enchanting.

Ava grabbed her purse from the front seat, and then she moved around to the trunk where Dennis was unloading her things.

“Didn’t you get the message from the tour handbook? One suitcase per person?” He placed their suitcases and all her recording equipment on the sidewalk.

“Excuse me?”

“This is a lot of stuff. I can tell you don’t travel much.” Dennis pulled her grandfather’s suitcase out and placed it next to hers.

“No, I really haven’t had the chance. I—” She tried to think of a good excuse. Nothing came to her. The truth was she’d been waiting until after she got married. She’d wanted someone to share this with, but how could Dennis understand that or anything else about her for that matter? He was a stranger to her now.

“I don’t mean to be rude,” he said, his gaze softening slightly. “But you’re going to have a hard time getting around with all that stuff and help your grandpa too.” He let out a heavy sigh. “If you want I can come back—”

“No!” Ava jutted out her chin and began gathering up her things. “I can get everything. I’m fine.”

Without another word, he turned away and guided Grand-Paul into the hotel lobby, a firm grasp on his grandfather’s elbow. Paul seemed even more unsteady on his feet than Grandpa Jack. Thinner, weaker than she remembered. Her grandfather followed—more steady now than at the airport—and insisted on pulling his own rolling suitcase. Ava was glad to see that his legs were getting unkinked.

Ava and Tana gathered up her things, and Ava took a step, following the men. Tana’s grasp on her wrist stopped her. “Who’s
he
?” she whispered in Ava’s ear.

“That’s Dennis, Paul’s grandson,” Ava whispered back, trying to sound unimpressed. Tana’s eyes widened in acknowledgment, and it was then Ava remembered there was one person she’d told about Dennis. That was one thing about being former roommates. There wasn’t any need for explanation when it came to old flames.

Tana’s eyes widened. “That’s him? That’s
the guy
?” She elbowed Ava. “If he’s here, what do you need me for?”

Ava didn’t want to admit it, but when she had first seen Dennis, she almost wished she were going out to dinner with him tonight, but now she was less impressed. He had rushed in like Prince Charming, saving her from the evil taxi fares, and then pointed out that she’d packed too many glass slippers.

Then again, maybe he wouldn’t have wanted to take her out even if he’d had the chance. She thought of the pain in his eyes.
Surely he’s not still hurt by something that happened so long ago.

She looked at her friend. Dinner with Tana would be more fun anyway. She’d have fun with Tana. It was Paris after all. Then, she’d have a whole week with Dennis to try to get to the bottom of his attitude. Maybe they could sit together on one of the bus rides and catch up. Or maybe he’d be civil but keep his distance. She hoped that wouldn’t be the case. Just the thought of being near him and not talking and laughing like they used to caused her heart to ache.

Ava hadn’t made it five feet into the lobby when she noticed that a cluster of gray-haired men had stopped Grandpa Jack and circled around. She approached, and Tana paused at her side, her arms full of equipment.

“Jack, there you are.” The elderly men’s voice quivered with excitement, and Ava noticed tears springing to her grandpa’s light blue eyes beneath the Eleventh Armored Division cap he had pulled low over his bushy gray eyebrows.

“How was your trip?” another elderly man asked.

“Is this your granddaughter?” a third asked.

Grandpa Jack paused in the middle of the cluster of men and scanned their faces. He placed a hand over his heart. He opened his mouth to say something, but—overcome with emotion—he closed it again. He looked at the faces, his eyes resting on each one before moving on, and she wondered if he saw them as they used to look—young, strong, handsome, brave, a bit scared. From the look in his eyes, he did.

“I’m Ava.” She stepped forward. “Yes, I’m Jack’s granddaughter, and we’re excited to be here.”

“Jack, it’s good to see you.” The jumble of voices started up again.

“Jack, remember that time back in forty-two when you passed out when you saw it was a female nurse who would be giving you your physical?” The man’s chuckle was deep and filled the ornate foyer.

“Or the time your boots got baked in the oven when you’d been trying to dry them?” another man chimed in.

Everyone seemed to be talking at once. Their faces were bright with excitement. Their eyes sparkled. Gray heads bobbed as they spoke. Hands patted her grandfather’s shoulders and arms pulled him into hugs. Ava looked around for Dennis and Paul but didn’t see them. Maybe Dennis had taken his grandfather upstairs to his room before parking the car?

The men continued, their voices ricocheting off the sparkling tile floor, the burgundy plaster walls, and around the crystal chandeliers, before drifting back down to them.

Ava turned to Tana, attempting to speak up over the many voices. “What do you think? Should I ask the front desk clerk if he has one of those portable defibrillators on hand?” She chuckled.

“This many excited seniors worries me,” Tana said.

Ava laughed and gave her friend a one-armed squeeze and then went to the front desk to check in.

“The room is under Jackson Andrews.” Ava leaned against the counter.

“Yes, I have the room here,” the clerk said, impressing her with his English. “One hundred seventy euros a night.”

Ava glanced at Tana. “How much is that in dollars?”

“Approximately 225 American dollars,” the clerk answered for her. “Will that be on a credit card?”

“I don’t understand. I thought the hotel rooms were already covered.”

The clerk frowned and cocked one eyebrow.

“Maybe you should ask your grandfather,” Tana suggested.

“That’s a good idea.” Ava tucked a long strand of blond hair behind her ear. She hurried over to her grandfather, still deep in conversation, sharing old war stories. Tana followed.

“Did anyone tell Jack yet?” a shorter man interrupted, glancing at his watch. He was stocky and round, and his face looked jolly, even with concern in his eyes.

“Tell me what?”

The room quieted, and it was only then Ava realized that their flushed faces had to do with something other than just meeting old friends.

“It’s a big problem.” A tall man strode forward. He didn’t look as if he had lost an inch of his height over the years. The man’s commanding presence showed he used to be in charge of many of these guys. Even after sixty-seven years, they looked at him with respect.

“Ava, this is Mitch Thompson, one of our former commanders,” Grandpa Jack said.

“The tour guide’s been hospitalized somewhere in North Africa. They were doing a tour with veterans there. There was a bus accident. All the guys are okay,” he continued, but before he could finish, a few of the other veterans started in about friends they knew who’d fought in North Africa. Friends they hoped weren’t on that tour.

“Excuse me.” Ava moved closer to Commander Mitch. “Are they bringing in another tour guide?”

“There is no one else. Our tour guide had his own company. He ran the show himself.”

“Is the tour canceled then? Did we come here for nothing? Are we going to have to head home?” Ava placed her fingers on her temples, pressing them hard. Trickles of sweat beaded on her brow and the men’s voices faded in and out as if someone was turning the volume in the room up and down.

“There’s more,” the man added, running his hand through his graying hair. “We’re also out of luck concerning the hotels on the battle route. The hotel manager said the guide usually paid as he went. We’ll get our money back later, but that doesn’t help us now.”

An older woman approached, placing a hand on Ava’s elbow. Her permed hair and the laugh lines around her eyes indicated she was much older than Ava, but not as old as the veterans. She was probably a daughter, Ava guessed.

“What he means, honey, is that the rooms have been reserved, but they haven’t been paid for yet.”

“My sister here called the chairman of the Mauthausen memorial committee,” the man said, “letting her know that we might not be coming for the ceremony next week. The committee was horrified we’d been left in such a situation. They’ve booked hotel rooms for us in the village of Mauthausen. They—” Emotion filled his voice, and he lowered his head, focusing on the floor’s marble tiles. “They are covering the cost of our rooms and food for the week. They also chartered a bus to drive everyone there. It should be here soon. We’re packing up and leaving for Austria.”

“We’re heading to Austria tonight?” Ava pictured the map of the battle route. The tour was supposed to start in France and then travel through Belgium and Germany, finally ending in Austria. Looking over the agenda for each day, she’d written a short outline of places where she’d shoot footage and things she’d talk to Grandpa Jack about along the way. By heading to the last stop now, the veterans would lose so much…and she wouldn’t get the footage she needed. She suddenly felt sick, and her eyelids were weighed down with the weariness of every mile the airplane had just carried her.

The permed-haired woman continued talking about how nice everyone on the committee was and how generous their gift, but Ava wasn’t listening. Instead, she glimpsed her grandfather’s face out of the corner of her eye. His head was lowered, his shoulders slumped. This had meant so much to him. Back in California, his dining room table had been covered with maps of the trip, along with maps of Belgium and Germany from 1942. He’d studied them on their airplane, his quivering finger following the lines on the map. There was a seriousness in his gaze that told her the path itself was just as important to him as seeing his friends again—if not more important.

Grandpa Jack lifted his head and turned to her. He swallowed down emotion and his chin trembled. “We’re not going to Belgium?”

His face became blurry. Tears filled her eyes as she saw his disappointment. He was the one who always took care of everyone else, and she’d never seen such desperation in his eyes.

“Ava, I need to go to Belgium.” His voice was no more than a whisper. “I just have to.”

“I don’t know how that’s going to work, Grandpa. But I’m sure Austria is nice.” She took his hand in hers. She felt Tana’s hand on her shoulder and appreciated the strength in her friend’s touch.

Even though Ava tried to comfort her grandfather with her words, her heart pounded in her chest, and she knew this could be the end of it all—of her idea for battle site videos, of Todd’s trust in her, and maybe even her job as head producer. She pictured another red marker crossing out the script she’d planned for this trip.

Her grandfather opened his mouth and then closed it again. He, too, was struggling with his words.

“I can’t imagine coming all this way and missing out on so much. I just won’t have peace until I see a few things—places I’ve been.” His chin lowered and he fingered the handle of his suitcase, looking even wearier than he had when they first got off the plane. The spunkiness he’d had during the car ride was now gone.

“There’s nothing really to see, just fields and trees.” Tana offered Grandpa Jack a smile. “I’ve gone before and there are only a few places that have actual memorials, and you’ll see the same types of little villages on the way to Austria. There’s really not much difference.”

Ava knew Tana was trying to help, but Grandpa Jack’s eyebrows furrowed even more. “It’s not just the countryside. There are other things. There is…” His voice trailed off, and then he looked away.