When Ben and Lucy got to the restaurant the group was almost complete but Gabriella, Catherine and Tina were still upstairs. Ben made his way around the table giving good morning kisses.
Gabriella walked in with the other two and each got a kiss from Ben before sitting. He admired their rings and looked to Tina who lifted her necklace to show she was wearing it the safest method she had at the moment.
After they ordered breakfast Gabriella got everyone’s attention.
“It’s a little family tradition of ours to list our three favorite experiences from a vacation. As some members of our party are leaving us today and we are moving on from Paris I thought it might be nice for us to share what our top three experiences in Paris were. Catherine, would you like to lead us off?”
Catherine nodded and grinned at her friend. “I’ll begin with my number three which was my date night with Ben. While it didn’t end as I’d hoped it would,” she gave Ben a scorching look making him blush, “it was a magical night none-the-less. Next was the first day of shopping with my family. My number one was last night at the Eiffel tower.”
“No fair!” Gabriella cried with a laugh. “That’s my number one as well!”
“Mine too!” Tina piped in.
Most of the ladies were laughing and nodding so by general consensus everyone agreed that it was their number one so they only had to give two others. Everyone looked at Sophia who was next. She smiled and thought for a second.
“My third was the first day of shopping but my second had to be that beautiful dance with Ben in the Palace of Versailles!” Dreamy smiles erupted around the table and Ben smiled as he recalled the grace Sophia moved with.
Rachel was staring at Ben’s mouth again and he blushed nervously, worried that she might say something about the kiss. Instead she mumbled about the shopping and the spa day instead but her sister just looked at her knowingly.
Megan said the shopping day and meeting Lucy who made an ‘Awww’ sound and reached around Tina to hold Megan’s hand.
Then it was Tina’s turn. She looked at Ben with twinkling eyes. “My number one was Ben’s proposal. My number two was discovering I was carrying his child. My number three was discovering just how much Gabriella and Catherine love me.” Both women reached across the table to hold Tina’s hands.
Ben dabbed his eyes with his napkin as he struggled to control is emotions.
Lucy looked around the table as it was her turn. “My number three was being brought into your group. Never have I met such warm and generous hearts. I was a stranger but you made me feel like family right from the start. Megan, I’ll always be grateful you found me and made it possible for me to find you again.” Megan smiled at her with tears welling in her eyes. “My number two was finding a kindred heart in Tina. I’ve struggled for so long with my nature and to find someone who not only understood what I was going through but could show me how to be happy again…” She leaned over and gave Tina a kiss on the cheek causing the woman to blush and smile shyly. “My number one was meeting Ben who not only saved my life by getting me away from Cecil, he gave me a place in his home and his heart and gave me a future I was sure I’d squandered.” Ben squirmed under her admiring eyes and Gabriella held his hand to distract him.
Daniel had been practically vibrating with urgency to take his turn. “Number three: taking all these pictures and movies. Number two: the Palace of Versailles. Riding bikes in the garden was awesome! Number one: my day with Ben seeing the catacombs and the Louvre. And shopping for the rings! It was really fun!”
Ben grinned at the young man and reached across the table to bump fists with him. Gabriella looked on with pride.
Miriam blushed as everyone looked her way. “I loved the shopping day with the whole gang. I loved being included and treated like one of the adults. And Ben’s ring ceremony was beautiful.”
Gabriella leaned over and kissed her daughter’s temple.
Before she got to speak breakfast arrived. “I guess we’re off the hook!” Ben quipped and was unanimously informed that wasn’t the case.
Once the waiters left Gabriella looked around the table with a happy smile. “My number three was my wonderful date night with Ben which did end as I hoped.” She smiled over at Catherine who grinned back at her and the table went ‘Woo!’ causing Ben to blush and squirm. “My number two was discovering Tina was going to have Ben’s baby. That is such an amazing miracle!” Tina’s smile beamed across the table. Gabriella held Ben’s hand again. “My number one was sharing this amazing time in Paris with Ben who continues to surprise me beyond expectations.” He kissed her hand and she felt butterflies in her stomach as he gazed into her eyes.
Ben leaned back and looked at the happy, loving faces and realized once more how incredibly fortunate he was to have so many friends. It wasn’t that long ago when he thought he’d be living the life of a hermit, the crazy old man who kept to himself and worked in his basement. His neighbors had saved him from that fate. The women he loved had saved him.
“I can’t define three things that stood out as best as each experience shines so brightly in my mind in different and unique ways… much like each of you does in my life. Each is special and treasured. My amazing day with Daniel exploring the dark and spooky places under Paris is as wonderful to me as dancing with the beautiful and graceful Sophia in the Palace of Versailles! Discovering I was going to be a father with Tina was mind blowing, almost literally, and ranks up there with affirming my love for you three atop the Eiffel tower. I have been blessed so much to have met and been accepted by so many wonderful people. Thank you for taking me in and saving me.”
Gabriella and Catherine each grabbed a hand and held it to their lips. Tina looked like she might crawl over the table but Ben mouthed an ‘I love you’ and she smile brilliantly at him with tears in her eyes.
They gathered their wits and ate their breakfasts as they had to get the day moving. There was a plane to catch.
They’d had some amazing adventures in Paris but it wasn’t the end of their vacation. They were just moving on to part two.