We caught our train through the southeastern countryside to Dover, a very pleasant 2 hour ride, during which we ate some cheese and bread with a couple of beers. There we caught a 2 hour ferry across to Calais, and after going through customs, we caught another train to Paris, 3 hours. So starting at noon, it was 7 hours getting to Paris from London. We should have flown. It was exhausting. With the one hour time difference, it was after 7PM back in London, but it was after 8 in Paris.
When I spoke to my father two days earlier, he gave me the hotel information. He booked us into the Hotel Le Meurice, another 5 star hotel we stayed in a few years before, right on the Rue de Rivoli, a few blocks from The Louvre and from the Champs-Elysees in the other direction, which led to the Arc de Triomphe. We were in the middle of a lot of the major attractions in Paris. And like London and New York, Paris had a first class public transport system, buses and subway, so getting around was easy if you understood French, which we both did, especially Grace, who spoke fluently. My girl was brilliant, after all.
We finally got to the hotel around 9, tired and starved. We got to our suite, and at least temporarily, we forgot about both problems. The suite was even more magnificent than at Claridge's. Modern and classy, mostly leather couch and chairs, dark wood tables and fixtures with modern lighting. And the bathroom was brilliant white, huge, with a big shower stall and an oversized sunken tub. We grinned at each other when we saw that. Oh, the possibilities.
I tipped the bellman, and before he left, I asked how late room service was available. He said the full menu was until 11 but there was 24 hour limited menu service. When he left, Grace and I sat wearily on the couch. It was very soft and plush, easy to sink into. "Well, honey, do we eat first or get cleaned up? I could use both" I said tiredly.
"I think we should order food, call home, and unpack while dinner gets here. Then I think we need to try out that tub. I think we might have to try it every day while we're here" she said mischievously.
"How do you have the energy to even think about that right now" I said while I got two menus, handing one to Grace.
"I don't right now. I'm hoping some good food and a hot, sudsy bath with my hot and sexy man will invigorate our libidos." She was smirking at me, and I knew right then we'd find the energy when the time came.
We ordered dinner, which the kitchen said would be up to us in 45 minutes. Then we called my parents. where it was about 4 and since it was Saturday, my dad was home with mom and Edina. And as a surprise, Evelyn was home for the weekend. She picked up the phone and accepted the call.
"Hey little brother! How y'all doing there in Paris?" She had that exaggerated Southern accent thing going, but it sounded like home and it was fun with her. It was like I could hear her smile.
"We're great, but we're tired. We took the long way to get here. Never again."
"Awww you're suffering so much, touring Europe with a beautiful woman on your arm. Seek sympathy elsewhere, Henry. It's great to hear your voice, really."
"Same here. I miss you, Ev."
"Not much the last week or so though, right?"
"Well..."
"You don't have to explain to me. Oh, and by the way, I have to thank you, Henry."
"For what, Ev?"
"After this, mom and dad owe me a big trip when I graduate in May. They can't deny me a trip, even if I want to bring a guy. Though I won't unless he's special to me. But either with a guy or one of my girlfriends, I'm getting a heck of a graduation present!"
I was grinning despite my exhaustion. The thought of her and one of her beautiful sorority sisters hitting the beaches of Greece or somewhere...those poor men wouldn't have a chance. Evelyn and her sparkling personality always made me smile. "You're welcome, sis. My pleasure."
"Yeah, I bet it's your pleasure" she said knowingly and I just closed my eyes. She was a pistol. "Mom is trying to grab the phone from me, so I'll see you for Thanksgiving. Love you Henry. Send my love to Grace, please."
"Thanks, and I will. Love you too," Next my mom was on the phone, and after talking to her for five minutes or so, and promising we would keep taking lots of pictures, Edina got on and after I said a short hello to her, I put Grace on the phone. They talked for ten minutes or so, then my dad spoke to her for a couple of minutes before she handed the phone to me, with a kiss of course.
"Hi, dad. How's everything back home?"
"We're all fine, Henry. Thank you for staying in the hotels. It's a big worry off our minds here."
"You're welcome...I guess. It's not like we're making a big sacrifice, exactly. We feel like a couple of Rockefellers. Dad, this has got to be terribly expensive."
"You let me worry about that. Your mom and I will pay for the hotel bills. You can pay for your meals elsewhere and whatever else you buy. But your rooms and meals there are on us. It's buying us peace of mind, son."
"I've said it before, dad. You and mom are the best. Evelyn's not so bad either."
"Yes, your sister is pretty amazing in her own right. Except she's going to make me pay for her trip after graduation and I can't exactly say no under the circumstances. Well, she's earned it. She's going to graduate in the top ten of her class at this rate. She's applying to medical schools now."
"She'll be a hell of a doctor, dad. Count on it." We made a little more small talk and then we said our goodbyes. Grace and I felt a little homesick then, but we got past it. We unpacked some and then dinner came, finally.
