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Jessthought her heart had already taken a beating today, but it had more work to do.Itknocked, feeling like it might burst out of her at any second.Shehadn’t realised how much she missed everything about him, from his scent to the feel of his lips to the slide of his tongue against hers.Theykissed like they never wanted it to end.
Hepulled back slightly. ‘Youwere amazing up there,’ he said, with an extra squeeze for emphasis. ‘Iwas so proud.’
‘Howdid you even manage…?’
‘Turnsout being aMagnumphotographer still has some currency.’Andthere was that slow smile she loved so much. ‘Plusone of the people in the office knew of my work.PlusI’malready a qualified skydiver.’
Shethrew her head back and laughed.Sheremembered him saying that in the helicopter, but thought he’d just said it to make her feel better. ‘Ofcourse you are.Anyother secrets you want to share?’ she asked with a crooked smile.
Hiseyes turned dark and solemn. ‘Ilove you.’
Herbreath caught.Sheswallowed, hard. ‘Sorry, could you repeat that?’
‘Ilove you,JessicaSmith.’Gabrieltook a step back from her and gripped her by the shoulders.Inthe distance she heard a plane landing. ‘I’msorry it took me so long to find my way back to you.ButIhad work to do.I’min therapy again…andIjoined a support group for people who’ve lost their limbs in violent situations.’
Nodding, she said, ‘I’mreally proud of you.Iknow that couldn’t have been easy.’
Heglanced away. ‘Itwasn’t…at first…butI’vemade new friends and found a way to be supportive to others who need help.Andguess what?’Hesmiled. ‘Ialso started a running club for amputees.Weinspire our way aroundPariseverySundaymorning.’
Jesslaughed again, still incredulous that he was here, declaring his love for her.Couldthis day get any better?Maybeshe should buy a lottery ticket.
Sheclosed the small gap between them and placed her hands on his chest.Afamiliar heat rushed through her at contact. ‘Andjust in case you didn’t realise,Ilove you, too.’
Theykissed again with even more desperation, and she wondered how quickly they could get back toLondon.
Softeningthe kiss, he rested his forehead against hers, his expression turning serious for a second. ‘Ican’t promise that it’ll be easy, butIwant to make room in my life for you.I’mhere for two weeks with work.Afterthat, we’ll figure it out.’
‘Ilike the sound of that.’Thenshe cleared her throat and said: ‘Moncousin deLaRochellegarde toujours une pelle dans son coffre.’
Gabrielraised his non-scarred eyebrow, amused. ‘You’relearningFrench?’
‘Oui!’
Chuckling, he said, ‘Thankgod.YourFrenchwas terrible.’Hekissed her briefly on the lips before furrowing his brow. ‘AlthoughI’mnot sure why anyone would need to know where your cousin fromLaRochellekeeps his shovel.’
‘Well, behave yourself and you won’t find out.’Jessbit her lip.
‘Yes, ma’am.’
EPILOGUE
THREE YEARS LATER
Toosoon,the sound of the porter knocking on the tent wokeJessup.Itwas 11PM and they’d only managed a few hours’ sleep.Butthis mountain wasn’t going to climb itself.
‘Howare you feeling?’JessaskedGabriel, who was snuggled in his sleeping bag next to her.Afterso many years together, she still couldn’t believe that she had the pleasure of waking up next to this handsome man, even with his hair mussed, his jaw covered in five days’ worth of stubble, and morning breath.
‘Exhausted?You?’Groggily, he pushed himself onto his elbows and leaned towards her for a quick kiss.
‘Same.ButI’mstill glad we’re here.’
Hesat upright and extricated his right leg from the sleeping bag.Wordlessly, she began massaging his stump for him.Adaily ritual.
Theydisagreed about who came up with the idea of climbingMountKilimanjarofor charity.Gabrielinsisted that she said it after they finished running theParisMarathon.Sheclaimed that it wasGabrielafter he’d watched a documentary about some celebrities making the ascent.Sheremembered quite clearly: ‘Ifthey can do it, we can do it,’ he’d said.Regardless, one of them had the bright idea.Andhere they were.
Itwas not easy.
Infact, it was hands-down the hardest thing she’d ever done.Forfive days, they’d been walking slowly, slowly up the trail with twelve other trekkers.Theterrain ranged from scrubby grassland to moon-like stretches of brown, barren dirt.Sometimesthe rise was so mild that she barely noticed they were going up.Othertimes, it grew steep and rocky.Shelived in constant fear thatGabrielmight take a wrong step, or a rock might roll under his prosthesis, but so far, he’d managed it.Shecontinually fed him snacks along the way because amputees needed 30% more calories than non-amputees just to walk.
