The Paris Novel Ruth Reichl Novels & Stories

"In his coat. Since October." Ruth closed the book. "Since October," she said. "He wrote it when my first Paris letter arrived and didn't send it because it felt too large." Elena sat down on the floor not the chair, the floor, the position she took when she needed to be low to the ground. "Eight months in his coat." Ruth was quiet for a moment. "You're the same person," she said. "That's what I said." Ruth looked at the ceiling. "I knew," she said.

Butch and Eve arrived at the castle, they got down from the carriage and entered into the castle. Ellie who has never been to the castle before was surprised at the way the building walls were decorated with marbles. Despite how surprised she was, she managed to keep it to herself to avoid disgracing herself. They walked forward and entered the building when suddenly she heard a woman called out to Butch, she was walking down the stairs. "Butch, what are you doing here? We're not expecting to see you today? Have you brought a new one?" The head maid asked, noticing a girl behind him.

Every time I went to her house, her parents gave the same answer: she was on a work trip to Paris. I had assumed that all this time, she was off enjoying her life with Jefri. But what was I seeing now? Dita’s eyes widened the moment she spotted me standing behind Roy. Her face turned deathly pale, and her smile faded instantly. "Roy... I need to go to the restroom for a minute," she said with a soft voice. Once Roy nodded, Dita hurried toward me with a panicked expression. "Erika... what are you doing here?" "I should be asking you that!" I shouted, my voice rising. I gave her a bitter, sharp look. "Paris? But why are you here in Bandung with Roy?!"

Elena’s POV DAYS LATER I don’t go straight home after work, and instead of taking the bus I decided to walk to Nora's apartment to clear off my head. Block after block, letting the city noise swallow my thoughts, letting my heels click against the pavement until my feet ache, pain feels easier than thinking, easier than remembering the way Julian’s voice sounded when he asked if someone else touched me. By the time I reach Nora’s apartment, my chest feels too full instead of empty.

The red caught the light, deep and rich as blood. She moved to the arm of the couch, resting against it, arms folded loosely in front of her. Watching. Her sweater slid off one shoulder. I handed her a glass, our fingers brushing. She didn’t pull away. We drank in silence. For a long while, the only sound was the clink of glass and the slow, steady rhythm of breath. Hers. Mine. “You always picked the good stuff,” she murmured, eyes on the city. “Barolo. 2012. You opened this the night we...”

My stomach flipped so hard, watching him. "Gosh!!" My mind screamed as I sipped more champagne, the cold liquid slid down my throat. He looked exactly like the pictures, but in real life, he made my skin feel hot. Still, Felix’s words kept ringing in my head about him being discreet. Ruthless. Not into women. If that was true, tonight would be harder than I thought. “Isabella Vale—” The voice hit me from the front. I turned and forced a sharp smile, trying to get ready for the casual business talks. Congressman Tim stood too close, his cheap, nasty cologne burning my nose. His eyes moved down my body then back up.

Paris said with a chuckle. “Wait,” Torvald said but Paris ignored him. “I know where your wife is,” Torvald said, making Paris backtrack. “Six feet under the ground,” Paris said, thinking of the painful memory that Shysie caused 900 years ago when she killed his wife of a day. “Not necessary,” Torvald said, luring Paris in. “Speak,” Paris demanded, coming to a halt in front of Torvalds cell again. “Let me drink first,” Torvald requested.

Somewhere that feels like a choice. We look at the city. Paris in autumn, the light turning gold through the windows, the rooftops spread out below us like a map of somewhere we don't quite live. "Renaud Petit had a daughter," she says quietly. "Eight years old." I don't say anything.

'' he said simply. The car screeched to a halt and my eyes moved to the building that towered above us. A boutique? And not just any boutique, I had seen this on Tv and commercials several times! I wanted to give up and just faint but Iris was not here to save me if I did that. I realized myself only when I saw Lucien walking in. When did he step out and why was my ass still glued to the seat? My phone lit up with a text just then and it was from him. It sent something to my intestines seeing someone else's name pop on my screen other than Iris and Madam Grace.