Даниэла Стил - Turning Point

They were all tired and somewhat frazzled by the time Bill picked his girls up at the Eurostar on Friday night. He had taken two rooms for them at a small hotel on the Left Bank. There was no room for the girls in the apartment. Their hotel room had a big canopied bed, which they loved, and Wendy joined them at an Italian restaurant, so they would at least know each other when they left for Euro Disney the next day.

She was shy with them at first, but they were such easygoing, warm, well-mannered children that she felt at ease very quickly. Pip had asked their father if she was his girlfriend before Wendy arrived for dinner, and he had said no, they were just friends, which seemed to satisfy her. He said she was a trauma doctor too, and they had met on the trip to Paris, but they were good friends now. After dinner, both girls said they really liked her, and were happy she was coming with them the next day. Wendy had told them at dinner that she had never been to Disneyland in California either, nor Disney World in Florida, so they told her all about it, and Alex said she was going to love it, and explained all the Disney princesses to her. Wendy smiled as she listened, and glanced at Bill. She was enjoying herself immensely.

Alex had lost both her front teeth and looked incredibly cute as they described all the thrills they had in store.

They picked Wendy up at the apartment at nine o’clock the next morning in a car Bill had rented. The girls were wearing sneakers, pink sweaters, and warm jackets, while Wendy had worn running shoes, jeans, and a parka too. They were ready for their big adventure. They got to Euro Disney outside Paris an hour later and the fun began. The girls ran from one ride to the next, and got their picture taken with all their favorite Disney characters. They had Wendy join them for most of the photo ops, and their father was in every one. They bought silly hats and Minnie Mouse ears, which they put on immediately, and gave Wendy a pair she also put on, and then posed for a picture with Minnie. They ate popcorn and ice cream, and a big lunch at a buffet. They toured Sleeping Beauty’s castle, flew with Peter Pan, went up in the sky on the Dumbo ride, and went on the boat ride at the Pirates of the Caribbean. Pip went on the roller coaster with her father, squealed with terror, and then talked him into doing it again. Alex sat on Wendy’s lap on a bench while they waited for them, and Wendy realized what she’d been missing with no children in her life. They were the most endearing children she’d ever met.

They all had a wonderful day, and Bill got the girls the Minnie Mouse pajamas they loved, some T-shirts, and the Cinderella costume that Alex wanted desperately.

“No Cinderella costume for you?” Bill whispered to Wendy at the last stop.

“I’m fine with the Minnie Mouse ears. I think I’ll wear them to work on Monday.”

“They suit you,” he teased her. “No glass slipper?” He had gotten those for Alex too, and both girls were tired but ecstatic as they left the park at eight o’clock after they ate fried chicken for dinner. It had been a magical day for all of them, and far exceeded Wendy’s expectations. It made her wish she had children of her own, a feeling she had never had before, or hadn’t let herself consider in several years. There was no room for children in her life with Jeff. And now it seemed too late to change that, and she didn’t want to, but she hoped she would see Bill’s kids again when they came to California.

Both girls were asleep before they left the parking lot. They had seen the parade down Main Street at six o’clock, and the girls thought it was funny that Minnie and Mickey spoke French here.

“This was the best day I’ve had in years,” Wendy said in a soft voice so as not to wake the girls, smiling at him. They had been on their feet for ten hours, and she was tired but she felt like a child again, and the girls had included her in everything. Alex’s favorite ride was the It’s a Small World boat trip, where they sang the song. “You’re so lucky to have these children,” she said with feeling.

“I know I am. They’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” Athena hadn’t been, but it didn’t matter anymore.

“I wish I’d had kids when I was younger,” she said wistfully.

“Most women don’t have them now until your age, or older. We had a woman last year at General who was forty-eight and having triplets. She’d been in a car accident, and she delivered early, but she and the babies were fine. And you’re a long way from there.”

“Not that long. I’m thirty-seven,” she volunteered.

“You’re a baby. I take it your ‘complicated’ guy doesn’t want to get married.” She hesitated for a long time before she answered and then decided to tell him the truth. She trusted him. And after the day with his children, she felt like they were truly friends.

“He is married. And has four kids.”

“That’s a problem,” Bill said in an even voice and glanced at her. “And you want to stay in it?”

“No, and yes. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life being someone’s Wednesday night special. I finally realized before I came here that that’s what I’ve become, and all I’ll ever be to him. I need more than that. But my whole life has revolved around him for six years, it’s hard to let go. He’s on vacation in Aspen with his wife and kids right now. I was going to tell him it’s over when I go home.”

“Have you heard from him since you’ve been here?” Bill was curious and sorry for her. It seemed hard to believe that a woman with so much going for her had gotten herself into that situation. But he knew others it had happened to. Married men were a dangerous game, and a dead end.

“He called on the day of the shooting, to make sure I was okay. I’m only allowed to text him during office hours. I can’t call and email.” It was embarrassing to admit. Jeff called all the shots.

“Sounds like he’s got a sweet deal, for him, and not for you. Well, you can come to Disneyland with us whenever you want.” Bill smiled at her. “I hope you decide to give yourself a better chance than that. You deserve it,” he said sincerely. She nodded and they chatted the rest of the way into the city, and they were all sorry when Bill dropped her off at her building. The girls were awake by then.

“We have a big bed with a roof on it at our hotel,” Alex explained to her. “Do you want to have a sleepover with us?” Both children had British accents, which Wendy thought was very cute.

“I’d love that, but there might not be enough room for you in the bed with me too,” Wendy said gently.

“I’m going to wear my Minnie Mouse pajamas tonight. You should have got some too,” Alex told her.

“I will next time,” Wendy said and kissed them both goodbye. And then she kissed Bill on the cheek too. “Thank you for a fantastic day…and some good advice,” she added, and he knew what she meant, about Jeff. “I hope I see you soon, in California,” she said to the girls as she got out. “You have to come to my house for a barbecue, and I have a pool.” She waved as they drove off to their hotel, and she was smiling as she let herself into her apartment. For once, she didn’t miss Jeff, and she wondered what she’d been doing with him for six years. This was what she had been missing, and it was better than the one night a week she shared with him. That told her what she needed to know.

She sent Bill a text when she took her coat off, thanking him for how much fun the day had been, and how nice they’d been to include her. She was going to tell him again when she saw him at Marie-Laure’s for dinner the next day.

When she looked in the mirror, she saw that she was still wearing her Minnie Mouse ears, and she laughed out loud. She felt like a kid again.