Greetings. My name is Tiffany Bennett. I am around 23. Engaged to a man of the same age named Ivan Williams. Daughter of an old merchant by the old streets of London, I am a novelist that works in the most well-known city of the world as the city of the love. I’ve been a novel book writer for almost 5 years. I became famous for my books “The footsteps by the seashore”, “The alibi of Ms. Thompson”, “The silence of the owl”, “Your name”, “The lost city of Uramacsitanalta”, “The code of Countess of Symposia”, “Antidechlorobenzene”, and well, and many others. I even wrote a book about an evil butler who killed his master to be the next noble man. Oh, for so many years of writing books, I would classify myself as just one of those possible protagonists on each story I made.

I started living in Paris just as after I graduated high school. Because I chose such a course, my old father can’t afford to have me enrolled to any of the schools in England. But he knew a friend who could help me. So, I was enrolled to a boarding school in Paris called Collége St. Gommery des arts et de la littérature. It was a nice place to spend for your whole life in College as an art student.

Long story short, I met a classmate in a café whom was enrolled in a fine arts class, and he’s a really good painter. Finding that he’s a fellow British, we found love.

Paris truly is the city of love. Until, we graduated college. He became a famous painter and I became a famous novel writer. Then he proposed to me at the base of the Eifel tower. We got engaged. We had such wonderful lives and such wonderful careers. But my father never left England.

When I was in my freshmen years of high school, there was a family crisis and the antique store that my father managed got bankrupt. So, my mother filed a divorce and left us. But, as long as life goes, my father managed to make it all work out again.

I just can’t help but put myself in wonder on why he hasn’t had any plans on moving here in Paris.

Paris is such a wonderful place. I’m pretty sure that he’ll love it here. But, I’m quite not sure, because I can’t contact him. I now live in a modernized world where letters are now dead. We now use ransom gadgets in order to contact each other. Maybe that is why. He is very old and with only an old antique store to keep your wallet breathing, well he can’t afford a phone or even a laptop.

So, to make his plans final and my thoughts firm, I went to England and visited him. Of course, I plan on making him live with me, as his daughter, in Paris.

So, Ivan and I went to England only to spare a short time there. Like I said, I just wanted to make my thoughts clear to know if he’s planning on living with us.

As we arrived, he was surprised to seeing us to his doorstep. And because of the lack of Communication, he has no idea that we are to visit him. Of course, he can only send letters to me. But we were so happy to see each other. After all, we haven’t seen each for my whole life in college with the addition of a few more years in living with our jobs in mind.

I wanted to buy him a phone, but he resisted. He said that he doesn’t want to use phones or any type of gadgets. So I asked him if he wants to live with me in Paris. But he just smiled at me. I just have no idea on what he’s thinking in that old little mind he has.

I wanted to bring him to Paris. During the nights we stayed there, I wasn’t able to sleep properly of thinking if he’ll be happy there in Paris or if he even had a passport. I just wanted to give the happiness that I got in Paris. I just really wanted him to be happy for the rest of his life. I wanted to have him with me while he’s still here in earth and still breathing. I wanted to see him smile every day. He’s always been there for me. He’s done so much for me. I just want to return that happiness back to him.

Then, morning came. We still have one last day to spend there.

My father invited me to have tea with him. So, I took the opportunity to have a father-daughter talk with him. I made tea for the both of us. Then we sat there outside, by the porch and just talk about a few things.

Then he asked me, “Tiffany, have you had a good sleep?”

“Why do you ask me that, father?”

“Tiffany darling, are you alright? You don’t seem so as we speak.” He said.

“Father…I’m alright. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Tiffany, your eyes look a bit sore…what have you been thinking about? Do you have any worries about certain things? Don’t think about it a little too personal. I am your father. I want you to know that you can trust me in anything. No matter how heavy it would burden you.” He said to make me feel calm.

“Father, why did mother leave us?”

It slipped from my mouth.

“You see darling, there was a man she met. This man she found made her happier. She thought that maybe she’ll be able to have a good start again. Remember that she divorced me because our antique shop got bankrupt? Well, it’s about that. You see, she only loved me before because of the antique shop my family had. It was so famous before. We gain so much money because of it.” He answered.

“So you started the business for a long time…”

“Yes darling. It had been my family business for so many years. It became hilarious enough to think that throughout our family’s history, we managed the same antique shop.” He left out a full laugh at this thought.

“Come to think of it, even the shop became an antique. Only that, it’s not for sale.” I left out a chuckle.

He laughed back in agreement to my thought.

“What else happened between you and mother, father?” I asked.

He left out a solemn smile then said, “And then, she told me that she would rather go to someone that will keep him happy and feed her with many delicious food of the whole world. That she met a man that is better than a man that owns an antique in which no one goes to no more. I’m sorry if I made you feel the same way as your mother did for me, Tiff.” He said.

I hugged him. I felt so sad for him after so many things happened. My poor old father. He was such a very nice man. My mother was too selfish. She didn’t thought about me, her only daughter. She only thought about her pleasure, her luxurious life, and her comfort. I don’t see happiness in that. She should’ve realized that my father loved her and did a lot of things for her. Usually, men facing with these problems would leave it to their wives and then start drinking and doing drugs, even hang out with many ladies, and even marry another woman. Some would commit suicide, some would file annulment on his wife, and some would do a lot of things that are not good. She should be grateful enough that my father, his ex-husband, didn’t even plan on doing those things. Instead, he even did more for his only daughter.

That is why I love my father so much. He just tells me all the things he knows about this world. I would treasure those wisdoms, those secrets, and those precious things he tells me.

He really loved tending his garden. He placed many cute flowers there. He never failed on watering the flowers every morning.

He’s a really gentle person.

I just don’t understand what my mother’s thinking anymore. Or just what sees in a man that walks along the streets with an Albino Bengal tiger tied unto a golden leash.

I just don’t understand why she’s so selfish.

Then, I asked my father, “Father, do you have a passport?”

He then smiled at me and said, “Darling Tiffany, I guess I forgot to tell you that before I became the manager of the antique shop, I joined the military platoon. Because the war made our business slower. We became bankrupt because of the war. So I joined the war and fought good. And to tell you, I travelled the world by see. So, I do have one.”

As he said this, “Paris would be a nice place…won’t it?”

I hugged him and was so excited that I immediately looked for his passport. Good enough that he had made a new one.

Then we went back to Paris by plane. This will be the first time that my father will ride a plane.

Although, I’m quite glad that father came with me back to Paris. I thought he never will. Knowing him, as an old man that would gravely enjoy the solemn presence of home, I never thought that he’ll be obliged to come. But actually, I didn’t want him to come just because I wanted him to live a luxurious life in Paris. It’s because in England, he might be taken away and be forced to live in the home for the aged. Because he is my father and I love him, I wouldn’t be satisfied in knowing that he’ll be living in that place for almost all eternity. That is certainly quite a dreadful situation.

So, I guess that’s alright for him to live with me here in such a luxurious and lively place. But I guess that is one of the reasons why he wanted to come.

Or maybe, accept the invite.

After only a few hours, we arrived in Paris.

Paris, such a wonderful city. This way, father won’t have to endure much of that gloomy place. Paris is the type of city filled with many cafes, many beautiful roses, many savory dishes alongside desserts that’ll make your eyes tear of caramel goodness.

While England is just too gloomy. Some kids’ age of 15 might feel they’re 30. It’s a city filled with nonstop rain, desserts with a mixture of hard and soft, bitter lemon tea, and of course, a city filled of inspirations when you’re writing a book.

Both are such old cities. But, then again, it’s really nice if my father had a little time to relax. This is my time to reward him for being such a good father to me.

In Paris, he always went to parks and just sits on a bench for the whole day.

He would usually wait for me there, or just wait for Ivan until he’s done with his work. Then they’ll spend the rest of the day just together. They would go to cafes, or Ivan will just accompany him sitting on the bench of any park.

Then, they’ll wait for me. Then, we’ll have supper.

The same thing happens each day.

Then my father asked me, “Tiffany dear, about Ivan and your relationship with him…”

“Yes father?” I asked.

“Do you two have plans on having children? Having a family?” he wondered.

“Well, I’m not quite sure on how to answer that…I’m not so sure yet.” I answered.

He left a relaxed sigh. Then he said, “It’s alright dear…if you’re not ready yet, I understand…it’s really quite a handful to have a family…I tell you…I have experience myself…”

Then, that same thought went into my head.

“Why did you want to me come here in Paris, father?” I asked all of the sudden.

to be continued...