Suddenly in Love in Paris: By Christopher & Francesca

By Christopher and Francesca

This is to all those adults who believe in love at any age. This story is about a French woman and an American businessman vacationing in France who unexpectedly meet.

We invite you to take a traveling tour through different cities and countries of the world. Besides that, you will experience the feelings of many situations, such as family situations and happy or sad or romantic situations, which could revive memories to many persons and couples any time during the course of their lives. In any event, this book could be considered humoristic, kind, and picaresque, but overall, its very romantic.

Enjoy!

Christopher and Francesca

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984544025

Book preview

PROLOGUE

The events described in this book take place during the years between 1950 and 2016.

In this book you will find situations that reflect the story of two people — a man and a woman —that meet in the Golden Years and start a new life. This couple experienced love and passion during their relationship as well as sad and happy chapters.

We recommend that you practice the demonstrations of love expressed in this book and to change sceneries by traveling and vacationing together.

On the other hand, on this book we expose situations and problems which are common in our daily lives and we express situations that are in accordance with its title.

The end of the book is quite amusing.

CHAPTER

I

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 1948, LOOKING FOR A

FORTUNE

It was the year of 1948, when Mr. Richard Smith left his wife and son, Christopher, behind in the State of Maryland, leaving for Cuba in the hope that the existing rumors of being able to invest in a Gas Station are true. He hoped to establish his life in Cuba once he had reunited with his family. His friends had mentioned that there were many possibilities of establishing a prosperous business in Cuba.

It was not easy separating from his family, but he had to take advantage of the times where there were possibilities for foreigners who came to exploit an island rich in many aspects, where the dollar and the Cuban currency were equal in value. Richard had left extremely worried for leaving his family behind in a difficult monetary situation. He had given his wife some saved funds so they may manage until he established his business.

After having traveled through the entire island of Cuba, the province of Matanzas was the place that he found more suitable for his investment. Establishing the business there the movement of vehicles had increased in that province. This Area has many touristic places, such as Varadero Yumuri Valley, Bellamar Caves, Canima Bridge a nd other attractions.

With the small capital that he took with him and a loan that he obtained from an American Bank which had a branch in Cuba, he was able to establish a gas station, that offered a mechanic shop with services like oil changes cleaning of vehicles and tire repairs. Very soon this service center became — 5 the most modern in the province of Matanzas. Its construction took approximately 18 months. Once finished, Richard went to Maryland to bring his wife and his son with him for the opening of the business and to definitely move to Cuba.

In the year 1950, Richard Smith (Ricky for his friends) was totally established. His wife Nancy worked as cashier and bookkeeper but if it was necessary she would also deal with the customers, plus two more employees, a black skinned native guy who was in charge of the oiling of the vehicles and the other employee was a country man that fixed the tires and cleaned the vehicles. Young Christopher would go to the service center after school and put all of his attention in the management of the business. He was only eight (8) years old when he was willing to help his father in the business.

The business was prosperous in a very short time. Christopher was growing and was fluent in both languages English and Spanish. Since he was a very modest person, he would not distinct people by class or race and interacted the same way way with everybody. On or about 1955, the wife became pregnant and gave birth to a girl in her home town of Maryland. This girl was named Christine but her nick name was Christy.

It was the year 1956 when the political differences in Cuba were felt by the people. A landing occurred in the Province of Oriente. This landing was the beginning of a war by rebels against the Government at that time.

In 1953, a group of opponents of the reigning government arose against the army of the reigning President at that time, attacking the Moncada Base in the province of Oriente. This happened on July 26 of that year. The group leader was Fidel Castro Ruz, who, in 1955, after having been in jail because of an indictment, named the opponent group, July 26 Movement.

The opposing force began advancing towards the capital, Havana, and during the early hours of the first day of January of 1959 the president, with his sequels, boarded an airplane and left the country, leaving Cuba under the rebel government directed by Fidel Castro.

In 1960 the United States had smashed governmental relationship with Cuba because most of the American Industries had been intervened by the Cuban Government. Two agents of the Cuban Government took possession of Mr. Richard Smith’s Business, he was not allowed to enter his business and the doors were sealed and then the family decided that they had to leave Cuba as soon as possible.

CHAPTER

II

REMEMBRANCES BY

CHRISTOPHER

I, Christopher Smith approximately 15 years old, fluent in two (2) languages, English and Spanish. Can perceive the suffering of my parents, who after building a great business with a lot of effort. Accustomed to live in that island and so did my parents. I love Cuba like if it was my own country.

My parents were permanent residents in the island, but some of the capital they had earned was in the United States because they were informed by friends abroad that they should have some money in the United States. Knowing this they invested in gold bars and they were able to get their money out of the country on time. This decision helped them initiate a new life in the United States where a big important tire business was established. They helped both of the employees they had in Cuba leave their country and go to the United States, because they were confident people and very good in the management of the business.

I had to continue studying in Maryland. While I was in High School since I had to help my father, who was sick I was not able to study a career. I had to take control of the business and then become an international businessman.

When I arrived to the United States ten years later, I had remembrances of my life in Cuba and it was pretty difficult for me to get used to the ways of the United States. I was back in my country of Irish descendant, but in those 10 years that I lived in Cuba. I got so used to the Spanish Language, that when I started going to school in Maryland it was not easy studying in my native language. I had never stopped communicating in English with my parents but felt like an immigrant in my own country because my classmates made fun of my grammar all the time. It was all new to me, the streets, the buildings, traffic, the food, wandering alone. I missed all of the friends I left behind. We had the freedom to play in the streets, like going to the park, fishing and to the movies, without any problems. Now I have to go out with my parents and my sister everywhere, who also missed the land they left. I did not feel well, I felt like a bird in a big cage.

Life continued in the United States and when I turned thirty I abandoned my bohemian life and I met a very pretty girl that I met at my shop blonde with blue eyes, named Kathy. She came to my shop and I personally attended her because she was so beautiful. I was as courteous as possible, when she was giving me her identification to prepare her statement and issue the guaranty certificate. I took her home address and telephone number. That same night I drove by her house to know what type of neighborhood she lived in. It was a middle class neighborhood, I observed that there was a car parked out—side of the house with a sign of a Plummer with the same telephone number in her statement. I called the number and an older man answered the phone. I thought it had to be her father because she was too young to be married in my opinion.

The following morning I waited in front of her house until a man left the house, apparently to work, who I assumed was her father and hoping she would answer the phone. I called again and as expected she answered. I immediately recognized her voice. I identified myself and told her that I took her address and phone number from the business invoice. She told me then that it was very unprofessional to get that information from the business without her consent and hung up on me. I thought to myself that it was not worth calling her back but I finally did and and asked her not to hang up and to please listen to me. Kathy then asked:

What do you want? He answered:

I would like to invite you to an ice cream shop close to your house.

Why do you want to have ice cream with me. She asked.

Because I like you a lot as a woman and would like to be your friend. I would love to get to know someone like you.

I don’t know. I will call you at work later. What is your name? He was prompt to answer, Christopher.

Christopher? No last name? Kathy asked.

No, I am the only Christopher in that business. I am the owner but my last name is Smith,

Every time the phone rang, I ran to answer wishing it was her, five hours passed and I thought she would never call. Then, a few minutes before closing the phone rang. I didn’t answer thinking she was not going to call. I asked my attendant to take the call, she told me it was a woman and that she was calling me. I ran into a chair, a couple of things fell from my desk and I answered, agitated and nervous. Christopher finally answered:

Hello, Hello, who is it?

"Kathy

Let me guess, replied Christopher, "we are going to the ice cream shop.’

"When?’ she asked,

Right now. Answered Christopher, and added:

Where do I pick you up?

She replied:

No, I’ll meet you there. I am going in my car.

When I got to the ice cream shop I was looking for her.

I had her next to me and I couldn’t see her. Then, she asked me.

Are you looking for me, Christopher?

"I had not seen you. What a surprise! Thank you for coming.

Do you want to sit inside of the Ice Cream Shop, or in one of the cars where we can get served?"

Are you crazy, my parents would kill me, it is better to have the ice cream inside. Then, I answered.

OK! While we had the ice cream I didn’t take my eyes off her and observed her, at a time she looked at me and noticed that I had not eaten my ice cream. Then, she asked me: "Do you have a girlfriend?

No, I don’t.

When she went to get the ice cream, he touched her hand and she took her hand away from him immediately and asked him.

What are you doing touching my hand?

‘I wanted to touch the hand of a doll.

I am not a doll, I am a woman.

She was very firm when she answered. All of a sudden I decided to ask her and I did:

Do you want to be my girlfriend? She avoided the answer.

You invited me to have ice cream and to be your friend. Not your girlfriend. Then added:

I have to leave now.

Since we had only been together for 15 minutes I asked her:

‘Why do you have to leave so soon?

I have to leave soon because my father is about to get home and I don’t want to be late?

Do I see you tomorrow?

She answered that she was not sure, then I told her to call me when she wanted to go out with me again.

That day I went home very happy, whistling and with a big smile, my mother asked me why I was so happy, what happened?, and then she murmured. Oh God, this kid is flirting with women again.

The next day I went back to my duties, but my mind was very far from my obligations, thinking if she would call me back or not, or if I should call her again, then 10 minutes before the closing of the shop the phone rang and I answered. Kathy and I exchanged a few words and we met at the same place and it was successively like that until we had finally made a commitment. There was a difference in age because I was 30 years old and she was 23. I was never tired of looking at her, her blue eyes and her hair was so blonde that looked like gold threads. Her features were very refined and I admired her elegant and educated manners, specially that she was from a modest family.

We used to go out to wander around her house since she was not used to go out in a car with a man since these were very conservative times. She had never had a fiancé, or a serious boyfriend only admirers from school. Kathy was also a virgin. One day when we were walking by the park, near her house, I introduced my hand in her breast and she slapped my face. I was astonished of her reaction knowing that she had been brought up by her family under an old system. I was surprised because it was a time where there were many girls in intimate relationships with boyfriends at an early age, though these were conservative times I tried anyways.

After several months she asked about my intentions with her since we had to formalize our relationship because her parents were not happy with a relationship out of the house and her escapes to a park to meet him. It was necessary that he would meet the parents and talk about marriage. Kathy was their daughter and her parents were very jealous and protective of her.

The day came when he had to go to her house to meet her parents and have a talk with them. As soon as I met her father he went straight to the point and told me that I could be very wealthy but his house was a very respectful house. Then I told him that I was in love with her and that my intentions were to marry his daughter. Not even ninety days had elapsed when there was a family meeting, actually it took place on Thanksgiving Day (a religious meal to thank God for the wealth received during the year). The reception took place at my home, then I proposed to her on my knees and gave her a beautiful ring. We immediately started looking for an apartment to buy and remodel to meet our taste.

We married six months after that reception at St. Patricks Church in Baltimore, Maryland. It was a day in May, it was all very pretty and with lots of flowers. Approximately 100 persons assisted the wedding at the church, among family members, there were friends and employees from my business.

When I saw her walking into the church taken by her father’s hand, she looked like an Angel dressed in white. Following her were the couples and two children with the rings and the flowers. My parents were crying of emotion and happiness as well as her parents. My parents