I booked another trip to Paris for Mark and I.

It was a last-minute decision motivated by a strong urge to enjoy whatever we can while we still can, plus I got a good deal on train tickets and accommodation booking directly with the hotel where we stayed when we arrived in France.

“Mark, do you want to spend three more days in Paris?”

“YES! YES! YES! I heard you talking about Paris and I was hoping we were going again! Best day of my life ever!”

You realize you must have done something right as parents when it turns out you truly enjoy travelling and hanging out with your kid. Mark is a great traveller partner. He is fun, curious, and responsible. I wasn’t taking him to Paris—we were going to Paris together as a team, big difference.

“It shouldn’t rain this time, plus we won’t be dealing with jet lag.”

“I’m so happy.”

“Me too.”

And so we took the train from Nantes and arrived just after 1 p.m. at Montparnasse station. It was packed with French, European and American tourists and I was glad I had a few subway tickets left because the queue was massive at the RATP.

Same hotel, same room even, the one with a small balcony. Perfect.

“Where do you want to go today?”

“Notre-Dame.”

“That’s… a good idea, actually.”

Notre-Dame was easy—we didn’t even have to take the subway, it was a nice walk along the Seine River and through the Quartier Latin on the way back.

Somehow, I found myself explaining the concept of nuclear power and the Chernobyl disaster as we walked. This is quite typical—Mark says something or asks a question and I’m giving him the 101 on world events he has no idea about.

But even though it was a great afternoon, I kept on checking my watch.

I was a bit stressed out.

See, I had a big surprise for Mark in the evening. Would it go as planned…?