ARROW - 195. Chapter 195

The boys were tired as we pulled into the dock, I made sure the captain and first mate had their share of the catch. The men helped to carry the coolers off of the boat. The shrimp and lobsters were put in my car along with two of the large cod. I headed to the club. The others headed to the Home. Charles made a pit stop at his place to drop off his cooler.

Walking into the kitchen, "Brother come and make your selection for tomorrow's dinner." He opened the lobster cooler, Took out all five, “Leave them in the cooler, you can pick it up tomorrow.” Billy took it to the basement. The next cooler was shrimp. He counted out 20, the rest went to the basement. I must have looked puzzled, “These are for our dinner tonight.”

I smiled, the next cooler had the cod in them. He looked, “Billy, take this to the basement.” That was after he took one out for their dinner tonight.

I gave him a hug and left. We had to get to the Home for dinner.

Arriving, there was Ivan’s truck. Since the kitchen had everything, we entered through the Angel’s door. I stopped to say hi to Lois. “They are all down in the game room. Charles has two new movies for them to watch.”

Until our Italian guests left, we fished on Saturday, had dinner at the Home, and Sunday dinner at the club.

Colin had t-shirts made for our Italian cousins. I knew he had one for every boy and girl home and at the Home. It was a picture of the boat with the captain and first mate. There were the boys in their seats with their rods in the water. He had each boy with his name printed on the back of the chair. Each shirt had the same picture but the boy's names were different.

It was sad to see the Italian contingent go but we would see them next summer in Italy and here when they return in October.

When everything falls in place and the sun seems to be shining on you, something happens that causes you to re-evaluate your life and those you love. Grandmere was in the hospital and it didn’t look good. There were no discussions, I was going to Paris. Colin wanted to come with me, “You have to stay here with the boys. You need to comfort the boys, she was a grandmother to them even though she wasn’t related to them. They need one of us, if you want to go I’ll stay here. You can take Ritchie with you.”

“No, you go and I’ll stay here with the boys and girls.”

“If Jean is correct, I won’t be gone long.”

I flew over the next day. Arriving in Paris, Jean was there to meet me. “I’m glad you came. She’ll be glad to see you.”

We hailed a taxi and went straight to the hospital. Before entering her room, I looked at her through the window on her door. She looked tired. I walked in, and sat beside her bed, holding her hand. “Grandmere, the boys send you their love and pray you will be well. They are looking forward to seeing you next year.”

“I will be with the boys. But now I have family calling me. One thing, the house is in your name. Last year I put it in your name when I came home. You need someplace to stay when you visit Paris.”

I heard the creaking of a rocker. “Grandmother, can’t she stay a little longer.”

I knew the answer, I may not like it, but I can’t argue with He who makes the decision of how much time we have here.

I felt Jean’s hand on my shoulder. I leaned over and kissed her cheek,

As we walked out I turned for one last look, I saw the nurse pull the sheet up to cover her face. In my mind, GG couldn’t I have had a few more minutes?

“Armand, I have the papers putting the home in your name. She has no relatives so you need to think about where she will be entered. I’ll handle all of the legal issues.”

“Let’s go to her home.”

I stopped at the patisserie and bought a bottle of her favorite wine. I just might get drunk tonight.

Sitting in her living room with a glass of her wine I remembered the first time I was here. “Several years ago I came to Paris. It was between my freshman and sophomore year. I didn’t know where I was going to stay. I was a student, money was a problem. I met a man on the plane, we started to talk. He asked which hotel I was staying at, I told him I can’t afford a hotel. He gave me the name of this woman who runs a boarding house. I came here and stayed for three months. During that time, we became friends and I learned French. In the evening, I drew. She would comment and keep most of them. If you want to look at them, they are in the drawer of that stand.”

I watched as Jean went and got them from the drawer. One of them was of her when I was first here, years ago.

As Jean leafed through them, I remember her, and those memories brought tears to my eyes. I knew she was in her late 70s, but why did she have to leave? Many people live well into their 80’s and 90’s. I needed answers and no one could give me one. I was tired of trivia, your time comes, she was ill, and this was best for her, she lived a good life, no one had an answer that satisfied me. She was gone and I and my family will miss her.

“Jean, I’m turning in. Tomorrow we’ll need to arrange for an interment and possibly some kind of religious ceremony. I think she attended that small chapel at the end of the avenue.”

Sleep didn’t come easy that night. The creaking of a rocking chair didn’t help. “GG, is she with you?”

“Go to sleep, my son.”

Hearing that I fell into a deep sleep and I had a visitor. When I woke in the morning, I felt a strange peace. I now knew Grandmere was with GG was happy and best of all she was pain-free. I didn’t know that she was suffering and that death was her release from the pain. It helped knowing that but I still missed her and will continue to miss her. I know the children will miss her, including those at the Home.

Walking to the kitchen, I made a pot of coffee. Jean was still asleep. I went to the patisserie and bought a loaf of bread and cheese. That would be breakfast. Returning to the house, I could smell the coffee. This morning with the coffee, cheese, and bread brought back early memories.

“Good morning. Do you feel a little better this morning?”

“Good morning, Jean. Yes, I feel a little better. Join me for a little breakfast. When I stayed here, this was our breakfast. I think I have eaten every type of cheese that Patisserie had. She would tell me about the cheese, how it was made, and the difference between cheese made from cow’s milk and sheep's milk. Over the time I have known her, she taught me about French cuisine. Once a week, we would go to a small cafe and have something to eat and sample their wine. After the third glass, I couldn’t tell one wine from another, she would laugh and help me back to her home. Then helping me upstairs, tuck me in bed.”

“You have good memories and I think they will keep her alive for you. Now let’s finish eating, we have a lot of work to do today.”

We went to the chapel and spoke to the priest. “Madame Lavigne has been coming to this chapel for many years. Several tears ago she commissioned a mausoleum to be built. It was her wish that when the time came for her to join her relatives in Heaven that her earthly body be placed in her mausoleum. If you follow me I’ll show you what she commissioned.”

We followed him to a graveyard behind the Chapel. It wasn’t large but there was only one mausoleum. I assumed that was the one Grandmere commissioned. Following the priest, he led us to that mausoleum and there was a plaque with Grandmere’s name.

“Father, will you arrange for her burial services?”

“Yes, I will contact the hospital and make all of the burial arrangements.”

“Jean, I need some paint and brushes.”

Over the next few days, the priest made the arrangements and I had an Angel to create above the door of a certain mausoleum.

Jean helped as much as he could. I learned you did not need to be a painter to be a critic of the arts.

By the time, Grandmere was ready and the priest had performed the interment ritual, the angel was finished. Jean smiled, “A fitting place for a great lady. May the Angel watch over her.”

I heard ‘Amen’, turning there was the priest and who I guessed were parishioners who knew Grandmere.

Before we left, Alex went and bought some flowers which he placed in front of the sealed door.

I stayed until the end of the week and then went home. Alex will stay at Grandmere’s home giving up his apartment. I felt good about that. He also said he will send a photo of the mausoleum.

Arriving home, Colin and Richie met me. They wanted to know how Grandmere was. I know I was crying when I told them she was in heaven with our grandmother in the rocking chair. I would swear at that moment I heard the creaking of an old rocking chair.

“Are you going to tell the kids at home and at the Home?”

“Yes”

The rest of the ride home was silent. I am sure their thoughts were on Grandmere.

Two weeks have gone by and Grandmere is not forgotten. Jean sent photos of the mausoleum which I showed the family.

“Dad, I should have gone with you. I could have helped you with the Angel.” I hugged my protege.

Roger was a frequent breakfast guest. I showed him the mausoleum. He knew Grandmere from when she was here and he had met her in Paris as well.

“I’m planning on a trip next week. Arnaud isn’t doing well. I’ll stop and check out the mausoleum while I am there.”

“I would like to go with you but I suspect I’ll be going again later in the year. If you find Arnaud as bad as you are led to believe, let me know and I’ll fly over. Jean is staying at the house so you should plan on staying there as well.”

Routine was quickly established. Our family from the village had returned home. The Christmas trip to the department store was a break I needed. We ended up not only taking two buses but also two vans. I told Colin we need to buy another bus. Our family was growing fast, not only in age but in numbers as well.