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- 12/09/2023
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
ARROW - 241. Chapter 241
I spent a lot of time with the guys. I knew this would be the last time I would ever see them. We sketched each other and I did a sketch of the three of them. That one I will take home.
I thought we would spend no more than two weeks in Paris, but Colin had other ideas. He called Charley. Charley and his two sons arrived, from that moment on the only time I saw Charley was at Grandmere’s home for breakfast. My friends took care of them and sometimes that bothered me. Colin was happy and in the evening he would show me the plans and assured me that the front of the cottage wouldn’t change. What was a small cottage was becoming a facade of a small cottage. The drawings show an extension of the small kitchen towards the rear of the property. Where the steps to the basement existed, would be a small one-person elevator that would be extended to the second floor. Reminded me of the kitchen elevator in the Home.
The dining room was extended, and The living room was extended. From the living room, was a doorway to steps to the second floor. There the bedrooms were extended, the master bedroom had a bathroom added, and of course, the bedrooms were enlarged. And without saying anything, I knew there would be bunk beds. Colin was happy but now the question of hiring workers. Mere was a great help here. I remembered the worker at the Louvre who helped with the installation of Michael on the mausoleum.
I needed to make a trip to the Louvre. I needed to find this man who helped me to hang Saint Michael.
I waited at the entrance to the workman’s entrance.
I looked at each man as they entered and heard, “There you are. I have been looking for you.”
Looking toward the voice there was my helper but he had a young man with him.
The usual hug, “I looked for you all over. You left your money in my truck.”
“That wasn’t my money. That was your pay for helping me hang my painting. I don’t think I could have done it without your help. And now I have another job for you.”
“Hanging more paintings?”
“No, my son owns a cottage here and it is to be expanded. When you have some time, I’d like to take you there.”
“Let’s go now. This is my oldest son. I was going to see if he could get a job here.”
“You never got a new truck.”
“No, this one runs fine.”
I asked his son if he had ever seen the painting his dad helped to hang. He said no, “You’ll see it now.”
Driving to the mausoleum, the young man asked his father a lot of questions. I listened, The money was gone and the young boy wanted to know how his dad was going to raise the money to give to me. I could detect a concern in his voice.
I was ready to say something when we were at the mausoleum. Getting out of the truck, I told the young boy how his dad helped me hang the painting. Looking at the painting brought back memories of Carl and I working together. And now Carl is an outstanding artist.
Back in the truck, there were a few questions but Dad said he would tell him later. Half an hour later we arrived at the cottage. Walking around the back, I introduced Colin and Charley. “Colin, this is the man who helped me to hang Michael, and this is his son. You need to explain the project to him.”
Colin got the drawings and for the next two hours, they discussed the drawings, took several tours, and finally came to an agreement.
Charley will stay to update the drawings, Colin will stay as an interpreter. That is what he said. I, of course, laughed. I have said this before, Colin missed his calling, he should have been a contractor.
We were drinking coffee in the small dining room when Pierre and Colette arrived. “Pop, can you show Colette the expansion plans?”
And for the next 45 minutes, Colin showed her the plans. When he was finished I heard her whisper to Pierre who were the rest of these people. I looked at Colin, and mouthed ‘introductions’ to him.
When he was done, “Dad, Colette has to leave. I wanted her to see the changes.”
I watched as Pierre walked her to her car, holding hands. I turned away when I knew he was going to kiss her.
Mere baked a cake, a special cake. Pierre had arranged for me to fly home in the company plane, and Colin would stay until the project was finished. So with my cake, saying goodbye to the guys at Grandmere’s house, I left for home. Pierre said he would notify Ronnie of my flight plans.
It was strange to fly alone. It was the first time since my summer break from college.. One nice thing was that the stewardess sat with me. I had to give her a small slice of cake. She said Pierre always had some baked cookies or rolls when he traveled from Paris to New York.
I was concerned about going through customs with the cake. The stewardess said she would help. She did this by offering the customs guy a piece of cake. She said it was a going away gift and it would be a shame to toss it. Saying that she cut him a piece, and for a moment my heart was in my throat. He passed us but said he would want another piece when she boarded. She laughed.
Clearing customs, there was Ronnie. I introduced my stewardess to him. She asked him for a ride to her hotel, no problem. I wanted to get home as fast as possible, so the delay to the hotel bothered me a little.
Arriving home, I took the cake, removed the top layer, removed a cardboard cut out and there were the coins. Ronnie’s eyes popped open. “Dad, that must be a fortune in gold coins.”
“This is why Christian wanted the cottage. Pierre’s grandfather, ‘Arnaud’, gave these coins to Pierre’s mother as her share. I’ll put them in Pop’s safe and when we get a chance we will take them to the bank.”
“You are lucky you got them through customs.”
“The stewardess helped. Go make some coffee, we need to eat this cake.”
“Call Richie. He wanted to know when you came home and where is Pop?”
“I’ll tell you when Richie arrives. Make coffee, I’m going to take a quick shower.”
Walking into the kitchen, Richie and his two boys were eating cake. Ronnie poured coffee for us and chocolate milk for the boys. “Good cake, right?” The grins said it all.
“I’m glad you’re back Dad but where is Pop.”
“He’s supervising a remodel to Pierre’s cottage.”
“Dad, is it okay if we take some of this cake home?
“Yes, just leave a small piece for David.”
“Where is David? He’s usually always here.”
Ronnie whispered, “On a date.”
“And the last standing man has fallen.”
“Do you know who he’s dating?”
“Yes, one of the librarians at the high school. He met her at Yale. I’m very happy for him.”
“He and Pierre are the last to fall.”
“Don’t forget Gerry.”
“Gerry is working on his new secretary.”
“Who is going to get married first”
“My money is on Gerry and David last.”
I thought about their choices but I think David will get married first. I would like to see all of my children married and happy.
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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