Chapter 19 - Two Funerals and a Wedding

Things have been busy Chez Desjardins.  We celebrated Estelle's birthday; isn't she a lovely teen?

The morning after the party, Etienne collapsed at the breakfast table and couldn't be revived. I suppose we should have been prepared for it but one never really is.

It was a shock to see Lizbeth so undone about it, but once again, she's proved her resiliency. She's taken up flying missions of her own and didn't even let a nasty encounter with space pirates daunt her.  And yes, she's still the arbiter of homework.

A family outing in the park took a tragic turn when Grim Reaper came for Edouard.  Alain is devastated by losing both of his brothers; I can't say that it's done me any good either.

Dante is sufficiently dense that Monique's hints for a proposal go right over his head.  When she came to me for advice, I suggested that she stop waiting and hinting and propose to him herself. It seems to have been effective.

As I mixed drinks for the wedding, Estelle took the opportunity to swipe a Sea Spray.  I didn't have the heart to scold her; her mother was another story.

As we used to sing as children, "Where is the groom? He's in the other room.  What is he doing in the other room?" 

 "Do we really have to do this? I mean, I love you, but couldn't we just elope? I'm having a stranger danger moment".

"It's just my family; suck it up."

"Maybe no one will show up.  Oh well, t'were best done quickly".

"We've done it; can we go upstairs and hide now?"

"Not until I've had some cake"

"OK, you've had your cake.  Can we please go upstairs now?"

Shannon doesn't look happy.  She may have been mourning her father but there have been rumours that she wanted Dante for herself. Hana tried to get the scoop out of her but all she got for her trouble was a "Toujours gai".

  

Chapter 18 - Love is in the Air

It was Etienne's birthday party and I was mixing drinks when the most beautiful woman ever appeared at the bar.

She seemed to be quite taken with my cooking. As we chatted, it was evident that her sense of humour was as twisted as mine.  Ah Nicola, I am smitten.

I look for her every place I go.  When I'm at home I ring her up with invites.

I'm not the only one in love.  Monique seems quite taken with Dante Cutler, the boy next door.

Alain has gone into Uber-Big-Brother mode. Monique had to explain to him that she's an adult and he's not the boss of her.  Personally, I think he's a good kid.  Quiet and solitary enough that I wonder how he'll cope with this family.

Pierre has grown up and gotten serious about his music.  He puppy-dogs Eve Thompson all over town.  She doesn't seem to mind too much.

Old age hasn't slowed Etienne down,  Not that I make a habit of spying on them but when the door is open I cannot unsee. It gives me hope for my future with Nicola.

Estelle is still too young for all, of that but she makes a most effective chaperone.

We really do find time for other things.  Etienne still flies a mission nearly every day and plays his violin far into the night.

Old age has caught up with Lizbeth; I don't expect that she'll be any less formidable.

In between paintings, Alain found a rose crystal to complete the museum's collection.

 Monique keeps us well supplied with the makings for herb-crusted salmon and Trout Meuniere.

 There is no place else for me to go as a chef; I'm trying to unpigeonhole myself into mixology.

 I see Nicola as often as I can and it isn't often enough for me.  The time has come to make my move.

Baiting my trap with Baked Alaska seems to have been effective.

Chapter 17 - Surprises

Things are somber Chez Desjardins since we lost Roman.  My birthday passed quietly, as did Monique's.

I was boning up on mixology and minding my own business when Jenny showed up at the back door.  She was here to see Lizbeth but she was so gorgeous that I intercepted her on the spot.

Fortunately, before I was too smitten, I discovered that she was both mean and evil.  I'd love to find the right woman but life's too short for the wrong one.It was also fortunate that the family never knew about my flinglet or I'd have no peace.  Everyone had been riding Alain nonstop about marrying Hana sometime before he becomes an elder; they've been engaged forever.  It's no wonder that the two of them eloped and presented us with a fait accompli.

Alain wasn't the only one with surprises up his sleeve.  Etienne managed to surprise everyone as well.  It was almost a foregone conclusion that he'd make Space Ranger; the surprise was when he retired early from the patrol immediately upon doing so.  He's always been a music lover and never had time to pursue it; now he wants to make time for it before he's old and grey.

He still flies the occasional mission when it suits him.  Lizbeth joined him for one.  Three days later, along came Estelle.

While the rest of the family was occupied in the nursery, admiring the new arrival, the Reaper came for Yvette.  He made the mistake of stopping by the garden on his way out.  "Hey Grimmy, while you have that scythe in your hand,why not make yourself useful with these weeds?"

Lizbeth is not one to trifle with; I'm thankful that she's my friend.  Not only is she the terror of the garden but the gym as well.  When she caught Pierre playing video games when he was supposed to be studying, she banished him to the game mat with strict instructions not to come out until she said so.   Hours later, he emerged hungry and exhausted, with his bladder nearly bursting.  I don't think he's touched a Blicbloc since.

In spite of that ordeal, he's grown into a teen with a penchant for music.  Homework is still a struggle.

While he and Estelle keep their parents busy, I make sure to make time for Monique.  It's tough for her to have lost her parents so young.  As good as Roman and Yvette were to me, I had my moments of feeling like the odd kid out; I hope to spare Monique that.

Now she has grown into a lovely young woman. I made her first legal Ridgeport, as well as her birthday cake, of course.  Hana took her clubbing, and, I think, was a bit disappointed that she spent the evening chatting with her brother.

Chapter 16 - Changes

I did not want to leave the house when my parents did.  Not only have we established that my father is a jerk and my mother is a flake, but Roman has always been much more of a father to me than my own was.  My cousins have been like brothers to me.

I'd expected for my father to go ballistic when I told him but he didn't have much to say about that.

For once in his life, he recognized futility when it reached out and smacked his jaws.  I was right on the heels of adulthood.  

Anyway, Roman and Yvette have been kind enough to let me stay.  I do my best to make sure that they don't regret it.

I threw a surprise party for Roman's birthday; I think he was a bit non-plussed at being the center of attention.  Of course, is anyone ever really plussed?

As soon as the party ended, he shocked everyone by adopting a baby girl.  Had he not always wanted a girl, I'd have feared senescence.  Is Monique spoiled? No, babies always smell that way.

No sooner had Monique arrived than Lizbeth discovered that she was pregnant with Pierre.

Roman is right in his element with babies in the house again.   They're babies for such a short time.

I thought I'd outdone myself with Roman's birthday party but it didn't hold a candle to his collaboration with me for Yvette's.

I don't know where she found time to have a birthday; when she comes home from work, she races to the computer to program some more.  She relaxes by entering game tournaments, which she nearly always wins.

Lizbeth is phenomenal as well.  Besides working in the garden, she's the most athletic woman I've ever met.  I try to keep in shape, but she puts me to shame.

My career is taking off nicely, thanks to the cooking I've been doing since my teens.  I'm learning quite a bit about mixology as well.  Etienne's career is quite literally taking off.

Alain is becoming quite the sensation in the art world.  Somewhere between paintings, he managed to complete Josette's collection of elements.

Monique is following in his footsteps.  She spends a lot of time with her niece, Shannon, Edouard's youngest.  She met her Uncle Luc as well.  I didn't warn her about him; if he hasn't mellowed by now, she'll find out for herself soon enough.

Pierre would much rather play video games than study.  His parents and grandparents ride herd on him, so his grades remain respectable.

Now that the children are in school, Roman seems to be at loose ends.  He helps with homework, continues to work in the garden, paints a bit and forages for collectibles.  He's always worked so hard that I don't think he knows how to relax.  It's a shame, because if anyone has ever earned his relaxation, he's the one!

All too soon his time has come.   I'm too devastated to say anything beyond  "Godspeed, Roman Desjardins.  You were far and away the best father I ever knew".