AllFreeNovel
Share Us
At the end of dinner, Charlotte hopped up to help clear the table. Marisol stopped her dead in her tracks. “You’re a guest. Go visit with Lucien while Marc and I clear the table and fill the dishwasher.” She winked at Charlotte. “Take notice. Marc knows how to wash dishes, clear a table and he can even cook a little.”
Charlotte grinned. “You raised him right.”
“Amen to that,” Marisol chirped, her beautiful face lit up with pride. It was obvious to Charlotte that Marc was well loved by his parents. According to Lucien, his two sisters doted on him as well.
Marc held up his hands. “I promise I didn’t pay her to sing my praises. I’ll be back in a little bit. Clean up duty calls.” Marc sailed off into the kitchen with a hand full of dishes.
“Shall we go to the living room? I want to show you something,” Lucien said. Charlotte nodded and said, “Sure thing. Let me help you with your walker.” She jumped up from her seat and helped Lucien from his seated position. It took a little effort, but once he was standing Lucien was able to grip the bar of his walker and proceed toward the living room. Charlotte walked behind him, noticing how laborious his steps were, yet full of admiration for his pluck and courage. His attitude was incredible. By the time he reached the entryway, he had to pause to catch his breath.
“Sorry to hold you up, but I get winded easily these days,” Lucian said.
“Don’t worry on my account. It gives me a chance to admire your home. These pictures are adorable.” Hanging on the wall were photos of the Cabron family—school photos with Marc missing his two front teeth, a family Christmas photo taken decades ago, apple picking with the family, as well as a host of other memorable moments. These photos told a story, one Charlotte felt fortunate to bear witness to.
Once Lucien reached his armchair, Charlotte took his arm and helped him sit down. He looked at her with gratitude shining in his eyes. No words were necessary. She sat down next to him in another chair. Lucien took her hand in his. “Charlotte, thank you for caring for my son. As I’m sure you know, he’s a very special man.”
Charlotte patted Lucien’s hand. “I do know, Mr. Cabron.”
“Please call me Lucien. Marc has a great deal of affection for you, which tells me you’re a wonderful woman. Otherwise, Marc wouldn’t have brought you here tonight.”
Lucien’s words brought tears to her eyes. Marc’s invitation to come to dinner tonight had been so meaningful. At the heart of it was the knowledge of his father’s illness and prognosis. These were precious moments they were sharing with her.
“I’m blessed to be with a man like Marc.”
“If you ask me, you’re both blessed. Now I’m going to say something awkward. Please indulge an old man. I’m not going to be around much longer.”
“Oh please don’t say that, Lucien. You never know what—”
“I know,” he said in a firm voice. “The doctors have told me. Scans don’t lie. And I’ve made my peace with it. I’ve had a wonderful life with my beautiful Marisol and my amazing children. At this point I’m happy to leave a legacy behind and it has nothing to do with material things or how much money I have in the bank. It’s about love.”
Charlotte nodded, her eyes tearing up. “I couldn’t agree more. And the way Marc talks about you and his family…it’s clear he grew up surrounded by love.”
His grip on her hand tightened. “I want that for him. If you happen to be the one, the woman who holds his heart, I want to tell you Marc will love you like no other. He’s genuine and strong and more loving than anyone I’ve ever known. So treasure him, as I know he’ll treasure you.”
On impulse, Charlotte reached out and hugged Lucien. His words had been heartfelt and incredibly moving. Charlotte had no idea if she and Marc would go the distance, but it felt as if she had just received Lucien’s blessing.
“Take a look at this.” He reached down beside his chair and pulled a photo album on to his lap. “This is a record of my relationship with Marisol.” His eyes twinkled as he opened up the book and came upon the first photo. It was a black and white photo of a group of children in old fashioned outfits. “There I am,” he said, pointing to a cute kid holding a baseball bat and smiling. “This is Marisol,” he said, placing his finger on a little girl with ringlets and a pout on her face.
Charlotte laughed. “Wow. She looks upset about something.”
“Ha! She was always like that as a child, ever since the first day I met her. I met Marisol when I was five-years-old and she was a pain in the neck since day one. Crying. Pouting. Complaining. I wanted nothing to do with her.”
“Something must have changed,” Charlotte said, curious to know when their love story began.
“Something happened when she reached her sixteenth birthday. Her parents hosted a party for her.” Lucien wagged his eyebrows. “When I walked in and saw her in her pink party dress and heels, I couldn’t believe my eyes. She was a knockout.
He turned the page and tapped the next photo. “Here she is, pink dress and all.”
Charlotte looked at the picture of a sixteen-year-old Marisol decked out in a poufy pink dress. Lucien smiled back at her from the picture. His arm was draped around Marisol in a romantic pose. They looked like young lovebirds.
“So this is how it all began,” Charlotte said, grateful to Lucien for showing her this classic photo. It was the beginning of their love story, one that had taken them from the shores of Cuba to beautiful Savannah, Georgia where they had built a wonderful life with three children and a home bursting with love.
“Marc told me the two of you got off on the wrong foot. I just wanted to show you that first impressions don’t always stick. I didn’t think highly of Marisol when we first met and for many years afterwards. But it all changed in an instant. I realized she was a wonderful person, full of so much love to give.” He began coughing. Charlotte waited a moment but he continued to cough.
“Do you need some water?” she asked, fretting about his coughing fit. Although he projected such a sunny vibe, it was clear Lucien was gravely ill. His body was giving out on him day by day. His hollowed out cheeks and the pallor of his skin spoke volumes.
He pointed to the side table where a bottle of water sat. Charlotte got up and handed it to him. Lucien sat for a few moments and drank the water. “Better. Thanks. This coughing is getting worse. It usually acts up when I’m talking a lot, but I do like to talk.” He winked at Charlotte. “Where was I? Oh yes, Marisol. She had a terrible home life, one she rarely brings up. There was a lot of abuse and hardship. So, I was patient with her. Love gave me wings. And together we flew.”
“You sure did. Honestly, your love story is inspiring on so many levels. I can just close my eyes and picture the two of you at her sixteenth birthday party. Thank you for sharing it with me and bringing those memories to life.”
