The Christmas Bells of Cavazzale
Page 7
Diciotto
Charly helped Juliette prepare air mattresses and makeshift beds. Apparently, there were hotel rooms available, but everyone wanted to stay with Edmond and Juliette. Charly offered her extra bedroom and floor space as well. “I can’t believe there will be twenty people here Saturday for the party. And I surely can’t believe Edmond hasn’t figured this out yet.”
Juliette flipped a sheet over one of the air mattresses in Marielle’s room. Charly helped her tuck it under.
“I know. If we pull this off, it will be the first time. Edmond usually figures out his gift long before Christmas.”
“So everyone will be here tomorrow when he gets home from work.”
“Yes, which reminds me. Can you get the girls from school tomorrow? André and I are picking up his parents from the airport in Venice. His brother and sisters are renting cars, so they’ll follow us home. I’m not sure what time we’ll be back. I’ve left your name with their teacher. Would that be OK?” She flashed a wry smile. “Besides you’ll be able to meet André’s parents tomorrow.”
Charly lifted a brow. “You’re setting me up, aren’t you?”
“Who, me?” Juliette placed her open palm over her heart and shot Charly a sheepish grin.
“You know I’ll get the girls. That’s not a problem.” Charly paused and released a sigh. “But do I have to meet André’s parents so soon?”
Juliette laid her hand on Charly’s arm. “Are you worried about this?”
Charly trusted Juliette like a sister. But these were Juliette’s in-laws. Could Charly be totally honest about her feelings? She met her new friend’s concerned gaze. “Yes, a bit. My last boyfriend’s parents were brutal. They drilled me relentlessly the first time I met them.”
“Oh, honey, André’s parents will torture you. Yep, they will—with love. His mother will smother you with kindness and if his father likes you, will pick on you. They are the most wonderful people. The whole family is. They accepted me the instant Edmond and I started dating. So if you think you won’t fit in, think again. You’ll fit right in. If André likes you”—She nudged Charly’s arm with her elbow—“and I know he does, then his family will like you. Promise me you won’t let this worry you.”
Charly nodded. “I promise.” If she turned this over to God she could let go of this horrible anxiety. She drew in a calming breath. Lord, I know it’s been awhile since I’ve talked to You. I’ve come to realize that Your ways are much better than mine. While I miss Nonna so much, I know You had a purpose in all that’s happened. Thank You for giving me the privilege of playing the part I did where Nonna and Bianca are concerned. And thank You for letting André’s path cross mine. He is a wonderful guy with a wonderful family. Ease my nerves, Lord, about meeting the remainder of his family. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
The next day, Charly tidied her house and changed the linens on the bed in the spare room. She also moved things around to fit twin air mattresses on the floor in both bedrooms. Twenty people. The thought made her smile. Yes, it would be fun. Maybe if she said the words, she would believe them. She rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans and left to pick up the girls from school.
~*~
André hugged his mother and all his family members. They filled the lobby in the Venice airport. It was good to see everyone again. After the rental cars were retrieved, they convoyed down the road back to Cavazzale.
“Charly should be picking up the girls right about now,” Juliette said.
André smiled. He couldn’t wait for his family to meet her.
“Charly, is he a friend of Edmond?” André’s mother, who sat in the front passenger seat, turned to Juliette.
Juliette remained silent and waited for him to answer.
“Um, not quite. She is a friend of mine. A very good friend.”
His mother faced the back seat, her brows arched, a quizzical grin on her face. “A girl named Charly? A very good friend, you say. Is dat so? Hmm, I guess we will get to meet dis very good friend of yours, right?”
“Yes, Mama. You will. We’ll walk to her house to get the girls.”
“So, tell me all about her.”
André’s story filled the remainder of the trip, with his mother asking many questions about Charly.
His mother nodded and shot him a sly grin. “Dat’s the first time I’ve seen that look in your eye when you talk about a girl. I believe this might be the one.”
He couldn’t deny the feeling.
After a flurry of parking cars and walking across the square in Cavazzale, his mother and father stood at Charly’s gate with him.
Juliette warned him about Charly’s apprehension about meeting his parents, so he’d tried to calm her nerves last night. Lord, be with her.
When Charly opened the door, the girls ran out and jumped into André’s arms. “Parrain, you’re back.” Isabella kissed his cheek. Marielle did the same on the other cheek.
“Girls, look who else is here.” He turned so they could see MawMaw and PawPaw.
They scrambled out of André’s arms and ran to his parents.
He gave Charly a hug. “How were they?”
“Perfect. We made cookies. Would you like to have some?” She slipped her fingers through his.
“Yes.”
The girls finished their greetings and hugs, still holding their grandparents’ hands.
His mother looked up. “So this is Charly.”
Charly’s hand, still in André’s, trembled a bit before she extended it to his mother. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Lagneaux.”
His mother ignored Charly’s outstretched hand and wrapped her in a hug. “Please call me Elise, none of dat Mrs. Lagneaux stuff with me. And in dis family we give hugs, lots of dem. Jus’ so you know.” She smiled at Charly and then introduced her husband.
“Anyone who’s a friend of André’s is our friend, too.” André’s dad gave Charly a brief hug.
Charly’s gaze met André’s with a mixture of relief and excitement.
He winked at her, and she gave him a huge smile—one that made his heart flip. Hmm, maybe his mama was on to something. Maybe his feelings for Charly could grow into something much deeper. He suspected that God had more in mind for this trip than just spending time with his brother.
Diciannove
The entire group walked back to Edmond’s house.
Isabella held both Charly’s and André’s hand while Marielle held her MawMaw’s.
Elise chatted with Charly. Her genuine interest and enveloping smiles made Charly feel accepted.
At the house, Charly was bombarded by André’s family. She met his brother, Joseph, who worked for an energy company in New Orleans, so they had a bit in common. She met Joseph’s wife, Connie, and their boys, Raymond and Billy. His sister, Celia, her husband, Rob, and their daughter, Emilie. His other sister, Annalee, her husband, Cory, their daughter Sophie, and son, Trey.
She hoped she wouldn’t be graded on her ability to remember everyone’s name. It was fun and overwhelming, but one thing was certain—Charly felt totally accepted. She was thankful for the invitation to be there when Edmond came home.
“He’s here,” Juliette called out.
Everyone ran into the living room and piled on every seating surface available. All the kids sat cross-legged on the floor. Juliette, André, and Charly remained seated at the kitchen table.
When Edmond entered the house, he greeted and kissed Juliette. He turned to Charly and André. “Hello, Charly, it’s good to see you.”
“Good to see you, too.”
“Where are the girls?” Edmond reached into the refrigerator and poured a large glass of milk.
Juliette took the glass from Edmond. “They’re in the living room. Maybe you should sneak up on them. I’ll keep this here for you.”
“What’s up?”
“They’re hiding from you.” She grinned and tilted her head toward the living room. “And waiting for you, but you’re not supposed to k
now that. Got it?”
“Oh, OK. Got it. Keep that milk cold. I’ll be right back.” He grinned and tiptoed into the living room.
André, Juliette, and Charly tiptoed after him.
When he turned the corner, the lights came on and the whole family yelled, “Surprise!”
Edmond turned back to André and Juliette. “Which one of you is responsible for this?” His eyes glistened with tears.
Juliette pointed toward André at the same time he pointed at Juliette. They both laughed and before long Edmond was blitzed by his parents, brother, sisters, in-laws, and nieces and nephews.
~*~
André sat on the couch at Charly’s home after the big Christmas party at Edmond’s house. While he loved being with his family, he wanted to enjoy the quiet time alone with Charly.
“Today was great. Your family is wonderful and have all been so kind. Oh, guess what?”
“What?”
“Joseph told me about a geologist job at his company.”
André laced his fingers through hers. “Nothing would make me happier than for you to take a job in New Orleans.”
She looked at him with those sparkling azure eyes.
Yep, he was falling. No, not falling—fell. Headfirst, completely and totally gone. He leaned closer. His lips brushed against hers. His gentle kisses grew until they shared a kiss filled with warmth and love.
Charly placed her palm on his chest and applied gentle pressure. “André.”
The bells of the church tower began ringing a Christmas tune.
Now he would always remember them with fondness. Nothing like a sweet song to associate with their first kiss. He lowered his head and let out a long sigh. “I know.”
She kept her palm on his chest. “It’s not that I didn’t like it. I did. A lot.”
He leaned back on the couch and put his arm around her shoulders.
She leaned onto his chest.
“So tell me, would you seriously consider moving to New Orleans?” He planted a gentle kiss on the side of her head.
“Only if someone gave me a good enough reason to.” Her voice held a teasing tone.
“Oh, I believe that can be arranged.” His fingertips guided her face toward him and he kissed her again.
Venti
One Year Later
“Can you believe we got to know one another here at Nonna’s house only one year ago?” Charlie snuggled into her husband’s arms.
“Yes, I remember thinking what a lucky guy I was.”
They’d been married three days before this Thanksgiving, exactly one year after they’d met. This trip to Italy served as their honeymoon.
“What better way could we spend our honeymoon? We can spend time with Edmond, Juliette, and the girls. And with Bianca.” She smiled, contented.
Bianca had delighted in writing letters to Charly, telling her all about being an honorary nonna to Isabella and Marielle.
André grinned. He would reunite with his coffee-drinking buddies at the café across from the church. “I can’t wait to tell Pedro we’re married.” He swiped a loose strand of hair from Charly’s face. “I’m looking forward to his grin.”
Tomorrow she and André would take the train into Vicenza to see her sister, Savannah, and her nieces, Brandy and Elsie. Two months before, Savannah and Tristan moved into the old homestead she’d inherited from Nonna when Tristan’s new assignment turned out to be Caserma Ederle in Vicenza.
Charly turned to her husband. “Thank you for being such an obedient son to both your mother and to God.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Whatever are you talking about?”
“If you hadn’t come to Italy, I would never have met you and if you hadn’t trusted God, you would never have taken a chance on me.” She returned his kiss.
“I think God planned for us to be together long before the day we met.”
“Me, too.” She thought of Nonna and Pappy. Could they have been as happy as she was right now? She hoped so.
As she turned to kiss her wonderful husband, the bells of Cavazzale began tolling their Christmas tune.
Thank you
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