Chapter 17

G R A Y S O N

When it was finally seven Jean and I got up and got dressed, he said he wanted to take me out to see some of France before Célian's party. We walked down stairs and Charlotte was now in a simple coral gown as she cooked breakfast.

The rest of Jean's siblings sat at the table in the dinning room, quietly talking.

"Mother, we are going to be going out, we will be back later tonight." Jean said.

Charlotte turned from the stove and nodded, smiling.

As we walked out of the house I turned to Jean, suddenly realizing something, "Why does your mother cook when she can just hire someone to do it? They have servants and butlers but no chef.

"My mother has always loved cooking, she was not willing to give that up just because of wealth. Even though now she lives alone she still cooks for herself."

"So are your brothers and sisters just staying there because of his birthday?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's easier so they don't have to drive back and forth every day."

I nodded and looked over to him, smiling, "What do you have planned?" I asked.

"You'll see." he smiled and pecked my cheek.

We climbed into the car and started our journey into the city.

Once we finally got to the city we got out and Jean guided me down the sidewalks until we arrived at a small cafe that was right at the edge of a hill. The windows to the cute cafe staring right out to the beautiful ocean.

We walked in and I was greeted with the sweet smell of coffee and mini cakes. The smell was pure bliss. There were all of three people in the tiny cafe and the only sound that could be heard was the light music playing in the background.

We walked up to the counter and Jean ordered for the both of us in french.

He smiled at me and walked to a seat, "It's so cute here." I smiled at him, looking out the window that was directly to my right, looking down at the beach, dotted with people that looked like ants from up here.

"I always came here when I needed some place to just relax and forget about the stress that life brings. It's always quiet here and you always get amazing coffee." He smiled at me.

Just then the lady brought us the coffee and a little pastry. I smiled at her, she looked to be about my age and always had a bright smile on her face.

I looked down at my cup and saw that they had drawn a feather with the foam, it was magnificent. I had never seen anything like it, then again I had never had coffee either.

Before I took my first sip of the light brown liquid I pulled out my phone and took a picture, falling in love with the way I had captured it, the beach was right behind the cup giving the image a beautiful background. Suddenly the idea of taking more pictures like this was so appealing.

I showed the picture to Jean and he smiled, "Grayson, that is a really good picture."

"You really think so?" I asked, a little nervous. I had never taken a picture before or ever really thought about it, now that I had a taste of it, I wanted more.

"Yes, that is really beautiful." He took a sip of his coffee.

I finally picked up my cup and took a sip, my eyes lit up as I had another sip and another.

"I take it you like it." Jean smiled.

"Yes, it's amazing." I laughed.

"Well I'm glad you like it."

I took a bite of the cookie looking thing in front of me and nearly melted in my seat. Between the coffee and cookie I was in heaven.

Once we had finally finished Jean said he had more for me to see.

As we walked down the sidewalks, our hands intertwined, we got some confused looks and some smiles. Surprisingly none of their reactions bothered me, for once I didn't care what other people thought. I was already having an amazing day just because of the cafe Jean took me to and I knew he had more planned that I would love.

We stopped at a lot of shops, my favorite ones were the small, self made shops that sold the handmade stuff and the unique stuff you can't get at a common store. Jean bought me everything I laid my eyes on, I kept telling him no but he wouldn't listen.

I had to pull him out of one store before he bought an expensive photo I had seen in a small shop we went in. The shop sold pictures that not so famous photographers took.

The one I had my eyes locked on was one of a little boy, running into the comfort of his loving mothers arms. The direction of the sun put a perfect glare on the picture, almost framing the little boys mother, making her look like the light. The image portrayed everything I had wanted in a mother, I wanted to know that she would be there to comfort me, not to laugh and encourage my fathers continuous beatings.

As we continued our walk down the sidewalks just looking for the next shop to go through, Jean looked at me, "You really are starting to like photography aren't you?" He smiled.

"Yeah, I guess I am." I looked up at him.

"Why didn't you let me buy you that picture?" He asked for the thousandth time.

"It would have been a waste, it's just a picture. I wouldn't want you spending 1,000 euros on a simple picture."

"But you liked it so much, I could see it in your eyes, you were drawn to it."

I sighed and half laughed, "Well it's too late now, look, lets go into this shop." I said pointing to a small accessory shop.

Jean laughed and shook his head, "What ever you want."

* * *

After our long day out Jean and I were extremely tired when we got home right before dinner. We passed on dinner and went upstairs to the comfort of the bed.

I was laying in his arms again and he sighed, "Can you tell me what you thought about that picture in the shop, what you were thinking as you looked at it."

I looked up at him, placing my chin on his chest and running my hands through his silky hair. I smiled, "I was thinking about how well that image portrayed everything I wanted in a mother."

"And what would that be?"

"A safe place." I said and it was silent for a minute, I closed my eyes, stopping the tears from spilling out, "The only memories I can ever say I have with my mother are horrible ones. In some ways the way she treated me was worse than my dads physical abuse, her abuse was all mental. She constantly reminded me that she wouldn't be there to pick me up when I fell, she would be there to push me back down."

I opened my eyes and a tear escaped but that was all I would let fall for my useless mother. Jean kissed me forehead and I closed my eyes again, letting the soft touch of his lips on my skin drown out everything else.

"I'm so sorry." he whispered.

"There's nothing you could have done about it and I can't change the past so there is no point in sulking in it." I opened my eyes to see Jean smiling.

"You seem so much different from the young man I saved from the club, you seem so much more mature. You seem so much more at peace."

"It's amazing what a talk with a caring mother can do to you." I smiled and turned my head, snuggling my cheek into his chest.

What are your thoughts on the picture Grayson saw?

QotD: (This is different but I want to know :P) Do you like coffee?

AotD: Um, it depends, I have to be in the mood for it. This is going to sound really weird but the idea of coffee is appealing to me, idk why, maybe because it is just so common and poplar I just kind of want to like it :)

So yeah, I hope you liked it my Lovlies! :)

~Beatrice