Telling Tales....

Breaking The News.....

I am sure you can Imagine, Dear Readers, the Excitement with which Renee ran to her Grandfather to tell him all about her visit to the Park! She Rushed into his room exclaiming "Grandpere, Grandpere, you will never guess what Happened!" She had his full attention as always, but she could barely get her words out in her hurry to tell him everything! "Hibou Flew!" she exclaimed.

"He flew right into the fountain and he got all wet" she added

"And THAT Man was there..." she said

"And he Saved Hibou!" she exclaimed.

Guillaume could not help but wish he was at the Park with Renee... 

he was sure he would have rescued Hibou himself if he could....

He wished he could be her hero too!

Jean Paul, Guillaume's Aide, was also listening to all that Renee had to say.

But he was surprised that Gabrielle was obviously meeting someone at the Park while she was with Renee.  He was certain that Madame would not be happy to hear about that! Gabrielle had better watch her step, the thought to himself.

"Come away now, Renee" called Gabrielle. 

"You do not want to tire your Grandpere..." she added, 

although she knew he loved to hear Renee's stories. 

She was ever mindful of the instructions she had been given 

to keep the child occupied and not let her bother Monsieur.

But I know that you are Really Impatient, Dear Readers, 

to hear what Will and Daphne had to say to each other upon discovering that they were both at the Park that same day, when each had thought the other to be on another continent entirely!

"Daphne...?" said Will, incredulously. 

"What are you doing here?"

But Daphne had been watching the scene unfold in front of her for a while....

she had already gotten over the shock of seeing Will with her Child....

" I would ask the same of You, Will... " she said, 

as she marched in through the side gate.

"I can't believe you would come here without telling me 

and spy on my Child!" she said angrily.

"And don't you dare try to tell me you didn't know who she is!"

"No, it isn't like that at all, Daphne..." said Will,

even though it did sound exactly like that....

now that he saw it from her point of view.

"I just wanted to see if she was okay...." he added.

 "And were you going to tell me what you found out...?" demanded Daphne.

"Uh...." said Will, not sure what to say.

"And what if I Didn't want to know what you found out?" she added angrily.

"Don't you see, I don't want you to do this for me!" she cried.

"I don't want you snooping around and making people suspicious!"

"You can't fix this for me Will..." she added sadly.

"She's My child. This is something I need to figure out by myself!"

"I'm not trying to do it for you...." he said, reaching out to her.

"But I really want to help."

"Will....." said Daphne on a sigh.

"I'm not going back" she said resolutely.

"I'm staying here and I'm going to find a way to be a part of her life."

"I can't stay with you any more. It's not fair to you." she said sadly.

"I saw you with that woman..." she added.

"What woman...?" said Will, startled.

"I wasn't with a woman....!" he added defensively.

"Well, I saw the way she looked at you...." said Daphne.

"Like you were everything she ever wanted...."

"I just can't love you that way, Will"

"You deserve someone who can love you like that."

Will cleared his throat. "You sound like this is 'good-bye'..." he said.

"I think it has to be...." said Daphne firmly.

"I need to find my own way and you deserve more than I can give you."

"I'm sorry. Good-bye Will."

And she turned and walked resolutely away.

 

Will stood and watched her go. 

He tried to remember why he had felt so good such a short time ago. 

Or was it ages ago.... it almost felt like a different lifetime now.

 One minute he felt like a hero, the next he felt like such a fool.

But I cannot leave you there, Dear Readers, 

because just at that moment on the other side of Town

Will's gregarious friend Mr. Louis Davenant was sitting down to

morning coffee in his garden. 

And he had a guest with him, his cousin on his Mother's side, 

Yvonne deMontaigne.

While they did not visit terribly often, 

they were close enough that they enjoyed an occasional get together.

Louis was sure that Yvonne would be "interested" to hear 

that there was someone in town making inquiries about adopting a child 

who had been left with it's Grandparents upon the Father's death.

He was very curious to see her reaction to this news!

He did not feel at all disloyal to his friend, 

because no names would pass his lips!

And besides, he thought it only fair that his cousin should be aware....

just in case the matter pertained to her Grandchild. 

He thought the circumstances too similar to ignore!

She tried not to look upset, but he could tell she was startled by the news!

"Is there anything else I can get you..." 

he asked as Yvonne got up to leave.

"Nothing at all, my dear Louis" Yvonne replied.

But clearly, her mind was already racing ahead.... 

she would need some answers!

As for the rest of us, Dear Readers, 

I hate to break the news to you 

that we will have to be patient once again,

with the Telling of this Tale!

(to be continued....)

Another Day In The Park

The Nursery Can Wait.....

It is Still Summer, Dear Readers, and what better way to spend the Day than in a Lovely Park Indulging in Daydreams? There is work to be done on the Tree House Nursery, and I have even made considerable progress.... but unless we continue with Daphne's Story... I fear we shall Never reach the end! So I bring you back to that Lovely Little Park not far from the Town House where the de Montaigne Family lives.

This morning when Gabrielle and Renee arrive, Will was once again there before them, only this time he had sat on Gabrielle's favorite bench. Whether or not this was deliberate, even Will was not sure, as he really had no need at all to be there in the Park for yet another morning.  He told himself that it was just a very nice place to sit and make phone calls in the summer morning before he had to go meet his next appointments. And if he did happen to see Daphne's daughter again he was sure he would learn a little more about her, although the Nanny was not revealing any details of the child's life. She seemed to be much more interested in learning about his furniture and Antique business than anything else. It seemed she was quite interested in antiques!

The Nanny hesitated as they approached, and Will realized he was where she expected to sit. 

He quickly got to his feet and offered her the bench. 

 But she simply smiled and said it was okay... 

she would take the other one....

 Will had thought he needed to make sure,

 really sure it was Daphne's child.....

But he really didn't see how there was any doubt.

But he could still try to get details....

So he sat down on the bench opposite the Nanny.

Renee turned to Gabrielle and whispered 

"It's that Man...!"

"Yes, it is" whispered Gabrielle.

This seemed to satisfy Renee and she turned to Will...

"I brought 'Hibou' to the Park" she said.

"He is just a baby but he is learning to fly..." she explained.

And before Will could think of what to say, 

she ran off to play with the birds as she had done the day before.

She was certain that Hibou would learn to fly if he saw the other birds flying!

But whenever she approached too close.... 

the birds moved away!

She did not notice that she was being watched.

Daphne was walking past the Park on her way to the de Montaigne House 

when she glanced in and saw the child playing.

Thinking of all the times she had stood in parks and watched other people's children play....

perhaps even mistaking them for just a moment... 

thinking she saw her own child...

But this time she Knew without a doubt!

This was her daughter!

She stood by the fence, mesmerized......

But Renee was determined to teach Hibou to fly.....

She tossed him into the air...

"Fly, Hibou!" she cried.

But he just landed on his nose and scattered the birds.

"Not like that, Hibou...." she said, picking him up again.

 "Fly Hibou!" she called and tossed him up in the air...

But he landed on his nose again.

Suzette tried to get close enough to give him some tips..... 

But Renee got there first and picked him up again....

"Hibou.... Fly!" she shouted and gave him a good toss.....

He "Flew" straight into the Fountain!

Renee ran to the Fountain and looked in..... 

"Hibou....!" she called.

He didn't answer!

But Gabrielle had noticed and got up in a hurry....

"Oh Dear..." she murmured... "I wasn't watching....."

"What happened..?" said Will, a bit confused ....

But he followed her to where the child stood at the fountain.

"What is it...." he asked?

"Hibou flew into the water..." said Renee.

"How are we going to get him out...?" said Gabrielle.

"Oh," said Will.....

"Let me see what I can do...." 

he added as he removed his coat....

And took off his shoes.....

And stepped boldly into the fountain!

The water was quite cold... 

but he didn't even flinch.....

And dodging the falling water.... 

he reached into the depths...

And grabbed Hibou.....

A soaking wet Hibou.....

And turned, Victorious, to give the soaking owl to the child!

He suddenly felt like a Hero!

"What do you say..." prompted Gabrielle softly.

"Merci, M'sieur" said Renee as she waved goodbye.

Gabrielle could not help smiling to herself as they left the Park.

He was such a nice man!

Will watched until they had left the Park.

Then he turned to get his shoes and coat.

When he glanced up, 

he saw a beautiful woman on the other side of the fence. 

She was staring at him.

With a start he realized it was Daphne!

(To be continued......)

Ah, Dear Readers, I hope you can bear with me 

for leaving you hanging there!

We've been having such a lovely time in the Park....

The Nursery will have to wait!