Love By Design

Julien: I woke up to the gentle caress of sunlight peeking through the windows of my room. The warm rays danced across my face, coaxing me out of sleep. I stretched, feeling the softness of my bed and the crispness of the fresh linen. The scent of freshly baked croissants wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers outside. As I sat up, the gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the plants on my windows. I smiled, feeling the tranquility of the morning wash over me. As I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet dangled in the air, hesitating for a moment before touching the cool floor. I yawned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and began my morning ritual. I shuffled across the floor, my toes curling slightly as I walked across the chilly surface. The bathroom door creaked softly as I pushed it open, revealing the scent of fresh soap. I flipped the switch, and the warm glow of the overhead light lit up the room, chasing away the remnants of sleep. I hastily washed my face, brushed my teeth, and threw on a comfortable pair of jeans and a crisp white shirt. My stomach growled in anticipation as I followed the aroma of freshly brewed coffee to the kitchen. Mama was already there, busy preparing a warm, flaky croissant and a bowl of steaming hot coffee. She smiled as I entered. "Bonjour, mon amour" she said, planting a gentle kiss on my cheek. "I made your favorite breakfast." I grinned, feeling a surge of love for this little routine we shared every morning. It was moments like these that made me feel grateful for our cozy little life in Lyon. As we sat down at the table, Papa entered the room with a warm smile "Bonjour, mes amis" he exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Isn't it wonderful to start the day with such a beautiful morning?" Maman chuckled, playfully rolling her eyes. "You're always so full of enthusiasm" she teased, patting his hand. We spent the next hour laughing, joking, and savoring Maman's incredible cooking. Her croissants were buttery, the scrambled eggs were creamy and the freshly squeezed orange juice was the perfect combination. As I finished my breakfast, Papa cleared his throat, his expression turning serious. "Julien, could you sit down with me for a bit? I need to discuss something important with you." I arched an eyebrow in his direction as I wondered what Papa wanted to talk about. I glanced at Mama, but she just smiled reassuringly and nodded for me to follow Papa. Papa's eyes sparkled with pride as he began to speak. "Julien, I want you to know how proud I am of the writer you've become. Your passion, your dedication... it's truly inspiring. I'm so glad you decided to follow your dreams, even when it meant taking a different path than the one I had envisioned for you." I felt a warmth spread through my chest at his words but I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to this conversation than just praise. Papa leaned forward, his expression turning serious once again. "However, Julien, I have to think about the future. My business... it's been my life's work and I'm not getting any younger. I need to think about who will take over when I retire." He paused, studying me intently. I wondered where he was going with this, my mind racing with possibilities. "I've been thinking, Julien... and I wanted to propose a business deal to you. I know it may come as a surprise, but hear me out." My curiosity was piqued, and I leaned forward, my eyes locked on Papa's. What could he possibly have in mind? Mama's voice cut through the tension, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You know, Julien, I recently stumbled upon an old friend from my childhood. We went to the same school, same university... we were inseparable. We shared every secret, every dream... we were more like sisters than friends. But life had other plans. We chose different career paths and she moved to the United States while I stayed here in France. We lost touch over the years, but the memories of our friendship remained dear to my heart." She paused, a nostalgic smile on her face. "But, fate has a way of reuniting people. We reconnected a few months ago, and it's as if no time has passed at all. We've been reminiscing about old times and sharing stories about our families... and that's when I realized that our children are grown now, and... we always dreamed that our children would marry each other and we'd be one big, happy family." Papa cleared his throat, his expression cautious. "Julien, I know this may come as a shock, but... I've been thinking. Your mother's friend has a son, Asher. He's a good young man, and I think... I think it would be a good idea for you two to meet. With the intention of perhaps, one day getting married.' The room fell silent, and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Married? To someone I'd never met? I couldn't process this. My mind was racing and my heart was thundering in my chest.