The French Magnolia

Chapter 2: Blue Bonnet Part 1

There were birds already singing outside and I felt a slight breeze blowing through the cracked window. I stretched out my legs before grabbing the top edge of the quilt and pulling it up to my chin while tucking my legs and settling into a comfortable fetal position. I heard light footsteps coming down the hallway. The sound of Edmond’s shoes on the hard floor stopped at my bedroom door and there was a quiet squeak as he pushed it open. He sat down at the foot of the bed and he chuckled softly. “Even on your birthday, you are a lazy girl.”

Without opening my eyes, I nestled deeper into my pillow. “It is my birthday. Now let me sleep, I need my beauty to rest.” I smiled, confident that I had won the argument.

“You are a stubborn one. Come on your Highness, come and grace the peasants with your presence.” Edmond tugged on the blanket, trying to get me to surrender the tight grip I had. His voice was sarcastic but playful.

I sat up placed the back of my hand on my forehead and stretched dramatically. Opening my eyes and looking at him, I responded, “Oh alright. I will appease my people. But only for today.” I winked at him as he stood up. “I will be right out.”

We smiled and walked out of the room. I could hear him speaking with Luce down the hall. From the kitchen, I heard him setting plates on the table and the smell of pancakes floated into my room. The smell of vanilla was intoxicating. I hurriedly put on my house coat and slippers and went to join my family.

“Happy birthday Giselle! Sixteen years old today! How exciting! How are you feeling today?” Luce abandoned the stove and hugged me tightly as I entered the kitchen. She kissed my cheeks and gestured to the table. Edmond pulled out my chair and I sat down. Luce added a few more pancakes to the stack she had already prepared and set them on the table. She and Edmond then took their own seats. “I almost forgot!” Luce quickly stood up but nearly lost her balance. She caught herself on the corner of the table. Edmond was quick to grab her arm and looked at her with worry. She calmed him by smiling back and pating his shoulder. From the cabinet, Luce pulled out a small candle and a box of matches and brought them to the table. “Why wait till later for you to make your birthday wish?”

Luce lit the candle and pushed it in front of me. I looked at her and Edmond and saw the anticipation in their eyes. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and blew out the candle. Both my brother and sister applauded. “Well, what did you wish for?” Edmond asked excitedly.

“She can’t tell you that! It won’t come true then. Don’t deny your sister her birthday wish, Ed.” Luce interrupted and smacked his shoulder playfully.

We sat at the table, talking and laughing while finishing our breakfast. When we were finished, I went to my room to get changed and wash up while Edmond helped Lucette tidy the kitchen.

From the small closet in my room, I took out my favorite light blue dress that was a white color and I would wear it with a thin brown leather belt. After fastening the buttons on the front side, I stood in front of the small mirror hanging on the wall and did my best to get a full view of my birthday outfit. I had brushed out my long dirty blonde hair that had a subtle wave to it. Normally, I would wear a thin ribbon in my hair but today that seemed to be how a child would wear it. Instead, I parted my hair off-center and pulled all my hair to hang down over my left shoulder. This looked more sophisticated.

Even as it was my birthday, I was going to be at the cafe today helping. Luce was ready to pop any day and couldn’t be on her feet much. I enjoyed seeing the regular faces of the patrons who stopped in for coffee or tea and, since many knew it was my birthday, I was sure to get spoiled. Of all the people who I was sure would stop, I was most hopeful to see Theo. Theo was almost a year older than me at school and he was an absolute dream. No matter what Theo was doing, he always looked dashing. He was taller with a slender, albeit athletic, frame. On the warm summer days, he would wear a short-sleeved shirt that showed his well-toned arms and hinted at a muscular physique. He had mostly brown hair but there was almost a light red hue that would show up in the sunlight. I was most mesmerized by his deep blue eyes, which were shrouded in long eyelashes. His smile would brighten any room that he entered and his sunkissed olive skin made him look like an ancient god, coming to grace the world with his mere presence. I was infatuated with him and lost in thought, dreaming about how I would try to get his attention should he come to the cafe when Luce entered my room.