My Father's Dictionary - Chapter 11.A
Title: My Father's Dictionary.
Author: Soph
Fandom: Simple Plan
Disclaimer: *sighs wistfully*
Pairing: David/Sebastien
Summary: Oscar Cole travels to Montreal after the death of his mother, to go live with his estranged Father
Dedication: To everyone who commented - I'm sorry I took so long to update!
CHAPTER 11 - Part A.
“For real?” Faye said.
“Yes!” Mallory replied excitedly.
Mallory’s two sisters practically leapt at her, unbelievably excited at the news of their older sister’s matrimony. Collette, however, stood to the side, a small smile on her face.
“When’s it planned for,” the pale woman asked gently.
“Ah, May 21st.” Mallory replied whilst vainly fighting off her sisters.
Any relatively happy looks slid from Collette’s face, immediately replaced with one of inconceivable shock.
“Bu-But, that is only three weeks away!”
Mallory grinned, replying with a “yep.” before going back to her fussy sisters. Collette, however, was not so eager to let it go.
“How, Mallory? Three weeks! What about caterers, location, people, music, dresses, suits. Have you thought any of this through?”
“Of course!” Mallory’s brown eyes were bright. “Caterers: Rena is a chef, you know that. Pat called her and Jeff this morning, and she’s more than happy to do it. And before you say it, I know they’re in Hawaii, but they promised to be back for it. Location: Pat wants it at the studio, but I’m looking into this adorable little chapel for it. Music and clothes are still to be decided, and people… Well, I was about to ask you, my sisters, Emmy and Rena to be bridesmaids. If you want to.”
And as soon as she’d said it, her sisters, Faye and Danielle, both let out high-pitched screams.
“Still, Mallory how are you going to do it?”
The bride-to-be merely smiled.
“Oh, Collette don’t worry, everything will be perfect.”
*
The guys merely stared at Pat before Pierre said the only thing he could. “You’ve gotta be fucking me.”
“Sorry, Pie. Don’t swing that way. Try Seb or Davey.”
“Married? You?” And with that, the ex-lead singer burst out into uncontrollable laughter.
“Yep, me. To the greatest woman of all time.”
This only succeeded in fuelling Pierre’s laughter.
“Congratulations! And welcome to the world of matrimony!” David smiled as he said this, gripping Sebastien’s hand lightly.
“Nice to see some of you are supportive” As he said this, Pat turned to kick Pierre on the backs of his legs.
Chuck and Oscar stood to the side, a wide grin on the elder’s face as he watched Pierre.
“Congrats Pat, I could see it miles away.”
“Thanks, Chuck.”
The group sat in silence, surprisingly. Even Oscar found it hard to keep the grin from his face, genuinely happy for the couple.
“So, then… how would you guys feel like being my men on the side? My groomsmen?”
“All of us?” Oscar muttered quietly, hardly noticing when Pat turned to face him.
“All of you.”
*&*&*&*
The announcement was followed by an elaborate afternoon, because as soon as the news was known, nobody seemed to want to leave. Everybody stood around, discussing various locations, food, and the people that simply had to be invited.
Pierre stood in the garden, beer in one hand, watching cheerfully as Faye and Danielle fussed over Mallory, clearly all to pleased to be apart of the planning.
“I thought you’d be out the door straight away, off to tell Emmy.”
Pierre shook his head at Chuck.
“Nah. Mallory made it pretty clear that she wanted to be the one to tell her.”
“Emmy still at the hospital?”
“Yea. She’s kinda out of it. Mentally, I mean. Y’know, with Oliver-Beau being premature and all.”
“She’ll be alright?”
“Should be. The doctor said she should be let out towards the end of the week.”
Chuck nodded slightly, taking a sip from his own beer, opting not to say a word. Pierre sighed in response.
“Why are you here, Chuck?”
“I wanted to know how Emily was.”
“Fuck that, Charles. You’ve never given a shit about her, why start now?”
“Who’s looking after Charlotte?”
“Chuck, stop avoiding-“ Pierre trailed off.
“What, Pierre? Stop avoiding what?”
And with that, the taller stooped slightly, before grabbing Chuck’s face in his hands for a brief, passionate kiss.
“That, Chuck. Whatever the hell that is between you and me, stop fucking avoiding it.”
*
Collette stood in the living room, letting her eyes drift to her mind’s content. It was pure fluke, she guessed later, that she happened to catch her husband walking out into the yard and saw him approach Pierre.
She watched as the pair talked, Chuck not once looking the other man in the eye. Then, it happened. Pierre grabbed Chuck’s face, pushing his lips against her husband’s. It was brief, but the passion, the desire, the outright love there could not be missed.
The blonde sighed, saying a quick goodbye to Pat and Mallory and wishing them the best of luck. Collette left the house, and Charles Comeau’s life. She wouldn’t return. After all, how could she fend off a passion like that? After all, she’d been fighting that losing battle since the day she’d met them both, and to be honest, she wished Emmy the best of luck.
*
“Unca’ Davey! Moppy and Cheesa need to get married! They do, just like Unca’ Pat-a-trick and Aunta Mail-ree.”
David chuckled, grabbing the dolls and making them hug. “Ah, wuv you, Moppy!” His voice was high-pitched and screechy, before dropping a few octaves. “I love you too, babe. Let’s get hitched!”
Charlotte giggled a little before taking the dolls back and sitting herself directly in David’s lap.
“Uncle Davey! You’ve gotta come play Candyland with us!” Six year old Phillipe said this adorably, grasping his ‘uncle’s’ hand, his little brother Page close behind.
“Sorry kids. I believe I need to borrow Dave for a bit.”
“Aw! But Uncle Pat! That’s not fair!”
Pat shrugged. “Hey, this party is in my honour, not yours. So back off small fry.”
David chuckled, before feeling the need to step in.
“C’mon guys. You set up, and I’ll come over after I’ve talked to Pat.”
Picking Charlotte up off his lap and placing her back on her own two feet, he ushered them away, and moved to talk to Pat.
“So, what’s up?”
“I was about to ask the same.”
“Hm?” David didn’t even look up as Pat rolled his eyes.
“Dude, in all honesty, I’m not that stupid. Usually you’d be partying like an idiot and either getting smashed in the corner with Pierre or making out in the other corner with Sebastien.” The flinch at the youngest band members name didn’t go unnoticed by the cameraman. “Trouble in paradise?”
“I guess you could say that…”
“Well, what’s up? You know you can tell good ol’ Uncle Pat!”
David’s laugh at this was far to strained.
“Sebas… he wants a baby.”
Pat blinked, seemingly missing the problem.
“So?”
“God. Another kid in the house! I can hardly handle Oscar. But - but a baby? No! I’m…I’m not ready for that.”
Pat continued to blink, confused as to what David’s point was.
“Yes, and…” Pat gestured for David to continue.
“What if Oscar thinks we’re trying to replace him? What if he feels threatened? What if I can’t handle a baby?”
“Whoa, David, buddy. Slow down. For some reason, you are yet to doubt Sebastien’s ability.”
David scoffed.
“Sebastien’s been ready his whole life to be a parent.”
“Uh, no. True, Sebas has the right attitude to be a cute little mummy, but take a reality check; he’s got his faults at it.”
David glared at the other man.
“My Sebastien doesn’t have faults.”
Pat rolled his eyes.
“Ah, ok. He over-reacts at the least little thing, he can’t stand the thought of pain, or blood. He just doesn’t stick up for himself, he’s blindly loyal, and still doesn’t realise when he actually needs to tell a secret. He gives in to a child’s, as well as your, every whim. Need I go on? Oh, but of course, the most important thing: you have more experience than him. You had those couple of months when Oscar was born.”
David shrugged, staring at the floor.
“Fuck it, Dave. I’m gonna be simple: if you and Sebas decide to get a kid, we, as in everyone in this building, as well as a few extras, will support you one hundred and ten percent, and not just because we’re your friends, but because we know that you both will be fantastic parents.”
“…That was probably the greatest thing you’ve ever said,” David muttered finally.
“Yea…Wish I’d gotten it on tape.”
David looked up quickly, grabbing a hold of Pat’s arms and hugged the man tightly.
“Congrats, man.”
“What?”
“You’re getting married!”
*
“Mallory.”
The woman in question looked up, beaming.
“Hey Oso.”
“Hi there. Congrats on you and camera-dude.”
“Thanks, short-man.” Mallory laughed aloud, nothing able to tarnish her mood. “Hey, I almost forgot to ask. Have you watched the footage Pat and I gave you yet?”
Oscar looked at her questioningly, until this moment, having completely forgotten about the package left to him by the couple.
“Ah, not yet. I…I guess…I haven’t needed it.”
“Hm?”
“I…I guess I haven’t needed it to trust him and actually, y’know…like him.”
Mallory grinned, “Before you know it you’ll be calling him ‘Daddy’!”
Oscar, however, glared playfully, shoving her ever so slightly .
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
*
Sebastien stepped out into the petite garden, searching the surrounding area with wide eyes. It took a while for those baby blues to reach the hunched figure on the small wooden bench.
“Chuck? Why are you out here on your own? Did you and Collette have a fight? I saw her leave… She was crying, y’know.” The last bit was more of a statement than a question.
“I…I honestly don’t think I ever loved her, Seb. Never.”
The younger walked over, sitting beside the other man.
“Don’t say stuff like that, Chuck.”
“But it’s true.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Sebastien, it is. So just drop it.”
Seb pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and clutched it tight in his sweaty palms.
“Did something happen?” He toyed with the hanky, twisting it steadily.
“Yea…uh…Pierre, he…uh, kissed me, I guess.”
Blue eyes shot up to meet brown.
“What?”
“He kissed me.”
“But… No. You can’t, Chuck.”
“He initiated it.”
“But, you’re married! And so is he!”
“Jesus, Sebastien. Not everyone is currently madly and so fucking purely in love with their husbands, wives, whatever at the moment. Not everyone is meant to be, y’know. Not like you and David…”
Sebas opened his mouth to rebut, but Chuck cut him off swiftly.
“Forget it, Seb. I should’ve known better than tell you.”
The younger looked to the ground, slightly ashamed. Without any notice he stood up to go back inside, shoving the hanky back in his pocket.
“I should go back and find David and Oscar. But, Chuck…please just…when you and Pierre see each other again…please just remember Collette. Remember Philippe and Page. Remember Emmy and Charlotte and Oliver-Beau…please don’t break anymore hearts.”
*&*&*&*
“…And, I know Mallory wanted to tell you, but seriously, the wait was so hard! How could I resist?”
Emmy giggled slightly, clad in frog pyjamas and arms wrapped around her bent legs.
“No worries, Pie. Mallory called before hand. She seemed to predict that you’d rush here.”
Pierre flushed slightly.
“Ah well. Am I really that predictable?”
Emmy laughed aloud again, nodding furiously.
“Sorry babe.”
Pierre leaned back in his chair, humming softly, whilst his wife stretched her legs, and massaged a kink in her neck.
“Pierre?”
“Yea, hon?”
“Uh, well-“ Her eyes were scrunched. She already knew the answer “Did something happen?”
“Uh, I guess, yea.”
Seemingly having no intentions to elaborate, Emmy felt the urge to do so herself.
“Did something happen between you and Chuck?”
Pierre’s face shot up, only to meet a strained one.
“How’d…” He trailed off.
Emmy giggled again, this time miserably.
“Maybe you really are that predictable. Who knows?”
“Uh…yea…something…something happened.”
Emmy sighed, moving to sit up straight and properly, legs thrown over the side.
“What happened?”
“All that feelings crap.”
“Hm?”
“Ah, we…we kissed Emily.”
“Yuh-huh.” With the news so out in the open, the man’s eyes struggled to meet those of his wife’s.
“Fuck, Emmy. I’m so sorry.”
“Why, Pierre?”
“Hm?” The aging lines on his face held nothing but confusion.
“Why are you sorry, Pierre?”
He, once again, struggled to answer, so Emmy took the lead.
“Are you sorry for having kissed Chuck? Are you sorry for still having feelings for him, or because you never resolved them? Are you sorry for meeting me and marrying me? Are you sorry that we had Charlotte and Oliver-Beau together? Or…are you sorry for ever saying that you loved me?”
Pierre’s whole body was tense and rigid, clearly not having it in him to wrap his arms around his sobbing wife.
“Emmy, I…”
“Leave, Pierre.”
“Right now? Okay, but I’ll be back-“
“No, Pierre. You don’t understand.” Her eyes were large and bloodshot, and her mouth poured out words that her heart was screaming to take back.
“Leave, Pierre. Go to Charles and figure out whatever the hell it is between the two of you, and then decide if it’s worth it. Don’t worry about the kids. You’ll be able to see them whenever you want. They’ll be fine-“
“And you? Will you be fine?”
“I’ll…I’ll live. It’s all I can do right now.” She paused quickly, as if gagging on the words she was about to say. “Leave, Pierre.”
The taller stood swiftly, and walked quietly to the door.
“Emmy?”
“Yea?”
“What if I screw up? What if…what if Chuck isn’t the one for me? What if it…what if it was you all along? Will you still want me?”
“Pierre, when we exchanged vows, I gave you all of my heart…It’d be pretty damn hard for me to give it away now.” She smiled sadly. “Horrifically enough, you and Charles could spend the next fifty years together, and then, if you split, I’d still welcome you back into my life with love.”
He nodded a little, preparing himself to leave properly. But, first, there was just one thing he had to say.
“Emily Roseville, I love you and I’m so sorry that I couldn’t be half the man you deserved.”
And with that, he closed the door behind him, blocking out his wife’s exhausted crying.
*&*&*&*
Chuck Comeau got out of the small family car in a weighted manner, his two boys screeching and leaping from the vehicle. Turning his pockets inside out, he was quick to realise he had left the house keys with his wife. Reaching the house, he rapt steadily on the door. “Collette…Collette! I forgot my keys. Let us in!”
Page ran quickly, grabbing a-hold of his father’s leg. “Jesus, kiddo, stop. Collette!”
Philippe carried on, rushing around the pair like a magpie on speed.
“Collette!”
Picking Page up, Chuck looked through the living room window, slightly surprised when the house keys fell off the top of the frame.
“Fuck!”
The two children gasped.
“Daddy said a bad word!”
“Shush, Philippe. C’mon, just get inside.”
“Where’s Mummy?” Page’s voice was small when they got to the kitchen. “I want Mummy!”
“Okay, kiddo. Daddy’ll go find Mummy. She’s probably just upstairs.”
The four-year old nodded, jumping down from Chuck’s ready arms, whilst the latter went to the top floor of the house.
“Collette! Collette, you here?”
It took a few minutes, before something clicked within Charles’ mind. Walking straight to the master bedroom, he flung open the cupboard before heavily sitting on the bed.
“Daddy! Daddy, where’d you go?”
Phillipe entered the room soon after, staring at his father on the bed, following his line of vision.
“Daddy, where’s all Mummy’s stuff? Where’d it go?”
Chuck seemed to exit his stupor at his oldest son’s primary school voice.
“Phillipe, I don’t think your Mummy’s coming home.”
“But where’d she go?”
“Away, ‘Lipe.”
“When’ll she come back?”
“Probably never.”
“But why? Doesn’t she love us anymore?” The tears were thick in the child’s voice.
“Oh, sweetheart… She just doesn’t love me anymore.”
Author: Soph
Fandom: Simple Plan
Disclaimer: *sighs wistfully*
Pairing: David/Sebastien
Summary: Oscar Cole travels to Montreal after the death of his mother, to go live with his estranged Father
Dedication: To everyone who commented - I'm sorry I took so long to update!
CHAPTER 11 - Part A.
“For real?” Faye said.
“Yes!” Mallory replied excitedly.
Mallory’s two sisters practically leapt at her, unbelievably excited at the news of their older sister’s matrimony. Collette, however, stood to the side, a small smile on her face.
“When’s it planned for,” the pale woman asked gently.
“Ah, May 21st.” Mallory replied whilst vainly fighting off her sisters.
Any relatively happy looks slid from Collette’s face, immediately replaced with one of inconceivable shock.
“Bu-But, that is only three weeks away!”
Mallory grinned, replying with a “yep.” before going back to her fussy sisters. Collette, however, was not so eager to let it go.
“How, Mallory? Three weeks! What about caterers, location, people, music, dresses, suits. Have you thought any of this through?”
“Of course!” Mallory’s brown eyes were bright. “Caterers: Rena is a chef, you know that. Pat called her and Jeff this morning, and she’s more than happy to do it. And before you say it, I know they’re in Hawaii, but they promised to be back for it. Location: Pat wants it at the studio, but I’m looking into this adorable little chapel for it. Music and clothes are still to be decided, and people… Well, I was about to ask you, my sisters, Emmy and Rena to be bridesmaids. If you want to.”
And as soon as she’d said it, her sisters, Faye and Danielle, both let out high-pitched screams.
“Still, Mallory how are you going to do it?”
The bride-to-be merely smiled.
“Oh, Collette don’t worry, everything will be perfect.”
*
The guys merely stared at Pat before Pierre said the only thing he could. “You’ve gotta be fucking me.”
“Sorry, Pie. Don’t swing that way. Try Seb or Davey.”
“Married? You?” And with that, the ex-lead singer burst out into uncontrollable laughter.
“Yep, me. To the greatest woman of all time.”
This only succeeded in fuelling Pierre’s laughter.
“Congratulations! And welcome to the world of matrimony!” David smiled as he said this, gripping Sebastien’s hand lightly.
“Nice to see some of you are supportive” As he said this, Pat turned to kick Pierre on the backs of his legs.
Chuck and Oscar stood to the side, a wide grin on the elder’s face as he watched Pierre.
“Congrats Pat, I could see it miles away.”
“Thanks, Chuck.”
The group sat in silence, surprisingly. Even Oscar found it hard to keep the grin from his face, genuinely happy for the couple.
“So, then… how would you guys feel like being my men on the side? My groomsmen?”
“All of us?” Oscar muttered quietly, hardly noticing when Pat turned to face him.
“All of you.”
*&*&*&*
The announcement was followed by an elaborate afternoon, because as soon as the news was known, nobody seemed to want to leave. Everybody stood around, discussing various locations, food, and the people that simply had to be invited.
Pierre stood in the garden, beer in one hand, watching cheerfully as Faye and Danielle fussed over Mallory, clearly all to pleased to be apart of the planning.
“I thought you’d be out the door straight away, off to tell Emmy.”
Pierre shook his head at Chuck.
“Nah. Mallory made it pretty clear that she wanted to be the one to tell her.”
“Emmy still at the hospital?”
“Yea. She’s kinda out of it. Mentally, I mean. Y’know, with Oliver-Beau being premature and all.”
“She’ll be alright?”
“Should be. The doctor said she should be let out towards the end of the week.”
Chuck nodded slightly, taking a sip from his own beer, opting not to say a word. Pierre sighed in response.
“Why are you here, Chuck?”
“I wanted to know how Emily was.”
“Fuck that, Charles. You’ve never given a shit about her, why start now?”
“Who’s looking after Charlotte?”
“Chuck, stop avoiding-“ Pierre trailed off.
“What, Pierre? Stop avoiding what?”
And with that, the taller stooped slightly, before grabbing Chuck’s face in his hands for a brief, passionate kiss.
“That, Chuck. Whatever the hell that is between you and me, stop fucking avoiding it.”
*
Collette stood in the living room, letting her eyes drift to her mind’s content. It was pure fluke, she guessed later, that she happened to catch her husband walking out into the yard and saw him approach Pierre.
She watched as the pair talked, Chuck not once looking the other man in the eye. Then, it happened. Pierre grabbed Chuck’s face, pushing his lips against her husband’s. It was brief, but the passion, the desire, the outright love there could not be missed.
The blonde sighed, saying a quick goodbye to Pat and Mallory and wishing them the best of luck. Collette left the house, and Charles Comeau’s life. She wouldn’t return. After all, how could she fend off a passion like that? After all, she’d been fighting that losing battle since the day she’d met them both, and to be honest, she wished Emmy the best of luck.
*
“Unca’ Davey! Moppy and Cheesa need to get married! They do, just like Unca’ Pat-a-trick and Aunta Mail-ree.”
David chuckled, grabbing the dolls and making them hug. “Ah, wuv you, Moppy!” His voice was high-pitched and screechy, before dropping a few octaves. “I love you too, babe. Let’s get hitched!”
Charlotte giggled a little before taking the dolls back and sitting herself directly in David’s lap.
“Uncle Davey! You’ve gotta come play Candyland with us!” Six year old Phillipe said this adorably, grasping his ‘uncle’s’ hand, his little brother Page close behind.
“Sorry kids. I believe I need to borrow Dave for a bit.”
“Aw! But Uncle Pat! That’s not fair!”
Pat shrugged. “Hey, this party is in my honour, not yours. So back off small fry.”
David chuckled, before feeling the need to step in.
“C’mon guys. You set up, and I’ll come over after I’ve talked to Pat.”
Picking Charlotte up off his lap and placing her back on her own two feet, he ushered them away, and moved to talk to Pat.
“So, what’s up?”
“I was about to ask the same.”
“Hm?” David didn’t even look up as Pat rolled his eyes.
“Dude, in all honesty, I’m not that stupid. Usually you’d be partying like an idiot and either getting smashed in the corner with Pierre or making out in the other corner with Sebastien.” The flinch at the youngest band members name didn’t go unnoticed by the cameraman. “Trouble in paradise?”
“I guess you could say that…”
“Well, what’s up? You know you can tell good ol’ Uncle Pat!”
David’s laugh at this was far to strained.
“Sebas… he wants a baby.”
Pat blinked, seemingly missing the problem.
“So?”
“God. Another kid in the house! I can hardly handle Oscar. But - but a baby? No! I’m…I’m not ready for that.”
Pat continued to blink, confused as to what David’s point was.
“Yes, and…” Pat gestured for David to continue.
“What if Oscar thinks we’re trying to replace him? What if he feels threatened? What if I can’t handle a baby?”
“Whoa, David, buddy. Slow down. For some reason, you are yet to doubt Sebastien’s ability.”
David scoffed.
“Sebastien’s been ready his whole life to be a parent.”
“Uh, no. True, Sebas has the right attitude to be a cute little mummy, but take a reality check; he’s got his faults at it.”
David glared at the other man.
“My Sebastien doesn’t have faults.”
Pat rolled his eyes.
“Ah, ok. He over-reacts at the least little thing, he can’t stand the thought of pain, or blood. He just doesn’t stick up for himself, he’s blindly loyal, and still doesn’t realise when he actually needs to tell a secret. He gives in to a child’s, as well as your, every whim. Need I go on? Oh, but of course, the most important thing: you have more experience than him. You had those couple of months when Oscar was born.”
David shrugged, staring at the floor.
“Fuck it, Dave. I’m gonna be simple: if you and Sebas decide to get a kid, we, as in everyone in this building, as well as a few extras, will support you one hundred and ten percent, and not just because we’re your friends, but because we know that you both will be fantastic parents.”
“…That was probably the greatest thing you’ve ever said,” David muttered finally.
“Yea…Wish I’d gotten it on tape.”
David looked up quickly, grabbing a hold of Pat’s arms and hugged the man tightly.
“Congrats, man.”
“What?”
“You’re getting married!”
*
“Mallory.”
The woman in question looked up, beaming.
“Hey Oso.”
“Hi there. Congrats on you and camera-dude.”
“Thanks, short-man.” Mallory laughed aloud, nothing able to tarnish her mood. “Hey, I almost forgot to ask. Have you watched the footage Pat and I gave you yet?”
Oscar looked at her questioningly, until this moment, having completely forgotten about the package left to him by the couple.
“Ah, not yet. I…I guess…I haven’t needed it.”
“Hm?”
“I…I guess I haven’t needed it to trust him and actually, y’know…like him.”
Mallory grinned, “Before you know it you’ll be calling him ‘Daddy’!”
Oscar, however, glared playfully, shoving her ever so slightly .
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
*
Sebastien stepped out into the petite garden, searching the surrounding area with wide eyes. It took a while for those baby blues to reach the hunched figure on the small wooden bench.
“Chuck? Why are you out here on your own? Did you and Collette have a fight? I saw her leave… She was crying, y’know.” The last bit was more of a statement than a question.
“I…I honestly don’t think I ever loved her, Seb. Never.”
The younger walked over, sitting beside the other man.
“Don’t say stuff like that, Chuck.”
“But it’s true.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Sebastien, it is. So just drop it.”
Seb pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and clutched it tight in his sweaty palms.
“Did something happen?” He toyed with the hanky, twisting it steadily.
“Yea…uh…Pierre, he…uh, kissed me, I guess.”
Blue eyes shot up to meet brown.
“What?”
“He kissed me.”
“But… No. You can’t, Chuck.”
“He initiated it.”
“But, you’re married! And so is he!”
“Jesus, Sebastien. Not everyone is currently madly and so fucking purely in love with their husbands, wives, whatever at the moment. Not everyone is meant to be, y’know. Not like you and David…”
Sebas opened his mouth to rebut, but Chuck cut him off swiftly.
“Forget it, Seb. I should’ve known better than tell you.”
The younger looked to the ground, slightly ashamed. Without any notice he stood up to go back inside, shoving the hanky back in his pocket.
“I should go back and find David and Oscar. But, Chuck…please just…when you and Pierre see each other again…please just remember Collette. Remember Philippe and Page. Remember Emmy and Charlotte and Oliver-Beau…please don’t break anymore hearts.”
*&*&*&*
“…And, I know Mallory wanted to tell you, but seriously, the wait was so hard! How could I resist?”
Emmy giggled slightly, clad in frog pyjamas and arms wrapped around her bent legs.
“No worries, Pie. Mallory called before hand. She seemed to predict that you’d rush here.”
Pierre flushed slightly.
“Ah well. Am I really that predictable?”
Emmy laughed aloud again, nodding furiously.
“Sorry babe.”
Pierre leaned back in his chair, humming softly, whilst his wife stretched her legs, and massaged a kink in her neck.
“Pierre?”
“Yea, hon?”
“Uh, well-“ Her eyes were scrunched. She already knew the answer “Did something happen?”
“Uh, I guess, yea.”
Seemingly having no intentions to elaborate, Emmy felt the urge to do so herself.
“Did something happen between you and Chuck?”
Pierre’s face shot up, only to meet a strained one.
“How’d…” He trailed off.
Emmy giggled again, this time miserably.
“Maybe you really are that predictable. Who knows?”
“Uh…yea…something…something happened.”
Emmy sighed, moving to sit up straight and properly, legs thrown over the side.
“What happened?”
“All that feelings crap.”
“Hm?”
“Ah, we…we kissed Emily.”
“Yuh-huh.” With the news so out in the open, the man’s eyes struggled to meet those of his wife’s.
“Fuck, Emmy. I’m so sorry.”
“Why, Pierre?”
“Hm?” The aging lines on his face held nothing but confusion.
“Why are you sorry, Pierre?”
He, once again, struggled to answer, so Emmy took the lead.
“Are you sorry for having kissed Chuck? Are you sorry for still having feelings for him, or because you never resolved them? Are you sorry for meeting me and marrying me? Are you sorry that we had Charlotte and Oliver-Beau together? Or…are you sorry for ever saying that you loved me?”
Pierre’s whole body was tense and rigid, clearly not having it in him to wrap his arms around his sobbing wife.
“Emmy, I…”
“Leave, Pierre.”
“Right now? Okay, but I’ll be back-“
“No, Pierre. You don’t understand.” Her eyes were large and bloodshot, and her mouth poured out words that her heart was screaming to take back.
“Leave, Pierre. Go to Charles and figure out whatever the hell it is between the two of you, and then decide if it’s worth it. Don’t worry about the kids. You’ll be able to see them whenever you want. They’ll be fine-“
“And you? Will you be fine?”
“I’ll…I’ll live. It’s all I can do right now.” She paused quickly, as if gagging on the words she was about to say. “Leave, Pierre.”
The taller stood swiftly, and walked quietly to the door.
“Emmy?”
“Yea?”
“What if I screw up? What if…what if Chuck isn’t the one for me? What if it…what if it was you all along? Will you still want me?”
“Pierre, when we exchanged vows, I gave you all of my heart…It’d be pretty damn hard for me to give it away now.” She smiled sadly. “Horrifically enough, you and Charles could spend the next fifty years together, and then, if you split, I’d still welcome you back into my life with love.”
He nodded a little, preparing himself to leave properly. But, first, there was just one thing he had to say.
“Emily Roseville, I love you and I’m so sorry that I couldn’t be half the man you deserved.”
And with that, he closed the door behind him, blocking out his wife’s exhausted crying.
*&*&*&*
Chuck Comeau got out of the small family car in a weighted manner, his two boys screeching and leaping from the vehicle. Turning his pockets inside out, he was quick to realise he had left the house keys with his wife. Reaching the house, he rapt steadily on the door. “Collette…Collette! I forgot my keys. Let us in!”
Page ran quickly, grabbing a-hold of his father’s leg. “Jesus, kiddo, stop. Collette!”
Philippe carried on, rushing around the pair like a magpie on speed.
“Collette!”
Picking Page up, Chuck looked through the living room window, slightly surprised when the house keys fell off the top of the frame.
“Fuck!”
The two children gasped.
“Daddy said a bad word!”
“Shush, Philippe. C’mon, just get inside.”
“Where’s Mummy?” Page’s voice was small when they got to the kitchen. “I want Mummy!”
“Okay, kiddo. Daddy’ll go find Mummy. She’s probably just upstairs.”
The four-year old nodded, jumping down from Chuck’s ready arms, whilst the latter went to the top floor of the house.
“Collette! Collette, you here?”
It took a few minutes, before something clicked within Charles’ mind. Walking straight to the master bedroom, he flung open the cupboard before heavily sitting on the bed.
“Daddy! Daddy, where’d you go?”
Phillipe entered the room soon after, staring at his father on the bed, following his line of vision.
“Daddy, where’s all Mummy’s stuff? Where’d it go?”
Chuck seemed to exit his stupor at his oldest son’s primary school voice.
“Phillipe, I don’t think your Mummy’s coming home.”
“But where’d she go?”
“Away, ‘Lipe.”
“When’ll she come back?”
“Probably never.”
“But why? Doesn’t she love us anymore?” The tears were thick in the child’s voice.
“Oh, sweetheart… She just doesn’t love me anymore.”