In search of information - Christophe (open)

[christophe]

"Ah I see. You are modelling. I guess I thought that you liked to dress that way all of the time. That sort of look look suits you," Christophe replied. He laughed as he witnessed Lia dealing her older brother a blow. Their good-natured fighting was fun to watch and told Christophe just how close they all were. A less than conventional trio for sure but Christophe felt very much at ease around them regardless.

Lia left to continue working on their evening meal and Christophe looked down at the dog once more. Coco. "She is a beautiful creature," he stated.

"Lia?"

"Well yes, of course, Lia also," Christophe answered with a short laugh. "In this instance I was referring to Coco. I have a husky pup and am sure Renard would get on well with your malamute. Perhaps one time I could bring him over to meet her? I would be happy to take both you and Coco with us for exercise." The French boy wasn't sure how well Saint was able to get around... or if he trusted a stranger that much to allow him to be his guide. The offer was there, though. It was up to Siant if he accepted or not.

"I really should go and see if Llyria needs my help," he went on. "I feel bad that she is doing it all. We will talk again later I hope, Saint." He nodded to Jandro as he left and wandered downstairs, homing in on the sound of pots clanking together.

"I am here to offer my assistance," he stated. "What can I do?"

[Saint Juarez]

A flash of white teeth was Saint's response to Christophe regarding Lia's beauty. "Coco is better behaved however." Coco dipped her head and wagged her tail as if accepting the compliment with becoming modesty. Saint turned around and with his hand resting lightly on the hallway wall, retraced his steps to the living room where he found a seat on the sofa. "Coco would probably enjoy the company. She doesn't get much fun time with me. Luckily she can chase a ball endlessly and we have a walled in back yard. I am terribly pessimistic and I have this fear, I will throw the ball and there will be a road I didn't know about." His hand nervously reached for his canine companion and soothed her triangular ears."

Lia was whisking flour into milk and butter to make a cream sauce. Pulling Christophe over, she handed him the whisk and then showed him how to make the sauce. "Keep stirring slowing in a figure eight. Let me know when it begins to thicken. She rummaged for the container of shrimp an a package of frozen peas and put them in a sauce pan with butter to warm up.

"I am really just learning, before the shooting Saint did all the cooking. Mama is gone so much and she eats like a model, so its one of us or take home all the time. I am enjoying it though, much more than I thought I would."

[christophe]

He took the whisk from Lia and started mixing the sauce. He nodded to show he'd understood her instructions. "It's good that you take care of your brothers," Christophe replied. "But you have struck lucky with me as I am reasonably good at cooking... although I am unsure if admitting to that is good for my credibility! I enjoy cooking and to the French food is important. One day I will make you some chocolate-filled croissants. I think you would like those." The memories they brought back of sitting on the hite stony butte of Montmartre, beneath the beech trees and in the shadows of the Sacré-Cœur. If he closed his eyes he could still see the view out across the city...

A hand covered his and his eyes snapped open. Lia... and steering the whisk in the '8' shape. He threw her an apologetic smile. "I was... back in Paris for a moment," he said with a rueful expression. "But now I will concentrate, je vous promets."

Lia moved back to her own task. "Your brothers are both very nice," Christophe continued. "I have asked Saint and Coco to take a walk with myself and Renard one day soon. He seemed to like that idea. Renard and Coco are sure to get on well, don't you think?"

[Lia Juarez]

"Coco may try to mother Reynard to death, but yes they will love each other," Lia affirmed as she stirred the shrimp and peas. "Most things with chocolate are wonderful but croissants... they would be lovely.I am glad you asked Saint and most pleased he agreed. Lately it seems he will only spend time with his boyfriend Jonah. He has lost his love of life. I don't know what to do for him."

[christophe]

Christophe laughed when he heard what Lia had to say. "And Renard will absolutely adore being mothered. He is a huge baby still at heart! And so I will bake you the pain au chocolat just as soon as I am able. As for Saint and I taking a walk... perhaps this weekend would be a good time? Of course, if he was simply being polite when he accepted you have time to discover that and let me know. I would not take any offence what so ever but this Jonah... You speak of him as if he has gone for ever. Is that so? Or am I misunderstanding?"

If so then that would easily explain why Saint was morose. He'd lost his sight and now perhaps the person he loved above all others. That would be doubly hard blow to absorb.

"I will lay the table while we talk. Just point me towards the cutlery and plates," he added. A complex family for sure but still Christophe felt at ease. Each of the trio were different to each other and yet all had accepted him with reasonably open arms. He looked forward to getting to know each of them in more depth.

[Lia Juarez]

Showing Christophe where the tableware was, Leah sighed heavily. "Jonah. He is hard to explain. Saint met him in the hospital while recovering. He fell in love immediately. He is the only one that seems able to motivate Saint. We have a hard time encouraging him to eat and care for himself when Jonah absents himself, but Saint will not hear a word against him, saying of course Jonah must have time for himself and that it is him that is lacking. It makes me so angry. He needs a new passion, one not tied to a selfish teenager." Almost vibrating with emotion, Lia turned away from the stove and began to gather fruits for a salad. Taking them to a cutting board, Lia managed to dice and slice, using her anger on the fruits without ruining them.Popping a piece of mango into her mouth, she smiled and exhaled slowly. "Our latin blood it runs too hot and I think we are too young to expend it healthily."

[christophe]

Christophe watched Lia, one eyebrow lifted. "Right now I am glad I wasn't born a fruit," he declared with a crooked grin. "Although... being a mango wouldn't be too bad," he added with a wink and a laugh. "But perhaps we can between us encourage Saint to find a new interest? I know that will be hard with him being unable to see but... the part-time job I got today at a local boatyard allows me to use their craft when I want to go out on the water. Would he perhaps like to come along? I know he can't see but the sensation would be good if nothing else. Perhaps I will ask him later. Are your brothers also dining with us?" That would be a good opportunity to make the invitation... and to Jandro as well, of course.

The French youth finished laying the table and then hoisted himself up onto a tall stall set near the counter Lia was using and he propped his chin up on his hands, elbows on the counter.

"I think maybe Saint is still adjusting and accepting his new life. It can't be easy for him. For any of you. Maybe give hime time. All you can do is be patient with him and do whatever you can to ease his pain. Much as you are already doing, Llyria."

[Lia Juarez]

I am glad you were not born a fruit as well, though that might solve my problem with Saint," Lia said with a blush and ate another piece of mango. "Why do artists have to be so difficult?"Draining the pasta, Lia began to put the dish together tasting it for seasoning each step of the way, the bright pink shrimp went in with the cheese, mushrooms and peas to make a savory sauce. She poured it in a dish and set it upon the table along with the fruit salad. "Would you like wine with dinner, Christophe?" she asked, looking in the fridge.
























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[christophe]

"Je ne sais pas," Christophe replied yet knowing her question to be a rhetorical one. "Perhaps it is in their genes to be that way?" he added with a smile. "I have to admit, though, that whilst wine is my favourite I do not feel the urge tonight to drink it so perhaps a glass of water would be good. Tomorrow and after my interviwe we could maybe celebrate with a drink. That is," he went on," ... assuming I get the job!" Nothing was a foregone certainty!

[Lia Juarez]

'Well we have water or we have iced tea, if you like that," Lia offered with a bright smile. "I would love to celebrate with a glass of wine if you get the job. Will you call and tell me? I could stalk Genny, but I think she would get upset and stop answering the phone if I kept calling her at work. Lia, shook her shaggy mane of platinum hair and pulled out two glasses which she filled with milk and set at the table for her brothers and a glass of ice tea for herself. There was the sound of a car pulling in nearby and Coco woofed as she trotted to the door and patiently wagged her tail.Jandro joined Saint in the living room as the house gained a certain sense of expectancy. In a few moments the front door opened and it was as though royalty had entered, the mood heightened so. A tall almost ethereal blond wafted in with soft greetings. "Oh hello, who is this?" Lia began to flutter as she introduced Christophe to the woman who was clearly the center of the household. "Mama, this is Christophe. I told you about him," she said with a significant lift of her eyebrow. Jonah is not here still,"she said and poured her mother a glass of wine which she delivered with a kiss to the cheek. "Dinner smells marvelous," she said, moving toward Christophe with her hand extended. The hand was pale and slender with perfect nails There was no missing the familial resemblance. Facially she looked like Lia, though her movements were more like Jandro and there was something in her expressions that were so much like Saint her eldest. "Christophe! it is wonderful to meet you. So, you are the boy who loves the ocean as much as my mermaid. As long as you do not tempt her away to dry land, I think I will be content.