I hope the last chapter was easy to understand. Here's the next installment. Enjoy!


Sylvie's Café

After Marcel was finished marvelling over my painting, I said my farewells for the day stepping out on the streets of Nazi occupied Paris. The sun was slowly setting behind the tall buildings indicating it was time to go home. Soon it would be curfew. The traffic was subsiding along with the towns people. All that remained was the horrible Nazi soldiers. Standing around together in packs, intimidating the locals. Dressed smartly in their uniforms, smoking French cigarettes, drinking French coffee, wooing French women. It made the hate I had for them intensify. To think us French are struggling to put food on our tables while these intruders are living it up in our beloved country. I've never hated anything as much as I hated the Nazi's. Sometimes I would be so furious with their appearances I wished nothing more than to see them suffer. To know what the pain of losing loved ones felt like. To know our family and friends are not returning. To have them wake to my Mama's agonising screams every night feeling the fear that consumes me each time. I wish they felt my pain and hate for them. Also the fear. My frightful state which takes me every night as I recall my mother's horrible fate. Even now thinking of it disturbs me. I never dwell on it for long, otherwise it will reduce me to tears.

Tonight's sleep I know will be troubling and horrible with out sleeping pills. Before visiting Shosanna with my painting, I had called into the pharmacy for my sleeping remedy. But they were out of stock. Soon I came to the street corner opposite the Café, which I called home. I sped towards the entrance wanting to get away from the Germans as quickly as possible. The café was situated near a large French Orchard and gave the building a rustic feel. Climbing roses of red and white entwined around the exterior walls and the railings of the room above. The small bell rang as I stepped through the door to 'Sylvie's Café'. It was a quiet atmosphere as they had just begun to close up. Sylvie was standing at the bar cleaning the remaining glasses while Josephine and Genevieve were readying themselves to leave.

"Bonjour Monique" Josephine greeted me as she wrapped her coat around her rounded body.

"Bonjour" I replied back with a smile. "How was your day?"

Josephine was one of our best waitresses who worked here at 'Sylvie's Café'. She would always have a bright smile on her face and could handle any amount of customers at a time.

"Afternoon was quiet, it appears to be that way every day now" she told me slipping her bag over her shoulder. Josephine's hair was short curled and golden. Her brown eyes were delicate and her thin lips were a rosy pink. Her body was small and slightly plump but she knew how to dress correctly for it.

"More German than French now" I nodded "Thanks for taking my shift. I'll be sure to take yours tomorrow. Just so you can spend time with Francis"

"Merci Monique"

Josephine had a young boy named Francis. It was my job to take the afternoon shifts for her, even if it did mean socializing with Germans. Today she let me though visit Shosanna and get some jobs out of the way. You could always count on Josephine for that. Unlike Genevieve. She was younger than me and more naïve and selfish. She was one of our more slack workers who enjoyed flirting with the young male customers. Genevieve was dressing her very tall and thin frame in her coat, preparing herself for the journey home.

"Bonjour Genevieve" I greeted her. "How was your day?"

She didn't respond, taking the flimsy pins out of her straight oak coloured hair. Her dull blue eyes drooped and her frowning was exasperated at my question. I felt a gentle pull on my arm from Josephine who stood beside me.

"Best not to say anything to Genevieve" she whispered in my ear.

"Why not?" I asked back silently.

"Still having problems with Jacque. He came in today with another girl, trying to make Genny jealous. And well as you can see it worked"

I shook my head tiresomely. Jacque was a supplies truck driver who was a constant delivery boy here. He was also a member of the Résistance. A good member at that. Over the months him and Genevieve have been in a on and off relationship. And quite frankly it was beginning to get on my nerves. One minutes they'll be making out behind the cellar or throwing shouts and insults at each other. I'm sure everyone was sick and tired of their indecisive minds.

"Well then, perhaps Jacque and her will be back on tomorrow" I smirked.

"Most likely" Josephine agreed with me. Just then Genevieve threw her bag over her shoulder and stormed out of the café in a huff. Not saying goodbye or farewell. Not even acknowledging me, but that was the least of my concerns.

"Genevieve!" Josephine shouted. "I'm suppose to be taking you home!"

She made a sigh before saying goodbye to Sylvie and I. Quickly she raced after the grumpy Genevieve.

"I'm so glad you're not messing around with any boys Monique" Sylvie stated from behind the bar. She of course was the owner of the café. After my father died, mama brought us here to live with Sylvie, her friend since infancy. Now Sylvie acts as my caregiver.

"Sometimes I am too" I mused.

"Did you give Marcel the painting?"

"Oui, they both love it"

"That's good, now Monique I hope you don't mind, but Rémy is going to be living with us from now on"

"Living with us? How come?" I wondered not really upset by the news.

"Well, he's not as young as he used to be, and living by himself is becoming a struggle"

I nodded taking my black coat off and hanging it over my arm.

"I guess lonely as well"

"Oui, he needs some company" she spoke softly, staring at me with her magnetic brown eyes.

"Where is he?"

"Out back stacking the rest of our new supplies. And I can tell you the shipment is getting even smaller" she replied with an unbelievable expression.

"I can believe that" I sighed making my way towards the kitchen.

"I'll be out there in a minute Monique, I'll just lock up" Sylvie shouted back to me.

"Ok" I replied stepping into the brightly lit and clean kitchen. Placing my tote bag onto the small rounded table in the far corner, I hung up my coat. It was a big space and needed to be. There were rows of appliances and plenty of bench space. In the right corner was the staircase, which led up to the many bedrooms and other living areas. There was also another door, which led out into the miniature patio and back yard area. Just then a tall man with grey thinning hair walked in through that door holding a box of wine.

"Ah, Bonjour Monique" he greeted in a raspy voice. Rémy was dressed in a clean, classy uniform fit for working the bar. His moustache was tidy and flicked up at each end and his dark eyes showed the hard life he had lived.

"Bonjour Rémy" I replied.

"How was your day?" he asked dropping the box onto the bench carefully.

"Swell, yours?"

"Very good" he smiled. Even with the smile he couldn't hide the sadness in his eyes. Rémy's wife was Jewish. Such a kind hearted woman who brought happiness to everyone. But once the German's occupied France, things took a turn for the worst. I made her counterfeit papers to keep her safe. Rémy even stopped her from venturing out into town as constantly as she used to. But as true as the rumours are, collaborators were quick to turn to the Nazi's. They knew of the rewards given to them if they found Jewish citizens. One was a close neighbour to Rémy. And once he had told the Gestapo, Rémy came home to his beautiful dead wife. Listening or accounting Rémy's past made me forget about my own. Knowing there is also other people out there feeling the same pain as I, selfishness was gone.

"Is Sylvie closing up?" he asked waking me from my thoughts.

"Oui, she'll be out soon" I replied. There was a silence between us, while he unpacked the wine and I helped my self to a glass of water. But I could feel him wanting to ask me something. It was niggling at me. Finally he came out with it.

"Monique" he begun "You don't feel that I'm intruding? By living with you and Sylvie?"

I turned to the old man with a warming smile, placing my glass down.

"Rémy, it's wonderful you're going to be staying here. Not a burden or an intrusion. I guess its best to know your safe and well, and what better way to do that than have you about the house. It'll give Sylvie and I more company"

He smiled back widely at my sweet and meaningful comment. But it was true, having a man about the house will be handy, and also knowing he is safe and sound.

"Merci Monique"

"Its fine Rémy" I stated. Just then Sylvie entered the kitchen a smile also plastered on her face.

"Everything ok?" she asked clipping back an escaped thread of her red curled hair.

"Oui" I replied before taking another mouthful of the cold and satisfying water.

"That's good" She spoke moving up to the kitchen cabinet and pulling out a recipe book.

Rémy was opening a bottle of Merlot, pouring glasses for each of us. And me, I was beginning to cut up vegetables for tonight's dish. Sylvie's delicious quiche. It was absolutely divine and fulling. As much as it was enjoyable to eat it, it was enjoyable to make. Sylvie and I would talk and laugh preparing the meal. It was like our own bonding time. She would help me gain new skills in the kitchen and laugh at my petty attempts when doing so. Rémy too joined our conversations. I couldn't help but feel like I was apart of a family again.