SURPRISE

The topic at the dinner table was, of course, Pierre's little accident, which he played up to continue getting sympathy from Charlotte. She was helping him cut his dinner into bit-sized pieces, and generally babying him, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Earlier in the day, Charlotte had told Clarisse of Pierre's mishap and visit to Doc Russo. Joseph had not spoken to his wife until he came to dress for dinner and the icy cold was still between them. Thankfully the conversation surrounding the stitches and reprieve from the woodpile kept going until the dessert course.

As he stirred sugar into his coffee, Pierre remarked casually "Yeah, and to top it all off, my blood type wasn't on file so the Doc drew blood too."

The laughter at Pierre's expense was loud enough to cover Clarisse's gasp and the clanging of Joseph's dessert fork against his plate. Pierre continued "So if the stitches weren't enough now I'm weak from loss of blood. I'm sure glad I have a someone to nurse me tonight." Charlotte swatted his arm, earning a cry of distress "Ow, that's my sore arm!"

"Grandma, are you alright?" Mia had notice how pale Clarisse looked.

"I'm not feeling all that well, if you'll all excuse me." The men stood as Clarisse left the table, and Joseph followed her out of the dining room.