Chapter 15

Only soon after Oscar had mentioned his name, Bernard appeared right in front of them. The two men seemed a little annoyed by this unexpected surprise. How could he be there? And why? But of course, Oscar had arranged all of this. On her own. Charles had heard about her father, and so he knew how stubborn the man was, and apparently so was his daughter, Oscar.

"What does he do here?"

"Like I said, I think you should hire Bernard. So, I asked him here." she replied.

"What? But he was the one who tried to break in here!"

"Yes. And that is why you should hire him, you see, he knows the minds of thieves and so he can prevent them to break in. He can build you security that keeps every unwanted person away."

Both of them, the head of the museum, Louis, and Charles, were hesitant whether to trust this man, after all he had tried to steal their precious items. Once a thief, always a thief they thought. But Oscar didn´t give up, instead she told them that she wouldn´t have never catch the other thieves, the whole gang, if it wasn´t for Bernard. "He´s not only brave, but very talented with getting people caught." she told them with her firm voice. And in the end, she won. And they agreed to hire Bernard, too. But, at the same time, they warned her that if he would break their trust, they would fire her, as well.

"Alright" she agreed and shook Louis´s hand.

"Well" he smiled "Once again, welcome to Versailles palace."

"Thank you!" Oscar smiled. Somehow, she felt happy. And relieved, at the same time. Because for some reason, she could feel herself cosy in here, at Versailles. She felt as if she had come home.

After discussing the contract, both Charles and Louis headed back to their side of the palace, because they had lots of things to do. "Charles" Louis started to tell his new plan on their way "I know you´re retired, but how about planning a tiny exhibition on the celebration on the Liberation from the EU, the tyranny. Its 65th anniversary is coming soon…"

"Yes, I´d be honoured, sir. The exhibition sounds like a good idea. I know just the room for that…And we can have flags of France there…"

As the discussion slowly became distant, Bernard turned towards Oscar. He was still in the state of amazement. Only a day ago he was still in prison and waiting anxiously for his trial, but now…"Oscar…" he almost started to cry. He was so happy that she had giving him a second chance.

"Don´t say a word!" Oscar told him as she noticed his sentiments. She didn´t want to see him crying.

"…I…"

"I said! Not a word!"

He managed to gain control, and only then he was able to continue "Oscar! I don´t know, how to thank you!"

"Well…I know a certain young lady, who has been quite anxious about you…" she smiled. She meant Rosalie, of course. Even thought Rosalie had said those harsh words about Bernard, she still had feelings left for him. Or at least, Oscar had felt it like that. But how did she know? Well, perhaps, because she had become a woman…

"I should go and see her! Thank you, Oscar!"

"Just remember, don´t let me down"

"I won´t, Oscar. I promise, I will never break the law again, never"

"Good, because you won´t get another chance!"

Oscar stood still and watched Bernard running away from them. "Them"…Oscar and Sean. And as Oscar watched her friend disappear into distance, she felt how Sean walked near her, and she felt as he was stood right behind her. And after they were left all alone, he put his arms around her and held her close.

"Now, my love, where would you like to get married?" he asked with his gentle voice.

"In Notre Dame"

"Sounds like a good plan"

"…but I want the wedding reception held here, in this mansion. Once we renovate this."

"How about getting married in Notre dame, and then get a horse carriage ride back to the manor?"

"I love the idea!"

Then Oscar turned around, put her arms around his neck and kissed him…

After that moment time passed by quickly as they planned their wedding. Sean recovered from his injuries and Oscar started to visit him more often. They seemed always to be together, like twins. They were so in love. But they weren´t the only couple in love; also Bernard and Rosalie started dating, and Dianne came closer to Alain.

On day as Oscar was sitting down in down town Paris, together with her friends, looking around her, she came to realize something…

She couldn´t be happier.

She looked around her. How peaceful it was. The dark times of France were now a distant memory. The tourists had come back, women could walk freely and there was laughter everywhere. Everybody seemed happy. It was really wonderful atmosphere. It somehow reminded her of the Paris at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, where intellectuals were sitting in cafes discussion about latest news on science, including women. The time of freedom, science and …She smelled the air "fresh, newly baked croissants and coffee"

There was a man playing his violin, "Chopin" she smiled. One of her favored musician. The man was playing his music, with a gentle touch to it. It sounded so good. But that was not all she experienced. The air was…

The air was full of…love?

Oscar witnessed a scene where three French women, looking very Parisienne, with their long, stylish hair, and their fashionable clothes, they flirting with the three French men. Oscar smiled "It was definitely love in the air."

Oscar remembered the statue of the lovers at the airport. At that time she had thought that love was just a lie. But now she had changed her mind about it. She now realized that love was much more than a broken heart, she had realized that love could be a wonderful thing. Also, she had thought of Paris as only one of the major cities, but not more than that. But now she knew better; Paris was a beautiful city with its history, and what was more; it was also a city where people wanted to live and love, and enjoy the freedom, art and music. It was a city with full of life. And was more; It was her home. For good.

The end.