A/N: Just to clarify, Sarah speaks French, and so does Karen. None of the other family members do. All conversations between Sarah and locals are in French which I try to demonstrate with the sprinkling of French words and expressions. If this is too confusing let me know. Also, I promise not to write long conversations/paragraphs in French and then translate, just sprinkle the language for local color. Okay, on with the story.
Sarah woke early to the feel of the warm sunlight on her exposed shoulders. She turned, allowing her face to absorb the glow as she prepared for another day of traveling. She rose, the house stirring with small noises as others washed and dressed. After showering, she pulled jeans and a t-shirt out of her bags, and threw on some tennis shoes.
I am going to look so American. She laughed to herself. It was not as if French women never wore tennis shoes, rather they just never wore them outside of sports. Entering the kitchen, Sarah saw that Jean-Paul was already over the stove, warming milk for their café au lait and chocolat chaut. He was built nothing like his wife. Where she was small and dark, Jean-Paul was tall with a fair complexion and graying blond hair.
"Bon matin Sarah," Jean-Paul said, "Would you like to run across the street and pick up a couple of baguettes? The boulangerie is the blue shop, has a big sign on it…You shouldn't be able to miss it." He added with a grin.
"Sure, how many and what kind?" Sarah asked, glad to help their hosts.
" Umm, just normal baguettes this morning. Unless I suppose that Macky and Toby would eat baguettes de campagne?" He asked, the skepticism clear in the twinkle of his blue eyes.
"Not likely"
"Ok well just three normal baguettes then. Here are the Euros, pick yourself a treat too. Merci". He returned to his milk, stirring frantically to avoid ruining his milk, which was threatening to scorch from the heat of their tiny gas stove.
"De rien"
Sarah grabbed a sweater as she headed out the front door. Even in summer Versailles could be chilly in the early morning. Humming a tune, she walked down to the little blue boulangerie, which just as Jean-Paul had described, had a cheery yellow sign decorating the front of the building declaring it to be Andre's Boulangerie et Patisserie. She entered the shop and was immediately engulfed in the aroma of flour and herbs wafting from the racks of freshly baked bread.
"Bonjour Mademoiselle, How may I help you this morning?" A stout, cheerful man peaked at her from behind a glass display of tarts, quiche, pain au chocolats and other delicacies.
She examined the display, salivating more with each discovery. "Bonjour Monsieur, I would like trios baguettes and…" She trailed off, unable to decide on her 'treat'. And I better get something large enough that I can share it with Macky and Toby. "And, one tarte de fraise, s'il vous plait".
"Of course, Mademoiselle." He replied, first reaching to the rack behind him for the baguettes, and then for the strawberry tart which was placed in cheery while box and tied with a string. "Anything else?"
"No Monsieur, have a good day".
She exited the boulangerie, and with baguettes and tart in hand she walked back to the De la Pont's. When Sarah entered the kitchen Jean-Paul had finished with the milk and was fussing instead with a seemingly uncooperative coffee maker. Sarah inwardly laughed at the way that Jean-Paul addressed the little appliance.
"Uncooperative, unhelpful useless piece of machinery! All you need to do is push heated water through the grinds. This is not in any way complicated!" He continued to poke buttons until he was warily satisfied, and only then did he take notice of Sarah.
"Ah Sarah! Bien. Put the baguettes on the table next to the comfitures OK? I will prepare things for our drinks". Jean-Paul smiled at her before reaching for the cupboard. Suddenly a whirl of blond pigtails entered the room, accompanied by a loud exclamation.
"I'm starving! What's for breakfast Sissy?" Then Mackenzie noticed Jean-Paul and becoming suddenly shy, immediately clung to Sarah's leg. "Who is he?" She asked, looking askance at the presence of a stranger. Just then Toby entered the room, and upon seeing food, sat himself down without so much as a good morning.
"Toby, Macky, This is M. De la Pont, you guys met him last night." Sarah guided Macky to a chair at the table. "And he got breakfast ready for us this morning. There is bread, and jam and hot chocolate. Dig in!"
"I'll help Macky." said Toby, trying to sound helpful and grownup. He took his responsibilities as an older brother very seriously. Sarah knew this was likely to cause more mess, but nodded her head to him to show her appreciation of his thoughtfulness.
Karen, Robert and Nana Vero came in after a few minutes, looking refreshed by the much needed night of sleep. Yvette soon followed, dressed gorgeously as ever in a green skirt suit.
"I'll drop you guys off at the Gare Lyon on my way to work" said Yvette. From there they would take their train to Nice. "Make sure to check with Eurocar before you leave the station."
The rest of breakfast passed with the discussion of travel itineraries and other such mundane details. Not unexpectedly Sarah's mind began to wander, focusing instead on her ideas for the book of fairy tales. I wonder if I can get some early versions of Little Red Riding Hood…Le Petit Chaperon Rouge…
The train ride to Nice was five hours long. While normally Sarah was against gameboys, she was happy that both Macky and Toby owned one, as it kept them happily occupied for the majority of the trip. This left Nana Vero uncharacteristically free to talk, and the hours passed quickly with her amusing stories.
They arrived in the afternoon, and checked into the house they had rented in Cap Martin, a rich district on a peninsula about ten minutes west of downtown Vieux Menton (Old Menton). It was an uncharacteristically large house, with three bedrooms, a medium living space and a roof garden overlooking their shared pool. This was all on the second story as the first was occupied by the owner. It was with him that they shared the pool and the roof. Sarah didn't get to meet him, she was too busy moving bags into the house as Robert and Karen discussed final details with the M. Lerenne.
Choosing a room for herself and Nana, Sarah laid their bags on the floor and sunk onto the bed, exhausted by the two days of almost continuous travel. She had just adjusted herself into a comfortable position when she heard Karen calling her name.
Figures.
She got up and walked into the kitchen, her father turning to face her when she entered the room. He smiled at her. Karen was occupied with her inventory of the kitchen appliances. They must have been satisfactory as they warranted no comment.
"Hey sweety." Robert looked over at Sarah leaning on the bar. "All settled into your room?"
"Not really, I was just laying down for a nap. We've only been here about 10 minutes. I probably won't even unpack until tomorrow." She answered, running her hand over the smooth granite countertop.
"Well, try and unpack at least one nice outfit. We are going to have supper with Mauricette Laroche tonight. She has promised us quite a treat." Mme. Laroche had, befoe her retirement, cooked for the minister of finance of Monaco. Sarah had heard stories of the scrumptious feasts that Karen had been treated to on her previous visits. "And," Karen added, "She has invited Mme. Crepescule, a woman from the village that knows her folklore."
Suspicious as Sarah was at meeting one of Karens friends, the chance to meet a local folklorist was an opportunity she was not about to pass over.
"What time do I need to be ready?" She asked, with an indisguised eagerness, despite her fatigue.
"Seven o'clock. Dinner will be at eight." Karen looked surprised at Sarah's cooperation, not that the surprise was unwarranted given their past relationship. "Wear that pretty brown skirt you like so much."
"Sure." Sarah returned to her room, with its view of the pool and laid down for a nap.
A/N Oh, and by the way, I am looking for a friendly beta…any takers? I promise to adore you forever! Also, I am apologizing in advance for any late updates in the next couple weeks. I am currently living in Trinidad and it is Carnival season, so I will try and sqeeze in what I can. Don't forget to review!