CHARLES

"Oh dear! Were we interrupting something?" Therese asked, her arms full of linens. I looked down at Madeleine, who flushed and laughed.
"No Therese, Dad. I just decided to give Maddie one of her gifts early." I replied and Dad nodded, coming toward us.
"Let's have a look, shall we ?" Dad said, his eyes twinkling as he stepped forward to Maddie. She stood so he could have a clear look at the locket and held it out for him. Instead of his customary smile, however, he went white as a sheet, the twinkle gone from his eyes.
"C-Chloé?" He asked, reading the name. She nodded and he pursed his lips tightly together.
"Where did you get this Madeleine?" He asked and suddenly I was frightened of the way he was reacting. I'd never seen him like this.
"I-It was my mother's Raoul, why?" She asked, obviously just as confused as I was and opened the locket for him to see the picture.

He drew in a long breath, but suddenly smiled.
"No reason whatsoever dear, I just was confused as to why your locket said another woman's name! I was ready to berate dear Charles for two-timing you!" He laughed, maybe a bit too forced. She laughed too though, a bit uneasily. Dad suddenly motioned for Therese to follow him.
"Well, I'll leave you two alone..." He said, "See you both at dinner." With that, he was gone with Therese, practically running out the door.
"There is something going on here...secrets are everywhere." Madeleine said, sinking to the sofa. I nodded.
"But what would he know of your mother?" I asked her and she looked up, dread in her eyes.
"Remember Charles, my mother was a prostitute...but he wouldn't have...he loved your mother too much..." I shrugged, knowing it was impossible.

"Madeleine, I grew up in England. Your mother lived here in Paris." I said, and she nodded, something suddenly clicking.
"Charles, I do get my looks from my mother. We resemble each other greatly. Maybe he was just jarred because she looks like your mother." It suddenly made sense.
"Yes, maybe." I said, but still thought to myself. He said the name before he saw the picture. He was only reading it. I was digging too far into this. Dad would never betray Mother. He worshiped her, and she'd loved him. Their marriage had been flawless. Hadn't it?

I sat beside Maddie, who was staring into the fireplace. Suddenly, my thoughts were replaced by the kiss we had shared. Finally. I had done it and she hadn't stopped me. The fire surrounded her chestnut hair with an amber glow, making her seem ethereal. I could tell she was afraid to talk about what had happened between us, but I decided to make it easier and took her hand in mine.
"Things are different now, Charles, aren't they?" She said, looking at me, her eyes softer than I had ever seen. I nodded at her.
"They are." I said and she sighed. I dared to touch one of her curls and she smiled nervously.
"Was it just a kiss then? Do we go back to the way we were?" She asked, suddenly full of questions and I shrugged.
"It's up to you Madeleine...I sincerely hope it wasn't just a kiss to you, because it wasn't to me...and it was my first kiss." She nodded.
"It wasn't just a kiss to me either." She said, but I could still see her fear.

"Look, why don't we just take it one day at a time? We can keep it a secret for a little while...like Dan and Deirdre." I smirked. She laughed.
"How did you find out?" I rolled my eyes.
"Neither of them can keep their mouths shut..." I said dryly and she laughed again.
"Poor Deirdre...she's so excitable...I love her dearly." Maddie said and I agreed. How could anyone not like Deirdre Bennett. She was beautiful, funny, smart...perfect for my cousin Daniel. I thought of her as more of a little sister than a woman though, and was just as wildly protective over her as I was over my three cousins.
"It's settled then," I said, "We'll keep it quiet for a bit and just take things at an even pace, for I am not really sure what to do either."

We sat quietly for a few moments, holding hands until she finally said.
"I didn't know you grew up in England." She said and I laughed.
"My parents left Paris just before I was born. Mother had to have this controversial surgery there when I was born called a Cesarean section...they weren't sure she would live. They never really explained why they moved there, but it was my home...until Mother died that is. Aunt Laney and Uncle Garrett moved there after I was born too...that's why I am so close with my cousins." Maddie looked a bit frightened.
"I've heard of those Cesarean sections...they cut the woman open to draw out the baby..." She said, with a shiver at the thought of it.
"They weren't sure if Mother would make it after my birth, but luckily, she pulled through."
"I can't even imagine..." She said. "I wish I could have met her."

"She would have loved you," I said, smiling at the thought of Mother getting excited about taking care of a girl. Dressing her, fixing her hair. She and Dad had wanted a little sister for me so badly.
"I miss my mother too..." She said, seeing my grief. I nodded. Sighing, she noticed the day was getting late and she stood.
"I really should get a bath and change before dinner." She said and I nodded. I had forgotten about dinner.
"Thank you Madeleine." I said, still holding her hand.
"For what?" She asked with a laugh.
"Trusting me to tell me the truth about you..." I said and she shrugged.

"I can't believe you still have an interest." She said and I stood to pull her close again. As we walked out of the room, I stopped with her in the doorway.
"What?" She asked, with half a smile and, blushing, I shyly said,
"I want to kiss you again..." She rolled her eyes, grinning.
"Then stop talking about it and do it already!" I gladly obliged, this time daring to deepen it just a bit. I walked her up to her room and kissed her again, finally pulling away and saying.
"Merry Christmas Madeleine..."
"Merry Christmas Charles." Was her response as she smiled slightly and walked into her room. I walked across the hall into my own room and flopped down on my bed, unable to wipe the silly grin from my face.

"Well well well...if we aren't the grinning idiot!" Gabe said to Charles, as he entered the house with Camille on his arm, his parents close behind.
"Are you two back on good terms?" I asked, looking at my cousin who had run into Dad's arms to kiss his cheeks. He nodded, but pulled me aside.
"Well, it's better anyway. I found out what happened at her school. Rotten little busybodies...poor thing was just trying to give a grieving man some support and one of the little wretches walked in and assumed the worst. Then here was me, ever the comedian." I looked at my sweet cousin. Poor thing...her heart was too pure.
"Charles...I don't know. I think I love her...crazy as that sounds. She's twelve years younger than me, hardly a woman, but she's all I think about."

I laughed at him. He seemed out of his mind. He ran a wild hand through his mass of blonde hair.
"Don't laugh Charles...seriously, she makes me want to get married and raise a litter of our own! I've never wanted that. I imagine sometimes what she'd look like coming down the aisle in a white gown, or how she would look with child..." I patted his back.
"Slow down Gabe...she's hardly agreed to let you court her, much less begin reproducing!" Realizing how crazy he was beginning to sound, he laughed.
"Sorry...I got carried away. How are things going with your pretty damsel?" He asked and I couldn't help but grin.
"I have nothing to say..." I said and began to walk back toward the group where Maddie was standing. She gave me a small smile and waved at Gabe.
"Like Hell you have nothing to say, you sly devil!" He cried, striding next to me.

"All I will say is Christmas is truly a wonderful time." I said and moved to kiss Millie's cheek as the door opened and my Aunt and Uncle came in with Genevieve and Rosie, along with her fiancé. Shortly after, Dan arrived with Deirdre and her whole family. Aunt Meg, Uncle William, her brother John and Granny Giry of course. Once we were all settled, Dad stood and asked everyone's attention.
"Today we are celebrating the birth of our Lord and the many things we have to be thankful for. Our wonderful extended family, our newest addition, dear Madeleine..." Dad's eyes lingered on Maddie sadly for a moment before looking back up, "And finally to the memory of those who are no longer with us...Merry Christmas all..." He said and sat back down. We all raised our glasses and agreed. Maddie gave me a small discreet smile across from me and I returned the gesture.
Merry Christmas Indeed.