The lost painting.
Oliver, Norman, Shane, Charlie and Rita discover a mysterious and ancient lost painting. During their journey to France in Paris, the postal detective tries to reconcile Shane with her mother. As the POstables go to the Louvre Museum to deliver their package, Oliver O'Toole makes a surprising discovery. This fictional story is inspired by the Masterpiece episode and historical facts. The characters belong to the talented Marta Williamson.
Chapter 2: Little ballade in Paris.
Author's note 1: In this chapter, Sharon opens her heart to her daughter. While the POstables are visiting Paris, they have an unexpected encounter. Oliver makes a touching revelation to his mother-in-law. While Shane is looking for a gift, she makes a discovery. Between a painful past and a present filled with doubt, Oliver makes a declaration to serenely consider his future with Shane.
Wednesday, April 7, 2023, somewhere in Paris.
The dawn had already enveloped the night and it was 7:00 am in the city. The air was still very cold. On the bank of the Seine, an accordionist took his instrument and began to play and sing a famous Disney song.
🎶 Paris waks up, when the bells rang, in the towers of Notre-Dame.
The baker bakes and the fisherman fishes to the sound of the bells of Notre-Dame.
The big bells ring as loud as a thousand thunder.
The little bells tinkle clear, as gentle as crystal.
And it's said to be the soul of Paris setting ablaze, when ring,
the bells of Notre-Dame.🎶
At the same time Oliver O'Toole was crossing a bridge, before pushing open the doors of the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris.
The postal detective began an ascent of 422 steps. On the way, he observed the chimera gallery with its famous gargoyles, then admired the belfry and the bells.
When he reached the top of the towers of the Notre-Dame cathedral, Oliver was rewarded with one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Paris.
The sun had just come out of the clouds and its beams of light were gently waking up the city of Paris. Happy, Oliver smiled for a long time while contemplating the magic of this miracle of nature.
Hotel Quartier Latin, 5th arrondissement.
When Shane woke up, she was surprised to see that Oliver wasn't there. But soon her concern was replaced by a smile when she saw a note on her bedside table from her loved one.
My love,
I wish you one of the most pleasant wakings. I went to admire the sunrise. I expect you for breakfast at 9am, table 5.
Sincerely.
Oliver.
Hotel restaurant. 9 a.m
Shane arrived at the hotel restaurant. She smiled as she reached table number 5 and then her smile disappeared.
"Good morning, honey. Did you sleep well?" A female voice asked.
"Mom, what are you doing here? I thought Oliver was waiting for me.
"Yesterday, when I got to the hotel, Oliver also told me to come in this morning. He did the right thing. Sit down, it's time for a heart-to-heart talk, don't you think?" Sharon said with a smile.
A little reluctantly, Shane sits down and listens to her mother.
"Honey, I know you're still mad at me. You think I'm somewhat responsible for your father leaving, don't you?"
"What do you care... I..." Shane began with tears in her eyes.
"Shaney, when your father left, I was devastated. I felt empty and lost. It was very hard for me too. But I shouldn't give up on my life because I have two lovely little princesses. I had to fight as a mom for Alex and you. The reason I was able to keep going was because you were both there. So I dedicated myself to that. I tried to do everything I could to protect you and keep you happy. I hope I succeeded in my mission. And today you are a wonderful married woman. And I wish you all the happiness in the world. I only want what's best for you. Do you understand that?" asks Sharon asks, wiping away a tear.
"I'm truly sorry, Mom. I always thought you never cared."
"And you think I'm a crazy teapot too, don't you?" Sharon smiled.
Shane and Sharon looked at each other and then burst out laughing.
"Bonjour mesdames,[Good morning ladies] here is the breakfast menu card." A waiter said as he came in.
Half an hour later, Rita and Norman, then Oliver appeared.
"Wow! You reserved the whole menu! It looks like the banquet table in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Bon appetit!" Norman exclaimed.
It was then that Oliver smiled as he saw his wife and her mother-in-law reconcile.
"There is nothing more beautiful than the sun shining in the smile of each of us." Oliver smiles.
The POstables were having breakfast.
"Are we going to the museum today ?" Rita asks.
"The best thing is to book online. Everything is sold out for the week. But I booked tickets for the Louvre night , Friday at 8pm. The museum is open until 9:45 pm. We can go after dinner and enjoy the visit, away from the crowds." Shane smiles.
"I've always dreamed of going to the museum at night!" Norman exclaimed.
"So what are we going to do today and until Friday ?" Oliver asks.
"Go for a walk, take a boat ride, visit Paris!" Shane exclaimed with a smile.
Pont de la Conférence, Quai de Seine, Paris 8th district.
"I was so looking forward to a boat ride on the Seine. Plus the weather is beautiful!" Rita exclaimed
"Me too!" Shane said as she gently took Oliver's hand." Don't you think it smells like chicken, cheddar cheese and red onions...Norman, what are you hiding in your backpack?" Shane asks.
"Well, I didn't know how long the boat ride across the Seine was, so before I got on the subway, I bought a Subway,"Norman confessed.
Everyone laughs
"The laughter is brightest where the food is best." Sharon says.
"Oh, William Shakespeare!" Rita exclaimed.
"No, Irish proverb. It's our turn ! Prepare to board the Black Pearl !" Sharon said as she led the way.
"The what ?" Oliver asks
" It's just the name of a boat. Pirates of the Caribbean" Shane answers.
After the visit by boat, Sharon and the POstables strolled along the bank of the Seine, and then crossed the Alexandre III bridge, a majestic bridge framed by four spectacular pylons topped with gilded bronze statues and numerous street lamps. As they reached the middle of the bridge, they noticed that a security cordon was preventing access to the rest of the bridge. Other passers-by were waiting.
"Excuse me but the photo shoot ends in five minutes, you can come by afterwards." A security guard explains.
"Wow ! Do you think it's a celebrity or a star?" Rita asked with a smile.
" It's just Ramon!" Norman exclaimed with a grimace.
"Ramon is always where you least expect it." Oliver remarked.
"That's perfect Ramon, very good! Now stand in profile, smile, and look down the Seine... Perfect!" A photographer exclaimes, giving directions.
"But what is Ramon doing here?" Shane asked.
"Oh yes, it's a photo shoot for New Vogue Colorado magazine! Ramon is now one of the 10 most famous and beloved personalities in all of Colorado!" Rita exclaimed.
The security guard removed the cordon, then passersby were allowed to cross the bridge.
"Oh, Sharon, Rita, Normando, Oliveear! What a pleasure for me to meet you here, in the city of love! Are you on vacation?" Ramon asks.
"Not exactly. We came to deliver a package. But today we have a free day." Rita replied with a smile.
"This afternoon I'm in a ballet at the Paris Opera and tonight I'm presenting the weather in French on French television." Ramon explains.
"Wow, that must be fantastic ." Norman sighs.
"You are my guests if you wish. And I'll show you the most beautiful places in Paris!" He exclaimed.
"Yes, Norman and I would be delighted. With pleasure Ramon." Rita added
"What?" Norman asks with a grimace.
"Fantastico! What about you?" Ramon asks.
"It would have been my pleasure, but Shane, Oliver and I have a family project." Sharon replied.
"No worries, let's go, I'll take you to lunch at a lovely little boat restaurant called ..." Ramon's voice said before walking away with Rita and Norman.
"A family project? Mom, you're scaring me." Shane said.
"For Oliver, I had planned for us to go to the Cluny Museum about the story of Middle Ages, with its terms. Then the Arena of Lutetia. These are the last vestiges of Roman antiquity still visible in Paris." Sharon replied with a smile
"Great. I'll just come to the museum, then I have to do my shopping. " Shane added.
Latin Quarter, Paris, 5th arrondissement.
Located on the Left Bank of the Seine, the Latin Quarter is one of the oldest districts of Paris. The origin of its name goes back to the Middle Ages in this district where in the schools many students met to learn Latin. Today, it is the meeting place of Parisians and tourists, who stroll there in search of a book, to discover museums, Roman remains, exceptional monuments and stroll in splendid gardens.
When they arrived at rue Monge, Oliver and Sharon admired the arena of Lutetia, an amphitheater built in the 2nd century. Nowadays, soccer or petanque games have replaced the presentation of plays, the combat of gladiators and of animals from the Roman Empire.
"My God! It's incredible to see that ancient remains still today. It's magnificent!" Oliver exclaimed, delighted.
"Hail Imperator Oliver! "Sharon smiled.
The postal inspector laughed and then his face closed.
"You know, Sharon, when I was younger, I always dreamed of sharing something I loved with my mother, even after she left home. It never happened. But today, I'm so happy to do it with you." Oliver confesses.
"Oh, honey! I'm so happy and touched. I'm so glad you like these visits. You know Oliver, I want to be the mom you deserve too. And I'd be happy to call you too, son." Sharon.
"That's the best gift you could have given me." Oliver smiled, after taking Sharon in his arms and shedding a tear.
A few meters away, Shane was making her way through the tourists in the picturesque little streets of the Latin Quarter, where in the hubbub of passers-by, French mixed with other languages. In the maze of a street, the rue de la Parcheminerie, she found what she was looking for, an English bookshop. The store seemed small on the outside, but once inside, Shane saw a huge bookstore, lined with books from floor to ceiling, and even a basement decorated with vaulted ceilings housed books. Impressed by this place, Shane began to look at the huge shelves of books and was a little lost.
"Bonjour. It's impressive isn't it ?" A gentleman remarked with a smile.
"Hello . Yes, it is. Excuse me, are you Canadian?" Shane asked.
"Wow, you guessed it, excellent, Detective Murdoch !" He laughed." Yes, indeed I am from Toronto, Canada. My name is Richard and I own this bookstore. May I help you?" The owner asked, smiling.
"Yes, actually, I am looking for a gift for my husband who is celebrating his birthday soon. He loves books and antiques. He has all the books by Shakespeare and the great names in English literature. I wanted to get him something else." Shane replied as a redheaded woman who was at the poetry shelf was hearing.
"I think I know what you need and it's in English". He smiled.
The bookseller looked at various shelves, climbed a ladder, and then smiled as he picked up a hardback and illustrated book.
"Dive into literature and the magic of words. Dive in for a journey to the center of the earth." He exclaims.
"Journey to the Center of the Earth, Jules Verne! Wow, the book is beautiful. I'll take it, thank you very much."
"Perfect, I'll give you a price. I'll even gift wrap it for you. You can check out in five minutes" The bookseller smiled before leaving.
"Well, if I was expecting to find the Dead Letter Office computer support girl here in Paris, what a surprise. Shane, right?" The redheaded woman asks.
"Holly!" Shane exclaimed.
Somewhere in Paris, 18th arrondissement. 9.p.m
Oliver smiled as he lead Shane to the surprise. After getting out of the taxi, they walked for a while, then began an ascent. Shane could no longer hear the sound of traffic and wondered where she was.
"Oliver, where are we going? It's still far ? My mom had a great idea earlier to order a fondue for dinner. Please don't let go of my hand" Shane asked who was blindfolded.
"I promise. We're almost there. You can open your eyes." Oliver said as he gently removed the blindfold from her face.
When Shane opened her eyes, her smile was as bright as the street lights.
"Montmartre! I love it! It's the most romantic neighborhood in Paris. And it's so beautiful at night!" Shane exclaimed delightedly.
"And the view is even more beautiful up there, come with me" Oliver said gently, taking her hand in his.
Shane smiles at his husband and the love birds continue their journey. They had lost track of time. Oliver and Shane cross the narrow, cobbled and steep streets flanked by long staircases, under the lightning of the ancient Parisian street lamps. Then they arrived at the top, 128 m above sea level, next to the Basilique du Sacré- Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart).,They sat on a bench to admire the whole city of Paris illuminated.
"Paris, the city of Light, the city of Love ! It's really a beautiful place. Amazing to think that this magical place is perched in an urban city. I love it!" exclaimed Shane with a smile.
"Montmartre was originally an independent city, village, that was attached to Paris in 1860." The postal detective explained
"Wow ! I didn't know you knew so many things, Oliver, including pronouncing "au revoir" [goodbye]." Shane smiles.
"Actually, when she left..., I... I did a lot of research on this town, trying to figure out why she left. " Oliver confesses, looking at the horizon, looking sad.
"Oliver, I have to admit something to you. This afternoon, while I was out shopping, I ran into Holly. I asked her if she felt any remorse for never contacting you for over 3 years, while she was living in the comfort of Parisian literatures salons. Holly said her story with you was just a error. That living here has opened her eyes to the meaning of her life. I told her what I thought. I guess..."
"I dreaded coming here because of my past. You know ,Shane when I married you, I was overjoyed, but I still had some fears. I had never lived with someone for so long before. This is the first time." He explains.
"How do you feel about it?" Shane asks
"It's very different from what I've experienced. Shane, you never judged me, you always supported me, encouraged me, understood me, and you always reassured me. You always have a lot of love, tenderness and benevolence towards me. I am no longer afraid of the past. "Oliver confesses.
"Oliver, I..." Shane wipes away a tear.
"Shane, my life today is you, only you. It's you, I want to build a loving family with. And I want you to be happy with me." He smiles.
"I am a fulfilled woman. And I thank God every day that I met and married you, Oliver." Shane smiled.
Oliver whispered something in her ear. They smiled at each other and then kissed for a long time under the starry Paris sky.
To be continued.
Author's note 2: Thank you for reading this second chapter. This chapter was also for a opportunity the Postables to discover somes places in Paris. The next chapter takes place at the Louvre Museum. Have a nice day Postables :)