"Have you seen that new boy who's moved in down the street? Artois I think his name is? He's so handsome. Edith, you should go and introduce yourself!" Madame Fanny exclaimed.
Edith rolled her eyes. "I will Mama. Just give me some time." Edith said with a sigh. Madame Fanny placed down her fork carelessly which made a bang sound. "Edith, you are 16 years old, and still haven't had your first kiss! Most girls your age are already about to or are getting married! I worry about you, my little one. I want you to be happy." Edith looked down at her dinner plate and tried to fight back the tears.
Little did her Mama know she had had her first kiss but it wasn't her choice. Simon Delphonso had taken her down by the river and forced his lips on hers. It was rough, harsh and everything she had imagined her first kiss not to be. He has tried to go further but luckily Edith feigned illness and managed to get away. It still made her shudder to think about it.
The next day, Edith rose at her usual time of 7am and got dressed and ready for the day. She headed downstairs and could hear her Mama talking to another lady at the front door in a hushed, excited tone.
As Edith tucked into her breakfast which consisted of a croissant and a cup of coffee, Madame Fanny finished her conversation and joined Edith at the breakfast table. She had a big grin on her face and patted Edith on the shoulder as she sat down.
"That was Madame Juliette. Her boy is René Artois, that gorgeous little one I was telling about you yesterday? Well, she said she would like you to go over to their place for dinner tonight. You can get to know each other then." Edith felt her stomach clench. She was terrified.
"Mama…I could have spoken to René myself. It could get very awkward very quickly being thrust into a dinner with him and his family."
Madame Fanny huffed out of frustration.
"Edith, Madame Juliette is a lovely, kind woman and she has said that René has already seen you through his window and thinks you're the most beautiful girl he's ever seen."
Edith couldn't help but blush a little. Did he really think that or was Mama just saying so to make her feel more at ease? Either way, she knew she had no choice and what the heck, maybe he was as handsome and sweet as her Mama had said.
Later that day, once Edith had finished her shift at the local Café, she returned home and changed into one of her best dresses. Baby blue with sequins and strips of gold throughout, Edith was careful to compliment her figure but also remain modest and respectful. She also put on a pair of long black gloves and her new gold heels to complete the look.
As she descended the stairs, Madame Fanny was waiting at the bottom, eagerly awaiting to see her daughter. She gasped as she saw the way her little girl was dressed. "Oh, Edith. You look absolutely gorgeous. You will knock his socks off!" Edith couldn't help but smile. She knew she looked good and hoped that René would think the same.
Madame Fanny helped Edith into her coat and kissed her on both of her cheeks. "Now go, my child. Enjoy yourself and do not do anything you would not do unless you were married!"
Edith giggled at the last part. Her Mama should take a leaf out of her own book.
As she walked down the street, butterflies gathered in Edith's tummy as she got near to the Artois' home. What if I mess this up? What if he is just as rough and arrogant as Simon was? Edith shuddered. She could not handle that again.
As she arrived at the front door, she gently knocked and did not have to wait long for it to be opened. Edith felt her breath catch in her throat. There stood the most handsome and tall boy she had ever laid eyes on. Jet black hair, a perfectly trimmed moustache and the most beautiful blue eyes that drew her in instantly.
"You must be Mademoiselle Edith. I am René." With that, he took Edith's hand and kissed it gently. She could feel from René's gentle grip he was the opposite to the other boys she had flirted with. She smiled and nodded. "I am sorry that I did not come over to you before. I…I have been rather busy and…" René smiled sweetly at her. "You have nothing to be sorry for, it's absolutely fine. You're here now."
He lead Edith into the house by gently holding her hand. He brought her into the kitchen where his Mama and Papa were sat, also smiling and welcoming. "Mama, Papa, this is Mademoiselle Edith. She works at Café Jean down the road." Edith looked up at René and hid her disbelief that he already knew so much about her. It was obvious that Mama had been talking to René's parents at length about her life.
"It is lovely to meet you, Edith. We have been wanting you to join us for dinner for quite some time and René would not stop speaking about you." Edith looked at René and felt more butterflies accumulate in her stomach. The way he looked her was unlike anything she had experienced before. This wasn't just simply lust, it was something else, she could not quite put her finger on it. But it felt safe, warm, and simply amazing. She smiled back at him and bravely placed her hand on his.
René beamed at her and looked at his parents. Somehow, even within a few minutes of being at his house, Edith felt she right in with René and his family. Dinner lasted for over an hour, and in that time Edith spoke about her life, her Mama and the absence of her Papa. René's parents were keen to find out everything about Edith's life. Edith also found out all about René's life and why his parents had moved here. Somehow, she could feel a sense of loss and pain particularly from René's Mama but Edith felt better to not ask too many questions too soon.
Once dinner and dessert were eaten, René turned to Edith and smiled. "Would you like me to walk you home?" Edith smiled back at him. "I would love that."
As they got up, René grabbed Edith's coat and helped her into it. Edith turned to René's parents and beamed at both of them. "Thank you so much for the delicious meal and for inviting me over. This is the most fun I have had in a long time."
René's Mama, as she now knew as Juliette, stood up and walked over to Edith. She couldn't help but notice Juliette had a wobble in her walk. "You're more than welcome here anytime my sweet. It has been a pleasure to finally meet you." She embraced Edith and Edith gently held her too. She felt part of the family already.
René's Papa, as Edith now knew as Pierre, also stood up and gently embraced Edith. "We have always wanted René to know a beautiful and kind girl and we are overjoyed that you came here." Edith smiled at both of René's parents and felt surrounded by warmth and joy.
René then gently took Edith's hand as he had before and lead her out of the house and outside. "Sorry for all of the questioning." René sighed. Edith looked up at him and softly ran her thumb over the back of his hand. "There's nothing to be sorry for. I felt so welcomed by your Mama and Papa. I've never had that before…" Edith stopped herself from speaking further. René turned to Edith and raised his eyebrow. "Have you had a relationship before?"
Edith looked down at her feet. "No. But I will not lie to you, René. I have kissed a boy before, but he was horrible. And it wasn't my choice." René reached out and held Edith's other hand as he looked at her with concern and care. "He forced himself onto you..?" Edith nodded and tried and failed to stop the tear from rolling down her cheek. René instantly moved his hand to cup Edith's face and wipe away the stray tear.
Edith's heart began to race. She loved how René's hand felt against her cheek. Their eyes met and for the first time, Edith could feel without a doubt, René loved her. That's what this was. It was love at first sight. René wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her closer gently. Her then tucked one of Edith's curls behind her ear.
"Any man that does that deserves to be 6 feet under. You're safe with me now." Edith felt more tears roll down her cheeks but this time, it was from pure happiness. "Kiss me." Edith whispered. Without hesitation, René leaned in and their lips met in a soft, gentle first kiss.
This is what it is meant to feel like. Edith thought to herself. True love's first kiss.