The restaurant was just perfect,like everything that Jean-Claude took care of. It was warm and welcoming and their table was in an alcove so they could chatter and laugh without disturbing anyone.
Madeleine glanced round the table. As always her heart leapt as she caught Jean-Claude's eye. Young Ricky was gazing at him with adoration and laughing with delight at Jean-Claude's tales.
Here round this table were the people she loved with all her heart. Her dear children Amelia and Paul, their families and her dearly loved Jean-Claude. She never thought she would be rewarded in later life with such love.
She had been blessed with natural beauty, and thanks to her grandmother Estelle she had learned from a young age to be groomed and chic and had given all her energy to her studies. Maths and Latin had been her passion. There were no surprises there, either you were right or wrong, there was a logic which gave harmony to her mind. She developed a passion for Finance and had a rare instinct.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Anne, her son's mother-in-law who was sitting on her right,
'Madeleine, we can never thank you enough. This is so wonderful for us to be together. You are so generous and Jean-Claude has such a gift for communicating, we have never seen Ricky so animated, and now the sanctuary and coming here like this on a plane, we are so happy.' Anne stopped and wiped a tear from her eye.
Madeleine patted her hand,
'The pleasure is all mine chère Anne. I have always wanted a family and now 'voilà '. The same goes for Jean-Claude. '
The waiter passed and filled their glasses and the two women raised them smiling and their eyes locked, deep warm smiles spreading across their faces.
Generosity is often misunderstood, Madeleine's father used to tell her. You must be discerning and discrete. Not everyone understands it. For a long time Madeleine had struggled with this, both husbands taking advantage of her but she had now learned to be generous in many ways and knew she had helped many people who would never know she was the one to thank for their good fortune. the word her grandmother used was 'grace', 'You have grace Madeleine and everything comes from your heart.'
Paul was standing up as if to make an announcement. She saw Greta caress her stomach and turned to Anne, they grasped hands under the table.
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