Page 4 of Ma Belle Marguerite
“Bad,” Brielle yells at the same time. Brielle and Remi both start laughing.
“Okay, we’ll start with bad, so maybe it’ll ease the sting by hearing the good after.” Calmly looking between them, she gauges their reaction before continuing. “You are moving to Stinson tomorr—.”
“WHAT NO, NOT FAIR!” Remi jumps up off the couch angrily.
“Remi! Sit down and listen to your Matante, please.” I try to remain calm and understanding since this is being sprung on them. I knew he would react poorly, so I selfishly waited to tell him so I wouldn’t have to deal with this for weeks before we left. Remi turns and starts to walk away. “Just sit down and listen, please, Remi.”
Brielle, as always, is waiting patiently for Camille to continue. She got that from her father, definitely not from me. My patience is non-existent.
“Fine, but I won’t be happy about it!” He walks back and collapses onto the couch with his arms crossed. Yep, he got that from me too, unfortunately.
“Okay, as I was saying, you’ll be moving tomorrow. That is the bad part.” She pauses to see if Remi is even paying attention. “I know you love your hockey team here, but the team we have at home has so much more potential for you.”
“Wait, there’s a hockey team there?” Remi perks up. “But it’s such a small school compared to mine. Mom always said that it was nowhere near the size of my school.”
“Yes, buddy, they are very good. They have a coach that retired from the NHL a couple of years ago,” I say, knowing that will get his attention. He loves the Detroit Red Wings. “I’ll tell you all the information, and you can look it up on our drive north, okay?”
“I still don’t want to go, but I will think about it,” he mumbles, trying not to show how interested he really is.
“Okay, so that was some good news. Brielle, you’ll love the school there.” Camille continues as if we never interrupted her. “They have gymnastics and a dance team. It’s not cheerleading, but it could have better opportunities for you!”
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to do gymnastics. But what about my friends, though? I don’t want to leave them.” I can tell she’s thinking this through carefully.
“We can plan for them to visit us in the summer, and you both can always come here and visit them. Don’t forget your Grandma is still here.” I remind them.
“So, who wants to race to see which bedroom gets packed up the fastest?” Camille chimes in with her usual upbeat positivity. “Only pack up what you need for the next week or so. It has to fit in your Mom’s SUV.”
“Grab your big suitcases, and I’ll start a countdown once you’re ready. I bet I’ll beat you both!” I yell behind me as I race off to try and get a head start. Those children of mine are super competitive, and I don’t stand a chance.
Plus, I will have to go through their stuff and make sure they pack what they need, not just what they want. The moving company will bring all our stuff to Stinson next week. I need to stop procrastinating; it comes back to bite me every time.
I hear the twins racing up the stairs behind me while fighting the whole way. There are some laughs mixed in with the arguing, at least, so it’s still friendly for now. I never know how it will end up with those two.
When I enter my room, my excitement dwindles. Looking around at my life with Adrien, the last twelve years we lived here hurts. There are pictures of Adrien and I everywhere. All of his things are where he left them. I haven’t had the heart to put anything away, let alone get rid of things. It feels like I’mgetting rid of what is left of him. I’ll need to part with most of it. I can’t bring it all with me. I will have to try to narrow it down to keepsakes for the kids and myself.
I hate feeling like I’m leaving this part of our life behind. Things will be so much different and I’m not sure if I’m fully prepared for this. I don’t want to pack it all up, but it’s what’s best for my family. Even though this was more of a life I spent with a best friend, there was still a form of love. An important part of my life has been ripped away from me. My heart will always have a broken piece for him.
Adrien and I didn’t have a traditional wedding. We used bracelets instead of rings. I know it’s strange, but when you don’t marry for love, it’s different. His parents didn’t want us to have children out of wedlock. So this was our compromise.
I want to have his bracelet to wear. The kids were constantly stealing his sunglasses and hats. I should probably keep some of them as well.
After about five minutes, I hear yelling down the hallway. Camille pokes her head into my room. “I got it, Bella, just keep packing.”
There is that high school nickname that never left even after all these years. “Thank you!” I yell back after her. I sit on the bed, trying not to let myself get overwhelmed.Well, I should start with my B.O.Bs while the kids are distracted—you know, theessentials. I may be a widow, but I still have needs.
Just as I close the box, Remi barges through the door, laughing so hard he can barely breathe. I’m surprised he can even run. “Remi, what did you do to your sister now?”
“MOOOOMMMMM, REMI PUT TOOTHPASTE IN MY LIPGLOSS AGAIN!” Brielle yells from the bathroom across the hall.
I look at Remi and roll my eyes. He has the biggest goofy grin on his face. I swear he thrives off of driving his sister crazy.
“Remi, you know the deal. You mess with your sister’s stuff, and you have to replace it.” I give him my best attempt at a stern face while trying not to laugh.
“But Mom, it was already empty. I just refilled it for her. Really, she should be thanking me. I made her a travel-size toothpaste!” He says it like it was the best idea he’s ever had.
“Very funny, buddy, but still not okay. Go apologize and finish packing, please.” I whisper so Brielle doesn’t hear me. “If you win, I’ll order pizza for supper, but if she wins, we’ll be having Chinese food.”
As fast as he came into my room, he runs out. Maybe I should try to get him to sign up for track. He’s pretty quick when he wants to be.
