sat near the fireplace and read another book; she also loved to watch the firewood crackle and the flames dance in the air.
“Olivia,” Louis addressed her softly, “let’s go and talk in my office before dinner.”
She realized that the conversation would be serious, since her father called her into the office. It was always like this with them: they discussed everything related to business or any changes in life in a strictly closed office, lined with collections of weapons from different times. From the office there was a door to the rich library that Louis collected throughout his life. Not only Olivia loved to spend time there, but also Vanessa. Louis and his daughter entered the office, and he looked at her and pointed to a chair for her to sit down. He stood near the window, looked out of it for about two minutes, then sat down at his luxurious work desk. It was custom made from solid oak with an original tabletop decorated with handmade inlay, and the drawers in the cabinets were lined with velvet. Louis loved beautiful things very much and spared no expense on them. He also taught his children and grandchildren a love of beauty and careful handling of things.
“Olivia,” he looked carefully at his daughter and continued his speech, “you understand that this is a serious decision and I need to make sure that you are ready for an independent life.”
– Yes, dad, I understand everything.
Louis raised his palm, signaling to his daughter that she should listen to him without interrupting. Olivia fell silent.
“I know that you are a free-thinking person, convinced of the success of any of your business, but as a father, I worry about you. As a person with life experience, I must warn you about the difficulties that may arise when you are left here alone. You know that I have always supported people who have aspirations and desires. I will help you, but I want you to know that at any moment you can move to Sicily with your mother and me.
Olivia liked the course of the conversation less and less, but she listened to her father without interrupting. Realizing that he says all this with the best intentions. When her father finished speaking, Olivia decided that she could express her opinion on all this.
She looked at her father, and he realized that he would listen to her now:
– I see you want to tell me something.
– Yes, dad, you’re right. I’d like to speak up.
– Okay, I’m listening.
– You know my love for the country in which I was born and raised, and I never allowed the thought that I would need to leave it. I love Lyon, Paris is sometimes pleasant to me, but not so much that I visit it more often than necessary. Everything here is dear to me, everything breathes my childhood. The fact that you chose Italy to move to, I think, is no coincidence. You’ve been preparing for this move for quite some time. You built your life your own way, achieved everything you wanted, you are an example of a person that many people want to emulate. And I am among them, I want to be like you so that you are proud of me. And I want to build my life myself. So please leave me here.
Louis was silent and thought at that time that his daughter had somehow unexpectedly grown up. He was overcome by disturbing thoughts about life in Sicily without his daughter. It always seemed to him that this time would never come. But he understood that every person has a chance to live their life the way a person wants, and it would be a colossal mistake to deprive his daughter of such an opportunity. He was interrupted from his thoughts by a knock on the door.
– Come in!
Louise came in and said:
– Dinner is ready, will you come to the table soon? Madame asks.
– Yes, we’ll be leaving soon. Five minutes.
“Okay,” and she left.
Louis stood up and went to the window.
“Okay,” he turned to his daughter, “I’ll buy you a chateau and give you money to open a business.” We will draw up a business plan together, and you will have a year to develop your business.
Hearing this, Olivia could hardly restrain herself from expressing wild joy. She knew that her father had never particularly liked displays of emotion. He was a reserved and cold person, stingy in showing any emotions, be it a joyful or sad event, his face remained invariably calm, and not a single muscle moved.
“Okay, dad,” Olivia calmly responded to her father’s proposal, “I’m sure you won’t be disappointed in your decision and in me.”
“God willing,” Louis answered, “and now we can go to the table.”
– Yes, you can.
They went into the dining room, but there was no one at the table.
– Louise! – Louis called loudly, the housekeeper came out of the kitchen.
– Did you call?
– Yes, where is Vanessa?
– Madame was waiting for you, and then she asked for a shawl and went out into the garden.
“At a time like this,” the owner of the house said thoughtfully.
Olivia looked at her father and politely suggested:
– Maybe you and I will go out into the garden and find mom? We need to tell her the news.
Louis glanced at her quickly and nodded. They left the house.
Vanessa hated waiting for something or someone for a long time. This depressed her, and she, left alone, often went to her favorite roses. When Louis flew away on his business, she died of melancholy and spent a lot of time in her room, sitting in a chair and looking out the window, no one knew what she saw there or wanted to see. At such moments, she did not even go out to eat and Louise brought food to her room, otherwise one day Louis would have risked finding his wife who had died of hunger. She loved to go out into the garden and sit in the gazebo, which was surrounded by bushes of antique Gerda roses Nissen, their color was carmine pink, and they smelled of a sweet fruity aroma. She saw these roses in an old garden when she flew on a trip to Germany. She was told that this variety was created during the time of Victor Hugo and she was very impressed. It was these roses that Vanessa planted herself, despite the fact that they had a gardener who kept order.
That evening she sat in the dining room and waited for her husband and daughter, when some time passed, tired of waiting, she decided to go to her favorite gazebo, to the roses.
“Louise,” she called her faithful maid in a velvety voice.
– Did you call Madam? – Louise smiled and approached the mistress of the house.
– You could go upstairs and bring me a shawl, I want to go to the garden.
“But dinner is coming soon,” the housekeeper noted.
– They are still in the office, I have time, and I’m not comfortable sitting at the table alone.
“Okay, I’ll bring it now,” – having said this, Louise left.
Vanessa
