Trouble finding Blondie (33 page)

Andre almost had a heart attack and slightly dropped Francois. The patio got noisy. Everyone was hugging Andre and his son. Francois was in his element, getting the attention, until he saw Mateas. He ran straight to him. Simona noticed that all the girls had their hair done. Even Monique had her makeup done. She walked over to Simona and said, “Are you kidding me? This royal treatment? You need to stop spoiling us.”
“I wanted everyone to look their best and to have a good time,” Simona smiled.

“Looking at your dress, I wouldn’t worry about anybody upstaging you. It’s beautiful. I feel underdressed now.”

“I brought some extra dresses. Madame Cecilia put them in your room if you’d like to try them on.”

Monique couldn’t hide her excitement and ran off, blowing kisses to Simona. Then someone grabbed Simona from behind, holding her around her waist, kissing her on the neck.

“This better be Trouble. Otherwise I will be in trouble with my jealous partner.”

“Thank you, Blondie… for everything. You got me full on. I had no clue.”

“Come on. You knew something was up.”

“Yes, but not this big. Didn’t expect Anton to be here, too.”

“Margaret would have never forgiven me if she would have been excluded.”

Before Andre could respond, all the kids were pulling him away. Simona smiled and waved. She rushed upstairs, only to find Monique sitting on a bed in a pile of misery.

“What’s wrong?”

“They are all beautiful.”

“Neither of them fit?”

“No, they are perfect. I just don’t know which one to pick.”

Simona grabbed a plumb colored dress with amazing cleavage, a tight torso, all hugging Monique’s curves as a sexy glove.

“Put it on. We have to go. You are my alibi.”

“What? Where are we going?” Monique asked.

“No time to explain. Get flat shoes, and grab your heels to take with you.”

On the way out, she asked Madame Cecilia to keep everyone busy. They would be back in 20 minutes.

The drive was only five minutes. Simona pulled in and ran out of the car without any explanation. Monique followed. It was 6:30 PM, and she saw Philippe standing by the bar.

“Wow, you cleaned up well,” she said as a way of lightening up the stare he was producing while looking at her.

“Francois wasn’t exaggerating. You do look like an angel girl.”

“Thank you. I came to check on everything. Philippe, this gorgeous creature with dark hair is my sister-in-law Monique.” Before any of them could exchange a word, she had gone outside again. Simona walked out into a world of magic. The setting was beyond her expectations. The patio turned into a wonderland. Hanging crystals were flicking lights, the dark butterflies looked real, and the light blue dragonflies had crystal grey wings like from a fairy tale. The table was gorgeous, decorated with blue vases, white and gray flower arrangements with a touch of green deco grass. The tablecloth had crystal hangings to keep it straight. A few butterflies and dragonflies landed on the table. They were made of silk and looked very real, just peacefully resting. The silver place settings, white china with silver edges, polished silverware, and spotless glasses were all to Swiss perfection.

“Madame, satisfied?”

“Oh, Monsieur Arnaud. It’s fantastic. You and your staff did an amazing job. Merci.”

“No, no, Madame. Our job didn’t even start yet.”

“Spoken like a true maitre d’…”

“Do you have the placement cards?”

“Yes. But if you don’t mind, I have to make sure they are in order.”

“Sure, let me help you with one side of the table. It will save you time, and you can just double check.”

“Mahalo.”

“What’s that, Madame?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. That’s ‘thank you’ in Hawaiian.”

“Mahalo? Fabulous. I learned something new today. Mahalo.”

“I can teach you all kind of words: mahalo, aloha, pakalolo.”

“I know aloha. What’s pakalolo?”

“That’s marihuana, Monsieur Arnaud,” she laughed.

“Madame. You must not make me smile. I have a scary reputation to protect.”

“I heard. Your secret is safe.”

Simona looked around the table one more time, then kissed the blushing Monsieur Arnaud, and walked over to Monique and Philippe.
 

“Oh, I forgot you two have a language barrier. My apologies. Let’s go.”

Simona had two more envelopes to hand out. One for the decorator, the other for the florist.
 

“You have done an amazing job. You transformed an old patio into a wonderland. I’m very impressed, beyond pleased, and incredibly grateful. Thank you.”

“Merci for your compliments. But we just delivered your vision. We can’t take credit for that.”

“Well, I guess we all have done well, and you, Mr. Lantern, were incredibly fast. I was worried there for a while.”

“I love it when you call me Mr. Lantern.”

“Oh, are the butterflies on the table extras or part of the 33 count?”

“The table and above is the 33. We put some extras on the bar and also on some flower arrangements inside. The table was actually the maitre d’s idea.”

Simona finished the conversation by handing them the envelopes with their names, bowed, and took off again at an impressive speed.

They were back at the B&B before anyone had a chance to question their absence. She pushed Monique forward and said, “Here is my excuse.”
 

Adam’s eyes were bigger than the lanterns hanging from the pergola at the chateau. Mission accomplished.
 

“You outdid yourself,” came out of nowhere, and Simona screamed. Everyone laughed, knowing how easily she was spooked. She was in Andre’s arms, finally relaxed, happy, and ready for a drink.

“You have been neglecting me. Where is my drink?”

“Neglecting? I can’t find my woman. She keeps disappearing on me, and it’s like a reoccurring nightmare. From now on, I don’t want you out of my sight. You got that?”

Andre was squeezing her tighter around her waist.

“I like the new territorial Trouble.”

“I noticed I have another competitor,” Andre was smiling, pointing to his mini me who was chatting with grandpa, constantly checking that he wasn’t dirty or wrinkled.

“We are finally complete. We should take some family pictures,” Andre had the same idea as Simona. Grandpa in the middle, one woman on each side, Anton and Margaret, Adam and Monique, them, and the kids. For one shot Francois demanded he sit on grandpa’s lap. That inspired a picture with grandpa and just the grandkids, and one shot with the father and his three sons. Everyone’s favorite was grandpa having both grandsons in his lap and his own three sons standing behind.
 
Francois and Mateas were looking at each other, feeling all important. All the women were admiring their men.

Simona walked over to the photographers to make sure that they already had someone at the other location. She was trying to wrap up what turned out to be a full blown photo shoot. Andre refused to let go of Simona’s hand.
 

“Am I going to be a prisoner all night long?”

“And don’t you forget it. You can use your other hand for wine.”

“Haha. What if I want to hug someone?”

“Not happening.”

“Eat?”

“I’ll feed you.”

“Ok, oligarch. We should go. Philippe must be nervous.”

“I forgot about him for a moment. And the answer is no. Not letting go of you, even for Philippe.”

“Now you are being a total oppressor.”

“None of that will offend me, quite the opposite. I’ll be proud to imprison you. Did you notice our senior was moved to tears when Francois climbed up on his lap?”

“Almost moved me to tears, too,” Simona smiled, kissed Andre, thanking God for all her blessings.

“Andre, I feel like I finally have a family.”

“Of course you have a family, silly.”

“No, not in that way. I mean like Al Capone. Or Corleone. You know, with all these different generations and matriarchs.”

“Zatopek mafia?”

“I mean it. I never had it. And I love that Francois has that.”

Andre realized that Simona was being sentimental, and he kissed her.
 

“They are no words to describe what I feel right now. So I’m just going to enjoy it, ok?”

“It’s your birthday, your people. That’s what you are supposed to be doing.”

19

"SOMEONE KNOWS HER WORTH AND EXPRESSED THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE LABOR OF LOVE."

SIMONA MADE SURE that they were the last ones leaving. Everyone followed the film crew to the chateau. Francois wasn’t very happy about staying with them and not going with Mateas. He told him to hide in their car. When they drove out of the driveway, Mateas popped out. Francois was so happy with his conspiracy that he started clapping and laughing. It was contagious.

“Blondie, we need to talk about this kid. He is going to outsmart us soon.”

“Seems like we are too late for ‘that’ talk, Andre.”

“Where is our dinner?”

“Philippe rented a chateau. He is throwing you a dinner party, Papa.”

Andre smiled and looked at Simona with admiration.
 

“Thanks for not shaving.”

“I was surprised when you were giving orders. You said ‘shaved, dressed, blah blah.’ But I know you like me scruffy.”

“That was a figure of speech for you to be ready. I like scruffy because it’s soft. The first day after you shave, you are like a porcupine.”

“Yes, Papa. You scratch.”

“How do you know? Mama told you? You two are ganging up on me.”

“No, I had ouchies on my cheeks.”

“Seriously? I’m sorry, munchkin. I’ll be more careful.”

Simona was making a puppy eyes face with her lip rolled up. Andre looked in the back mirror and saw the same expression in a mini version. He had the urge to kiss them both but had to concentrate, pulling into the gate of a chateau he had never seen before.

Simona had a few different versions for the entry that she and Philippe have been debating for days. She didn’t even know herself which scenario was going to be the final choice. All the kids got new outfits from Simona. Mateas was dressed as the exact opposite to Francois. Dark blue collared shirt with light grey pants. They were picture perfect.

Simona noticed the wait staff was doubling as the valet, which was probably the smart doing of Mr. Arnaud. Walking in, she noticed the amazing flower arrangements with some blue butterflies on the entry door. The foyer was dark, lit up with candles only. They followed the light and music coming from the outside. They were all holding hands as if walking through a spooky castle. Francois was holding Andre’s hand, Mateas on the other side holding Simona’s.

Philippe was standing in the door leading into the great room, smiling.

“Good evening. Happy birthday, Andre.”

Andre had no choice but to let go of both hands to embrace Philippe with open arms. Philippe told them to follow him. He walked by a room full of people having a cocktail party. Knowing Andre and his curiosity, he peeked, but kept walking until he arrived at the patio where the whole family was waiting. He came out with a puzzled look, didn’t say anything, but walked back.

The room was dark with no movement in it. Andre shook his head as if it was playing tricks on him. When he came back, Simona said, “I’m sorry, but I forgot my pashmina in the car. I’ll be right back.”

“Hell no. Don’t you move! I’ll go get it.”

Andre walked by the dark room again, still shaking his head.

In the meantime all the Zatopeks came up to the massive living room with opened French doors, and sat down on the sofas, the ledges, all around. The kids were suddenly quiet, and everyone was sitting still, hiding in the shadows, with candles flickering in the dark. Only the room with the cocktail party was lit up. Andre walked in, and naturally all his attention was on the Fata Morgana in front of him.
 

He seemed to recognize some people. He looked at Philippe and Simona smiling in the background, and then he finally opened the French glass door. That was the cue for everyone to turn screaming…’SURPRISE!’

Simona and Philippe gave each other a high five. Mission accomplished.
 

“You really should be a party planner.”

“Funny. Both the deco guy and the florist want me to convince you to consider doing that here. They want you to make them rich.”

“I’m so rich and so happy, Philippe, that I don’t think I can take any more.”

After 20 min for everyone to have a chance to meet and greet, Philippe took over his host position. He greeted all the guests and made a polite request for everyone to respect that English was the common language for the evening. For those who didn’t speak English, volunteer translators had been provided with assigned seating. He asked everyone to take a seat. The dinner was going to be served because the children were hungry.