drawing while I was away?
– Yes, while you were away.
– Again on the floor in front of the fireplace, I guess? – Louis asked his wife, laughing.
– How did you guess? – Vanessa was surprised.
– I know this is her favorite place in the house. I saw it once, but didn’t scold it.
At that moment, Melisande entered the dining room.
– What are you watching?
“Your drawings,” answered the grandmother.
“But I don’t show them to anyone,” the granddaughter answered displeasedly.
– We were wondering, and Louise took them in your room, will you forgive us? – Louis felt a certain pang of conscience that they had invaded her personal space.
– I forgive you, but why did you watch them?
– We want to ask you.
By this time Pierre had already returned, and they were all sitting at the table.
– What to ask? – She asked while helping herself to a salad.
– How do you feel about studying at an art school?
Pierre joined the conversation:
“I think you should accept this offer, little sister.”
– Okay, I’ll study there. But keep in mind that if I don’t like it, I won’t stay there.
and their daughter Olivia made decisions so quickly. And Melisande reminded Louis of herself very much.
– Are you sure? – Vanessa decided to clarify, – let’s go to the galleries, you’ll look at the paintings..
– Yes, grandma, it’s a good idea, but I’ve already made my decision.
– Anyway, one of these days we will go to the galleries.
– Fine.
At this point they continued dinner and their conversations turned to art, Pierre talked about his successes at the Lyceum. From the outside they looked like an ideal family, but that was only the first impression.
Artists see the world differently, Louis was convinced that Melisande perceived everything differently, not like other people. She asked permission to remodel her room when she was a 15-year-old teenager, and her grandfather gave permission to see what would come of it. Having received money for materials, she did not let anyone into the room until the end of the renovation; only the workers who made the room saw her, but they were silent. When the renovation was finally completed, all family members saw the interior of the room and were very surprised. The room, its walls and furniture were strikingly different from the rest of the house. Melisande allocated herself a working area, which she separated with a screen, the color of the walls was deep blue, not all of them, but only where she planned to do creative work, the other three walls were white, and instead of the paintings that hung before, she decorated the wall with African masks, which Vanessa brought it a long time ago. When Vanessa saw them on the wall, she was overcome with horror, and she apologized to everyone and left the room.
Pierre and Louis said in one voice:
– Lord, how did you come up with the idea to decorate the walls with these masks?
And Louis added:
– Where did you even find them?
– So what do you think? Like? – Melisande asked her grandfather and brother, smiling; she learned about them from Louise, she got them for me from the outbuilding.
– This is very unusual, and definitely not my style, but since you like it, why not.
“Congratulations, little sister, on your new room,” Pierre hugged his sister.
Finally Vanessa returned to them and said :
– You have good taste, honey.
The granddaughter approached her and, taking her hand, asked:
– Granny, are you really not angry that Louise showed them to me and I hung them up?
“No, but it’s such a color, you probably need to study, boys, let’s go,” she took Louis and Pierre by the hands, and they left Melisande alone.
The life of Olivia’s children away from home was so interesting and eventful. They grew up, each with their own life, in different cities in Italy. By that time, Melisande had already trained as a designer and lived in Milan. She made a friend, with whom she drank coffee, discussed projects, went to exhibitions, and sometimes went out of town for picnics.
The life of the young designer took place in the center of Milan, her apartment was located on Dante Street, not far from the Sforzesco Castle. There was a luxurious park where it was nice to spend time in and grab a coffee to go. Her studio was also not far from home. As a rule, her day began at five in the morning or a little later, after waking up, washing her face and throwing a silk robe over her elegant shirt, she went down to the first floor. She loved the divine aroma of coffee that enveloped the entire kitchen when she brewed it in a Turk from Istanbul. While the coffee was brewing, she looked through her email on her laptop; there were various offers of cooperation, but they did not attract her. She wanted to do something worthwhile and was waiting for a client who had unusual taste and could trust her in interior design. Very soon she was supposed to have the official opening of the studio and her family and friends were supposed to fly in; preparation for this event took up almost all of her time. She preferred to dine in the city at the fish restaurant La Risacca, there was a sophisticated and informal atmosphere that allowed her to work and dine in peace. After lunch, she always called her grandfather to find out how things were going with them, but today she still had to call her brother in Paris, where he had flown to settle his business and decide whether or not to buy a chateau in Bordeaux. After lunch, she decided to take a walk and at the same time call her grandfather and brother. Having dialed her grandfather’s number on the phone, she waited; Ludovic did not pick up the phone for a long time and finally answered:
– Hello granddaughter! – his voice was joyful, which lifted Melisande’s mood.
– How are you doing, grandpa? Anything new? Like a grandma?
– Things are good, I recently spoke with your mother, she said hello to you. Grandma is fine, let’s go for a walk with her, what’s new with you?
– I’m getting ready for the opening, will you come?
– Exactly, your discovery, I forgot, forgive me. Yes, of course we’ll fly, do you need to call your mom about wine at the event or will Pierre take care of this issue?
– Pierre has a lot to do now, he’s rushing around with his discoveries, and besides, he wants to buy a chateau in Bordeaux, so I’ll call my mother.
– Okay, but I think he can get to the opening.
– I’ll call him today, let’s discuss this point.
– You are business people with me, so run, granddaughter.
“Yes, business,” she answered with a smile, “we’ll call you this week.”
– Yes, we’ll call you, bye!
After talking with her grandfather, she smiled, she really liked the fact that he was in a great mood and promised to be at the opening. Walking into a nearby coffee shop, she grabbed a large caramel latte and headed to the park. Sitting down on the bench, she took out her phone and dialed her brother. Pierre-Martin immediately picked up the phone:
– Pierre, hello!
– Hello, little sister, how are you doing? Are you getting ready to open?
– Yes, I’m getting ready, I’m doing well, I talked to my