The Story of Rosemary Buttons. Gregory J. McKenzie
( no idea what he said?)......Non! argent francais!"
The trip into Paris was forty minutes. They were staying at an hotel close to the Paris Montparnasse train station. The hotel check in done, they went to a local bistro for dinner then crashed back in their rooms. Check out was two in the afternoon. Rosemary's brothers had downloaded an app onto their smartphones so they raced to be the first to warn her that it was midnight in Sydney. They slept through breakfast time much to the disgust of Rosemary's brothers. So they behaved like true Parisians by having a big bread based lunch.
The wait at the train station was not too long. As they were travelling economy class their carriages were closest to the gates. Being cautious Australians, they were seated well before departure. Their luggage all around them, the Buttons family were happy to have the cabin all to themselves. But just five minutes before departure three people turned up to claim their seats. Bags had to be placed on their laps and they had to squash together. Rosemary had noticed from her window seat that many locals had arrived at almost the last minute. Two of the late arrivals were an elderly couple. The man barked something at Rosemary in fast Fench. When Rosemary looked at him in confusion, the other late arrival said in perfect English,
"Please excuse his manner. He said that you are sitting in his seat!"
Sure enough the man was showing everyone in the carriage his ticket and pointing to the number above Rosemary's seat. Of course Rosemary moved at once, apologizing to the older man. This calmed him somewhat, so that when his wife had hoisted their luggage up onto the racks above his head, this man promptly went to sleep. Only then did his wife smile at Rosemary and pat her hand.
Mr.Button had told his children that the trip took just over two hours and that their high speed train would reach speeds of close to 300 kilometers per hour at parts of this journey. Also the trains were modern with full WiFi service. They were excited by the speed of this train and made good use of the enhanced WiFi access. This meant that Mr. Buttons was often left alone to think of what lay ahead of his little family in these days before and after Christmas. They were going to be met at Bordeaux St Jean station by a member of Mr. Buttons family. His mother's family came from Bordeaux and there were still family members living there as well as other parts of France. At the station Mr. Buttons had arranged to meet up with Louisa De Meur. He had not seen her since she was sixteen. Mr. Buttons had only being seventeen at the time when his mother had taken him back to see her French family connections. That had also been around Christmas time.
The train trip was so different from train travel in Australia, that the Buttons family could not help smiling with delight. They arrived on time at the train station in Bordeaux. Then there was a mad scramble as everyone seemed to leave the train carriages at the same time. Luckily for these Australian tourists, their carriage was once again right near the exit gates. Even more luck followed when they hearD their father's name called out by a well dressed woman. Mr. Buttons had taken some time on the train to warn his children about how adults greeted children in France. The boys were shocked to hear that they ere going to be kissed on the cheek by a complete stranger. So when Mr. Buttons replied to that shout,
"Over here Louisa. Here we are!"
the boys were ready for the welcoming kisses. Not that they minded because this woman was about the same age as their Dad. Rosemary got a kiss on both cheeks. Then this woman began to speak in perfect English.
"Welcome! Welcome to the city where your great grandmother was born and raised. Yes indeed you are descendants of my blood ancestors. Come let us grab a taxi and get you out of your travel clothes."
Mr. Buttons said in a voice suddenly choked with emotion,
"Lo you look exactly as you did when I saw you last. Thank you for that warm welcome."
Laughing a crystal clear laugh Louisa De Meur replied in a jovial tone of voice,
"Beaux enfants your father is a charmer, no? But I must know your names from your father's letter. Let me see the tall one must be the oldest so he is Jean....sorry John. The next tallest must be Francoise....that is French for Frank, mons cher. But who is this beautiful petite mademoiselle? Surely it cannot be the little Rosemary? But you said in your letter that she was a schoolgirl? I see a young woman before my eyes. Rosemary, petite, you are charming."
Blushing red, Rosemary could only lower her head. Louisa then said to Rosemary in a firm but friendly tone of voice,
"Never lower your head in France, ma charmante fille. We woman look each other in the eye always but always."
With that she placed her fingers on Rosemary chin to lift it up. Rosemary saw the wide smile on Louisa's face and looked into her smiling eyes. That was the moment Rosemary gave her young heart to this remarkable woman. Louisa caught the change in Rosemary's expression and quickly hugged her to herself. They walked out of the train station arm in arm with Louisa yelled behind her,
"You boys bring the luggage. Rosemary and I will get the taxi."
The taxi took them to a very stylish apartment building in the center of the city. Louisa chatted with the driver on the trip. She let him know that her family were from the Bordeaux region. So when they got to her address they got the local only taxi fare. Smiling to the taxi driver she counted out the money exactly. then the driver left after unloading all their bags from his taxi.
Mr. Buttons observed that Louisa did not tip the driver. Louisa showed no concern when she shrugged her shoulders before saying in a mater of fact tone of voice,
"We French do not tip and the driver did not expect a tip. Only tourists tip."
They carried their bags into the building, as Louisa guided them up to her lavish apartment. The boys whistled as Louisa showed them around. The boys were sharing the small guest bedroom. Mr Buttons was all alone in the big guest bedroom. Rosemary was given a room of her own. It was a small room right next to Louisa's own bedroom. Louisa explained to Rosemary in a conspiratorial tone of voice,
"Rosemary, we women must stick together, no? This used to be the clothing maids room. But today we are egalitarian. So it can be your room for your stay. Do you like it?"
Rosemary was overwhelmed by this woman's kindness to her and thankful for her perspicacity. She stood in that room and nodded her head ,as the tears started to fall. Immediately Louisa was holding her tightly as she spoke soft words of comfort,
"Mon adorable, you can cry all the time in my home. I cry often. Lets us both cry together. Oui?"
The boys were off exploring the rooftop terrace. Mr. Buttons was trying to find some clothes to impress this wonderfully beautiful family connection of his. So Rosemary and Louisa could just sit on the small bed and cry their eyes out. Rosemary never felt so cherished. She knew that she had finally found a new best friend.
Breeding
Louisa lived up to her promise to show the boys the sights of Bordeaux. Then she sprung her Christmas surprise. She wanted to take them to her family home to meet all their distant French relatives. They would spend three days at her father's Chateau. There she would introduce them to all of their father's second and third cousins once removed. These children of the great aunts and uncles of John Buttons were older than John, but still remembered when his mother brought him to France to visit with her French cousins. Arriving at the Chateau, Louisa began the introductions with her aged father, Monsieur de Mounteford
He was the patriarch of Louisa's extended family.