All That Glitters

'I don't want you neglecting your art,' he insisted.

'Nothing's more important than my children, Beau. My art will take a backseat,' I told him. I wanted to be close to my boys and make sure they were taught to love and cherish each other. Beau understood.

A week after I had returned from the hospital with our twins, I sat out in the gardens, relaxing and reading. Pearl was upstairs in the new nursery, intrigued and fascinated with her two infant brothers.

'Pardon, madame,' Aubrey said, coming out to me, 'but this just arrived special delivery for you.'

'Thank you, Aubrey.' I took the envelope. When I saw it came from Jeanne, I sat back, my fingers trembling as I tore it open. There was a photograph within and a note.

Dear Ruby,

Mother insisted every iota of anything that reminds us of you be thrown out. I couldn't find it in my heart to throw this away. Somehow, I think, Paul would have wanted you to have it.

Jeanne

I looked at the picture. I couldn't remember who had taken it, one of Paul's school friends, I thought. It was a picture of the two of us taken at the fais dodo hall when Paul had taken me to the dance. That had been my first real date, and it was before I had learned the truth about ourselves. Both of us looked so young and innocent and hopeful. We had nothing ahead of us but happiness and love.

I didn't realize I was crying until a tear fell on the photograph.

'Mommy!' I heard Pearl cry from the patio. I turned to see her running toward me, Beau coming along behind her. 'They looked at me! Pierre and Jean! They both looked at me and they smiled!'

I quickly wiped any remaining tears from my cheeks and stuffed the picture and the note between the pages of my book.

'They did,' Beau vouched. 'I saw it myself.'

'I'm glad, darling. Your brothers will love you forever and ever.'

'Come on, Mommy. Let's go see them. Come on,' she urged, pulling on my hand.

'I will, honey. In a moment.'

Beau stared at me. 'Are you all right?' he asked. 'Yes.' I smiled. 'I am.'

'I'll take her back. Let's go, princess. Give Mommy a little more rest, okay? And then she'll come.'

'Will you, Mommy?'

'I will, honey. I promise.'

Beau mouthed I love you and carried Pearl back to the house.

I sat back in the distance a cloud shaped like a pirogue drifted across the blue sky and I thought I heard Grandmere Catherine whispering in the breeze again, filling me with hope.