Exton

Alise was laughing, a blindfold over her eyes as Laila leads her into the living room. She laughed again at Taras “*couvrez vos yeux” and she could hear the scuffling of excited children, trying hard to keep a secret.

When Laila stops and steps away Alise reaches out in front of her and feels the edge of the dining room table. “I am in the dining room... so what is the big secret? I dont smell supper...”

Stoney grins and tells her, “Take off the blindfold...”

As Alise removes the cover from her eyes she gets a scent of the roses. Opening her eyes, she gasps at the arrangement of white, pink and red roses in front of her. “All of these for me? They are simply gorgeous...”

She picks up Gracie and holds her close to a bloom. Alise inhales deeply, the smell always reminding her of her mother and the gardens back home in France. Suddenly Gracie leans forwards and licks a petal. “Mmm...”

Laughing Alise tells her, 'They are not for eating ma petite...” Then she notices the white roses. Her hand reaches out and gently slips over the bloom. Whatever stone her husband had used was almost white, and carved so intricately the flowers appeared real. There were three sculpted roses in amongst the real red and pink ones and it brought tears to Alises eyes. “Chiot, mon dieu, **ils sont exquis...”

“One for each of our children. One day we will have a bouquet, non?” Stoney gives Alise a wicked grin, making her swat at him.

They are so beautiful, merci Remi...

Stoney caresses her with his mind, giving her a glimpse of what he had in mind for later...There is something else, Chaton...

Alise turns back to the vase of flowers and sees a long thin white box, tied with a purple ribbon. “Whats this? Another gift for me?”

The children smile and the twins nod excitedly.

Alise smiles, knowing the children had tried to wrap this themselves with a little help most likely from Laila. She carefully unties the bow, feeling the childrens excitement. “What could it be?” she asks, and forces down a laugh at the little ones obvious impatience.

Slowly lifting the lid, Alise eyes fill with tears and a hand goes to her mouth. “Ohhh...”

Inside the box is another sculpted rose, this one obviously made by Tomas with some help from his father. While not so prefect as the ones in the vase, it does show plainly that the little boy may have inherited his fathers talent. The petals are a little thicker than his fathers and not quite as detailed but Alise loves it just as much if not more than the perfect ones in the vase. It is painted a very faint pink, the leaves pale green with darker green veins. She gets an image of Tomas working the clay, Tara painting the petals and Gracie trying to paint the leaves with Lailas help.

Tears start to slip down Alises cheeks, and she gathers her children close. She kisses them all, unable to say anything for a few moments.


*cover your eyes

**they are exquisite