by Carl Leckey
The builders are using the huge kitchen as their office and mess facility. A great open fire greets us when we enter. Andre tosses a few logs onto the dwindling fire from a huge pile stacked in a corner.
When I remark on the size of the fire place Andre explains. “Marcel insisted we keep the original fire place. It was virtually intact when we cleaned away the rubble. We cleaned it up and hey presto, as good as new. We are having the spit and the rest of the fire implements refurbished at the local smithy, they were very rusty.” He laughs and remarks.
“Hey! Mr Adam. Just imagine you will be able to roast an ox on the spit when we put it back together.” Although the idea appeals to me I reply sardonically. “Oh yes. I can see my Misses doing that.” I believe Andre misinterpreted the remark I made in jest. He quickly adds. “Of course there will be a modern cooking range over there.”
He points to a wall where a stove pipe hangs unattached.
I don’t realise how cold I had become until we settle down in the snug kitchen. We sit on rough wooden benches at a table consisting of builder’s planks resting on trestles. I notice a camp bed in the corner presumably where Andre sleeps when he overnights in the house.
Grand Pere arrives whilst I am having a cup of coffee with Andre.
After the greeting he joins us for coffee and explains he saw me pass up the drive. When I arrived he was searching for one of his goats in the woods. For the first time since we met the old man he looks tired and worn out, he appears to have lost his zest for life. I wonder has the building work and the presences of so many strangers disturbed him. When I ask him about this he replies. “On the contrary I have enjoyed having their company especially the women and kids. They have really looked after me. I wish the summer could have lasted for ever. It is so good to see the old house reappearing from the ashes,” He adds with a grin. “And they have purchased my entire stock of cider, anything I can grow and all the eggs my poor hens can lay.”
Andre sensing my concern assures me the old man has become good friends with himself and his men. I notice the telephone on the wall by a table piled high with paper work. The plans for the house are pinned to the wall nearby. An idea comes to me. On the spare of the moment I telephone Alec at the hotel. After getting the usual backchat out of the way I ask him.
“Have you two rooms vacant for a couple of nights?” He replies with a curse. “Oh shit Adam! I haven’t even got a spare bed, we are booked solid until after the New Year. Are you bringing Denise? I am sorry to let you down Adam. Look! I have an idea. The Misses and I will bunk down in the cellar rooms, you can have our bed. We will be quite comfortable down there.”
I laugh. “Slow down mate. It’s not Denise I was going to bring it is Grand Father from the farm. Alec we will have the beds in the cellar. Don’t! You dare move Marguerite out of her bed on my behalf, if you don’t agree I won’t be coming. I don’t want any special arrangements just a place to lay my weary head and some of your excellent food. I mean nothing fancy, just a huge plate of steak and kidney pud, followed by jam Rolly Polly and custard.”
Alec admonishes me. “The bloody state of you! Sir! Bloody! Scouse!
I have some of the best chefs in France serving gourmet food to clients with discerning palates. What do you order? The soldier’s bloody nightmare!” He uses the tag we used during the war to describe the very food I have ordered. “Dobbin and guts in a crate, followed by mud blood and mustard gas. I shall warn the chefs to look out for some nice road kill to cook for His Lordship.” I reply with a laugh. “Give over Alec. I likes what I likes and nothing is gonna change me.”
He replies. “Adam you are the only one I know that admits he liked the army food. When are you planning to come anyway? I can’t wait for you to see what we have installed since your last visit.”
I reply. “I have a few things to sort out first, what have you installed you old bugger?”
He laughs. “I’m not telling. You will have to come now, if it’s only to see what we have done, you nosy bugger. Ha ha.”
I assure him. “Then I will be definitely coming down sometime this week. I will telephone you to let you know when.”
“Hmm! It will please some of my snobby guests having a member of Britain’s aristocracy as a guest. Adam you dress up in your finest bib and tucker and you better be on your best behaviour. I will show you off to my guests. Eh! I may be able to charge a fee for them to have you at their dinner table.” I laugh and remark affectionately. “You are a nut case Alec. You never change.” He adds. “Don’t you tell anyone I have stuck one of the British nobility down in the cellar.
No swearing mind you? Or. I’ll turn my bloody Marguerite loose onto you.”
I detect Marguerite scolding him about his swearing in the background. He finishes his warning with a roar of laughter.” I enquire. “One more thing Alec before I hang up, is Gunter there?”
He explains. “Well he is and he isn’t. Estelle and Gunter are out walking for the day. They are going away on business for a few days. They leave early tomorrow. Was it something urgent?”
“No, no. I just thought I would have a word if he was available. No problem.”
As I hang up I realise how much I miss the company of my old pal. Marguerite is doing her best to curb his language but I afraid she is fighting a losing battle. To quote my Step Mother “Bad habits die hard.”
Andre asks. “Grand Pere, what do you think of your telephone? Do you ever use it?”
The old man replies. “No not really. It’s nice to have one in case of an emergency. I am very grateful to Marcel for having it installed, but I don’t know anyone that has a telephone that I am able to call.”
This is something else I have learned on my visit I was not aware of. Good for Marcel for looking after the old man. That is something I had not thought of when I asked them to install a telephone at the big house.
I notice Grand Peres face. “You look tired. How would you like a few days down by the sea?
I will have to leave at the end of the week but we can stay at Alec’s hotel for a few days before I return to England.”
He replies glumly. “I would love to but I have the animals to care for.”Andre intercedes. “That’s no trouble. I will make sure they are looked after. I will bring my son Edward with me in the morning. He is in between jobs at this time. You know him Grand Pere? He helped you out in the summer? Andre turns to me and explains. “Edward loves it here and he thinks the world of Grand Pere, believe me he will jump at the chance. I want him to be become a builder and work with me but he has other ideas.” He shrugs his shoulders adding. “You know what teenagers are like. I don’t want to impose my will upon him like my Father did to me?”
Grand Pere recollects. “Yes I do remember him, he is a good lad. He modified my apple press for me it’s a lot easier to use now. Adam I would enjoy going to the seaside and staying at your friend’s hotel.”
He reminds Andre. “I haven’t been away from the farm since you took me to Le Havre in the summer. I didn’t even have to go to market to sell my goods this year. Your people bought everything I had to offer.”
He adds wearily. “I must admit I’m not as young as I was and I do feel very tired lately.”
I am concerned when he reveals this I suggest. “Should we have a doctor check you out when we get to the hotel?” His instant response is.
“No Doctors Adam please. I am eighty six years old and have not seen a Doctor since I had Mumps when I was as a child. I haven’t much time for Doctors since almost my entire family were wiped out by the influenza. Thank God little Daisy my petite fille and my lovely fille Denise were spared.” I detect a tear in his eye. I am very moved when he refers to my darlings in such a manner. I reach over and put my hand on his shoulder to comfort him. He sniffs back a tear and reassures me. “Take no notice of me. I’m just a silly sentimental old man. I’ll be alright I just need a little rest. There isn’t a great deal to do at this time of the year on the farm anyway.” He tu
rns to Andre. “If your Son will stay here just for a couple of nights I will be most grateful.”
It is all arranged I will drop Grand Pere at his cottage then travel back to Le Havre today to collect some essentials. In the morning I will pick up Grand Pere and we will head for the coast. I am about to leave when Andre makes a strange request. “Oh! Mr Adam there is something I meant to show you upstairs will you follow me.” I decline his invitation.
“I’ll have a look in the morning Andre. I’ve a lot to do today and times a marching on.” Andre winks at me behind Grand Peres back. He indicates I should follow him upstairs. Intrigued I trail after him Grand Pere opts to wait in the Rolls. When we are out of earshot of Grand Pere on the landing Andre looks most embarrassed as he informs me.
“Mr Adam. Please don’t think I am interfering, do you recall Grand Pere saying I took him to Le Havre in the summer?”
“Yes I do, why?” He explains. “I dropped him off near the hospital. He made some excuse about seeing an old friend. My daughter is a nurse in there. She recognised him from when she visited the farm earlier on in the spring, Grand Pere wasn’t visiting a friend, he actually had an appointment with a specialist.
The news of his hospital visit alarms me. “Oh dear I hope it’s nothing serious. I wonder why he wanted to keep it a secret from me?”
Andre adds. “There is more. I know as he considers you as his family I think you should know. When I went to pick him up as we arranged in the market, well I arrived early. I decided to have a walk about. I saw him coming out of that big fancy lawyer’s office. You know the big house on the square?”
“I suppose I will have to respect his decision to keep the reason for the hospital visit from me. I’m not bothered about the visit to the lawyers, that’s his business not mine. I’ll try questioning him on the way to the hotel tomorrow. Thanks for letting me know Andre I appreciate your position. I wish my Wife was here I’m sure he would talk to her.”
As we walk down the stairs Andre remarks. “You know. I don’t even know his real name we all refer to him as Grand Pere.”
I confess. “When I brought the little girl Daisy here on her first visit she called him Grand Pere. He has been known to us as Grand Pere ever since. He evidently likes the title it makes him happy, and I see no reason to change it.” Andre reveals. “You should have seen him in the summer with about ten kids around him, all calling him Grand Pere. He was in his element I can tell you.” We shake hands.
I drop Grand Pere of at his cottage then I set off on the hour long journey to Le Havre a few kilometres on the journey I realise I have forgotten the bottle of wine. I decide to carry on as the light is fading rapidly. When I arrive at the depot I am hungry and choose to go to the cafe for a meal. Harry decides to come along, he contacts Hazel to notify her she decides to join us there. We are having a cup of coffee when Paul enters Harry’s office. After a chat I reveal where I am going for dinner. He decides he and Yvette will enjoy a meal at the cafe this evening. When I arrive at the cafe with Harry, Hazel, Yvette and Paul we find it is packed with OSCADA employees their girlfriends and wives. Word had gotten out we are celebrating my home coming. The fact that I am returning to England in a few days appears to be ignored. I wonder who spread the word of my imminent departure? No matter. What a shindig it turns out to be. Just like the old days we dance and sing until the early hours. Despite his artificial leg Harry manages to dance with Hazel. Yvette and Paul are behaving like two love birds much to my surprise. Pregnancy evidently agrees with my Sister in Law. Many friends I would have liked to be with us are sadly missing this evening. Denise. Louise. Billy. Alec, and Marguerite. I get a bit sentimental as the booze goes down when I recall the last time we were here all together. Nevertheless it is a great night I get inebriated and make the whole affair my guest night by picking up the tab for everyone. Paul and Yvette take me home, Paul pours me into my bed about three o’clock in the morning. When I wake Paul has already left to organise another funeral, Yvette remains asleep I don’t disturb her.
I have breakfast at the cafe then refuel the Rolls at the depot, have another cup of coffee and a short chat with Harry then I am off to pick up Grand Pere for his trip to the seaside.
He is ready and waiting when I arrive, standing at the front door of his cottage. The few items he is taking with him are wrapped in a brown paper parcel tied up with hairy string. Of course I realise the old man has never been on holiday and most probably doesn’t even possess a suitcase. What would have been the point of him owning one?
I halt the vehicle close by him, stow his parcel in the back seat and guide him into the passenger seat. I am just about to pull away when Andre appears at a run down the long drive to the lake house.
I reckon Andre is not used to exerting himself to such an extent. When he slumps against the car he is out of breath red faced and puffing like an old steam wagon. It takes him awhile to recover before he delivers his message. “Marcel has telephoned with a list of instructions regarding the English innovations. In my opinion this will set the completion date back by at least a month. And Marcel has informed me materials have to be shipped from England.” He adds.
“I am not questioning Marcel’s decision but I thought it best to confirm this with you as I know your Wife has set her heart on moving in as soon as possible.”
Don’t worry Andre it looks like we will be spending Christmas in England, go ahead and carry out the work as ordered by Marcel.”
He looks relieved thanks me and says to the old man. “Enjoy your holiday Grand Pere everything will be safe in Edwards hands until you return.”
During the journey I subtlety attempt to extract information about his health, unfortunately to no avail.
We arrive at the hotel to be greeted by Alec and Marguerite. The good lady whisks Grand Pere into the lounge in time for coffee and cakes. Alec is bearing some excellent news. When he told Gunter I was coming although he would have liked to see me he could not change his business schedule. Alec explains. “When I revealed we were fully booked and you were sleeping in the cellar he informed me that his Misses and him are going away for a few days on business, and you my lucky lad are to have the use of his apartment.” At first I am delighted at the arrangements until it dawns on me Grand Pere will have to climb four flights of stairs to get to the penthouse apartment, despite the generous offer it looks like the cellar for us after all. When I point out this problem to Alec he proudly reveals the news he was holding from me as a surprise. At his invitation I follow him into the billiard hall located at the rear of the hotel. On the end wall is a caged gate. Alec presses a button a lift appears. He pulls back the gates and proudly announces. “Your magic carpet to the heavens awaits you My Lord. You have no reason to become a troglodyte.” Alec further reveals. “It was Gunter’s idea. Coincidently we had a Swiss lift Designer and his Wife as guests. I suppose it was because of the German language connection their love of flying, and hiking that Gunter, Estelle and the Swiss couple became friends. A couple of Gunter’s elderly business friends had already declined an invitation to visit him because of the stairs. We had a meeting, Antonio the engineer weighed the job up gave us a price. Gunter and I agreed to share the cost and Hey Presto thanks to the excellent tradesmen he supplied, within ten days the lift is up and running. The lift has a rear door opening directly into the car park. We don’t even see some of Gunter’s guests they go directly up to his apartment. Now and again they eat in the dining room, but we always have prior knowledge enabling the chefs to prepare kosher meals for them. There is also a small kitchen in the apartment for preparing light meals. They seem to use that quite a lot. Gunter pays for one of the maids to clean every day but she tells me it’s a waste of time as the place is always immaculate.”
Alec shrugs his shoulders before adding. “Who am I to argue, the girl is grateful for the extra money.”
Thank goodness for the lift making it possible for us to enjoy the wonderful apartment with fantastic views over t
he channel.
When we first enter the apartment Grand Pere stands in wonder at the splendour of the place.
He is fascinated with the bathroom the modern plumbing the electric lights.
We have a great three days Grand Pere is treated like a King by all and sundry. The chefs even catered for his peculiar diet. He is too embarrassed to eat in front of the guests in the dining room because of his lack of teeth. His meals are sent up to the apartment.
The old man is up and about long before I surface.
Despite the cold every morning I find him sitting on the very rock Louise, Denise, Daisy and I were seated not so very long ago deciding our future. During the day I take him in the Rolls for tours of the surrounding area. On day three we are in the lounge drinking coffee served by Marguerite when I inform him.
“My time is up Grand Pere we have to leave tomorrow. He looks disappointed but doesn’t object.” Later on as I am heading towards the billiard room for a game with one of the guests Marguerite request’s a word in the office behind reception. Intrigued I follow her into the room. She looks embarrassed when she asks. “Adam you are not going to take that poor old man back to that remote farm and leave him there alone over Christmas, are you? Do you know he is not in the best of health?” Marguerites unexpected scolding catches me off guard. I reply.
“I’m sorry Marguerite. Grand Pere said he only wanted to be away from his farm for three days at the most when I proposed the trip. I had some hints he isn’t too well but he won’t confirm this.”
She adds further. “Do you know I found him sitting on the front steps this morning totally out of breath?”
Startled by her revelation I exclaim. “Oh dear! Is there a Doctor available around here?”
