Now occupying a space from her father now, after being greeted by the echo of his voice and her peeping into his office, the blonde made sure to make herself feel right at home. Even if she felt the opposite of such considering all of the horrid memories lurching around the walls through all of the life changes of losing her birthfather, Pierre, and the welcome of Christian and Lourdes into the residency. There were once intensive changes. Yet, this was the life she had. Always valuing and admiring each person in her midst. The girl was beyond grateful for the opportunity to have a free afternoon to see the father figure in her life. Raising a minimal, brushed eyebrow toward her father in an attempt to recollect all of the seas of patrons known to the family, she instantly remembered and illuminated like a light bulb at how she remembered the couple. “Oh yeah! Claire is the attorney and Topher is the investor. I remember them. They were always nice to me,” she noted through an angelic tone. Although, through the grapevine, the older daughter heard from her younger sister all that was still happening with their mother and the sudden eruption of friendships. “When did she end up leaving for her lunch?” It was a genuine question. Only asking for Jolie knowing how long to make herself snug in the residency of her childhood before having to make a swift exit before Charity arrived. The relationship between mother and daughter was still strained. There was complications to their backstory. Putting it into words was often difficult. Sometimes, it was best to not discuss it but sooner than later, she knew she couldn’t run nor hide any moment longer. Not with this reality television show in everyone’s faces.
Embraced in a warm hug, it had instantly caused Jolie to sigh of relief at the welcome. This was something she had never endured from her mother. It was mostly hostile, cruel and words of belittlement. Every once in a while, a reference to her birthfather, who was gloomy thought in her conscience at how little she knew and heard only lavish stories from her grandmother. In the end, the girl trusted Margaux’s words over Charity’s as the years went on. Now seated, she allowed herself to get comfortable by tucking her leg underneath the other and sheepishly smiling towards Christian. “Instant coffee would be great actually. I’m rather exhausted from finishing off the last of the boxes. I need to find a location for my office and that’s going to be a challenge,” she admitted through a stiff, rolling sensation of her shoulders knowing the knots were clear as back in her back. In the upcoming week, she had lined up one too many tours of local offices for her Speech Pathology office, it was going to be something she was dreading but it would all be worth it in the end. Laughing softly at her father, she did agree with his words and how she hadn’t been doing well with taking care of herself. “Yeah, I’m guilty. I’ve just been so busy adjusting to the move and dealing with what’s going on with Vince and his case. I’m just….. I haven’t been taking care of myself.” Shamefully admitting, the shameful range of her tone soon matched and flushed upon her vibrant demeanor, knowing self-care was always the first tip to sanity. Every time Margaux de Beauvoir was mentioned, all the blonde could allow the vibrant state of illumination to consume her. The woman was the best grandmother that she could ever ask for. Always willing to be there for her, but importantly those that were important to her granddaughter. After all, she gave her only granddaughter the childhood house of the de Beauvoir ─ the same house her birthfather, Pierre, lived in. “You should. I think she’s coming back from France soon. Impromptu business trip but she’ll be happy to see you,” she answered through a child-like beam overtaking her petals and her usual enthusiastic tone. Margaux de Beauvoir was everyone’s saving grace. How grateful she was to be born into this family and have the face of the matriarchy as her grandmother.
Her hand resting upon the side of her chin, it was a mental note from the older parental figure about her mother and how touchy she got on the subject of Reina. Whilst the blonde only knew Reina briefly through minimal interactions, it baffled her slightly. “Why is it a touchy subject?” Genuinely questioning, tilting her head to the side knowing Jolie rarely followed with the drama and simply minded her only business. The last thing she would want to do was upset anyone ─ even if her relationship with Charity was far from healthy. A stutter guiding into her next words, “I never ask unless I am genuinely concerned, Dad.” Referencing to why it was a touchy subject but yet, she understood if he couldn’t disclose for any reason. Although, the news of Lourdes and the involvement of Cleo had caused a perk of subject change with the older sister at the moment. “Oh my god!” A shriek of cheerfulness darted off her prong effortlessly. All she could do was clap and feel relief that something was looking forward to the younger sibling. All she could do was be engulfed with contentment and being proud. “Honestly, that’s so amazing. Does she like it? Last time I saw Lourdes, she was glued to her phone but I am really happy for her. I know and remember Cleo from school. It’s no wonder that she pulled the connections to help Lourdes out.” Whenever Jolie had parted from Catalina fully, the other blonde in the Halliwell family had promised to take Lourdes underneath her wing. It was proven benefits at how Cleo was able to help out Lourdes and put her foot forward. Sometimes, well the majority of times, outsiders giving tough love helped when family failed. Still, all she could was be beaming. Even with the mention at Vince, the apple of her minimal applied blush brightened to a faint pink, biting on her lower lip. “Vince Cassidy but close,” she reassured immediately toward the father. Whilst he wanted to guess for himself, it was close enough for her to give him the guidance to know her boyfriend’s surname which more than recently, people got it mixed up with Cassie. Feeling bit restive, melting into her chair as now she was hugging herself in the topic of relationships wondering what Christian thought about Vince in their last encounter and if this decision for them to move in together was ideal. It had been well over a year since they had been together but it was a substantial change to all of Jolie’s boyfriends in the past. Clearing her throat, the next set of words were delicate and hesitant, “He’s the first boyfriend I’m moving in with…. so, I think…. that means it’s serious.”
Before she was his daughter, Jolie had been Christian’s goddaughter. Her late father, Pierre De Beauvoir, had been nothing short of the man’s best friend since they were young boys. And looking at Jolie reminds Christian of him. It feels like yesterday that they lost him to an accident, with Christian having to pick the pieces up not only for his parents, but also for his widow and goddaughter. But Christian had mourned his best friend in secret, in the company of his office and his maps and globes, like he always did with a death in the family. Maybe it was some kind of super power, or just a case of luck that put the older man at the helm of things, no matter how much he just wanted to take a backseat and rest. But there was no rest, and he wondered if had ever been wicked in a past life. To assuage Pierre’s widow, he had decided to marry her within the year, simply because she had cried destitution, and had a young mouth to feed as well. And before they knew it, it had been a good twenty years of being married to Charity, and Jolie was nothing if not his own daughter. And if at all he needed to look back on his life to see the good things he had done, all he’d have to do was look for Jolie’s happiness in the crowd. When he met Pierre again, he’d be sure to tell his friend all about how well his daughter grew up.
Holding onto Jolie was like holding onto memories; as she started to let go, there was little Christian could do to keep her in his embrace, without becoming the least bit teary eyed over it. She is so your daughter, Pierre. “Yeah? Instant coffee it is, then!” As he walks over to his little cubby, full of things objectively good for midnight snacking on the late nights he had to stay up for business meetings, he’s still talking as his hands are working. “Have you selected any locations? Or maybe narrowed the neighbourhood? I hear Avalon is a good place to open up an office space, especially this time of year. If you need any help, I can get in touch with a broker friend of mine. You remember the Meisners? Eddy’s actually in my poker club, and I’ll him to ask his daughter for those link ups.” While the water heated, he turned to face Jolie, nodding. “Okay, shoot me another problem. Let your father tackle those for you, because it’s the least he can do for the daughter he almost never sees. Maybe then you will have some space in your belly for some chilli corn carne! I made leftovers, and maybe we’ll invite the Halliwells for dinner too. I swear mija, don’t force me to force feed you everyday. Working from home means that I have all the time in the world, and your bedroom is still upstairs.” It was more of a joke than an actual threat, simply because for one, Jolie has never needed more than a simple nudge in the direction he wanted her to go in, and two, she was an adult and he couldn’t treat her like a child anymore. As much as he would have liked to, though. “Ahh I see. I swear, I tell her to take me with her to Paris, but I feel like she just doesn’t love me enough to take me with her. It’s like ma petite macaron just doesn’t consider me her macaroon anymore. Nah, I kid of course. I will definitely drop by when she comes back.” Bringing over the hot mug for Jolie, he sets it before her and smiles. “Drink up. And your mother will be gone a while. I don’t really know what the deal is, but maybe...maybe your mother is finally learning to make friends again.” He shrugs, lips pursed in a straight line as he sighs.
Shaking his head when he hears the fear creep in the blonde’s voice, he raises his hand to dash any of her fears. “Jolie, it’s alright. I just mean that...” He sighs, feeling rather awkward discussing his friendship with Reina, even though they were the furthest things from friends, but not quite sure what they were. “Charity and Reina have been like...two bulls locking horns. They are very similar in temper, and I suppose your mother is just...” Christian hates talking about Charity in that way, an implied negativity that came from years of being jaded by their marriage. He had loved and respected her once upon a time, but twenty years takes a toll on anyone, and maybe it wasn’t that grand of a secret that their marriage had been suffering for a while. How is he supposed to tell Jolie any of this? He knows Lourdes’s reaction will be to fly off the handle and scream and curse her lungs out. And he can envision Jolie’s tears, her running away to Margaux. These were fears that kept him up at night, everytime he thought of leaving Charity. “insecure. The Rhodes moved in five years ago, and every time they squabble, it feels like the end of the world. So maybe complimenting Reina before Charity is something to be left to the people who can handle her temper best. Like...your sister. Or Evelyn. God, maybe even Claire could handle that tantrum better than you or me.”
“I’m sorry mija...” The man apologized sheepishly for the mistaken name. “Lourdes has called him so many things, I almost called him Jared Faulkner, even though I’m pretty sure it was just that one finding two names in her little phone and pulling her old man’s legs. That chiquita has gotten me good so many times now...” Christian could ramble on about all the ways in which Lourdes pranks him, but it’s a well known fact that Lourdes is a free spirit. And of course Christian loves his youngest daughter, but keeping up with her is exhausting. This though? It’s a change of scene he much appreciates. Their languid conversations, sitting informally over tables and curled up in chairs, catching up all the things they had missed out on. “But yeah, Cleo did that for her, and I think it’s teaching her some responsibility. The kids are very good, so well behaved for their age, in fact. I feel like Reina’s just going easy on her, but you didn’t hear that from me, my dear.” He winked, sealing their little secret between them. The blush creeping in Jolie’s cheeks when she talked about Vince Cassidy made his heart warm; she, of all people, deserved to be loved and cared for, and if she says she’s found herself a man like that, he will believe it. “Well, whenever your man is in town, tell him your old man wants to see him. You know, give him the good old shake down, spout something about casual violence for breaking your heart and all that good stuff....I’m kidding, mija.”
