Grandma Sunny is so happy to have another granddaughter! It's a good thing Mari has her own nursery - she wakes at any sound - But Grandma is always happy to rock her back to sleep.
I've decided to buckle down and work on my chess tournament. After my long break, I'm ready to butt heads again. Daddy taught me some new tricks back when we were in Egypt, and I'm really surprising some of the old timers.
Gustave is putting the final touches on his book, "Gustave's Guide to Nectar: A Handbook for Beginners". You remember, the one he came here to research? After he interviewed some of our friends, he had to completely change his premise when he discovered no one in Riverview knows even the first thing about nectar. But in the end he even quoted some of them. What with the new house and new baby, it's taken him a long time, but now all he needs is a publisher!
Mari is growing so fast! She has my green eyes. We can't tell what color her hair is yet - it just refuses to grow.
Mari's hair is finally starting to grow in - it looks like she got her Grandpa's hair, just like her big cousin Judy. Gustave looked so serious today while he was playing with Mari; he really wasn't even playing, just holding her and planting soft kisses on her head. Something is up, I need to talk to him I think.
But before I could confront him, he came to me.
"Rosie, I have to go back to France. I don't want to leave you and Mari, but I have some loose ends that I have to take care of. And I think I may have found a publisher for my book. The nectar merchant in Champs Les Sims is very interested, but I need to see her in person. I'll be gone maybe a month."
"Hold on, Sweetie." I patted his chest. "You can't leave me behind. You know how much I love France, and my photo collection needs updating. Mari is old enough to stay with Mom and Daddy, and I'm sure they won't mind watching her."
Bye bye, Sweetie, you be good for Grandma, okay?" I gave Mari one last hug and kiss, then we were off.
We headed straight to the Nectary to meet with our publisher. After sharing several bottles of excellent nectar, we reached an agreement. Gustave would be paid 2500 up front, with royalties to be paid weekly. We are both so excited! His first book looks like it will be a best seller!
"What do you think?" Gustave had brought me outside town along the road that passes by the abandoned nectary.
"Um, it's ... cute.. in a old, rundown, sort of way.." I was trying to be nice, but I'm not very good at lying.
"I know it doesn't look like much now, but it belonged to my grandfather. This is one of the loose ends I was telling you about. He left it to me in his will. It is all that is left in my family of my great-grandfather's estate. I haven't been inside this cottage since I was a little boy."
"Your family used to own an estate?"
He pointed off to the nectary. "All the land from here to there. I don't know who owns the nectary anymore. It's been locked up tighter than a drum since before I was born. Shall we?" He motioned to the cottage door, obviously not wanting to dwell any more on his family's fortune, or lack thereof.
"It... needs some work.." The floors were filthy, and the wallpaper and paint was peeling. Gustave pounded the door frame. "The structure is still sound - I think with a little work it could be livable. Do you want to help me fix it up, Rosie love?"
"The plumbing still works!" I'm trying to be positive. I wondered if the tile really is that color. After scraping my fingernail along the wall, I decided that it's not. The true color is a mystery, though.
"Ugh, Gustave, what are you doing?" He had plopped down on the old bed, the only piece of furniture left in the cottage. Clouds of dust billowed upward as he pulled out a book.
"I remember this bed! I wasn't allowed on it the last time I was here." He grinned at me. "Actually, its quite comfy. Just needs some new sheets, and a lot of furniture polish."
Gustave was right about the bed. New sheets, a matching rug, so I wouldn't get splinters from the floor, and the wood polished down to a shine, and it was time to try it out.
The next morning I decided to be brave and try out the old stove. I hope I don't start a fire, I don't see a fire extinguisher anywhere. Fortunately the pancakes were served without incident, and we ate breakfast at the little table I had found at the antique shop in town.
While I shopped for paint and wallpaper, Gustave took a wire brush to the bathroom tile. Who'd have thought that under the layers of grime was pale pink and pearl white tile! Beautiful! I'm beginning to have a change of heart regarding this place. Gustave was glad to relax in the tub after all that work.
The kitchen was next - I'm so pleased. I love the old stone floor, and the cabinets painted up really nicely.
We arranged to have someone come in, to refinish the floors and woodwork, but in the mean time, Gustave decided to start another book. He named it after one of the quotes he picked up in his Riverview interviews - 'Green, Purple, and Brown'. He bought an antique desk at the shop in town, and started banging his head on his laptop.
"It helps me think."
"Ooookay, sweetie. Just don't break it, we can't afford another one."
I wanted to check out the old abandoned nectary. I tried to get Gustave to come with me, but he refused. He was right, it was locked up tight. I wonder what it must have been like, for his great-grandfather, to have lived here. And I wonder how he lost it.
I peeked in the windows, but the place was totally empty. Someone obviously is taking care of it,, however - it is in great condition. I wonder who owns it?
There is a gorgeous fishing pond in the back. I spent the rest of the day there. It felt so peaceful, I had a hard time leaving when the sun went down.
Our little cottage is finally finished! The floor is refinished, the new wallpaper is up, and the pictures are hung.
"I wasn't sure about this all when we started, but I absolutely love it now," I pulled Gustave close and kissed him.
"I'm really glad you came with me Rosie," I couldn't have done it without you, I probably would have just sold it."
Our last night we talked about our plans again - Gustave had a nectar machine packed up and shipped home, so we can finally start our business.
"What shall we name our nectary?"
"How about 'Gustave's Great Grapes'? I suggested.
"That's silly, we need to think of something else," he laughed. "We'll think of something later, he murmured, kissing me gently.
It's so good to be home! We missed Mari so much.
"Oh my, she's walking! Look at you, sweetie, walking to your grandma."
"Gamma!" Mari called as Gustave picked her up.
"She was so good while you were gone, we had a great time together, didn't we Mari?"
Gustave is getting the nectar machine up and running. Daddy has already looked at it, and thinks he can make some adjustments to improve the flavor. After hearing his ideas, Gustave told him to go for it!
And I'm setting up the bookkeeping. I redecorated our home office, so there is a place for my work, and another desk for Gustave's laptop.
"We still need a name for our nectary," Gustave was asking for ideas again. I'm not sure why, so far he hasn't liked anything I've suggested.
"How about 'The Greenbow Nectary'!" I pointed dramatically.
He sighed. "Not ear-catching enough."
'You mean too boring?" I laughed. "I'm way too practical to come up with a fancy name, I think you should do it. I'll like whatever you pick, I promise."
He thought a few minutes, then pulled me close. "In that case, I will name it 'White Rose Estates', and our trademark, that will go on all the bottles, will be a white rose. What do you think of that, my sweet Rosie?"
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