Oh mon Dieu! - Damiano David

1 ｡◕‿◕｡

Quick note before you lot start reading, I do not speak French nor Italian so please imagine that the conversations in France are in French and the conversations in Italy are in Italian unless specified differently. With that being said please enjoy the first chapter ╰(◡‿◡✿╰)

May 2018

     "Do you have everything you need chouchou? Everything on your list is in your luggage?" – Her father ran around her room with her black and white cat called Diggory. His blond almost grey shaggy hair was everywhere while he franticly wanted to make sure his daughter was all ready for her indefinite holiday. "Yes papa, everything is packed and ready. I got everything I could possibly need!" – Margot informed her father. "You don't need to worry about anything papa, I remember everything you told me. If I ever need help, I'm calling you!" – she continued. "I know that you will remember everything I told you chouchou, but a father still worries when his only daughter is leaving for a holiday, and he doesn't know when she will be back." – her father exclaimed in his usual dramatic way.

Margot Polnareff is the daughter of a famous French musician, Michel Polnareff. She is his only daughter, and he is her only parent. Raising a daughter alone is not an easy task especially when you are a rising widowed musician. He raised her to the best of his abilities, passing down his passion of music to her and making sure she is a responsible young adult. If he did not trust his chouchou, he would not be letting her go on an Italian holiday for however long she wants. Due to her father's lifestyle, she spent half her time growing up in Paris with her grandparents and the other half on the roads around France with her father. Her grandmother Marie-Eloise was her only female influence in her life, apart from the numerous French actresses she looked up to such as Bridgit Bardot and Isabelle Adjani.

Margot just observed her father as he ran around her room with her cat, frizzy hair all over his face, double checking every nook and cranny for things that she might need. He was in his expensive robe and some house slippers looking like a rockstar even on his days off. "All right papa, I need to go now, I don't want to drive at night!" – she urged him. He finally gave in and helped the girl load her car before giving her a few cassettes for the road, including ones containing his own music. He wished her a safe travel and she started her journey from her Parisian townhouse she shared with her father towards her temporary house in a village near Rome that was owned by her grandfather. She spoke almost fluent Italian due to her spending her time with her pepe while growing up.

Her grandfather Piero was an Italian man from a small village near Rome that grew up working in his family vineyard, while her grandmother was a proper Parisian woman that studied at Sorbonne. They met in their early 20s and instantly fell in love. With their newfound connection to France, his family decided to expand their winery to France and the happy couple ran a successful vineyard in the south of France, up until their daughter in law, Margot's mother passed away. They relocated to a village near Paris to help their son raise his beloved daughter.

The late spring air was stronger than ever making Margot to take the top down of her convertible to enjoy the spring sun while she can. Driving down a scenic route, all she could think about was how she will spend her time in Italy, how her everyday life will be, how it will be to feel carefree for the time being. She finished her studies a year before, opting out from university much to her family's dismay, deciding to follow in her father's footsteps and walking into a music career. The French media loved her for being Michel Polnareff's daughter, valuing her heritage more than her actual work. She needed this time off to focus on writing without someone pressuring her about deadlines. She needed some fresh inspiration, a new setting.

She drove down the scenic route listening to some Billie Holiday through Switzerland and settling in for the night in Milan. Continuing her journey using the seaside highway on her way towards her grandad's birthplace, again she enjoyed the top down of her convertible, smelling the Mediterranean Sea that is longing for her to dip her toes in. the weather was perfect, the sun was shining. Her blond hair that she inherited from her father was blown behind her by the wind, her green eyes she inherited from her mother were hidden behind some Lolita sunglasses. She was out of this decade.

Night fell as she arrived to the oh so familiar villa surrounded by the endless view of the vines that were there even before her grandad was born. It smelled like fresh flowers mixed with the sea. The grandiosity of the place overwhelmed her, not remembering just how big the whole villa was. Too much just for herself to live in. After her grandfather inherited the property, he built a separate house where all the workers maintaining the vineyard lived or stayed over for the season. The house was hers for the time being.

She got out of her car and was immediately greeted by the estate's sheepdog Tivoli that was owned by the estate manager in her family's absence. His name is Antonio, and he is an older gentleman living in the new house with his wife Vittoria. They were there all year around except in winter when they went to Rome to stay with their grandchildren. Antonio greeted Margot with open arms and three kisses to the cheek. "Welcome dear Margot, you have grown into a gorgeous young woman! We are so glad you are here." – he greeted her with a wide smile as he took her luggage, and both went inside. The villa was just how she remembered; fresh flowers were in every corner and on every table that she could find. The windows were big and brought a lot of light inside of the house. The wood details on the ceiling and the fireplace only made the place look homier and inviting. The archway towards the dining room where Vittoria was setting up the table. As soon as she heard the footprints of her husband and the girl, she ran towards her enveloping her in a hug that warm and cosy that she could only give.

"Oh, my darling Margot, I missed you so much! Look at you, you only got skinnier and skinnier, but no worries. I will make you gain weight right away! Oh, and look at your hair, it has gone blonder and curlier, you remind me so much of your dear mother. And your dad, how is that head of his? Still untamed! Oh, I am so glad you are here! You must be so hungry and tired from that drive of yours!" – Vittoria started and never stopped. Always thinking, always doing something, not letting her husband get a word in. all in positive spirit.

After the interrogation, they indulged into Vittoria's homecooked meals specifically prepared for the arrival of Margot. The huge dining table was filled with whatever her heart could desire. They all dove into the food, Antonio sneaking some of the meat to Tivoli, Margot complimenting Vittoria's cooking and Vittoria just smiling from ear to ear finally seeing some life in the house. "I prepared the master bedroom for you, there is fresh linen and fresh towels. The fridge is full of food and if you ever want some of my meals just tell me and I will gladly make some. You know where everything is dear. We will be in the house if you ever need us." – Vittoria informed Margot. "And the pool is all ready for the season!" – Antonio poked the girl, knowing how much she enjoyed the pool in the backyard. "Oh, and one last thing dear! You will have some new neighbours in the house down the heel. They are amazing kids, very friendly and hard working. They even landed a hand to Antonio over here with some garden work last month. They should be back soon!" - Vittoria informed her.

"Thank you so much for everything, I really appreciate all you have done to welcome me!" – Margo gave them both a hug, and Tivoli a rub on the head as they left to drive down to their home not far away. As she closed the door, Margot took a big breath in and observed the house that she visited for harvesting almost every year. Making her way towards the bedroom, she quickly showered and threw herself on the big bed that was placed in the centre of the room.

Her last thought before she fell into deep slumber were about her upcoming adventures in the small village. She fell asleep with a smile on her face ready for the next sunrise...