TEMPTRESS

XVII.

ANGÈLE JOSÉPHINE MONET LAURENT CHASTIN - TOULOUSE, FRANCE 1968

The table ordered white wine and pasta as they specialized in freshly made pasta with a hint of Toulousian air—whatever that meant. "Does anyone want to try?" Angele offered as she ate, feeling full of the delicious food. As much as she loved food, she could never finish plates at restaurants, after a good seven bites, she was full. Once she even tried to finish a whole hamburger and fries, which was well beyond her limits, because Julien said he liked girls who ate a lot, and she suffered the consequences of a full stomach after.

"Me! Yours looks so good." Julien pouted.

"Me too!" Adrien butted in.

Angele smiled as she picked up her fork and spoon, capturing the pasta with the fork and twisting it around the spoon for support and fed it to Julien first before doing the same with her brother.

Alexandre stepped foot back into the large house with a bag full of items he bought during his trip to the market. He splurged on more fruits and vegetables as well as fresh baked bread and honey and jam all made by small farm businesses in the village. He start appreciating doing such things more and more ever since he moved back to Paris as a way to clear his head and enjoy what one could produce. Though, he wasn't the best cook, he at least wanted to try. Maybe he could make a meal for his sister or his brother who'd enjoy it and praise him for making something so delicious. "Hey, you're back!" Ethan smiled as he walked into the kitchen, getting himself a glass of water.

"Yes, I am." Alexandre smiled.

"What did you find?" Ethan asked, sitting down at the table, watching him take things out of the bag one by one.

"More fruits, I got vegetables. Bread, honey, jam and crème de Marrons." He listed out.

"I had no idea you liked going to markets and stuff." Ethan chuckled.

If he analyzed the siblings, one by one, he would notice how he knew nothing about Alexandre, what he liked, what he did, what his hobbies were. He knew enough about Adrien and Angele after interrogating them, but he did get the feeling that Alexandre didn't like him as much which left them in a gray area. "I'm starting to appreciate it a bit more." Alexandre stated.

"I can help you wash the fruits." Ethan offered.

"Sure."

Ethan stood up from the chair and walked towards Alexandre's side and helped him arrange the food and clean the fruits and vegetables. "Where are you heading to after Toulouse?" Alexandre asked, not wanting stay trapped in silence.

"I don't know. I haven't figured it out yet. I might make a decision last minute." He revealed.

"You should come to Paris, stay with us for some time." Alexandre suggested.

"You're joking right?" Ethan chuckled. "I thought you didn't like me. Why would you want me to stay?" His hands drying the food with paper towels.