THE ROSE PERFUME

Chapter 24

There is a story I have not told Edmond about Anna.

I told him she is my daughter and she is the most important thing in my life. He knows she performs at different organized events around the country and has been exposed to different types of environments and people, has had the most expensive education tutored in etiquette by the Duchess of Norway, in languages, religions, and history from Father Philippe, and great musicians from Theatres-Lyrique, Palace du Chatelet, and The Royal Academy.

She performed in cafe-concerts, musical-comedies, ballets, circuses, opera houses, and in private homes, and is currently performing in the Great Exhibition fair being held in town this year. She has been introduced to the prince of Spain and the U.S. President.

I design all of her costumes and Raimond takes special care looking out for her on their travels. Edmond knows Anna is adopted.

But he does not know she was stolen and taken from her home at a young age. Even though I wanted to take her back, Raimond insisted it was not a good idea and I believed him that we could not.

Anna had a difficult time adjusting when she was little and was shy. She used to tuck her chin into her chest and refuse to eat. There were brief few months when I thought she might starve to death. One day she was playing with the necklace Raimond had won in a poker game the day we were married. She seemed to connect more with me then and felt safer. I let her have the necklace and since then she rarely takes it off.

Now Anna walks down the street with her back straight, waist cinched in, with a hopeful face and her golden hair piled up on top of her head like she was sent from heaven. She is so beautiful, men, women, and children alike stop to stare at her in the street even if they do not know her.

Suiters approach her often when Raimond is not around and ask to carry her satchels, give her rides in their carriages, and buy candy or roasted peanuts from the street vendors. Anna is kind to everyone she meets and talks to strangers like old friends.

I have big hopes for her future marriage. Will she marry someone from the Royal Court, a distinguished dignatary, or a refined memeber of parliament? And I know someday, her music will be known all over the world. Perhaps a great land owner or investor from the States, the son of Isabella II in Spain, or Gustav Larsson who has a vast inheritance in Sweden. I will do whatever it takes to make sure her life is never lacking for love, happiness, or without family.

DREAM NOTEBOOK, PROPERTY OF LOTTE LA MAR

JOURNAL ENTRY # 7 -- HIDING THE NECKLACE FOR LATER

I dream I am standing in an elegant dining room. There are leafy decorations and bows on every table. The room is crowded with people celebrating a bride and groom. There are musicians performing on a stage and people dancing. Waiters are carrying steamy plates of food above their heads to avoid the traffic.

The floor begins moving under my feet and the chandeliers on the ceiling sway. The windows vibrate and rattle until a dangerous warping sound cracks the glass. The music stops playing and the room becomes quiet. People are looking around and the lights flicker on and off. They do not know what is happening. Anna shimmies over to me in the long white dress I made for her. It is too tight.

"What's happening?" She asks me. Her voice is full of fear and her hands are cold. I unfasten the necklace around her neck. "I am the master craftsman who made this for you. It will find you again."

She touches her neck. Empty. We go into a room full of mirrors and kneel down. I put the necklace in a drawer.

An explosion erupts, breaks through the walls, and knocks us forward. The floor tips sideways. Furniture slides and bangs together.

I keep sliding away, "It will get worse and then it will get better."