Coiled (Book 1 of 2)

Find Your Dreams

The Rosier Family Estate (England).

Late Autumn, 1967.

Toinette's practically shaky with happiness.

Not only has her husband permitted her to tuck her son into bed this evening, he's even reluctantly agreed to allow his wife to stay with the little boy until he falls asleep.

And Toinette lives to see her baby Evan - even if he's 7 years old now, still her baby - and simple moments such as this mean the world to her, especially with a husband so oppressively controlling as Achille.

As Evan's aged, Achille's restrictions on Toinette's right to parent have reached suffocating levels, and she's rarely allowed any time alone with her son.

And so, the young mother's practically floating on a blissful cloud as she sprints down the hall and into her son's private wing of the estate. Knocking at his bedroom door, she nearly flies through when she hears Evan's little voice on the other side.

She finds her young son sprawled out on the floor, a dozen or so toys spread out all around him, though the present object of his attention is a magically enchanted miniature dragon stuffie clutched in his arms. His eyes instantly lighting up at the sight of his mother, little Evan practically squeals with delight and casts the dragon away, forgotten on the floor as he scrambles upwards and into her arms.

"Maman," he whispers into her side as his tiny arms wrap around her waist, wraps them around her so tightly it seems he's desperate to never let go.

"Mon fils," she whispers back as she holds him just as close.

When he finally pulls back, the little boy's so eager to catch her up on all his latest adventures, his news, that the words come out stuttered, spilling from his mouth, "I-I keep practising my duelling, Maman! And guess what? I'm getting better every day."

"I bet you are the best in the world, mon fils."

"I'm alright ..."

"You're my son, so that means you're the best."

That earns a bright pink flush of pleasure and pride across his cheeks as Evan continues to bounce up and down excitedly before her, "Father says I can see Reggie on Friday, Maman. Says if I finish all the studies he's prepared for me, he'll arrange for a playdate -"

It's with great difficulty that Toinette fights back a scowl at this. She wants Evan to be a proper child, free to enjoy himself, free to play without the ridiculous mountain of work Achille demands of him. But rather than say as much, she focuses on his excitement over his best friend Reggie, "With your best friend? You must be so excited, darling."

"I love Reggie, Maman."

"Of course. What's not to love, my sweet?"

Smiling to herself, she draws her small son a bath, one she enchants with lavender bubbles that glow a most pleasing shade of light purple. And as he's bathing, she sets out a fresh set of pyjamas for him on his bed and dims his lights just the way he likes. When he's finished bathing and dressed for bed, she follows him back into the bathroom, the two of them giggling as he brushes his teeth and she mimes along. And when he finally trods into bed, he eyes her hopefully and pulls at her hand, "Help me find my dreams, Maman?"

That's how they've referred to falling asleep since he was a little baby: "Find your dreams."

Fighting back tears as she realises how terribly she's missed him, how little time she's allowed to spend with him, Toinette forces a smile as she leans forward and plants a loving kiss on her son's forehead, "Of course, mon chou."

Eyes darting between the door and her, the little boy suddenly leans up and cups his hand around her ear as he whispers to her, "Je t'aime, Maman."

"Je t'aime aussi, mon ange."

More than you could ever know

More than I could ever express

As she sits beside him on his bed, fingers lightly stroking at his towel dried golden blond hair, she watches her Evan yawn, watches his eyes close. And sure enough, her little boy's peacefully asleep just moments later.