Belonging to the Iceman

Parting Ways For Good

"Oh, Nicolas..." Jacqueline sobbed, "I'm sorry. No...I can't accept your marriage proposal...."

He felt numb, empty inside. He wasn't used to being rejected and told 'no'.

Delphine had squealed and jumped into his arms when he proposed to her, and Shantelle had said yes on a busy road in Paris in the pouring rain.

"Why, Mon amour? What have I done to...."

"Nicolas, please!" she sobbed. "Just. Don't..." She rushed down the stairs and into her quarters.

That night, Nicolas sat in the massive, white homestead all alone.

He took a swig of rum; it burned as it hit his throat.

"I've never been told no. I've never been rejected," He said sadly.

He soon found himself ringing the only person he knew would make him feel better, who would understand him and what he was going through.

"Nicolas?" Came Anne Marie's voice.

"Oh Mère..." He sobbed "Mère, c'est terrible! Ma vie est finie!"

"Nicolas Jean! Please speak English!" Anne Marie said, already worried for her firstborn as she sat up in her warm bed.

Alain was lying beside her, reading one of his favourite books; however, he soon got his wife's attention.

"Mum, I proposed to Jacqueline" He began.

"Who's Jacqueline, Nicolas?" She asked.

"The Australian vet he was with at Amber's Christening," Alain said, removing his glasses.

"DAD!" Nicolas growled.

"Don't DAD me, Nicolas Jean!" Alain growled as his wife put her mobile onto the loudspeaker.

"Dad! I rang Mum! I want to talk to her!" Nicolas growled.

Anne Marie got out of bed and, putting her phone back off loudspeaker, headed down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"You know your Father will not be happy, Nicolas...but when my children need me, I do not turn away from them, now let's talk! It sounds like you need it!" She told him as she made herself a cup of coffee. She knew she'd need it.

"Oh, Mum!" He said, "I thought Jacqueline loves me!"

"I'm sure she does, Nicolas. How long have you two been together?" She asked.

"Uh, three months", He answered.

"You silly boy!" She scolded.

"MUM!" He growled

"No, don't MUM me! You dated Delphine for over six years before you even THOUGHT of marriage! And Shantelle..."

"Oh, I moved fast with her..." Nicolas interrupted.

"Yes, and I don't blame you! Oh, was she the most gorgeous woman you have ever seen! Oh, but my Nico...How could you let her have a miscarriage?!?" Anne Marie asked him.

"Mum...do you not realise I must live with that for the rest of my life?!"

"Nicolas, don't get too upset; let Jacqueline calm down, go about your normal ways on the Station, and eventually begin going out again. We look forward to the wedding invitation in a couple of years!"

"Oh, Mum!" Nicolas whined.

"Oh, my, Nicolas Jean, my son...life is not meant to be easy!" She sympathised.

"Maybe Dedeline will take me back?" Nicolas said to himself

"Delphine is already married, Nicolas," Alain said from behind his wife.