Abrade - [Charles Leclerc] A Sequel To Corrode

Cinque

          Charles' keys clinked together as he reached for the door. The other hand held his travel bag, and Joanne stood behind him, talking on the phone to Teresa to ask what the status was on the roadtrip of the three Leclerc siblings back to Monte Carlo. Charles suggested they took a flight from Salerno Airport, but when Liam saw the sleek black Alfa Romeo SUV in the garage of their Amalfi villa, the two brothers had been quick to suggest they could drive back to Monte Carlo themselves while Charles and Joanne took the jet to Paris. They left at almost the same time this morning, except Joanne and Charles had arrived in Paris two hours later and their kids were on the autostrada, nearing Rome. Charles warned that it would be at least a nine-hour drive, but the boys had shrugged and suggested taking turns in driving while Teresa would probably read her book in the backseat. Joanne said goodbye to them and closed the door behind them, silence filling the apartment for a second as Charles put down their luggage.

"I missed this place," Joanne spoke up. "We should come here more often," she added, feeling Charles pulling her close as she finally had her hands free of her purse and her phone to shove her sunglasses up her nose. "I agree," Charles said, kissing her temple. "Soon Jules will be able to take my place and I can finally retire and be the old man I have become," he continued, causing her to scoff. "You're not that old," she replied. "You're the cause of me entering a second youth, mon amour," Charles said, taking her coat and putting it on the coat rack with his own. "I mean last night, baby." He whistled between his teeth and Joanne rolled her eyes at her husband, pushing his chest. He grinned at her, taking the hand on his chest in his to pull her into him again. "I suggest we relax a bit and then get changed to have lunch, I'm sure they have a table for us at La Poule Au Pot," Charles suggested, which was one of her favorite restaurants. "That would be nice," Joanne agreed, the back of her hand caressing his face. He leaned down to capture her lips between his. She went to the bedroom in their apartment next, finding her suitcase already there.

Joanne opened her luggage and moved her clothes into the closet. There were still some spare clothes in there, some pretty dresses and some other items she normally only wore in Paris. Joanne moved some things around in their bedroom before she moved the curtains in front of the wide, glass doors further open. She opened the door and stepped onto their balcony, the sun was shining and the view of the city is amazing. It took her back to all the years they spend weekends in spring here, and when they often when to Paris to celebrate Christmas when the kids were still younger. Joanne moved back inside and closed the door behind her, making her way back to the living room, where Charles was seated with the newspaper, his glasses on. Joanne moved her hands over his shoulders, one of them through his hair, before she caressed his face again. He hummed as she reached around to kiss his cheek before putting the present she brought right in front of him. Charles put the paper down, looking up at her with surprise. "What's this?" he asked. Joanne shrugged. "Just something for our anniversary," she said. Charles pulled her into his lap as he took the wrapping paper from the box after untying the ribbon.

He opened the box after, looking at the shiny golden necklace that had a little heart pendant. Charles noticed that he could open it, and there was a little picture inside. "It's cheesy, I know, but I wanted you to have this picture with you forever," Joanne said. Charles' smiled widened at the sight of their Christmas weekend in Paris a long time ago, that year he gifted her this apartment in the capital of France. Teresa was about five years old, and Liam and Jules were teenagers. It was one of the weekends she loved the most. "I love it, darling. Thank you," Charles said, his thumb brushing over the little pendant that caused his heart to skip a beat. He unclipped the lock of the necklace and handed it over to his wife, so she could put it around his neck. Charles' hand moved to the back of her neck to gently pull her down to him, so he could kiss her. "Do you want to go for a walk and then head to lunch?" Joanne asked, making him nod. "Yes, let's do that." Joanne got another coat from the closet and wrapped herself up in it, changing into some comfortable sneakers and grabbing another purse before she was ready to go out.