Le ciel est bleu

Chapter 7

Timothée entered Grover's, a bustling restaurant where his family had gathered to celebrate Sylvia's engagement and enjoy a meal together. Spotting Kevin and Rosie seated at a large table near the window, their faces filled with excitement, he made his way over. Sylvia and her fiancé, Malcolm, engaged in lively conversation beside them. However, as Timothée approached the table, a pang of guilt washed over him.

"Look who decided to grace us with your presence, doctor," Kevin teased, playfully punching Timothée on the arm.

"For the last time, Kev, it's a PhD, not an MD, and he's not even finished. I'm the doctor here," Sylvia interjected, defending Timothée.

"Oh, how I wish I were you! Staring at pussies all day," Kevin joked, earning a disapproving look from Timothée.

"Guys, can we please keep the conversation appropriate for the occasion?" Malcolm interjected, trying to maintain a pleasant atmosphere.

"You're so disgusting, Kevin," Timothée expressed his distaste.

"That's what she said," Kevin added, attempting to inject humor into the situation.

Timothée sighed, a mix of amusement and unease washing over him. "Oh god, I forgot I have to deal with this for the whole evening!"

Laughter filled the air, momentarily easing Timothée's guilt. He took a seat beside Rosie, who greeted him with a warm smile.

"So, Tim, how's life treating you?" Rosie asked, her eyes filled with curiosity. "And more importantly, how's your girlfriend? We've been dying to meet her."

At the mention of Floret, Timothée's heart sank. He had been avoiding the topic since the incident with Becki, not wanting to dampen the joyful atmosphere. He cleared his throat and replied, "About that... Life can be unpredictable, you know. Unfortunately, Floret had something come up last minute, and she couldn't make it tonight."

Sylvia raised an eyebrow, scepticism was evident in her voice. "Oh, really? It seems like she's always busy whenever we plan to meet her. Are you sure everything's all right, Tim?"

Timothée attempted to appear nonchalant, waving his hand dismissively. "Absolutely! It's just one of those crazy coincidences, you know? Tonight is about celebrating Sylvia and Malcolm. Let's focus on that!"

Kevin chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah, Tim, stop hogging all the attention. We're here to celebrate, not interrogate!"

Laughter once again filled the room, offering a temporary respite for Timothée. He cherished his family's ability to bring levity to any situation. However, deep down, he knew he couldn't avoid their questions about Floret forever.

"All right, let's get down to business. We don't have much time before the wedding, so let's start with choosing the venue," Sylvia declared, taking charge of the planning process.

"Why not hire a wedding planner? I can give you Jesse's number; he did a fantastic job with my wedding," Timothée suggested.

"Do you think they'll be able to work on such short notice?" Sylvia inquired.

"That's what they specialize in," Timothée reassured her.

"Great! So what's my role now?" Sylvia asked.

"Well, technically, you have a lot to do. You'll need to pick the venue from the options they present, buy a wedding dress, finalize the guest list, choose the invitation card design, send out invitations, select your bridesmaids and maid of honour, and do the same for Malcolm's best man, pick out rings, decide on the cake, band, and write vows. And if you want to add any additional elements, it's your call," Rosie replied.