Before Our Dawn| ongoing

sixty

Chapitre soixante
━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━

The flat was sold in January, after New Years, and they expected to leave for Algeria in March. It was a symbolic way to usher in 1948 and its possibilities. It marked another milestone. Another period of growth for the family.

Marcel turned thirty-seven, quite the number, on January 3rd, a week before they sold their home. Birthdays were no longer a fuss, and they hadn't been for some time now. But Isra baked him a small chocolate cake and presented it to him in the morning, she and the children singing him happy birthday with joy. Her husband smiled gratefully and blew out the single candle-his wish was for them to learn to live again once they departed for Algeria.

Like her husband wanted, they would purchase a seaside property with the money they made from selling the flat. Marcel would also dabble in medicine again and restart his career. As big as this move was for Isra, she was thrilled to return to her homeland, the place she had yearned for that morning on the boat as she sailed to France, leaving Haadi behind.

It truly amazed her how life could come full circle.

Klaus took the news better than they had anticipated. He was keen on going on a new adventure and visiting the country his mother was from. Heidi, unable to process such a major change, went along with her brother's moods.

Isra wrote a letter to her mother, informing her of their return. Meanwhile, the family was busy packing up their belongings, selling things they no longer needed, and preparing to embark on this new journey.

But before they left for Algeria, they took a trip to Nice to bid farewell to Marcel's mother.

"But why, Marcel? Algeria is..."

Marcel beamed, flashing her a smile that everybody thought was lost forever. "A new beginning. I've grown weary of the Parisian landscape. I'd like to begin anew with my family."

Annette's shaky hand brought the teacup to her lips. "Sweetheart, your home is here in France."

He sat down on the chair across from her, his smile persisting. "It's where my wife and children are, mother. As much as I love France, and of course I'll visit whenever I can, I need to be far away from here."

She looked down at the maroon carpet to mask the tears welling up in her eyes. Although she wouldn't admit it, she would miss her boy. After losing her husband, losing Marcel tore her up inside. "Why not relocate here? To Nice?"

"Mother." He leaned over the coffee table and placed his hand on top of hers. "Isra and I have made our plans. We've set things out for the children too. And... we have decided to try for another once we settle in. I miss Sophie dearly and I love my wife. I want to grow my family with her."

"And the German's children?"

"I have to look after them. It's my duty. They're fatherless and I won't abandon them despite the blood that runs through their veins," he explained. "Besides, they've grown on me."

Just then, Isra and the children came barrelling into the parlour, their noses red from the chill of the weather and the children's faces alight with grins. "Mama said we can have cookies!"

Marcel stood up. "And who said we have cookies at home?" He walked over to them, kissing Isra on her cheek and patting the little ones' heads.

"I planned on baking some for the children," she told him, loosening the scarf around her neck. She seemed to grow more beautiful each day, and younger too. "They're persistent, these two."