Through You

Chapitre 26 : Tender Night

That night, Jeanne woke up slowly, a familiar but unexpected weight wrapped around her. Blinking in the darkness, she felt the warmth of an arm draped over her waist, the calm, steady breath of someone asleep close to her. For a moment, she thought it was Thomas. But the scent wasn’t his—a subtle blend of soap and cedar that made her frown slightly in the shadows. Slowly, she slid her hand toward the boy’s face beside her. Her fingers met the roughness of stubble, prickling under her palm, and a quiet laugh escaped her lips. 

“Daniel…” she murmured softly, unable to stop the smile spreading across her face. 

She propped herself up slightly, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. Over Daniel’s shoulder, she spotted Thomas lying peacefully on a mattress on the floor. A thin streak of light seeped under the door, signaling that her father was still awake. A wave of surprise washed over her—Thomas had let Daniel sleep next to her? It was so... unlike him, especially after everything they had been through. 

Gathering her thoughts, she carefully slipped out of Daniel’s embrace, making sure not to wake him. Her fingers lingered briefly in his dark hair and brushed across his face one last time before she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. Rising quietly, she opened the door with a careful hand and stepped out into the hallway, the cold air sending a shiver down her spine. 

Descending the stairs quickly, she found her father in the living room, busy packing open suitcases. She froze on the last few steps, her brows knitting together in surprise and sadness. He turned at the sound of her movement and lowered his gaze, as if unable to meet her eyes. 

“I have to leave tomorrow,” he said quietly, his voice low and tinged with regret. 

Jeanne nodded, her chest tightening. She stepped off the stairs and walked to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a hug that seemed both to hold him close and let him go. 

“I hoped you’d stay a little longer,” she admitted softly, her voice muffled against his shoulder. 

He sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. 

“I know... I’m sorry. I’ve spoken to your brothers—Henry will be coming home in a few days.” 

At the mention of her brother, a spark lit up Jeanne’s face. Despite herself, a small smile broke through, imagining their reunion. She moved to the fridge, pulled out a bottle of water, and sat down at the bar. Mickaël joined her, settling beside her, his expression a mix of exhaustion and tenderness. 

“And... between them?” he asked after a moment of silence. 

Jeanne shrugged, letting out a soft sigh before replying, “It seems better. Tonight, they agreed on who would sleep next to me. Surprisingly, Thomas let Daniel take his place.” 

A surprised grin spread across her father’s face, followed by a low chuckle. 

“Well, it seems they’re growing up,” he said, amused. “Especially after all they’ve done to each other.” 

Jeanne laughed lightly in return. 

“Thank you, Dad... Thank you for everything you’ve done for them.” 

Mickaël reached out and touched her cheek, his hand warm and full of affection. 

“I haven’t done anything for them. Everything I did, I did for you. You love those boys, so it’s my duty to consider them as my sons. Now, go to bed; you have school tomorrow. I’ll drop you off before heading to the airport.” 

Jeanne nodded, touched by his words. She climbed back upstairs, her heart feeling just a little lighter. When she quietly pushed open the door to her room, she found the two boys exactly as she had left them. A tender smile curved her lips.