Oui!

3

"Maddie!" Marc Lumien rarely ever called his wife by her full name, and when he did it was when he proposed to her on a two week holiday in Bali. If nothing was special he would just call her 'Maddie'. This was special only for the reason that Marc actually didn't have nicknames for anyone but his wife and children; there was no "Ah, mon ami!" or anything for other people, so when word got out that Marc Louis Lumien gave his wife and then his children nicknames there was almost another revolution. "I'm coming, darling!" Maddie(daintily) ran across the insanely waxed floor to her husband and jumped into his arms. "Yucky!" Ah of course, Jack ALWAYS had something to say about displays of affection(or frankly anything he didn't like). Madeleine feigned a frown and picked him up. "Mais Jack, one day you'll be doing this to your own wife!" In response, Jack scrunched up his face and wriggled out of his mother's arms. "Are you sure you don't want someone to stay back and watch them?" Marc asked, knowing that Jack and Marcy may not be on their best behaviour. For four year olds they were fairly rowdy, and she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of everyone. If Mara and Ashley saw his behaviour it would be all they'd talk about, and that would mean humiliation for her and Yasmie. But no, she would take the children along, because if she didn't ironically she would get criticised for that as well. "Where is Jaqueline?" Marc sighed. "She's still in her room, I think the excitement has gotten to her head. She's talking to Mairi about what she should wear. I believe she has about...23 outfits planned out." Marc could do a lot of things, but one of the things he apparently could not was understand his teenage daughter. He rarely ever needed help with the twins but Jaqueline was a whole other story. Her want to be called Jacky, and her obsession with fashion were things he didn't have or fully understand, so his wife was very helpful in these situations. "It's normal to have that, she's just trying to look fashionable." "Can't she just put a dress on?" Marc asked, an eyebrow raised. Madeleine sighed, he was hopeless. "There's no hope for me, is there?" he said, looking at her with a sheepish smile. Madeleine nodded with a small laugh.

"Yes, hello?" "Marc?" "Joseph, bonjour." "Bonjour, my friend! Why do you sound so down?" Marc grimaced and groaned lightly. It wasn't that Marc didn't like Joseph; they had been business partners and friends since mailroom management, but Joseph wouldn't stop trying to get Marc to lighten up a bit, he knew he should've never let Maddie into the office, but the affection was so stifled that he needed to release it on his wife and ended up kissing her twice and hugging her tightly; all in the presence of Joseph. "Ah, I forgot, you're dismal. Anyways, my wife wants to know whether you are coming?" "Oui, I am, so is my wife." "I know that! Yasmie would never allow the absence of the Lumiens, especially not Madeleine!" Marc allowed a small laugh. "Alright, I'll see you then!"