A Month in France

Chapter 4: "Je t'aime"

Day #11 (20 days left) 

"NO! THIS CANT BE HAPPENING AT THIS TIME!" "What was that!?" I wonder as I awaken out of my sleep. "Was that mama!?" I quickly roll out of bed and dahs into the kitchen to see what's going on. "Mama! What's wrong!?" I yell. "It's the annual cafe's open house." Mama said as placed her hand over her head. I was confused. "What's wrong with that?" Mom placed her hand over her head again. "Leti, Because of our decline in customers, no one might even show up." And this open house is so important for us to stay in business. A tear started to roll down mama's face. "Oh, what will we do." "It's ok mama." I said as I tried to comfort her. " everything will be fine."  As I pulled mama in for a hug, Alejandro walked in on us. "I heard everything." He said. "And I have an idea." "Leti, do your customers know this is a family Business." He asked. "No, we just kept it all a secret these past years." "Well, you guys have to give a speech on open house day. Maybe it's time to finally tell your customers everything. How you guys are a family." He continued. " you guys have so much love and support for each other and if you project that onto your customers, you can form inspire others and draw them in and that just might be what you need to save your cafe." I can't believe it. Alejandro was right. Showing the strong bond of love in our family is just what we need to inspire our customers. "He's right!" I said. "Mama, when is the open house?" "In a 2 weeks, why." "That's enough time." I said as I looked at Alejandro and smiled. "Mama, I'm going to write our family speech." "Leti! Are you sure!? Usually we do that together as a family." She said. "But mama, I know what to do, just trust me!" I said as I grabbed her hands. Mama sighed and smiled. "Ok Leti, you can do it." "Thank you mama." I said as I hugged her. "And thank you Alejandro." I said also hugging him. "I won't let you down!" "J ai compris! (I got this!)" I said. Alejandro and mama smiled.

For hours and hours and hours, I worked my arm off writing and preparing the speech. All the memories of this cafe I've shared with my family poured into my head one after the next. I told myself, "I will not leave this room until I've finished the speech!" Mama occasionally brought me snacks and water to keep me going and I had to take bathroom breaks of course. But I was determined to do anything for my family's business. 

"Leti! Leti!" "Huh" I moaned as I awoken. I felt a sleep as I was writing the speech. I turned to see who was calling my name. It was agnès. "Leti, Mama is calling you."

"Yes mama?" I said as I walked into the kitchen. "Alejandro is outside waiting for you." I quickly threw on my shoes and ran outside to meet Alejandro. "You needed me." I said. "Leti, the Lava Java cafe upgraded their restaurant." Lava Java! That's my family cafe's rival restaurant! "I've seen all your parents customers going there this morning. Apparently they hired a band for the cafe." WHAT!? NO! The Lava Java will never be as good as the Manhattan Mocha! If your wondering, the Manhattan Mocha is my family's cafe. "What am I gonna do! I only have 27 days!" Alejandro tilted my face towards his. "Don't worry, your speech will be amazing." "How do you know." I mumbled lowering my head. Alejandro tilted my head up to his again. "Leti, a band is just a source of music, but a speech  is powerful." Those were the inspiring words I've ever heard from someone. I hugged Alejandro, again. I looked up into his eyes and I felt him leaning in. "Leti!" I turned around to see mama in shock. "MAMA" I yelled. Mama had a sly smile on her face.

"Ahhhhh, I see what's going on. You two are amoureuse (in love)." I blushed. "MAMA!" Before I could scream in embarrassment, Alejandro grabbed me by the waist and pulled me closer. He looked into my eyes and pressed his lips against mine. At that moment, I was swooned. I kissed back and grabbed his shirt. Mama was in the background cheering and calling our other family members out to see. Agnès and Arthur looked a bit grossed out. Grand-mère and Grand-père smiled warmly. After Alejandro and I broke away, he looked at me and smiled. "je t'aime (I love you)." He said. I smiled. "I love you too." I said before pulling him in for another kiss. My family went back inside and left us. "je t'anime!" We both said simultaneously.