Why Lorie? Part I

Chapter 17: The Proposal

Madame Foret stood in the doorway, watching Josette and Viktor who looked like two kids that had been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

"Well? Are you going to tell me or not?" Madame Foret asked.

Josette cleared her throat. "Very well. I guess this is as good a time as any." She looked at Viktor for support. He held on tightly to her hand. "Maman... I've been thinking about this for quite a while. I've decided to accept Viktor's offer to join him in Vienna."

Josette hoped she sounded more confident than she felt. She gazed at Maman from underneath lowered lashes. The older woman looked stupefied for a short while. But then, she shook her head as though waking herself up from a daydream.

"Well," Madame Foret said, "I always knew this day would come." She walked into the room and sat in an armchair. "I just didn't realize how hard it would be."

Josette jumped off the sofa and ran over to her mother. She knelt down on the floor in front of her, and wrapped her arms around her.

"Maman... it's hard for me too," Josette whispered as tears started to trickle down her cheeks.

She laid her head into Madame Foret's lap, allowing herself to be petted by her mother.

"Oh... my dear," Madame Foret murmured. "How I shall miss you."

They were interrupted by Lorie who ran into the room holding Bonbon.

"Grandmaman, Grandmaman... look what Uncle Viktor got me!" Lorie jumped up and down in front of her grandmother. She suddenly noticed Josette's defeated posture. Lorie stopped jumping and looked serious. "Maman... are you alright?"

Lorie approached her mother and laid a hand on her head. "It's okay Mama... don't cry." Josette wrapped an arm around Lorie's waist, pulling her in.

Viktor watched agape as three generations of women held each other tightly, giving each other comfort and strength. He suddenly noticed how similar they were, despite their very different ages. Lorie looked like a miniature copy of Josette, who in turn was a younger version of Madame Foret. He took a mental picture of the image. It would remain sharp among thousands of memories Viktor made over his prolonged existence.

Madame Foret finally cleared her throat. Josette turned toward Viktor, but remained seated by her mother's feet. Lorie plopped down on Josette's lap.

"Viktor... I hope you will take very good care of my two angels," Madame Foret said.

"Of course. You can rest assured that I will," Viktor told the older woman.

"You told Grandmaman?" Lorie addressed Josette.

"Yes, we did," Josette answered while looking toward Viktor.

"And is she mad at you?" Lorie asked.

"I don't think so," Josette answered. "But perhaps she should tell us."

"I am not mad at you, my dear hearts," Madame Foret informed Lorie. "I am just a little sad..."

"But don't be sad, Grandmama," Lorie said. "We will come and visit you all the time. And you can come visit us too."

"Yes, of course," Madame Foret assured Lorie. "I wouldn't have it any other way," she looked at Viktor as she spoke. "And what are your plans regarding my daughter?"

"I'm glad you asked," Viktor answered. "Perhaps you could tell your husband to join us in here."

Madame Foret stood up. She took Lorie by the hand guiding her out of the parlor. "Let's go find Grandpapa, shall we?"

Meanwhile, Josette watched Viktor with wide eyes. He approached her and helped her stand up. Once she did, Viktor produced a little box out of his pocket.

"I came prepared," he murmured as he opened the box.

Inside, Josette saw a stunning platinum ring, with a large blue diamond surrounded by tiny sapphires in the shape of a flower. She gasped and looked into green Viktor's eyes. He held her hand as he spoke:

"My dearest Josette. We have known each other for almost five years now. I have wanted to ask you a very important question for quite a long while," Viktor grinned. "But I had to be sure you were ready to answer it."

Josette nodded her head almost imperceptibly. Viktor got down to one knee.

"Josette Lafoure, will you do me the greatest honor by becoming my wife?"

Viktor took the ring out of the box, while waiting for her to answer. Josette's eyes filled with tears as she started to nod again.

"Yes, my dear Viktor... Yes, I will be your wife." Josette held her hand out to him, and Viktor slipped the ring on her fourth finger. It fit perfectly.

Viktor stood up and placed his hands around Josette's waist. He pulled her close to him and pressed his lips against hers. "You have made me the happiest man," he murmured after they kissed tenderly.

Josette looked over Viktor's shoulder and noticed her family. They were standing in the doorway, still gaping after the romantic scene they had just witnessed. Josette squeezed Viktor's arm to get his attention. He turned around and gave their audience a big smile.

"Your daughter has just accepted my proposal," Viktor pointed out unnecessarily.

"Yes. We heard," Monsieur Foret said.

"Oh, my dears," Madame Foret strode toward them with her arms open. "I am so happy for both of you."

Lorie ran by her grandmother. She wrapped her tiny arms around Viktor's legs. "Does this mean you are now my Papa?"

Viktor bent down and picked the little girl up. He twirled her through the air, making her giggle with delight. "Yes, my little one. I am now your Papa," he answered.

Lorie planted a big kiss on his cheek. "So I don't have to call you Uncle Viktor anymore?"

"No. I insist that you call me Father... or Papa," Viktor smiled at Lorie.

"Today is the best day," Lorie called out to her family. "I got a new kitty and a new Papa!" She exclaimed happily. "When can we move in with you?"

Josette blushed. "Lorie! Viktor just asked me. We'll need some time to plan our wedding." She looked at her fiancé. "Won't we?"

"Actually," Viktor replied, "I don't see why you two can't move to Vienna as soon as possible. And you can make preparations for the wedding once there."

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Josette raised an eyebrow.

"Of course it is," Viktor assured her. "You are twenty-five years old and have a child. I don't think our situation would be frowned upon, especially since we are engaged."

"Yes, Maman! Please! Can we move soon? I want to show my new brothers all of my toys!" Lorie pleaded with her mother.

Josette smiled. "Yes, I'm sure they can't wait to play with them!" She winked at Viktor, but Lorie frowned.

"They are all grown up. Why would they want to play with my dollies?" Lorie was dead serious.

Josette chuckled. "Nothing gets by this one," she told Viktor, tousling Lorie's hair. "I was joking, my love," she then addressed Lorie.

"Then... I suppose we need to start packing," Madame Foret told everyone. "Where shall we start?"

"My room, of course," Lorie exclaimed, to everyone's amusement.

One thing was for sure: their little prodigy knew exactly what she wanted and how to go about getting it. Grandpapa sighed as he proclaimed:

"It's time to take that dollhouse apart, I guess."