Chapter I - The Hospital

The Hospital (prologue)

Point of view: Nicolas the butler

“Now I want you to tell me everything that happened the day Danielle had a stroke,” the police offer said. “I want to know every detail you can remember.” The police officer had spent the last hour struggling to keep sense of what I was telling him. His own questions confused him... It was good to know that the French police was capable...

“All of it, sir?” I asked in a tone that suggested to him I didn’t like the idea. “This could take a while.” I was sick of sitting in this small, dark room. I was innocent. I didn’t do it. The police officer’s face was grim. He didn’t like me. I was sure of it.

“Everything, sir,” he said. I sighed... But I had to obey.

-l--l---l--l-

Danielle had always been a healthy woman, and she was good at sports... She was a good example to her husband. Owning a vineyard had its benefits, including free wine... but drinking a bottle of wine everyday had left him with a big gut. I had tried to tell him a couple of times but all he did was laugh and offer me a drink, as if I was just kidding or making a joke. But speaking of jokes, this was not a joke at all. The stroke came as a shock to everybody... But there she was. All wired up and sick. I have always hated hospitals. They remind me of death. What a sad place to die... Thank goodness Danielle wasn’t going to die. The doctors said she would be paralyzed but not dead. It could be worse... Well she wasn’t exactly lucky, only according to the doctors.

“Nicolas will you go get me a cup of coffee please?” Philippe asked as we all stood there in front of Danielle’s bed. I was surprised he wanted coffee. My master never drank coffee. If he didn’t drink wine or alcohol he would drink applejuice...

“Of course. I shall see to it at once, sir,” I said. It was my job, my duty.

I could feel the eyes in my back as I left the room. They were all in there, the entire family.  It was strange to see them gathered again. They couldn’t even gather for christmas but at least their hearts were big enough when Danielle needed them... I wondered what would happen next, with the wedding and all. It was supposed to be held in two weeks from that day, and I had made all the preparations. It was hard work actually. I’d never planned a wedding before... But since Claudine and Emmanuel’s wedding was to be held at the vineyard I was a natural part of the planning... Claudine was a sweet girl. I’d served the family for a long time... More than twenty years or so... Claudine was the perfect mix of her mother and her father. She had Philippe’s knowledge but none of his temper. She was just as sweet and innocent as her mother. I would be very proud of her if she were my own daughter. However, I went to the hospital’s coffee machine. Well one of them to be exact... They probably had more than just one. It was actually a very bad coffee machine, it only had one type of coffee... 

“Excuse me sir, but can you help me?” I heard a woman say to me when I was about to leave the coffee machine. I turned around and saw a tiny little fragile woman with hospital clothes on. She looked as boring as the hospital’s walls. I couldn’t say what was wrong with her though... Well judging by the snot flowing from her nose she definitely had a flu... but they don’t put people in hospitals because of that. Even I had a flu once in a while.

“Yes?” I asked politely.

“Do you have some coins for the machine? It thought I had some but... well I just realized my wallet is empty...” She looked very sick, and I kept focusing on the snot below her nose... That and her big eyes. Her eyes were begging like Philippe’s dog’s eyes when dinner was getting served. I hate beggars. In Paris, where I come from, the streets are filled with the likes of her. I never give them anything. My father told me it wasn’t my problem, and he was right. I never give money to strangers. I work hard to earn them, why should I give them away?

“I’m afraid not,” I told her. “You should have checked before you went to the machine.” The look on her face almost made me laugh. It obviously wasn’t the answer she expected... She must have seen the change the machine gave me.... But I bet that woman always had people fixing her problems. I wouldn’t be one of those people. Welcome to the real world, little lady!

“Good day, madam,” I said.

“But I just saw you...” she began but I sighed and broke her off. What a rude little crone!

“I said good day, madam. Go beg elsewhere.” 

On my way back I could hear Claudine and her fiancée Emmanuel talking so I stopped before they could see me. I didn’t want to interrupt my masters... I was taught never to interrupt... It’s all about knowing your place and making them forget you’re there. When I’m working, which is basically all the time, I have to be discrete, blend in... Sometimes I pretend I’m an object. A robot ready to do whatever I’m told. 

“...No we will not, Caudine. It’s absolutely madness.” Emmanuel wasn’t satisfied with whatever Claudine proposed. I checked to see if there was anybody behind me, but I was all alone. I probably looked like a freak in that moment, just standing still and trying to listen to their conversation. I do that quite often actually. 

“Is it, Emmanuel?” she asked. She was upset. “It’s my mother in there. Doctors say she will live but she will never be the same. She needs time to relax and to get used to her new situation, but having 200 guests in her backyard isn’t exactly relaxing now is it?”

“It wasn’t what I meant, Claudine...” Emmanuel sighed. “I just want to marry you. I’ve waited so long now, and it’s quite late to cancel everything don’t you think? All my colleagues at work have taken the days off they will be spending in your father’s vineyard, and I...” 

“Oh so you worry more about your colleagues than your mother-in-law? The wedding is off for now, Emmanuel. It will be on when everything’s back to normal, I swear.” Judging by the sudden silence between the them I guess they were kissing... But it didn’t last long.

“You will have me,” Claudine said. Her voice was so calm I almost couldn’t hear what she said. “You already have my word I will marry you.” There was another silence. This time longer than before. I checked if they were still there and saw them kissing. Emmanuel was a tall, handsome man. Black hair, muscular, wearing a tuxedo. The perfect match to a beautiful girl like Claudine. Both of Danielle and Philippe’s daughters were beautiful. They seemed to have everything. Money, good looks, healthy relationships... and they were smart too. I really hoped they wouldn’t ruin it. I’ve always wanted them to be happy. 

“I wish I could stay, Claudine... But I have to fly back to Lyon soon,” Emmanuel said after another long kiss.

“Already?” She was disappointed.

“I’m afraid so. I just needed to see you... but you are in good hands with your family, and as you know: time is money, love.”

“Time is money,” she agreed. “I understand. Your job is important. It’s not a joke they give you so much money...” There was another silence. They probably kissed again but I wasn’t sure so I decided to finally step forward. They were hugging each other now but Claudine saw me coming and let go of Emmanuel, who was smelling her long, curly hair.

“Oh they you are, Nicolas. I was wondering what was taking so long.” Then Emmanuel also noticed me.

“Good day to you Nicolas,” Emmanuel said and smiled. I liked Emmanuel. A polite man. Rich. Philippe was proud of Claudine for finding such a man... and so was I. I was glad she grew up to be the woman she was. She never did anything wrong. She followed her dreams and achieved them one by one. I often wondered how long it would last but it seemed to continue forever...

“And you, Emmanuel,” I replied politely. “It turns out the coffee machine was quite difficult to locate... But as you know, I can handle everything if given enough time.” I gave Claudine a smile and blinked before I excused myself. The coffee wouldn’t be hot all day. They both smiled at me and kissed each other again when I left. 

When I entered the room, Selina, the eldest daughter, was sitting in the chair in the corner, but Gilbert, their son, was standing beside Danielle’s bed next to Philippe. They all turned their eyes towards me when I entered, and they kept staring for a long while. Gilbert looked angry, and Selina looked like she was about to cry. I suddenly realized I was interrupting an argument. What was it with these people and arguments? And of all places, why did they argue in front of Danielle who just had a stroke? The woman was sick for crying out loud! She didn’t look happy, judging by the look on her face. I sighed. They knew I hated it when they were arguing, and I enjoyed letting them know how much I hated it. I’ve always told them it’s a waste of time, but they seem to do it all the time anyway... It’s the one time I don’t just blend in and pretend I’m not there. I am human after all...

“I’m sorry,” I said and put the coffee down on Danielle’s table and left the room as quickly as possible. It was what they taught me back in the days. If I interrupt I should immediately apologize and leave the room. They didn’t speak until the door was closed, and when I came outside Emmanuel was leaving. 

“A pleasure to meet you again, Nicolas,” he said and smiled. Even his teeth were perfect. All white and shiny. 

“The pleasure is all mine, sir,” I replied and smiled. I’d only met Emmanuel a couple of times before but I liked him. He seemed almost too perfect to be true.

“Goodbye sweetheart,” Emmanuel said and kissed Claudine one last time. They seemed to love each other. There was nothing in his eyes that said otherwise.

“Goodbye,” Claudine said, and then Emmanuel left. She yawned and then she focused on me. She was not very tall but she was a healthy woman like her mother had always been. Smooth skin, wild hair and brown eyes. Apart from the hair she looked like her mother, only younger and with a different shape of face. Her face looked like her father’s face. It was round, not long like Danielle’s face. 

“Rough day, huh?” I asked her. She nodded and smiled. We were good friends.

“What is it?” she asked. “Why didn’t you stay inside with the others?” 

“I think you better go see for yourself, sweetheart,” I told her. I often called her ‘sweetheart’. I’d always had a close relationship to the children... She gave me a suspicious look, but she did what I told her to. When she opened the door it was obvious that they were arguing in there. I heard Gilbert snapping at his sister but I didn’t get the exact words... When they realized the door was open they stopped talking. The family had always been protective of their private life. They didn’t want anybody to know about their arguments. 

“What is going on?” Claudine asked and closed the door behind her. I didn’t know what to do with myself then so I found a nurse and asked her if there was somewhere I could sit. She told me no... but she found me a stool and put it outside Danielle’s room. There I sat for hours. A nurse visited Danielle’s room once in a while but otherwise nothing happened... Well, the woman from the coffee machine walked by and gave me an angry look... However, I was so bored I found myself counting the number of people passing by... But I am used to this. Sometimes all I do is watch. It is a part of my job as a butler. When nothing is required of me I stand and watch whatever they’re doing so that I’m present whenever they need me to get them something. It was boring, yes... but also my job. 

Suddenly, as I was thinking of all the things back in the vineyard I could have cleaned while sitting there, Gilbert, the son, came bursting out of the room. I could her Claudine cry out his name. He ignored her and shut the door, and then he noticed me... I was still sitting on the stool so he was very tall compared to me, and I couldn’t stretch my neck far enough to get eye contact with him. All I could see was the stripes on his suit. The situation was very awkward. I’d never had anything against Gilbert, but this was where my opinion about him changed.

“Nicolas,” he said coldly. He usually never spoke to me like that. He was like the son I never had.

“Gilbert,” I replied. Then he left with not as much as single word, and he left in a hurry. One of the nurses saw what happened. She looked confused, and when Gilbert was out of sight she gave me a strange look. I shrugged and raised my eyebrows. Then she went back to work. I wondered what had happened... The family used to have arguments, but never this long. I felt sorry for Danielle. A woman who just had a stroke shouldn’t be treated like that... Especially not by her own family! They ought to be supportive. 

As I sat there I began to hate Gilbert more and more for what he’d just done, but my opinion about the rest of them also changed. The least they could do was taking the argument outside so Danielle wouldn’t be disturbed. 

Nothing really happened after Gilbert left so I continued counting things. It was very boring but then the door finally opened.

“Nicolas,” Philippe said and closed the door behind him. “Come on, it’s time to go home now.”

“Is everything all-right, sir?” I asked. Philippe sighed.

“Come on, I’ll tell you what there is to know on the way home.”

“Will the girls be joining us or is it just the two of us?” Philippe had a cold, hard look on his face. He was troubled... Today had changed the family radically I then realized. It would never be the same with Danielle being paralyzed. All the activities they used to do together; gulf, hunting, riding horses etc... Danielle could no longer participate. 

“Not today... but it looks like we’re getting a new member in our household when Danielle comes home,” Philippe said. “Claudine insists on moving in with us here in the beginning.” Philippe said in a tone that revealed he wasn’t very happy about it. But judging by the look on his face he wasn’t actually unhappy about it. It irritated him, but it was also a comfort. I know my master well. I know his feelings better than he does himself.

“Oh, I see...” I said, not knowing what to say. “That’s very... very kind of her.”

“It is...” Philippe agreed. “Come along now. I want to get home before dark.”

“Of course, sir.”

The ride home was quite long. Philippe didn’t say a word the first twenty minutes. He usually wasn’t a man of few words... But I shouldn’t begin a conversation. I never should and never did. It was my job never to disturb, and if he wanted me to speak he would ask me a question first. He always did. 

“Was it just me or did the coffee at the hospital taste really bad?” he then asked.

“I couldn’t say, sir. I didn’t taste it.”

“Perhaps the quality of coffee in hospitals is just bad. With many people visiting all the time they probably can’t afford buying good coffee... What say you, Nicolas?”

“They sure have many visitors every day, sir,” I said. “I was happy to see all of your children there.” Philippe snorted at that. His expressions had always been strong, and he often snorted. It didn’t suit him but he didn’t care what other people thought of him. He only wanted their opinions on his wine, not his personality or his looks.

“Really? Well I wish Gilbert had stayed away.” I didn’t know what to say to that. I knew I should be careful. Something had happened right before Gilbert left... But I had no idea what. All I knew was that it was something that bothered Philippe.

“Why is that, sir?” I asked and pretended not to know the manner of Gilbert’s goodbye.

“I will never forgive him for what he did!” Philippe was angry, and his voice was thick and deep, very frightening. He made a fist and rolled down the window so he could spit out his chewing gum. I hate it when he does that. It’s illegal... But Philippe doesn’t care. He never does. Not even when I’m driving.

“I’m afraid I don’t quite follow, sir?” I said.

“I shouldn’t have let him to go England. He’s been a snob ever since he came back from that oh so fine Oxford University... Sometimes I’m certain he thinks he’s better than us. As if his way of living is better than ours! A city-rat is what he is...” I chose to ignore the last part of what he said since I’m from Paris and lived half my life in the city so I actually felt quite offended.

“He sure did make quite a scene when he left the hospital...” I said and let him know I was suspicious. There was a small silence until Philippe finally loosened up. 

“The boy doesn’t want to see his mother again. He says he wants to remember her the way she was... before.” I could have sworn I saw a tear in Philippe’s eyes in the rear view mirror but he was too macho to let it slip down on his cheeks. I pretended not to notice and concentrated on the road instead.

“I can remove your photographs of him if you’d like that, sir?” I asked after a long pause. We were almost home then.

“No... no don’t,” Philippe replied. “The boy might come to his senses one day... And he wasn’t the only one causing trouble. Claudine was almost worse.”

“Worse? How is that?” I didn’t understand that. She was a sweet girl, but what could possibly be worse than what Gilbert did? What Gilbert did was outrageous!

“Dammit Nicolas you ask too much. Ask her yourself...” Philippe said. “All I want is to sit on my terrace with a glass of wine and watch the sunset. I’ve had enough talking for today.” He had lost his patience with me. I should ask him no more questions. I had already asked too many.

“I’m sorry if I have offended you, sir,” I said politely. I felt like a fool. This was not how a proper butler was supposed to behave.

Philippe coughed. 

“You never have,” he said calmly. “Don’t worry Nicolas. I’m not mad at you. It’s been a long day, can you blame a man for wanting to relax?”

“Certainly not, sir,” I replied quickly. The master is always right.

The rest of the ride home was silent, part from the music on the radio. No one said a word, and after half an hour or so the vineyard was visible from the car. The vineyard is an old, gothic castle made of beige sandstone, and around it are two big fields, divided by a great green garden with fountains and statues. It is a very fine little place, and you can even see the sea from the terrace. I have no idea what it’s worth but it has to be a great deal of money. It wasn’t very big but it was still a castle. Philippe’s family has always been rich. The grapes are good, and the vintages they make there are delicious.  Everybody on the south coast think so too and therefore pay a lot of money for it, which of course is to Philippe’s fortune... and mine. What is good for Philippe is good for me.

After having parked the car I found Philippe where he promised he would be when he got home; on the terrace. It was sunset, and he was sitting in his chair, enjoying the view with a glass of wine. The sky was pink and orange. It was a beatiful contrast to the green garden and the beige walls.

“Can I get you something, sir?” I asked.

“No thank you Nicolas,” he said. “You can take the rest of the day off. I have no appetite tonight...”

“Are you sure, sir?”

“Asbolutely...” he replied. Not once did his eyes turn away from the sun. He had much to think about. I kept standing there a little while till I was sure he had no more to say to me.

“Good night, sir,” I then said. 

“And you, Nicolas,” he replied and drank the rest of the wine in his glass. He was pouring himself another glass before I could offer to do it for him. I went inside and watched him sit there. After a couple of minutes the sun had set. I went to my private chambers next to the kitchen. 

-l--l---l--l-

“That’s it, sir,” I said. “That’s what happened the day Danielle had a stroke. He studied my face. 

“What can you tell me about Monique?” he then asked. Monique was not a member of the family. She was the maid. Danielle was a good woman and had promised Monique’s mother, whom she had known since childhood, to give Monique a job. She needed money for university.

“There’s not much to tell, officer,” I said. “She has Sunday and Monday off. Tuesday morning she drives to the vineyard and stays there till Saturday afternoon.”

“Does she like her job?” he asked. “Is she happy when she’s at work?”

“Well...” I began. “She always talks about how incredible it is how she both loves and hates the vineyard. I guess it’s only normal. You probably feel the same way about the police station, sir,” I said tried to be funny.  The officer did not look happy. He had no sense of humor.

“What has she said that might indicate she doesn’t like her job?” he asked. It was a tough question. It was difficult to remember.

“Well in the beginning she was often in a bad mood on Tuesdays when she had to leave home. But she is used to it now. I’m sure she thinks it’s a nice place, and the truth is that she has a very easy job. It’s not hard at all... She does the laundry and clean the castle, yes... but I help and there really isn’t much to clean. The castle is more of a mansion, really. I don’t know why it’s called a castle... Historical reasons I guess.” I stopped talking. The officer did not look satisfied with my answer. He wants to know who did it... Should I tell him and just be done with it?