| Subject: Second Generation - Part #1 |
Author:
Wanda
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 22:00:14 07/24/03 Thu
Second Generation - Part #1
Boudreau heard the revving engine of a car outside the main house, and decided it must be Jean Baptiste coming to pick him up. They were driving to Lake Charles for the Fall Harvest Ball. Boudreau’s car was in the garage for repairs, and Jean Baptiste had agreed to come out to the Le Bleu plantation, and pick him up. Boudreau gathered up his suit jacket, penned a gardenia on his lapel, and walked out the door.
He was a handsome man, and carried himself with a slight swagger. Women looked at him with admiration because of his appearance; and it helped that he was one of the most eligible bachelors in the Lake Charles area. Boudreau was the son of Bow and Catherine La Faye, the present owners of the Le Bleu plantation. He had been told his mother named him Boudreau after her best friend, Marguerite Boudreau, who had married Catherine’s cousin, George Sheffield. George and Marguerite were the parents of Jean Baptiste Boudreau. Marguerite’s first husband, Jean Pierre Boudreau had been killed when Jean Baptiste was only a small baby. Following her husband’s death, Marguerite met George Sheffield when he came to the Americas to visit his cousin, Catherine.
The two women had become close friends, and Catherine was thrilled when George and Marguerite fell in love and married. When Boudreau was born, he and Jean Baptiste became playmates, and later grew up together. They were more like brothers, then good friends, even though they were now grown men.
As the door closed behind Boudreau, Roxy, the family fox hound whined because Boudreau had forgotten to give her the usual scratching behind the ears. He always reminded her that he loved her best; and would be home later to tuck her into her bed. Tonight, Boudreau’s mind was on the Fall Harvest Ball and Lucia Deverall. He thought Lucia was the most beautiful young woman he had ever seen, and she had agreed to go with him to the ball. Jean Baptiste said he was going to shop around for a lady after he got to the ball, so he would have Boudreau drop him off at the ball before he went to pick up Lucia.
If the truth were known, Jean Baptiste had fallen in love with Boudreau’s younger sister, Katerina, but she had eyes only for Pierre Cummings. Pierre had been attending college up north, but had come back for the main event of the year at Lake Charles which was the Fall Harvest Ball. Jean Baptiste was devastated when he realized Katerina did not have the same feelings for him that he had for her. He had waited patiently for her to grow up for he had loved her since she was a child. She was now twenty-one; and it was almost more then he could bear to think of her loving another man. He had never expressed his love for Katerina; so she was not aware of his feelings.
Boudreau got into the driver’s side of Jean Baptiste’s car, and skillfully backed it down the driveway. Boudreau said, “Jean, for the life of me, I can’t understand why you didn’t invite a date for tonight. This is only the biggest event of the year.” Even Boudreau was not aware of Jean Baptiste’s on-going love for Katerina. Jean laughed; and said, “Ah Boudreau, it’s too early to get tied down with a woman and a bunch of kids. You know I am such a handsome man, that some beauty is going to take pity on me tonight, and ask me to dance with her.
Boudreau said, “My friend, you are a hopeless case. I can’t get you married off at this rate.” Jean Baptiste said, “I haven’t heard wedding bells ringing for you either, friend of mine.” “That may be,” said Boudreau, “but I am much younger then you are.” “I’m only fourteen months older then you, so don’t give me that talk,” said Jean Baptiste.
Boudreau pulled up at the Country Club; and Jean Baptiste got out of the car. He waved gallantly at Boudreau, and walked into the Country Club. Boudreau drove to the section of Lake Charles where the most luxurious homes had been built. Lucia’s father was one of the bankers of Lake Charles; and he also dabbled in real estate. He was probably one of the wealthiest men in Lake Charles. Money was very important to Boudreau, so finding a girl of means was a priority to him.
Boudreau pulled onto the street where Lucia lived, and remembered something his mother had said to him. She had cautioned him about becoming so wrapped up in money he forgot to look at the person behind the money. Boudreau loved his mother very much, but she seemed a little strait laced at time. He realized that his parents had a wonderful relationship, and they never had money worries. He also knew they had worked very hard throughout their marriage. Both of them had said that money was not to be the main goal in life, but only a means of obtaining the things that were needed in life.
Boudreau had no idea his mother worried about him becoming like Joshua Sallier, his biological father. He had lived for money, and she knew first hand what it had brought to him.
Catherine told Bow many times over of her concerns as she watched Boudreau developing into a young man. Bow told her she had to be patient, and let Boudreau find his own way. They had done the best they could do for him, and he was old enough to begin making his own decisions in life. The best they could do now was to be there if he sought their counsel.
To be continued...
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 