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Date Posted: 23:38:15 05/06/08 Tue
Author: Hannah
Author Host/IP: port156.dialup.bfree.on.ca / 66.207.116.156
Subject: Northern Woods, Chapter 150
In reply to: Hannah 's message, "Northern Woods" on 18:45:27 04/19/08 Sat

Chapter 150

Chuck watched, fascinated, as the lovely green clad lady who had been sitting with Madeleine rose gracefully from her seat and accompanied Michel’s barrister across the ballroom floor.

“Chuck,” Madeleine greeted him with a demure smile when the two ladies arrived at his table, “that was a good speech. I wish my colleagues could learn how to be as succinct. Montreal’s judges would be thrilled.”

“Very funny.” Chuck replied with a slight smile as he politely stood to greet the two ladies. “How are you tonight Madeleine?”

“I’m well, thank you.” Madeleine replied, as she gently kissed both of his cheeks after the French manner.

“Good.” Came his soft reply, as he returned the gesture and hugged her briefly.

Madeleine pulled back and smiled warmly at Chuck. Then she turned to smile at Marie and Sarah as well before continuing to speak.

“Chuck, I’d like you to meet Nikita’s good friend Lakeisha Brooks. They were neighbours in Toronto. Lakeisha, this is Chuck Johnson, Michel’s best friend.” Madeleine continued, gesturing gracefully towards the gorgeous black woman standing next to her.

Madeleine watched Chuck’s handsome face as she finished her introduction.

‘He’s mesmerized!’ she thought in amusement. ‘Well, I can hardly blame him. She is a gorgeous lady and the fact that she’s about the only woman here he *hasn’t* dated is sure to intrigue him! Chuck’s a nice guy, but he hasn’t a clue how to keep a woman interested. I’m certainly proof of that. He knows how to talk about work and himself… but he needs to learn how to talk about other things too. No wonder Simone left him… he’s *very* focused on his interests, but rarely on anyone else’s.’

She smiled, knowing that neither Chuck nor Nikita’s friend were paying all that much attention to her at the moment. Without being invited, she sat down next to Sarah and smiled serenely at that woman. Neither Chuck nor Lakeisha seemed to notice that she had.

“Do I detect another romance budding here?” Madeleine whispered conspiratorially.

Sarah said nothing, but smirked in amusement.

Lakeisha was unaware of her new friend’s observations; she was totally mesmerized by the handsome man in front of her. She smiled slightly and offered her hand for Chuck to shake. “Hello. I’m pleased to meet you.”

“I’m pleased to meet you too.” Chuck replied sincerely as he gently grasped the warm slender hand that she offered.

‘She’s incredibly lovely.’ Chuck thought. ‘I’d like the chance to know her better.’

With a great deal of effort he managed to remember that they were hardly alone; and turned towards Marie. “This is my sister, Marie Leconte and this” he replied, indicating the table’s other occupant, “is Sarah Broussard. Sarah’s the office manager at Samtech Industries.”

“Hello.” Lakeisha said politely as she smiled shyly at both women.

Both women smiled politely at the beauty in front of them. Marie could tell that her brother was intrigued with Nikita’s friend, and Sarah chuckled quietly. Madeleine had been correct. There was an attraction beginning between the two people in front of them.

“Have you known Nikita for a long time?” Marie asked curiously.

“Yes.’ Lakeisha replied truthfully as a radiant smile spread over her lovely face. “We’ve been friends for several years. She’s a wonderful person and I know she adores Michael.”

‘Wow.’ Chuck thought as he watched her delicate features closely. ‘She’s gorgeous! She obviously thinks a lot of Nikita too. That’s nice to hear.’

“That’s good to hear.” Marie replied. “He deserves to be happy.”

“So does Nikita. I’m really happy for her.” Lakeisha said sincerely as she looked at the elegantly clad brunette.

‘She seems to be very nice.’ Lakeisha instantly decided. ‘Both Chuck and his sister have the same unpretentious manner Michael has.’ “Michael is a very nice man. Have you known him long?”

“Yes.” Marie admitted, warming to this lovely lady immediately. “I’ve known Michel since I was a young girl. He’s like a brother to me. I haven’t seen him for quite a while.”

“I see.” Lakeisha said quietly. The woman in front of her seemed sincere, but she was cautious enough to be a little wary. After all, she was a stranger here, and although this woman seemed kind, Lakeisha was well aware that looks and first impressions could be deceptive.

“Won’t you sit down?” Chuck invited, refusing to take his eyes off the gorgeous woman in front of him. “Michel and Nikita will need a while longer to greet all their guests, and when they’re done I’m going to ask everyone to take their places for dinner.”

“Thank you.” Lakeisha replied as she sat down gracefully.

Wordlessly, Chuck sank down into the chair next to her; his eyes glued to her flawlessly lovely face.

Marie, Sarah and Madeleine exchanged amused looks knowing that as far as the two were concerned, they weren’t even there.

“That was a very nice speech you just gave, if you don’t mind me saying so.” Lakeisha continued shyly. “It was fun and I could tell that the two of you are very close.”

“We are. I hope Nikita thought so too.” Chuck replied. “I watched her reactions… and she seemed nervous. I hope I didn’t embarrass or upset her. I just meant to welcome her.”

‘Now this is a switch!’ Madeleine thought as she listened shamelessly. ‘Has he finally become sensitive? Will wonders never cease!’

“I know that, and don’t worry.” Lakeisha said smiling warmly in assurance. “Nikita is very shy when you first meet her, but after she gets to know you she opens up a lot.”

“Does she?” Chuck replied. “I’m happy to hear that. I’ve only talked to her once in person and once on the phone since they’ve arrived, so I guess that hasn’t happened yet.”

“No, I suppose not.” Lakeisha admitted. “She’s a quiet person, but she’s got a great sense of humour… and I’m sure she enjoyed yours. Your speech made that obvious.”

“Thank you.” Chuck said quietly. “She must have a good sense of humour. Michel likes to have fun… unfortunately that hasn’t happened in a long time. I haven’t talked to him a lot since he’s come home, but it’s easy to see that he’s happy.”

“I think he is too. I know I’ve never seen Nikita this happy before.” Lakeisha admitted.

“Lakeisha,” Marie chimed in. “May I ask you something?”

“Certainly.” Lakeisha replied, tilting her head inquisitively. “What did you want to know?”

“If you know Nikita that well,” Marie cautiously began, “is what we’re seeing real? As I said earlier… I think a lot of Michel, and I’d like to know if they’re really in love.”

“More than anyone else I’ve ever met before, yes.” Lakeisha replied sincerely.

“I would tend to agree with that.” Madeleine interrupted quietly. “I have to admit, I was concerned that Michel had remarried until I talked to Nikita a few times. She really *does* love him.”

Marie’s brow rose. She’d known Madeleine for some time now, and if Michel’s hard-headed attorney was convinced that the blonde loved Michel, then she had no doubt that was the case.

With a relieved sigh, she once again turned to lovely woman Madeleine had just introduced to their midst.

“All I can tell you is what I’ve witnessed, of course.” Lakeisha said sincerely. “I know she loves him… but the way he looks at her… you can just *tell*! I’m so happy for both of them.”

“Are you?” Chuck replied.

“Yes. Nikita hasn’t had a very happy life up until now, you know. And she’s always been especially shy around men.” Lakeisha confided somewhat shyly. “There had to be something really special ‘there’ between them when they met.”

“I think I understand what you mean.” Chuck replied. ‘Oh do I! This lady is incredible! I’d really like to know her better!’

“Really?” Marie interjected.

“Yes. She’s never had a real romance before.” Lakeisha confided.

“Never?” an amazed Marie probed.

“No.. and I’d know. We’ve been friends and neighbours for years.” Lakeisha confirmed.

‘There’s never been another man in her life?’ a surprised Marie thought compassionately. ‘Mon Dieu! The men in Ontario must be blind! No wonder the poor girl’s seemed so overwhelmed this evening! How on earth is she going to cope with the publicity attached to everything Michel does?’

“I understand from Chuck that Michel hired you and that you’ve moved here to Montreal.” Marie continued to probe politely.

“Yes.” Lakeisha replied with a soft smile. “Michael hired me to help Nikita with Adam. He also wanted me to move here so that Nikita would have friends of her own here.”

‘Oh how thoughtful!’ Marie thought, smiling softly as she took in Lakeisha’s revelations. ‘Michel is certainly considerate! He never would have been as thoughtful with Elena… but then again that bitch didn’t deserve anyone’s compassion. She certainly never showed any to anyone else!’

“What do you mean, ‘help Adam’?” Marie responded sharply as the other part of what Lakeisha had just said registered. She remembered Adam fondly and had been horrified and dismayed when her friend had lost custody. “Is the child okay? Michel has custody now, doesn't he?”

“He does.” Madeleine said simply. “Elena attacked Nikita last week and I arranged for him to get Adam back.”

“Attacked?” a shocked Marie responded.

“She wasn’t hurt Marie… and the ‘incident’ helped Michel get Adam back.” Madeleine confirmed.

“Permanently?” Marie inquired breathlessly.

“I have every reason to believe this arrangement will become permanent.” Madeleine replied confidently.

Marie nodded in satisfaction. ‘I’m so happy to hear that. That poor child… having a mother like Elena!’

“And does Adam like Nikita?” Marie asked with a smile.

“Yes.” Madeleine confirmed. “He and Nikita bonded instantly. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”

“Oh that’s so nice.” Sarah breathed, smiling softly. “Adam’s such a little sweetheart.”

“You’re right.” Madeleine replied. “That’s certainly no thanks to his mother, as we all know.”

All of the occupants of the table except Lakeisha nodded solemnly. They remembered ‘the witch’ quite well and were relieved that she was gone.

“Wait a minute… why does Nikita need help with Adam?” Marie astutely inquired. “Chuck told me she’d been a teacher. Surely she wouldn’t need help with one child if she could cope with a classroom full of children?”

“I never said she couldn’t ‘cope’.” Lakeisha quietly replied.

“Then why?” Marie insisted on knowing.

“I shouldn’t say.” A clearly embarrassed Lakeisha replied softly.

“No Lakeisha.” Madeleine interrupted. “It’s okay. Chuck knows the situation and Marie and Sarah can both be trusted. In any case, Chuck and Marie are like family to Michel. He would want them to know this information.”

“Are you sure Madeleine?” Lakeisha said cautiously.

“I am.” Madeleine replied.

“Michael believes that his former wife abused their son.” A reluctant Lakeisha replied in a hushed voice.

Marie’s shocked eyes flashed to Madeleine and Sarah shut her eyes in pain.

‘How could a mother abuse her child?’ Sarah thought in revulsion. ‘I know it happens... and yet, with her… I’m not at all surprised. That woman should *never* have been a mother!’

Samtech’s office manager clearly remembered the last time she’d seen the then three year old Adam. The adorable imp hiding under her desk had entranced her and she kept giving him small candies to keep seeing that endearing smile!

She shuddered to think how her boss must have felt when he *lost* his son. That had been bad enough, but she couldn’t imagine the constant torture of being a child under that woman’s dominion.

Sarah had been a witness to more than a few fits the dark-haired woman had thrown and they always unsettled her. Her tender heart had cried out, objecting to the unfairness of how she’d felt when *the bitch* had nagged both Monsieur Samuelle and poor little Adam. Her unmerciful criticism had been both relentless and constant and a continuous source of embarrassment for all who heard them. Sarah had wanted to throttle her on more than one occasion and she’d been aware that Madeleine had felt the same.

‘That witch!’ Marie thought as the ire she’d always felt when discussing *that woman* escalated. ‘I wish I’d had the actual courage to go after her like I always said I would. I know Chuck and Michel would have supported me… but to be honest… I was afraid of her. I was never really sure what that unstable tramp would do!’

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