A French Farewell

They clung to each other, the mother and the daughter she had given life to sixteen years earlier. It would be another six months until they saw each other again. They were standing in the small, old world railway station in the regional town of France near the village where her daughter had been living for the last six months. Snow was falling steadily and the railway station was drafty and chilly. The Laurent family who had taken her daughter as an exchange student had all come to the station to say goodbye to Christine. She told the family not to wait until the train came as it was too cold and they reluctantly left after an affectionate goodbye and promises from Christine that she would visit them one day.

The reason for her being here in France was that she had decided to visit a relative in England so she had arranged with the Laurent family for Gabriella to travel to England with her. The family organized with the school for her to have a five day break on top of the short break that the students had at Christmas. During the European summer they had a long break to enjoy the warmer weather.

It was Boxing Day when Christine arrived in France and it had been an exceptionally cold winter. Gabriella had traveled with the Laurent family up to the north of France from their home in Eastern France. Christine caught the train from Paris to the town where the grandparents of the Laurent children lived. Gabriella had spent Christmas there and arrangements had been made for Christine to be collected from her hotel the next morning after she arrived. She sat back on the train, and relaxed as the train whizzed past the normally green fields, now with the appearance of an iced cake with its covering of a pure, white quilt of snow. She was filled with anticipation of the reunion with her daughter and inexplicably nervous to be seeing her daughter again and wondered if she had changed in the six months since she had left home.

Christine walked out of the station and stood for a moment in the street while she orientated herself. She found her hotel and then went to explore the charming little town while there was some daylight left. Next morning, as arranged, she waited in the foyer for the Laurent family to collect her. She was very excited as she watched people in anticipation as they came through the door. She had just turned away for a moment when suddenly, she heard a familiar voice saying “Hello Mother!” Gabriella always liked to address her as Mother when she felt self conscious or nervous. It was a pet name. Mostly it was just “Mum”. She turned around and Gabriella was standing there with Camille, the woman who had been Gabriella’s mother for the last six months. Christine was overcome with happiness to see Gabriella and they hugged each other, wrapping their arms around each other not wanting to let go. Christine wanted to hold her so tight that she melded her into her own body. She was introduced to Camille who greeted her with the usual kisses on each side of her face. She seemed interested to finally put a face to Christine and she commented that it was like looking at an older version of Gabriella.

They drove to the home of the grandparents who had prepared a wonderful, traditional French meal to celebrate the arrival of Gabriella’s mother. The extended family greeted Christine with enthusiasm and excitement. Christine was amazed to see how much her daughter’s French had improved and even though she spoke French herself she had to call on Gabriella to help her out a few times as Christine had not conversed in the language for some time. They had the most delicious food and French wine. Everything was all arranged on plates in the middle of the table and there was much chattering and questions asked from both Christine and the Laurents.

Christine handed out some gifts that she had brought with her for the family which they eagerly opened.

In the evening Christine and Gabriella were taken to the ferry terminal. The Eurostar was not operating due to extreme cold which meant they had to go to England on the ferry. It was one of the coldest winters that Europe had experienced in many years. Even the sand on the beach was covered in snow, right down to the water. This was a strange sight to see especially for someone who lived in Australia.

They boarded the ferry and eventually it docked at Dover where Christine and Gabriella stayed overnight, catching a train the next morning to London.

Even London was under a blanket of snow. They walked through Hyde Park and Kensington Park, rugged up against the cold in coats, hats and thick scarves. They watched the birds landing on the lake in Hyde Park which was very entertaining as the birds skidded along the ice. As they walked they left footprints in the pristine snow. Eventually, when they were very cold they headed up to the high street to find a coffee shop where they drank delicious, hot chocolate. They could feel the warm, blood coursing back into their fingers and toes.

Not wanting to drive in London, they caught a train across to Reading the next day and hired a car. As their time in England was short, they limited their sightseeing trip to the southern areas, only traveling as far north as Bath. They drove through some countryside that seemed unworldly. The scenes belonged in a picture book. Hedgerows and bare trees were blanketed in snow and cozy looking cottages with thatched roofs and with smoke curling from the chimneys looking so welcoming. They spent nights in lovely, little, country hotels, only venturing downstairs to the warmth of timber lined dining rooms with huge, crackling fires and indulging in traditional English fare that warmed them inside and out.

They enjoyed being reunited again and relished the long conversations catching up on the last six months. Gabriella had missed her so much. Even though the family was wonderful to her and treated her like a daughter, it was not the same as being with her own family. Christine had certainly missed her daughter but it was probably harder for Gabriel who was living with people that she had only known for six months and she had to communicate in a foreign language both at home and at school. She was an only child and her father had died when she was very young so it was just the two of them. Christine thought it was a great experience for Gabriella to be with this family of five made up of three boys and the parents. Two of the boys were close to her age and she went to the same school as the second son. The third child was still pre-school age. It was Gabriella’s idea to have the exchange and she was very glad that she had decided to do it but sometimes wished she had taken the six-month option instead of the year.

They were back in London for New Year’s Eve after visiting Christine’s second cousin who had been very unwell. They decided not to get caught in the crowds at the fireworks, so they went for a delicious meal in a lively multi-cultural street and then walked briskly through the chilly night air back to the hotel. There had been a mix-up with the booking at the hotel that Christine had reserved months earlier. The hotel had double booked and being New Year’s Eve they did not have any spare rooms.

Alternative accommodation had to be found for them. The only place that the hotel could find for them was another one in the same area but with a five star rating. This made them very happy especially as they did not have to pay any extra. Having such a beautiful room with one hundred and eighty degree views they decided to stay in their room to enjoy the luxury. A Bridget Jones movie was showing on the T.V. so they ordered a room service supper and lounging on the large bed in the room enjoyed the light hearted movie. At about fifteen minutes before midnight they headed down to another floor where they mingled with a group of people in a private party where they found a great viewing point for the fireworks. No one questioned their presence at the party and they even drank a complimentary glass of champagne. After the fireworks they returned to their luxurious room.

The next morning they traveled by train to Dover across the pristine, white countryside which never ceased to mesmerise Christine. She loved the atmosphere of stillness and the untouched quality of the fields before they were trampled and driven over.

They arrived in Dover in the early evening and it was bone-chillingly cold. They walked along the glassy footpath taking every care not to slip. The wind whipped around them and eventually they found refuge in a hotel in the centre of town. They discovered a little restaurant across the road which was so charmingly French. It was dimly lit with rustic, wooden tables and a roaring fire. The warmth soothed their chilled bodies. It specialized in traditional French dishes so they ordered Boeuf Bourguignon and Christine had a warming glass of red wine. A great French song was playing and forever when Christine heard the artist it always conjured up that night in the restaurant. They were both a little melancholy as the time got closer to when they would have to be parted again and Christine would return to Australia.

By the next evening, they were back in Eastern France with the family and Christine, even though she had intended to leave the next morning, was invited to stay for a few days. She did not want to impose but it was such a genuine invitation as the family knew how much they were enjoying being together. It was a very special time as she was welcomed into their family and she was able to reignite her French speaking skills and watch her daughter communicate as if she had lived there forever. There was delicious and simple French food every night served with local Champagne and red wines. They had wonderful conversations and lots of laughter especially when Christine made a mistake and said something that made no sense or meant something else.

Gabriella went off to school with Remy every day and Christine spent the time with Camille and the youngest pre-school boy. They went for drives to ancient, old towns perched on the top of small plateaux and they explored the countryside. It was still very cold and the forests and fields were just breathtaking in their beauty. Every morning Christine, who was an avid photographer, took long walks around the village where they lived, capturing the stunning beauty of the snow covered, rustic stone buildings, the pristine white fields on the outskirts, the frozen canal and the icy water of the river that flowed through the village.

The night before she was to leave, Gabriella came into her room and asked if she could come home with her. “I like it here but it is not the same as home and I miss you and Dad.” Christine said that she had made a commitment and in years to come that she would regret it if she cut the time short. This opportunity to become almost fluent in the language and the fact that she had to learn to live with a new family and make friends at school while speaking in another language would benefit her more than she could imagine in the future.

Gabriella became teary but Christine realized that as soon as she was gone that she would settle back into her life in France. It was just a reaction to Gabriella seeing her again. It had made her think of home and all the familiarity of her life there.

They had all said their goodbyes and Christine walked towards the train station platform as the family left to go to the car. She glanced back and her daughter gave her a last wave. Christine stood on the platform which was nearly deserted. The wind whipped across the platform chilling her body. She suddenly felt very sad as she stood there all alone. She felt like she was in some old-time movie standing by herself on this old fashioned platform with the mist swirling around her. She wished she had her precious daughter with her but she knew that when the next six months passed Gabriella would return home and next time it would be an embrace of welcoming her back into the arms of her family.

Christine arrived back in Australia after the twenty four hour flight. There had been a delay and she had to stay in a lonely airport hotel at Charles de Gaulle airport until the next day. Even then, there was a long delay while the ice was cleared from the wings of the plane.

There was a sadness and an empty feeling in her heart that would not go away. She could not walk into Gabriella’s room without missing her presence.

Knowing that the next six months would pass quickly once she returned to work, she gradually threw off the gloomy feeling that had taken over her spirit.

She had a phone call from Gabriella who was once again in high spirits. She was enjoying school and there was a certain boy in her class who had caught her eye, so Christine was content once again knowing that her daughter was happy.

She woke, suddenly alert when she realized that the shrill sound she could hear was the phone ringing. She ran from her bedroom into the lounge room with that feeling of dread that only the sound of a phone in the middle of the night can produce. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she picked up the phone. The voice on the other end delivered the shocking news that paralyzed her and numbed her brain before reality hit and she sank to her knees moaning in anguish but there was no one there to hear her.

“I’m sorry but the bus driver lost control on the icy road and collided with a truck. There are only five survivors. Your daughter is in a critical condition in hospital. You will have to come immediately.”

Christine was back on the twenty four hour flight once again to be at her daughter’s side at the hospital. She was terrified that it would be too late when she got there. All she could think of was the worst scenario. What if Gabriella died. Her world would crash down upon her.

Now, a young sixteen year old Rebecca sat with her parents pleading with them to let her go on exchange to France. Memories were flooding back to Gabriella of the time that she spent in France and the traumatic accident that nearly claimed her life. Her whole being wanted to say no to Rebecca but was she right to do this? She cast her mind back to her fifteen year old self and how she left on her exchange adventure, starry eyed and excited. She remembered with great affection the visit from her mother Christine and the lifetime of memories that she treasured of their time together. She thought of the Laurents who became like a second family to her and the care that they gave her after her long stay in hospital before she was able to fly home.

Gabriella decided that life is full of risks. As soon as you step out of bed every day you never know what the day has in store. “No, I can’t deny her this experience because of my fears” she thought.

Rebecca walked through the doors into the departure lounge with one glance back and a wave to her parents. Gabrielle remembered that last glance back at her mother in the little railway station on that bleak, snowy day so long ago.