The Painting
by Jeffrey Allen White

As Camille, sat in the park with Francine, she thought about what had happened yesterday. She had been at the same park with her charge, Francine, daughter of Louis and Estelle Garielle, the couple she worked for as a nanny.

Camille remembered everything about yesterday and secretly wished that today would be a repeat. She had taken Francine to the park as she does three days every week. The child, aged seven, is cute, smart and very loving. Camille is devoted to her charge and has been for the last three years.

She was hired upon the recommendation of Mademoiselle Cordieu, from the Cordieu School for Girls, where Camille attended since the age of five. Her own parents, Rene’ and Claudia Gerard, had both died in an accident while out of the country on holiday and her inheritance gave her the opportunity to stay at school until she was seventeen. Now, gainfully employed, she loved her work and the challenges it brought and the opportunities it offered.

Camille taught the usual assortment of subjects to Francine; language, mathematics, science, religion and history. She also was teaching her to paint and do crewelwork, which were her own favorite past times other than reading which was her joy. Today was not the usual day to go to the park as she went on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, weather permitting most of the time. Francine so loves to come here and play with the other children and spend time in the fresh air. However, today was Thursday, not their regular day. She had returned to catch a glimpse of or to speak with him again. A man she had met only a day earlier all by accident.

This man came up to her and started to chat. Being polite but careful she maintained a civil conversation and stuck to current events like the weather and similar generalities. The man introduced himself as Jean Luc Devereux, a young painter from Paris who took a sabbatical from his school to come here to Trembulaire, to do research and paint. He had offered her the chance to sit for a painting. She was very surprised and even amused. She had told him, no, straight away. She could not commit to anything her employees would not approve of and she feared they would not want their daughter’s nanny to be involved with an unmarried gentleman, during working hours. She needed to be spending time with Francine. She could read, of course, and often did with a diligent eye watching for the child and her needs. There were always a chance of her falling and hurting herself and she could not bring home a damaged child no matter how small the injury.

She loved working and living as the Garielle estate where she has access to most public rooms, especially the library which, she enjoyed almost everyday. She was able to read many of the most important books of the times. Where could she get such a privilege as this? She was off on Sundays, could read all day after church, and often ran home to get back to an exciting story. She even loved the American writers, which had now become part of the French system, although not tolerated in all households. The Garielle’s took in work of the young and upcoming writers of the day, whether it was in France, England or in America.

Camille wanted to talk to this man again about his offer. When she returned home yesterday, the offer presented to her gave way to her dreams. Fascinated by the offer and the chance to chat with someone from Paris, she thought about it all night. He had lived a most exciting life, who had seen everything and done everything. Her heart would race when she thought of how Monsieur Devereux lived his life among the people of Paris. She longed to go there. Perhaps this would be the closet she would ever get to there.

The hours passed and Francine was becoming tired. She expressed her desire to return home so she may play with her dolls, which she often did daily. Having two or three favorites that were her little ‘family’ gave Francine hours of enjoyment. The frequent tea parties were the way they spend many afternoons. Camille had become good friends with Leticia, Sophie and Emily, the three most beloved of Francine’s dolls. Francine so loved them that when sweet little Emily broke her arm, Camille stayed up half the night sewing it back on in the dim glow of a candle lamp. She had pricked her fingers to where they bled but she managed just before dawn to present Emily back to her foster mother and her doll sisters.

Camille thought she had seen Jean Luc Devereux, over near the boathouse but it turned out to be a young man with his sweetheart as they prepared to take a ride in a rowboat across the small lake. Maybe Jean Luc would paint her in front of the lake or maybe it would be near the merry-go-round where most people enjoyed or even at the lovely fountain in the middle of the park. Camille became excited just thinking of the many places she could sit at while Jean Luc painted.

She supposed the hours were getting late and they had some mathematics to undertake when they returned. Not an especially pleasing subject for Francine but as vitally important as the others. She looked around seeing all the people as they passed by on their outings or meetings or just crossing through to get from one side of the park to the other. Jean Luc seemed absent and her heart fell like a brick falling from a ledge. She had made up her mind last night to accept Jean Luc’s offer. She would have to convince her employees that it would not take away from her duties and that Francine could learn perspective from a real artist. She, herself painted but it was merely bowls of fruit and scenic studies. She would paint on Sundays also when she tired from reading. Camille would work on a particular piece for weeks and even months struggling to get the light just right or to add enough shadows or depth. She was a perfectionist although she knew she had a long way to go to come close to Jean Luc’s level.

She checked her watch that hung from a chain on her dress. It had been a gift from the Madame, two Christmases ago, which she cherished. It was the first real piece of any kind of jewelry she ever received other than what she inherited from her mother which, was made up of mostly rings ad a few broaches. The watch symbolized their highest regards for Camille. She thought again about the painting with Jean Luc and thought that she would do a disservice to the couple by sharing her time with Francine with an almost complete stranger. They had not even met by a mutual friend. This was not done this way. Proper meetings took time and planning. Having a man come up to her in a park whether she were there with her charge or alone to sit and watch the nature around her, would be almost a reason for termination of employment. Had Monsieur and Mademoiselle Garielle ever thought or learned that she were involved with such a man, they would surely remove her from the position of Francine’s nanny. Camille could never let that happen.

She was lucky to have her position and education. She was luckier than most as she also had an inheritance that took her through school, a good school and gave her the education that many would never have. She also received a small allotment each month for personal use to buy her own necessities. She managed to save at least half of every month, building a savings for the future. She would have some money to take a short holiday, purchase a book, or buy new clothing when needed. Her employee provided so much already that she felt very lucky to be in her position at this time and place.

Francine was a sweet child and she often dreamed of having a child of her own but she was obliged to work there until Francine turned seventeen and then she could go off into the world to do her bidding or to take another charge if she desired. She had wanted to take a few years off to see and travel. Perhaps she would meet a young man and they would become engaged, therefore giving her the freedom to stay home and be a wife and hopefully a mother to her own children. But this was all speculation as she had many years before that would come about. She was a mere twenty years of age. In the meanwhile, she had Francine to take care of. The library had thousands of books to read and she would never run out of them. She enjoyed meeting with other nanny’s and often would go to Saturday Night socials with them as a supervised group to offer protection against single men.

The day started to drift into late afternoon. They would have no time for mathematics today, she thought. Preparing to go, she collected her book and parasol and called for Francine. The child had run off and became engulfed in the crowd. She looked around fearing she had lost the child but from behind the lemon ice stand she was relieved to see Francine talking animatedly to a gentleman. Walking closer she realized it was none other than Jean Luc Devereux, the man she intended to say, yes, to for sitting for him to do a painting.

“Good afternoon, Mademoiselle.” He was smiling as he stood up from his knelt position of chatting with Francine.

“I see that you two have become great friend.” Camille saw how friendly she was to Jean Luc and that he looked upon her as a ‘friend’. I was not sure you would come here today.” Camille was quite bold in her statement, especially for a women of her young age and after only meeting once before.

“I was on my way over to look for you. I have something I would like to give to you.”

Camille had hesitation about his offer of a present. How would she ever explain that to Francine’s parents? A gift from an almost total stranger, in a park was very odd at the very least and suggested a relationship which was frowned upon. She was both happy and sad, as she would have to decline it. But the offer made her feel special all the same.

Jean Luc held a large square object covered in cloth. It was two feet square and as she looked at it, she thought it might be a painting? How would she ever be able to bring a painting into the house? What would the other staff say? She could never hide it. And to hide it would be unfair to this young artist. She would have to tell him no.

“I spent all night thinking of you and Francine and was mesmerized by you both. Your striking beauty and simplicity of your manor caused me to want to know you better. My mind studied you while we chatted. I was able too imprint in my mind every nuance, every line, color and shape of you, your appearance of and Francine. Although the child would be running so much I could not do service to her face. But you were the main subject of my interest, I must say.

“What are you speaking of” Camille was confused. What did he mean by that? She had no idea but it was time to go as the bells chimed four o’clock and they had to dress for dinner. “I am very sorry, Monsieur Devereux, but I cannot take…”

Jean Luc interrupted her as he unwrapped the painting. To Camille’s surprise, her face lit up as well as Francine’s as Jean Luc produced a finished painting of both Camille and Francine as they were on the day before. Their likeness captured on canvas as if it were their reflections and not a painting. Camille examined the painting and reached for her face as she saw the same features as she had down to the little turn of her lip on one side. “But how could you do all of this and in one evening?” Camille was astonished at this enchanting and sudden surprise. She had not even sat for a moment and this man had captured her as she was with her expression and even the buttons on her frock and the configuration of her hat. The color of her hair, he had matched as if he had a taken a lock home to replicate its exact color. Knowing a little about panting she was amazed at how he captured her as she really looked and that of Francine and their surroundings. This was an impossible feat but yet was here before her. “How could this be?” Camille barely could get the words out. She was both touched and intrigued.

Francine jumped up and down, going on about the painting and how beautiful it was. It was a beautiful work of art, Camille knew that. Museum quality, the little she did know about paintings. Camille stood in silence as she stared at the panting as if were about to come alive. Passerby’s would stop and praise the artist and his work.

“When I had entered my home and studio, I could not get you out of my mind. I had to paint you whether in person or from memory. Anything as long as I could do it. The urge was so strong I started right away. The painting began quickly. I didn’t want to forget a single moment of the time we shared the day before. I had to know you on canvas. It was beyond my control. The paint brush worked as if by magic, with each stroke bringing you to life and within my reach. I could almost see you breathing on the canvas and the reflection in your far away look of the boats that paddled by. I worked through dawn and only finished just a few hours ago. I washed, shaved, ate and then rushed here to again meet you by chance to give this to you. You are beautiful and I will never forget you.” He handed her the painting as he covered it up again. “God has given me the chance that I needed.”

Camille took it and was unsure of what to say. “This is all so fast. I didn’t even say I would sit although I had intended to tell you I would today. How could you have completed this work in such a short time? Your work is clearly high quality and that of a master and yet you say you are but a student from Paris. She looked deep into his eyes. Her heart raced as their eyes met. He was young, but older than she and had such an excitement about him. The way he walked and spoke and the manner of which he looked at her.

“This is for you, to have, to share, to hang, to dispose of in any way you want. I will have you in my mind forever, Every detail will be with me till the day I die. Your beauty and charm has captured my heart. This was something I had to do. I had no other choice. Jean Luc reached for her hand. I know this sounds impertinent and I risk your reputation but I feel I know you from the way I painted you. You have not only captured my mind with your beauty but also you have won my heart and I can only hope that we can remain friends and even more. But that is up to you. I will not push or provoke you. I understand your position and you may not be accustomed to the ways of Paris and its artists but the fact is that I love you, Camille. More love than I have ever had for anyone or anything before. I loved you from the moment I walked over to you to ask you to pose for me. I have never have done that before in my entire life. I was always proper and would paint from afar but I had to paint you and in depth. I needed to satisfy my urge that compelled me to bring you to life on a canvas so that I may gaze at you. If only to have this embedded in my mind if I never saw you again or you refused me as someone in your life.” Jean Loc bent over and kissed her hand. His eyes never left hers and her heart began beating faster than the minutes that ticked away.

Realizing the time, “I have to go. Not because of you but because I must have Francine home and readied for dinner. I am not sure what to do about the painting. I think it is most beautiful and your words do touch me. I too, have thought of you since our meeting and only till now I realize that I have feelings for you also. Although I did not make a painting to show it, my mind and heart was already yours just twenty four hours ago.“ She reached up and touched his check with her ungloved hand. A most intimate display of affection out in public. What if someone saw and reported back to Monsieur and Mademoiselle Garielle? She could lose her job or worse, to not be allowed to ever come to this park again to see Jean Luc. And what would they think of the painting? They would surely think she spent weeks if not months on it giving her up for the time she would have needed to sit for it. She was very confused as her heart said one thing and her commitment to Francine and her work said another. “I have to leave now. I am so sorry. But I cannot take this painting with me, not yet at least. Will I see you again?” She longed to stay and to be held in his arms.

Jean Luc, although saddened by her refusal to take the painting rallied in the fact she returned his feelings. She wanted to see him again. “It is all right. I will keep it for another day. Our engagement perhaps.” He smiled with his chiseled jaw line and bright blue eyes under a shock of thick black hair.

Camille blushed from his comment but she did not run from it. She too wished to remain in contact with Jean Luc. But how and when? She did not know. She did know she was late now and had to rush even to be home before dinner. “I have to go, I am so sorry.”

Jean Luc took the painting under his arm. “Do not be sorry for it is a day of joy for you and I. Take your little friend home and feed her. I will think of you tonight and plan our next meeting. I will see you again in this park, I promise.

Camille didn’t want to leave but she must. “Good bye Jean Luc,” she said as Francine took her hand and pulled her to the gates. She watched him standing there with the painting realizing that this was the man she would one day marry. She so wanted to run off with him but she had a duty and she had to regain her composure.

Jean Luc stood with the painting under his arm and watched as she disappeared from sight. Her every step was memorized by him. His heart beat strong as he had met the woman he would marry one day.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 29.01.2011

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Widmung:
deicated to my wife, Dianna White