I want you to know that your very birth was a gift to your father and to me. You will see, my precious girl, generations of love in your arms when you hold your child. When you look into her eyes and you realize that, all those years ago, I cradled you in my arms with the same love. That this swell of pride and joy that crashes into your heart and fills it with gratitude and love and hope is what we felt looking into your eyes.
After you were born, there was nothing that would stand in the way of your father’s desire to see his parents, for them to see you and me. How would we know that the very desire that brought us to them would bring us fast away?
You won’t remember, but before you were taken out of danger of the fever, I told you “we love you” over and over and over again. I covered your face, the face that looked at me with your father’s eyes, with kisses. If only I could have made them last a lifetime for you. Loving your father and loving you were the greatest blessings of my life. I will die with treasures many live a lifetime and never find.
God has planted dreams in your heart. Follow them. Find someone to love who loves and respects you, who honors God, and who makes you smile each time you see him. Every day is a miracle.
Know that in everything, God always finds a way.
All our love,
Mama and Papa
* * * * *
1843
Dear Mama and Papa,
We will be boarding soon to leave for Paris, but this visit was so busy, I could not find time to write. The trips are more challenging since Charles Louis decided to start walking before his first birthday. Gabriel told me not to worry, the rocking of the ship would lull him into sleep. Unfortunately, it also lulled me into seasickness.
Nathalie is not returning with us, as she should deliver any day. Since she and André married, Virgine and Nathalie’s parents are outdoing one another with gifts for the child. If they had twins, each child would have more than enough. Nathalie being with child has been a blessing and a curse for Serafina. Ever since her daughter died, she has devoted herself to the orphanages. She tells me she prays Nathalie’s child will not struggle at birth, and she does not know if she could ever trust herself to have a child again.
I am surprised our son is not exhausted from being spoiled and coddled by three sets of grandparents. Agnes and Abram strolled him to the French Quarter, where I am certain he was fed all manner of foods no self-respecting one-year-old should eat. They returned him saying they had no idea how powdered sugar found its way to his neck.
Rosette and Joseph allow him to wander the café or the orphanage Joseph is building. Since they purchased Grand-père’s land, they have already finished the warehouse. We don’t ask Joseph about his comings and goings. Rosette says she trusts her husband, and she keeps him well-stocked in colorful cravats. Alcee begged them to let her join us on our trip back. Rosette promised her that after one more year of learning French, she would allow her. Henri has now adopted Alcee, and we fear she may try to put him in her trunk when the day comes that she sails back with us.
Grand-mère and Grand-père are smitten with their grandson. Everyone in New Orleans has probably “met” him five times because they say to anyone who will stop long enough, “Have you met my grandchild?” They allow him to eat meals in the dining room, saying one can’t learn manners too soon. He entertains them so with his few French and English words.
Gabriel has two more years in his college. Switching from engineering to architecture was not nearly as difficult as he expected. He said architecture is engineering applied to buildings. When he finishes, we hope to return to New Orleans so he can work with Joseph, though it depends on the political climate.
I hear the giggles of my son behind me, so I know his father is likely looking over my shoulder as I finish this. Gabriel spends as much times as he can with Charles Louis. When he looks at our son and smiles, I think of your letter to me about seeing the love our parents had for us when we hold our own children.
Gabriel and I have our struggles, but we never forget the journey we endured to have a life together. Gratitude comes quickly then. We know God always finds a way.
Until my next letter.
All my love,
Genevieve Charlotte