The strains of Charles Trenet's music playing in the background, and the sounds and waft of freshly ground coffee, accompanied by the rich buttery taste of the newly baked croissants awaited them in the tiny café on the corner of the Rue Troyon. They had met there every Friday for the past twenty years, laughed and cried together, held one another's hands, and gazed into each other's eyes. Today was no different.
Bernard, the avuncular owner of the café, had seen them meet for the first time, heard their laughter and their tales, watched their growing closeness, and sensed their hidden love.
What he had not heard was the question Albert had asked Janine once each year since they had met: 'Will you marry me?' She had always said no - that it would ruin their relationship.
Today though, when Albert took her hand, looked at her aged but to him still beautiful face, and whispered, 'Will you marry me, my beautiful Janine?', her eyes smiled back, and he heard the words he had longed to hear for so many years. 'Yes, Albert, I will.'
The euphoria each felt was electric, and soon all the café had heard the news, and a party atmosphere filled the little café. Everyone felt the couple's happiness; it was catching - you could feel it, hear it, and most of all, sense it.
It was two months later that Bernard heard the news. Albert had taken Janine's life, and then his own. Some said she had been suffering from a rare cancer, others that she had told Albert she had a son.
Bernard, the avuncular owner of the café, had seen them meet for the first time, heard their laughter and their tales, watched their growing closeness, and sensed their hidden love.
What he had not heard was the question Albert had asked Janine once each year since they had met: 'Will you marry me?' She had always said no - that it would ruin their relationship.
Today though, when Albert took her hand, looked at her aged but to him still beautiful face, and whispered, 'Will you marry me, my beautiful Janine?', her eyes smiled back, and he heard the words he had longed to hear for so many years. 'Yes, Albert, I will.'
The euphoria each felt was electric, and soon all the café had heard the news, and a party atmosphere filled the little café. Everyone felt the couple's happiness; it was catching - you could feel it, hear it, and most of all, sense it.
It was two months later that Bernard heard the news. Albert had taken Janine's life, and then his own. Some said she had been suffering from a rare cancer, others that she had told Albert she had a son.
