On our arrival I found that Jean-Paul had selected a very exclusive resort that I had read about but never thought that I would ever be able to visit. The door man came to our car and asked if he could valet park the car. Jean-Paul said that he could but that he should take care and then joked that he had noted the odometer reading so don't take it for a joy ride.
A bell hop took command of our bags although they were not large and we could have handled them. When Jean-Paul approached the front desk the clerk asked if she was correct that he was Monsieur Jean-Paul Duvall and he said "Oui" and the clerk immediately responded in French. After the formalities were complete the clerk said that the bell hop would show us to our suite and demonstrate the facilities that were included.
We were on the top floor overlooking the lake with large windows that gave a panoramic view of the water and the surrounding shore line. Many power boats skimmed over the surface of the lake taking advantage of the lovely day. The bell hop showed us the bedroom with the ultra- king sized bed, once again overlooking the lake. The bath included a large soaker tub as well as a large walk in shower. I immediately thought how much the two of us were going to enjoy one or both of these water features.
After the bell hop having been generously tipped left, Jean-Paul took me in his arms and kissed me passionately. I thought that he was about to disrobe me and take me to bed but was surprised when he said, "After that drive I would like to go for a walk and work out some of the kinks in my back. Joy, will you join me?"
Trying to not show my disappointment, I agreed deciding to wait until later to broach my concerns about his change in attitude. We changed into some suitable clothing and walking shoes and on leaving the main building Jean-Paul took my hand and we followed a tail that was marked but had been recommended by the concierge. Jean-Paul. He took my hand and we walked along at a leisurely pace enjoying the warm weather and each other's company. I was anxious to learn what was bothering the man I had come to love. However, I thought I would give him the opportunity to broach the subject.
When we returned from our walk and entered our suite it was still over an hour and a half before our dinner reservation. Jean-Paul almost immediately started the conversation. "You asked in the car as we drove north if something was bothering me, that I was unusually quiet. The answer is yes; it is something that will change my life and maybe yours dramatically. I would like to discuss this before we go to dinner."
I was non-plussed; I could not imagine what in Jean-Paul's life could dramatically. I said, "Please Jean-Paul go on. I too hope to have a lovely dinner and an even better evening. I am anxious to hear what is happening in your life that could 'dramatically' impact mine.
"First I am going to get something to drink from the mini-bar. Can I get you something?" I responded that if there was some Perrier or equivalent that would be great. Jean-Paul came back with two glasses, each had ice in them, Perrier for me and a double scotch for him. I was surprised; I thought it must be something really upsetting for him to imbibe so heavily at this hour.
"Let me start by saying that until now I have not been completely open about my life and my family. You know I come from France and that I live a quite comfortable lifestyle in Canada. What I have not told you is that my family for the last four hundred years have had vineyards and a winery in Burgundy. Not only that, the winery produces very fine wines, especially white Sauvignon Blanc type. In really good vintages a 750 ml bottle can sell for around $100 or more.
My father died 10 years ago and my brother, Pierre took over managing the winery and the vineyards. He was the one in the family who had a true passion for the wine business. While it interested me, my interests were more in the consumption end. My father's death was not unexpected and he along with Pierre and myself came to an agreement. Several years before on the advice of our accountants and lawyers, the winery had become incorporated as one business and the vineyards held in another.
The family manoir which is by no means a castle and the land immediately around it, about 10 hectares were severed from the remainder and remained in my family's name.
Upon my father's death, Pierre would take over the day to day running of the winery and the vineyards and would be paid a salary plus bonus based on financial performance. He would hold 51% of the shares in each company and I would hold the other 49%. I am a director on each board." The monies that I receive allow me to enjoy the lifestyle I do; selling lingerie is almost an avocation. One cannot have a large apartment, 3000 sq, ft. In downtown Montreal, a chalet in the Laurentians and drive an S class Mercedes on what selling women's undergarments produces."
"My mother is still living but has dementia; on a good day she will recognize me but those days are becoming more and rare. She has a full time nurse who doubles as a companion and maid. All of my mother's expenses are paid out of the profit of the winery. She as well as Pierre live in the chateau. My mother has a separate apartment with another sitting room and bed room for the nurse."
This explained a lot that I never understood before. I knew that there was not the kind of money in lingerie to sustain Jean-Paul's lifestyle but even then I did not know how big his apartment was and only vaguely remember mention of a chalet near Mt. Tremblant.
Jean-Paul at that point took a long drink of his scotch. Then he continued, "Joy, here is what has changed. I had a call this past week from my brother that succinctly put was that he had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and that is life expectancy is measured in months, not years. There are no other family members to take over other than me. Yes, there are vineyard managers as well as competent wine makers but not ones that neither Pierre nor I are prepared to allow run their respective businesses without oversight."
"In the short term I need to return to France and learn as much as I can about the business and discuss with my brother his thoughts on how and when we should solicit offers to sell the existing companies as well as gaining as much essential knowledge as possible before he dies or loses the ability to communicate.
I expect then to return to Canada in about two months to finalize the sale of my properties and hopefully conclude the sale of my Canadian lingerie business.
Jean-Paul then paused and took a sip of the remaining scotch. Then he took my hand and said, "Now let's talk about you and me. I cannot believe how you and I have connected. Neither one of us are spring chickens nor in my case have I never been married and never expected to be. Nor have either of us said to the other exactly that 'I love you' so maybe I am being presumptive. "
This caught me really off guard. After his long description of his brother's diagnosis with cancer and what that meant to him, especially leaving Canada to return to live in France, I expected him to say that while he was very fond of me life isn't always fair and this weekend would unfortunately be our last time together. So you can understand how surprised when he took my hand and looking me in the eye continued
"Joy, I hope that you will give me the opportunity to make a proposal of marriage."
I almost fell over; my heart raced and my cheeks grew red and if Jean-Paul had not been holding my hand I would have likely fallen over.
Jean-Paul said, "Let me continue, I know this comes as a large surprise. Let me fill in what I am suggesting. What I am proposing is that you take the time that I will be in France to consider my proposal. We will talk daily by phone, the only problem is that there is a six hour time difference between here and France so six pm your time is midnight in France and for me to call you earlier, at least during the week you will be at your store and it may be hard to have an intimate conversation with customers coming in and out. I would not want you to get all flustered especially if one over heard me tell you how I longed to take you to bed and ravage you."
