Chapter Text
"What a terrible thing to happen, M. LaClaire, and to one so young! My condolences."
"I understand this is a difficult time for you, but we just need you need to sign right here, M. LaClaire…"
"M. LaClaire, I'm sorry for your loss, now if you would just look over section 2 and make sure…"
"M. LaClaire…M. LaClaire…M. LaClaire?"
Gustave startled and in a rush the world came back into focus. He turned to the hand that was insistently nudging against his arm trying to give him a pen. "What?" He asked, unsure of what was expected of him this time.
"We just need you to sign a few more documents, M. LaClaire, then my associate and I can conclude our business. I am sure you and the young mademoiselle could use some time to rest after this tragic loss."
With a barely contained sigh, Gustave caught his reflection in the window he had been standing next to while these vultures discussed his and Maelle's current position, as well as the uncertainty of their future. A gaunt face stared back at him, dark circles under his sunken eyes that lacked any hint of a spark.
Who knew that death meant so much paperwork? Emma probably had. As a councilwoman, she had made it her business to understand the ins and outs of everything. It was what had made her so popular among her constituents. That desire to know what the average person had to go through every day so that she might be able to make things easier for them. Her opponents during election season always tried to make her out to be a 'harsh' and 'aggressive' woman, though she had been truly anything but. She had simply cared, and she cared hard.
And now she was gone. What at first seemed to be a simple cough had developed into pneumonia. His sister, always the fighter of the two them, had held on for some weeks. It had been the hardest thing he had ever experienced, even more so than losing an arm, watching Emma deteriorate and her body weaken until it finally gave out.
"M. LaClaire?"
"Yes, alright, let's just get this over with." This time Gustave didn't try to hide his annoyance. Grabbing the pen, he looked over the pages he needed to sign, did so, then threw the pen down on the table.
"Are we done then?"
The man's associate gathered the papers and stuffed them in his briefcase, a relieved look on his face.
"Yes! That takes care of everything. Your shared house will be sold, her investments dissolved, any arrangements and outstanding circumstances taken care of first, then what remains will be sent to you. We will keep you informed." Both of the men hurried out of the house, door slamming shut behind them.
With a sigh, Gustave looked back to stare out the window, rain beating down against the pane in rivulets. At least the weather was fitting. He wasn't sure he could handle bright sunshine and warmth at the moment, not when everything felt wrong still.
"Gustave?" a small voice asked. He turned to see Maelle hovering by the doorway. "Are they finally gone?"
He allowed a tired smile and held his arm out to her, to which she rushed over and buried her face against his chest. Holding her close while she held equally tightly to him, he nodded in confirmation.
"Yeah, they're gone. It's done."
"Good. I don't want to be here anymore. All anyone does is stare, and say they're sorry. As if any of them really knew her, know us. They don't actually care, at least they didn't before Emma…before she..."
Gustave squeezed tightly before pulling back. "I know. We'll be able to head out in a couple of days, promise."
They would have very little to pack up as they simply could not afford to pay for movers. Not to mention it was decided the house would sell more quickly furnished. Gustave hated to leave so much behind. It almost felt like losing Emma all over again, like he was abandoning her. During her last lucid moments though, Emma had reassured him that taking care of their adopted sister was more important. "It's all just stuff, Gustave. It doesn't actually matter. Do what you need to do, for both of you. Go be happy."
Gustave had been forced to sell his workshop shortly into Emma's illness once it became clear she was not going to have an immediate recovery. Between the hospital bills and taking care of Maelle, he simply didn't have the time for his work, nor the funds to maintain it. Then after Emma died, it became more hospital bills, funeral arrangements, outstanding debts (not that there were many, but there were enough - one could not personally fund a campaign without funds).
Hopefully once the house has been sold and the remaining assets distributed, they could officially cut all ties to this place. It was an easy decision made together between Maelle and himself, their little family of two, to move to a new town and start over. Soon they would be in Lumière and could put all of this behind them. They would have to stay at an inn the first few days while they looked for permanent residence, but the realtor there assured Gustave that there were plenty of affordable properties available.
Just a couple more days…
If for nothing else, this move will have been worth it solely for the smile splitting Maelle's face. Gustave had not seen that smile since Emma was hospitalized, and the sight of it now nearly brought him to tears.
They stood side by side on an overlook near the inn they were staying at in Lumière, the bright white sand of the shoreline stretched beneath them as far as the eye could see. The ocean was a picturesque blue-green, the water sparkling in the mid-morning sunlight. Cries from seagulls added to the image, the entire thing like something out of a dream compared to the dreariness they had left behind.
"Maelle, don't lean too far over the railing. I'm certainly not climbing all the way down to carry you back up here should you fall." Gustave gently chastised her, but a smile quirked one corner of his mouth up as well, showing he was teasing his excited sister.
The red-headed girl merely rolled her eyes and stared at him with an eyebrow raised. "Of course you would, we both know it." She turned back to the sea and gestured with a sweep of her arms. "Just look at it, Gustave! Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? Emma would have loved this. Can we go down and walk along the beach? Please?"
He chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, tugging her close. "Before the day is over, we will. I promise." Pulling her gently along, he added, "Let's go settle in first though, yeah? Us 'old men' need to rest after a long journey."
"Ugh, you really are old. A nap? You're going to take a nap? Are you fifty?"
"I didn't say I was going to take a nap, just…rest my eyes a moment."
"Right, mm-hmm. If you start snoring, I'm waking you up. No one needs to hear that."
They entered the inn and approached the front desk, their meager luggage already brought inside. Gustave stepped forward and smiled politely at the concierge who greeted them cheerfully.
"Bonjour! I bet you are M. and Mlle. LaClaire, are you not?"
"Oui, we are. Would our rooms be ready by chance? I know we arrived a bit earlier than planned, apologies for any disruption," Gustave said.
The concierge shook his head quickly. "Oh no, no! We are happy you arrived safely, and your rooms were prepared this morning. Please, follow me. I am Claude and will be happy to assist you with anything you need." Claude stepped around the front desk to shake Gustave's hand and give him the keys to their suite. "Here, let me call someone to help with your belongings."
They were led to the top floor of the three-story building. After thanking the valet, Gustave and Maelle looked around their temporary home. It was a simple sitting space with two small rooms branching off, along with one bathroom to the side. A small kitchenette was situated near the door, and they were pleasantly surprised to see a door leading out to a small balcony. There wasn't enough space to sit, but they could stand and see the ocean below.
Gustave smiled and shook his head as he heard Maelle kick off her shoes and run into one of the bedrooms to leap onto the bed, the springs creaking ominously from the enthusiasm of the teenager.
Bypassing his own room, Gustave instead opened the glass door to the balcony and leaned against the railing, breathing in the salty air from the sea. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing. Only a few days prior he was standing in the LaClaire study, signing away their old world, feeling as if all the light in their lives had been snuffed out and buried with Emma. This was the first time in so many hard months that he felt as though he could breathe again. There was still a lot to figure out, but he finally started to believe that he and Maelle truly would be alright. They could move forward. Be happy, just like Emma wanted them to be.
Gustave looked over his shoulder and smiled softly as he saw through Maelle's open bedroom door she was sprawled out in a very unladylike fashion across her bed and fast asleep. He wasn't surprised she needed the rest, having stayed awake the entire trip here so as not to miss anything.
Turning back to the view, his gaze traveled up the shoreline. For the most part, homes were scattered here and there, and he could see a few people walking along the beach. His eyes followed a ray of sunshine as it burst through the clouds to where it was almost spotlighting a home far off in the distance. Gustave could hardly make it out from this far away, but it rested on what appeared to be the end of a dirt road and atop the cliffside overlooking the sea below. What a view a place like that must offer, he thought.
He closed the balcony door and grabbed his things before entering his own bedroom. Feeling older than his years, he sat on the bed and slowly pulled his own shoes off before removing his jacket and tie. With a relieved sigh, he laid back and closed his eyes, determined to get some rest himself if they were to venture to the beach that afternoon.
Tomorrow they would meet with the realtor and begin searching for their new home.
"Not to worry, Monsieur, we are sure to find a perfect fit for you and your sister!"
Gustave gave their realtor, a cheerful elderly man named M. Auguste Laurent, a strained smile as they walked out of the dilapidated cottage. This was the tenth house they had looked at over the past few days…or was it the eleventh? He had stopped keeping track as one ran into another, each less desirable than the previous one. His heart constricted as he glanced at Maelle, her arms crossed and a despondent look on her face as she leaned against the motor-car.
Both of them were beginning to feel discouraged with the options laid before them, nothing comparing to their family home. It broke Gustave's heart that he could not afford to look for anything grander for his sister, or at least something with a bit more character, something that felt like a home, but the reality of their situation was simply that their purse strings were tightened and that left them with limited choices.
"M. Laurent, perhaps there is something on the outskirts of town in our range?" The location would be less desirable, being further from town, Maelle's future school, Gustave's odd-jobs, but that might open up their options. If it meant being able to buy a house that wasn't falling apart, then Gustave would happily give up the convenience of being closer to town for a stronger foundation on its outskirts.
"Auguste, please, and there are certainly some listings available a bit further from town! Just let me look through my folder here, and we'll drive down to see a few before we try again tomorrow."
"Thank you," Gustave smiled tiredly at him. "And you can call me Gustave. I appreciate your help, Auguste, and I apologize for the trouble."
Auguste patted him on the shoulder as he moved to lay out his folder of house listings on the hood of the motor-car. "Do not apologize, Gustave! I do not sell houses, I sell homes, and it is important to find the right fit. Especially for your sister! Not to worry, I am confident we will find one for you both." He winked and began to rifle through his papers.
Gustave turned to Maelle, leaning against the car with her. He nudged her shoulder with his own, looking down at her in concern. "Hey, talk to me. What's going through your mind right now?"
She didn't answer at first, glaring at the house they had just been shown. Finally with a sharp exhale, she said, "Did we make a mistake? Coming out here? All these houses and we still haven't decided on one. Nothing feels 'right.'"
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders to pull her against his side, Gustave answered confidently, "No. No, I really don't think so. I admit I was a bit optimistic that we would settle on a house quickly, but Auguste is correct. We're looking for a 'home,' Maelle, not just a house. Nothing has felt 'right,' but it will."
He bent his head down to look her in the eyes. "We're together. That's what matters. Wherever we are, so long as we're together I'm sure we'll be alright."
Her melancholy face brightened at his words, and she wrapped her arms tightly around his middle. "Together."
"Together." He placed a kiss on top of her head. They both turned at the sound of triumph coming from their optimistic realtor.
"A ha! I knew there were a couple of options nearby. Come along! We can take this road here, and the first is just ten minutes out. Daylight is burning, mes amis! We continue!" He practically hopped into the driver's seat, Gustave and Maelle shaking their heads at one another before they too climbed in, off to see the next round of potential homes.
Unfortunately, their brief spark of hope was extinguished as each one still did not fit for them. One was next to a farm ("The smell, Gustave! Please no."). Another only had one bedroom ("You will say I should have it, and you are not going to not have a bedroom, Gustave!"). One didn't even truly have any 'issues,' it just…it wasn't 'right.' Gustave did tell Auguste to keep it on the list, just in case, as eventually they would have to make a decision and accept that they would need to settle, but he tried to remain hopeful that something would stand out. He wanted more than anything for Maelle to feel comfortable, to want to be there, for it to feel like a home for her, even if the important thing was for them to just be together.
They finally decided to call it a day, the late afternoon sun beginning to drift to the horizon and causing the ocean below to glitter. As Auguste turned the motor-car to head back into town, Gustave saw a 'For Sale' sign at the entrance to a dirt road.
"Auguste, where does that road lead?"
Auguste looked to the road Gustave pointed to and blanched. "Oh! That's…that wouldn't really be for you and the young mademoiselle…"
Gustave gestured for him to stop, which he reluctantly did, idling the car next to the entrance. The 'For Sale' sign looked to have been placed for some time, the words faded from the sun and parts torn away from the elements.
"Is it within our price range?"
"…well…yes, technically, but…" Auguste stammered, still trying to deter Gustave for some reason. Maelle leaned forward from the back seat, craning to see up the winding dirt road.
"Can we go look then? I bet it has a wonderful view if it's overlooking the cliff! Is all of this land part of the property?"
"It is, but really, this property is not highly sought after—"
Gustave, seeing Maelle regain some enthusiasm, determined they needed to see the property. "Please, Auguste. We would like to see it, and I think we can determine if it is for us or not. I'm sure it can't be worse than some of the other places we have seen!"
"Oh, alright, I suppose we could just take a peek." His hands seemed to tremble slightly as he slowly turned into the entrance, almost purposely taking his time up the drive. Gustave could not imagine why the normally enthusiastic man was so subdued concerning this property, but his sister's excitement trumped any concerns he may have had.
Finally the road, hugging the cliffside almost perilously close, curved around a grove of trees to reveal a breathtaking old house. 'House' seemed inadequate, as it was quite large, two stories with grand windows and even a small balcony on the second floor. Gustave could see a bay window protruding on the right side of the first floor. Vines climbed up the left side of the house creeping over the chimney and window shutters, stretching across the front of the house, and while this should have made the place look run-down and overgrown, it instead seemed like the landscape was simply claiming the property as its own, covering it protectively, almost possessively.
Gustave heard Maelle squeal in anticipation, but he continued to observe the structure in front of him. For the first time since they arrived in Lumière, for all the houses they had been shown, this is the only one that took his breath away. But surely a place as grand as this, at such a location with the breathtaking view of the ocean spanning below as far as the eye could see, surely it had to be out of their price range? There was no possible way Gustave could ever afford such a place.
They climbed out of the car, Auguste more hesitantly than Gustave or Maelle. Maelle practically bounced on her feet, a wide smile on her face as she stared up at the house. Gustave spoke to Auguste, though his eyes remained on the house as well.
"Auguste, you're sure this property is within our limits?"
"Ah, oui, Gustave. It is, but I promise it isn't suitable for you, for anyone, really. It has been for sale for years, and is considered undesirable—"
"What could possibly be undesirable about a place like this?" Maelle exclaimed, already moving up the cobbled path leading to the door.
With a resigned sigh, Auguste simply said, "You will probably see momentarily. I suppose we should get this over with then…" He lumbered forward like a man to the guillotine, pulling out a key to the front door. A metal plaque next to the door read 'Esquie Cottage.'
They followed behind, and as they approached Gustave could see a small detached building nearby. A possible workshop for him? This was too good to be true. He tried not to get his hopes up, something about this all seeming too perfect but as they walked through the front door into the foyer, Gustave could feel in his heart that this was it. This was their new home.
The heavy door shut firmly behind them, Auguste jumping slightly at the finality. "Right, here we are, very old, probably not up to code and not suitable for a young woman, we should—"
"Oh don't be ridiculous, look at this place!" Maelle spread her arms wide and turned. The smile on her face was reason enough for Gustave to want to already sign the papers making it theirs. "Does it come furnished? You said it was for sale for years yet it looks like someone still lives here."
"It does, yes, it does come furnished. Any attempt to remove anything didn't end well for those doing the removing." He was clutching his hat in a white-knuckled grip, looking everywhere around the space as if waiting for something to jump out at him. Gustave raised an eyebrow at his fidgeting, unsure what to make of the change in the man.
"Even better, we don't have to waste money buying anything to fill it!" She was already wandering around, taking everything in.
Gustave fondly shook his head, but smiled and said, "Let's at least look around first, Maelle, although…"
Waiting for Maelle to be out of earshot as she went into what appeared to be a study, he asked Auguste, "Is there a catch? This all seems too good to be true, Auguste, this place should be well beyond our ability to buy."
"That's what I'm trying to tell you, Gustave, though I am not sure you will believe me. It is well known in Lumière that this place is—"
"Gustave!" Maelle returned, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him behind her, back into the study. "Come look, I bet this was the owner, right, Monsieur Auguste?" She pointed at a large portrait behind the desk.
Gustave felt his breath catch at the handsome man seeming to stare right back at him. Striking silver-blue eyes, glared down at him from the impassive face of a man who appeared to be around Gustave's own age. Dark, midnight-black hair cascaded in waves to his shoulders with a shock of white strands in the front. He had an equally dark beard surrounding the firm set of his mouth. The man was dressed in a fine three-piece black suit, with a silver waistcoat that made his eyes stand out even more, and his hands were in his pockets.
Though he clearly would have had to pose for the portrait, everything from his stance to his stoic face seemed to indicate he would rather have been doing anything else.
"Gustave? Gustaaaaave?" The teasing voice of his sister came to him and he jerked his head down to meet her eyes. "I thought you'd like him."
Gustave felt his face flush. "Maelle, don't be crass. It's a fine portrait is all." He cleared his throat, eyes glancing up at the man in the portrait quickly before looking away again. A shiver ran through him as a chill seeped into his skin. Old houses tended to be drafty, so if they did move forward with the sale, Gustave would need to go through and make sure all the seals were repaired. "Auguste, is this the former owner?"
Oddly enough, Auguste had not followed them into the room, instead nervously standing just in the doorway. "Oui, he is the owner. Verso Dessendre. He passed on some years ago, I'm afraid. Now, Monsieur…Gustave, what we were discussing just now—"
"Did he play the piano?" Maelle asked, now walking to a baby grand piano, Gustave following her. Strangely, while everything else so far was covered in a layer of dust, the piano was practically gleaming. It's fallboard pushed back, as if someone had only just been playing it rather than it sitting quietly for years, unused.
"I believe so." Auguste grit out. His eyes remained firmly on Gustave and Maelle as he answered.
Maelle flitted passed him from the room and towards the staircase leading to the second floor. "Can we go upstairs now, Gustave?"
"Yes, I'd like to see the rooms too." They climbed the stairs, the wood creaking beneath their steps. Something else Gustave would need to look at, though he was trying not to get ahead of himself.
"Oh but, we should probably be heading back now!" Auguste tried to interject, reluctantly following them up the stairs. "It will be sunset soon! We would miss it on the drive back if we don't leave now."
The siblings ignored him as they first looked at the room that would be Maelle's. It was the perfect size for a growing young woman, plenty of room for her to make it her own. They continued along to the end of the hallway where the master suite resided.
"This is incredible!" Maelle quickly went to the large floor-to-ceiling bay window that was framed with heavy curtains, hands on the glass panes as she pressed her face up against it to see the view. Beside her stood a telescope. Gustave wondered if Monsieur Dessendre used it to watch the ships or the stars, maybe both?
"Can we go out on the balcony, Gustave?" She pointed to the glass door that was in the center of the bay area, leading out to a wooden balcony.
He shook his head with a regretful turn of his mouth. "Not yet, I'll need to make sure it's still stable before I'm comfortable with either of us going out there."
Of course it's 'stable,' what a ridiculous comment. Why shouldn't it be 'stable?'
Gustave startled at the deep voice, very unlike the usual tenor he hears from Auguste. He turned around to see the realtor still in the doorway, his face white as a sheet of paper. The poor man probably hadn't intended to let the comment slip out, given how agreeable he normally is.
"I'm sorry, Auguste, I didn't mean to offend, it's just if the house hasn't been lived in for some time I'd feel better to make sure the wood hasn't rotted the balcony railing before allowing Maelle out there is all." He rubbed his arms, feeling a cold draft in this room as well, before he turned back to Maelle, the teenager rolling her eyes but stepping from the glass doors that lead out to the balcony.
Alright, fair enough. That deep, gravely baritone replied.
Gustave once again turned back to Auguste whose hands had now started shaking.
"Are you alright, Auguste? You aren't catching a cold?"
"No—no, I'm quite fine." His voice had returned to it's clear tenor but it seemed to tremor?
Now very concerned for the other man's health and worried he was having some sort of fit, he approached him and laid a hand on his shoulder. Gustave was no doctor, but even he could tell something was clearly affecting the other man.
"I don't think you're well, Auguste, perhaps we should leave. We can work on the paperwork tomorrow morning. It's been a long day for us all, I think."
"Oh, yes, please," Auguste responded eagerly. "Let's go, I can tell you on the way back what I've been trying to say—"
"You mean we're going to live here? Really, Gustave?" Maelle interrupted, rushing to Gustave and wrapping her arms around him. "Please say yes! This is the one, I can feel it!"
Gustave laughed, hugging his sister tightly to him. "I'll need to go over the details with Auguste once he's feeling better, but I don't see why not. I haven't heard of a reason yet why we shouldn't. Why don't you go on down and look around outside? I'll help Auguste down. I think he's having a spell." She nodded excitedly, hugged him again, then wandered ahead of them. Her loud steps echoed up to them, and they heard the sound of the heavy front door opening and closing behind her.
"Oh, but there is a reason, Gustave, let's just go—"
Something rumbled throughout the room. Was that…laughter? No. Old houses tended to have odd moans and groans, wood minutely expanding from the warmth of the afternoon sun.
"Oh no, oh no!" Auguste backed out of the room. The sound grew louder at his reaction.
Gustave glanced around the room before following after his realtor. "Auguste? Settle down, what's the matter?"
"Don't you hear that? It's him." He whirled around and hurried down the stairs.
"It's who?" Gustave rushed after him, as the rumbling followed them. Auguste had already thrown the door open and went outside, gesturing frantically for Gustave to hurry. Once he had joined him, Auguste quickly shut the door and locked it with his key before practically dragging Gustave by the elbow down the front steps.
Stopping next to the car, Auguste released his arm and straightened his own jacket, shoving his hat on his head.
"There, now do you see? This is what I was trying to tell you. Now, I will review the remaining listings for the area and we can try again tomorrow—"
"Tell me what? Auguste, I'm afraid I'm not following." Gustave looked at the man in confusion.
"You—what do you mean, you heard him!" Auguste stared back at Gustave as if he had lost his mind.
"I heard an old house making typical noises that would be expected from an old house, groaning and whatnot, it's just the house shifting is all."
"Gustave. Monsieur, please if I must say it then I will." He leaned in and whispered, as if afraid still to voice the words. "Esquie Cottage…is haunted. You heard his laughter? His voice?"
Gustave laughed. "Haunted? Don't be ridiculous." He was a practical man, and the idea was simply to fantastical for him to take seriously.
"But it's true. Verso Dessendre never left Esquie Cottage, and he has caused nothing but trouble for anyone who buys the place! It's why it keeps going up for sale. The only reason it hasn't been torn down is because apparently several protections were put in place on the legal end, so it just…sits here. Please, just forget the whole thing, and I'll find something suitable for you and Maelle. Surely you don't want your little sister to stay someplace haunted by a malevolent spirit—"
"Haunted!?" Maelle jogged up beside them, hearing the tale-end of the conversation. "It's haunted? Gustave, we have to get this one. We can have a ghost."
"Mademoiselle, please—"
Gustave held up his hands to silence them both. "Enough. I'm sorry, Auguste, but…haunted? I think that's a bit of a reach. Either way, everyone else's superstition is our gain I suppose." He looked back to the house, a sense of rightness settling in his heart. "I think it suits us perfectly."
"You mean…?" Maelle's voice trailed off, but he could hear the hope in his sister's voice. Looking down at her, he nodded.
"Yes, I think this is the one. This is our new home." He smiled and winked at her as she clapped.
"Yes! It is perfect, and if there is a ghost I don't think he's 'malevolent' at all. He didn't bother us while we were looking! I think we'll be friends."
Auguste's shoulders slumped, accepting that he could not change their minds. "Oh very well. I'll draw up the paperwork, but I refuse to return here! We'll finish at my office, Gustave, first thing in the morning if you'd like." He did smile at the both of them though, his friendly demeanor returning now that the decision had been made. "I do hope it works out for you both though. I truly want you both to feel at home here in Lumière." He held the car door open for Maelle and got into the front seat to drive them back to town.
Gustave walked around the car to open the passenger door, looking up one final time at the house that was to become their home, finally feeling as though things were turning around for them.
Before he ducked into the car, movement at the master bedroom window caught his eye. He thought he saw a tall figure standing at the window, one hand pushing back the curtain. Blinking rapidly, the image was gone as he squinted his hazel eyes up at the window. He shook his head at himself, feeling ridiculous.
Ghosts. How absurd.