Getting ready!

Everyone was bustling in Simone's father's Normandy house. The kitchen became a veritable hive, with people going in and out, preparing food, fetching dishes, removing others... Simone and hubby got into their rental car and hightailed it out of there! They had an extremely important mission to accomplish: they had to travel to Versailles and bring Simone's grandmother back for the much anticipated family meal then go to the grocery store for any last minute items. Simone's grandmother proved to be a hurdle: miffed at having been left home until the last minute, she refused to leave her apartment initially. Simone coaxed and finessed and finally resorted to bullying by wheeling her grandmother's suitcase away. Grumbling, Simone's grandmother put her coat on and followed. The grocery store provided additional stress: a Saturday before a holiday meant the place was crazy crowded. Still, hubby managed to find everything on his list and then some: special glasses for a very special port-type beer he had smuggled in from the States, gifts for everyone in attendance and some number 4 oysters. His face fell when he saw the line-up at the cash registers though. "I'm going to get something from the car," he announced and left Simone to it. Breathe. Slowly. Sooner or later, you'll get to the cash register, Simone assured herself. Sigh...