"Hey mum." I answer the familiar ringtone that I've set just for when my mother calls. It's been a while since we last spoke so I'm quite excited to talk to her and hear how things are going back up north.

"Harry, I haven't spoken to you in so long. I barely recognise your voice!" She scolds playfully and I chuckle at her over exaggeration. Usually I try to phone mum once every few days, but this last month has been fairly hectic - with the project and meeting Odette, I haven't really had time for much else. Although in my defence, I have kept mum fairly updated on the two occasions that I have spoken to her this last month. She's been dying to meet Odette and keeps trying to make me visit just so she can conveniently say, 'oh and bring Odette too!'

I have a really good relationship with my mum, she and my father have raised me well, to which I'm positive Odette will agree - she reminds me enough anyway, always thanking me when I'm a gentleman, which I aspire to be every time I'm with her.

"It may have gotten a little deeper but I'm still the same old Harry."

"Have you got any chest hair yet or are you still working on it?" She titters at her own joke and I roll my eyes in a loving fashion.

"Still working on it, but thanks for asking." I regard her jokingly, loving the banter my mother and I share.

"How's Odette?"

"She's good, incredible actually, but I think I have a problem?" Do I tell her or don't I, of course I do she's my mum, why would I even second guess myself.

"What is it sweetie?"

"I think I'm in love with her."

After a pause, I hear a squealing coo before my mother quickly composes herself, "oh my little boy in love. I'm so happy for you! What did she say? Did she say it back?" I can already see the look on my mother's ecstatic face as her imagination runs wild.

"She didn't say anything because I haven't told her mum."

"Why?" She's confused.

"Because what if she doesn't say it back? I've only know her for a little over a month."

"So? Harry it doesn't matter how long you've known someone, all that matters is what you feel in your heart." My mum attempts to reason, I want this so much, I want Odette so much, but it's whether she wants me back that's getting me all anxious.

"I know mum. Odette just isn't that simple-"

"All girls want to find love Harry. No matter how much baggage they carry, every girl wants that one person that will love them regardless of their past. Even Odette." Her words sit with me for a moment as I contemplate the thought.

"Should I tell her?" I ask after a moment of silent reflection.

"Of course you should. When you're ready."

I know that even after my short conversation with mum, I'll still need a little more convincing. I just don't want to pour my heart out and tell Odette how I feel, only to get it smashed into a million pieces because she doesn't feel the same way; it's a common feeling when you realise you're in love with someone and have that instant fear of rejection, I know that Odette likes me - but does she love me? I have no idea. Our conversation quickly turns to the subject of work and how I'm doing, she informs me about what's happening at home - apparently Gemma has moved out into an apartment with some friends and has taken a liking to a career in journalism; mum then tells me about my other relatives and how my step-fathers job is going, she also reminds me to call my dad and check in on him.

After a long goodbye to mum and a quick catch up with my dad, my hour long phone call session ends and I'm free to let the blood flow back into my ear - don't get me wrong I love my family, but that can seriously talk when the want to.

I found out that I'm in love today, my body feels somewhat lighter and heavier at the same time; lighter because I have admitted my own feelings to myself, and heavier because I'm worried how Odette will react when I do eventually tell her. How will I tell her? It will have to be something incredible, something simple that she'll love - I suppose I have time to think about that though, there's no rush on my end.

My eyes begin to drift and I welcome sleep like an old friend, I'm exhausted after lugging boxes full of paperwork around all day and then having to file them - my arms and back have been well and truly strained and tested today; I need the rest, and therefore embrace and beckon its presence. The alarm on my phone is set for eight this evening so I can start doing finance input for the new company investment, an hour long nap should do the trick; I rest my head against a couch cushion that I've propped sideways as I lie horizontally across the living room couch, my body too long for the piece of furniture.

Sun beams beat down on my bare back as I lie happily on a beach chair, the smell of the oceans saltiness overpowering my senses after every warm breeze that drifts by. My eyes are closed and I bask in heat of the French air; squeals and screams can be heard from nearby children as they contently build sand castles or chase each other along the shoreline, I hear adult murmurs - some in the country's native language and other in their own tongues - possibly discussing the events of their day or reviewing their holiday perhaps? I glance at the beach lounger that sits beside mine and a small rush of panic overwhelms me as I notice that Odette no longer occupies it, my heart thuds and I sit up hastily, frantic green eyes searching the semi-busy beach to find the person I'm looking for.

After no success I stand, it must have only been ten minutes that I closed my eyes for, no longer than that, how can she have gone? More importantly, where has she gone? The blazing sun is set high this afternoon, and the majority of faces I come across are wearing sunglasses so it's harder for me to locate her - this is my worst nightmare, what if something bad has happened to her...

I race through small clusters of people in a frantic effort to find her. She can't have wandered that far right? I almost can hear skin sizzling due to the burning heat against freshly sun-protected limbs of the people around me, the majority of them probably used to this temperature unlike the rest of us. My breathing fastens and I struggle to inhale a deep breath, it's almost like my entire world has turned on its head and I'm left without the one person I now feel solely dependent on. I need her.

"Harry!" What? That's not a familiar voice to me, my eyes scan the shore, and seconds later turn to see Odette standing ankles deep in the clear blue sea, her slim body on full show for me to see due to her bikini, not leaving much to the imagination - I've never seen her body so exposed before, it's so unlike her...

Realisation suddenly hits. That was her voice.

"Holy shit." I murmur to myself in disbelief, running over to her immediately. "That was your voice. Your voice, oh my god." A sigh escapes my lips and I can't help the smile that overcomes me.

"Harry you know my voice, you hear it all the time." Her beautiful French accent speaks, so soft and delicate just like I imagined, her eyes never leaving mine as we speak; wait, she can hear me?

"You can hear me?" I voice my dumb and obvious thoughts.

"Harry of course I can, what are you talking about?" She furrows her brow.

It's not her. This isn't the Odette that I know; her ocean blue eyes aren't trained to my lips when I speak, her peaceful hands aren't signing intricate movements to me, and she's talking. Odette doesn't speak. This isn't the girl I fell in love with, well it is, but it isn't at the same time. The girl I fell in love with is currently at home in her apartment - this isn't real, it can't be real.

"You're not real."

"Of course I am, don't be silly." She argues and frowns at me - I can't recall Odette ever frowning at me, pouting maybe, but never frowning.

"No" I take my hands from hers, "the girl I fell in love with wouldn't be able to hear me, and she wouldn't let me hear her voice, and she certainly wouldn't leave without telling me." I shake my head, "you're not her, you're not real."

"Hey!" My head turns to see a man around average height, he must be in his late forties or early fifties, however he doesn't look too old for a man of that age - his head is covered with a fair amount of hair and silver streaks working their way horizontally down each side. I've seen him before, vaguely remembering the collection of pictures Evelyn brought from home to show me of Odette's childhood memories - he looks so familiar.

"Papa." Odette's breath whispers ghostly and she charges in the opposite direction, my eyes widen at her sudden haste and my heart constricts - why is she running from her father?

His expression conveys anger and humiliation and that's all I remember until the scene fades in front of me...

Sporadic feathers wake me from my slumber, occasional tickles here and there across my face; first my forehead, then my temple, then my cheek, then nose, until finally they reach my awaiting lips - making it almost impossible not to smile. To start with I refuse to acknowledge the pleasing touches, however when I become more awake I start to become familiar with the patterned routine they are occurring in.

As the tickle reaches my lips I encapsulate it without any signs of hesitance, knowing full well that I've taken Odette completely by surprise as usual. She reacts as I expect and is no match for my strong arms as I pull her down to the couch, her small body laying on top of mine. "Well miss, LeFerve, it looks like you've gotten yourself into a predicament here."

Her brows furrow and she pouts cutely, like always, 'what were you dreaming about?' Her playful mood non-existent at this moment as she changes the subject. I can't lie to her, her eyes are so pure and childishly innocent, so naïve that I know it would break her heart into a million pieces if I lied; however, she beats me to it, 'me.' It's more of a statement than a question.

I nod. "And your father."

Anger or hurt flashes through her beautiful topaz eyes and they seem to darken at the mention of him, he's clearly a tough subject for Odette and I think changing the topic as soon as possible would be the best thing for us now. She's still lay on top of my with a gorgeous pout and a wounded expression, why do I feel like I've opened up old scars here?

I kiss her once again, raising my thumb and rubbing it along the wrinkled bridge between her eyebrows, only created by the ghost of a frown she is trying to conceal. "Please don't hate me." She shakes her head. "You could hear me, in my dream," I continue on, "and you were talking to me."

'Is that what you want?' She looks utterly ashamed of herself. No, no please... Don't be ashamed. I love you.

"No, maybe one day, but not now. You're incredible the way you are, I... I like you the way you are." I nearly said it then, I nearly dropped the L bomb. I wonder what she would have said if I had; she probably would have frozen and stared off in to space like she does when she's speechless. "Will you ever tell me about your dad?" Confidence shoots through me as I ask the question, although it soon fades - writhing in an instant once I'm finished, I think back to her expression only moments ago when I mentioned him, ugh, why did I have to mention him?

'Maybe one day, but not now.' She signs slowly and looks at me perplexed, relaying the same words I've just murmured to her. I wish I knew what thoughts were running through that precious and secretive mind of hers. I'd give anything to reveal all the secrets she's too scared to tell me; I know it's going to take time and I just have to be patient, but I know that if I knew all of those things, it would take our relationship - or whatever this is - to a whole new level. 'My mother wants to speak to you.' She sighs and lifts herself from me, walking in the direction of her own apartment.

Odette's mother is in her mid forties and extremely similar to her daughter; with long wavy brunette hair, dark blue eyes - which contrast in comparison to the topaz coloured ones I'm so used to seeing, and a homely smile. Julia LeFerve is a sweet and caring woman, clearly has experienced a lot in her life and is a devoted mother to her two daughters - however, I can also see the sadness in those somewhat familiar eyes as she watches her eldest daughter through the inbuilt laptop screen camera; she misses her, dearly. The love that she feels for Odette is palpable, although so is helplessness she portrays for her daughter, as if she's sorry she couldn't do enough.

"Are you looking after my daughter Harry?" Julia asks me tearing me from my thoughts, her tone similar to how a protective father would question a new boyfriend except it's a mother instead, and I'm not Odette's boyfriend - it's still intimidating though, I'd hate to get on the wrong side of her.

"I think so, I mean.. I hope I am. I don't know, yes? Am I?" I turn to Odette after my short burst of squirming to see a small smile on her face. The events of earlier having evaporated and forgotten from our memories, well, Odette's anyway.

The beautiful girl beside me nods in confirmation and her mother smiles in awe. "Thank you Harry, I can see my daughter is very happy." I turn to Odette with a smirk, her blush already embracing her cheeks as she looks away from me shyly. God I love her.

"It's my pleasure, she's an inspiration to me." And my words are truthful, probably the most truthful words I've ever spoken in my life, well besides my name and a few other things - but you know what I mean.

I pretend to itch my nose, using the opportunity of Odette's embarrassment to quickly speak unnoticed to her mother, "thank you for sending the letter Mrs LeFerve." I recall the intimate letter that Odette had written to her mother, describing how she truly felt about my intrusion into her life. Julia smiles as I remove my hand, just in time for Odette to glance up at the laptop screen; her mother sends us a wink, although I know it's an acknowledgement to my thanks.

I kiss the top of Odette's hand lightly and hear a coo from the other side of the laptop screen, although I don't care. I'm so grateful to have this definition of pulchritude next to me - I'm so thankful that she's here with me, clasping tightly onto my hand in a way that no one ever has before. I'm so proud of who she is and how far she's come in her life, I'm proud of how strong she is and how little by little, she's letting me in.

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Do you like Odette's mother so far? And what do you think about Harry's dream?

Comment and vote! Thanks for reading :)

- Pianogirl56