Aujourd'hui, c'était l'anniversaire d'Eric. Ariane a de nouveau tenté de réunir toute la famille pour partager le gâteau, espérant de tout cœur que cela se passerait mieux que la dernière fois pour le gâteau de l'Épiphanie (revoir ICI).

Wash a accepté l'invitation cette fois-ci, par égard pour Eric et Ariane, et pour faire plaisir à Guylaine, mais il est toujours aussi mal à l'aise en présence de Fabienne à cause des insinuations qu'elle fait parfois sur ses origines autochtones, et surtout à cause de ses remarques séparatistes et xénophobes.

Seule Iris était absente car elle devait absolument rester pour superviser le centre d'accueil des visiteurs du parc national, deux employés étant malades depuis la veille. Hermione était également absente, ayant envoyé un message pour dire qu'elle arriverait accompagnée, en retard, mais pas assez pour rater le gâteau !

Eric a ouvert ses cadeaux, puis ils ont commencé à bavarder en attendant les retardataires.

Today was Eric's birthday. Ariane tried again to gather the whole family to share the cake, hoping with all her heart that it would go better than the last time for the Epiphany cake (see HERE).

Wash accepted the invitation this time, out of consideration for Eric and Ariane, and to please Guylaine, but he's still just as uncomfortable around Fabienne because of the insinuations she sometimes makes about his Indigenous heritage, and especially because of her separatist and xenophobic remarks.

Only Iris was absent because she absolutely had to stay to supervise the National Park Visitor Center, as two of the employees had been sick since yesterday, as well as Hermione, who had sent a message saying she would arrive with someone, and late, but not late enough to miss the cake!

Eric opened his presents, then they started chatting while waiting for the latecomers.

Eric et Robert expliquaient des détails inconnus du grand public sur l'agrandissement du parc national, que Guylaine et Wash écoutaient attentivement.

Eric and Robert were explaining details unknown to the general public about the national park's expansion, which Guylaine and Wash listened to attentively.

Kevin était lui aussi attentif, car cet agrandissement étendrait la zone patrouillée par les gardes du parc.

Seule Fabienne se montrait totalement indifférente au sujet. En fait, contrairement à ses parents Ariane et Eric, ou à sa sœur Guylaine, elle n'avait jamais manifesté le moindre intérêt pour la nature.

Kevin was atentive too, since this expansion would extend the area patrolled by the park rangers.

Only Fabienne was completely uninterested in the subject. In fact, unlike her parents Ariane and Eric, or her sister Guylaine, she had never shown the slightest interest in nature.

Wash était ravi, car Ariane venait de lui parler de la création de nouvelles zones clairement délimitées pour l'observation des oiseaux, ce qui empêcherait les visiteurs amateurs de déranger les oiseaux et de piétiner les zones sensibles.

Wash was delighted, because Ariane had just told him about the creation of new, clearly marked areas for birdwatching, which would prevent amateur visitors from disturbing the birds and trampling sensitive areas.

C'est alors qu'Hermione arriva. Elle était accompagnée de Michael, le moniteur d'autodéfense qui enseigne à toutes les employées du parc national, ainsi qu'à elle, ce qui leur permit de faire connaissance et, finalement, de commencer à sortir ensemble depuis peu.

That's when Hermione arrived. She was accompanied by Michael, the self-defense instructor who teaches all the female employees of the national park, as well as her, which allowed them to get to know each other, and eventually, to start dating recently.

Kevin ne s'attendait visiblement pas à ce qu'Hermione retrouve de l'affection dans les bras d'un autre. Même si leur rupture était entièrement de sa faute, il semblait blessé par cette découverte.

Quant à Fabienne, elle murmura entre ses dents :  "manquait plus que ça....", heureusement assez bas pour que seul son mari l'entende.

Kevin clearly hadn't expected Hermione to find affection in someone else's arms. Even though their breakup was entirely his fault, he seemed hurt by this discovery.

As for Fabienne, she muttered under her breath, "That's all I needed...", luckily, quietly enough that only her husband heard.

Les nouveaux venus s'installèrent, Hermione à côté de Guylaine, les deux cousines ayant toujours beaucoup à se raconter, au grand amusement de Wash et Eric.

À côté d'Hermione, Michael taquinait Suzanne, lui demandant une fois de plus si elle comptait venir prendre des cours d'autodéfense avec sa petite-fille et ses amies !

Robert l'encouragea.

« Bien sûr, ma chérie, vas-y ! Tu pourras me faire des démonstrations à la maison après ! » dit-il en riant.

Entourée de joyeux bavardages, Ariane se leva pour enfin allumer les bougies du gâteau. Elle n'utilisa que le chiffre des unités, car Eric ne voulait pas que l'on mentionne celui des dizaines !

The newcomers settled in, Hermione next to Guylaine, as the two cousins ​​always have plenty to talk about, much to Wash and Eric's amusement.

Next to Hermione, Michael teased Suzanne, asking her once again if she was going to decide to come and take self-defense classes with her granddaughter and her friends!

Robert encouraged her.

"Of course, darling, go for it, and you can give me demonstrations at home afterward!" he said, laughing.

Surrounded by cheerful chatter, Ariane stood up to finally light the candles on the cake. She only used eight for the units digit, because Eric didn't want anyone to mention the tens digit!

Kevin ne se joignit pas aux rires, perdu dans ses pensées et ses regrets.

Kevin didn't join in the laughter, lost in his thoughts and regrets.

Tout comme Fabienne, qui se demandait si l'attitude distante de Kevin à son égard allait enfin changer maintenant qu'il avait vu son ancienne flamme dans les bras d'une autre. Et surtout depuis qu'elle avait réalisé qu'elle avait fini par aimer son mari et qu'elle regrettait profondément ses actes.

Just like Fabienne, who wondered if Kevin's distant attitude towards her would finally change now that he had seen his former flame in the arms of another man. And especially since she had realized that she had ended up loving her husband and that she deeply regretted her actions.

Eric a soufflé ses huit bougies et le délicieux gâteau a été dégusté avec du Monbazillac et du Muscat de Rivesaltes. La petite fête s'est terminée agréablement pour presque tout le monde.

Eric blew out his eight candles, and the delicious cake was enjoyed with Monbazillac and Muscat de Rivesaltes. The little party ended pleasantly for almost everyone.

Bonne journée - Have a nice day :-)

♥♥♥

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Today was Eric's birthday. Ariane once again tried to gather the whole family to share the cake, hoping with all her heart that it would go better than last time for the Epiphany cake (see HERE).

Wash accepted the invitation this time, out of consideration for Eric and Ariane, and to please Guylaine, but he's still just as uncomfortable around Fabienne because of the insinuations she sometimes makes about his Indigenous heritage, and especially because of her separatist and xenophobic ranting.

Only Iris was absent because she absolutely had to stay to supervise the National Park Visitor Center. Two of the employees have been sick since yesterday.
, as has Hermione, who had sent a message saying she would arrive with someone, and late, but not late enough to miss the cake!

Eric opened his gifts, then they started chatting while waiting for the latecomers.

Eric and Robert were giving details about the national park's expansion, which Guylaine and Wash listened to attentively.
And Kevin too, since this expansion will enlarge the area patrolled by the park rangers.
Only Fabienne was completely uninterested in the subject. In fact, unlike her parents Ariane and Eric, or her sister Guylaine, she had never had the slightest interest in anything to do with nature.

Wash was thrilled because Ariane had just told him that there would be new, clearly marked areas for birdwatching, which would prevent amateur park visitors from disturbing the birds and trampling sensitive areas.

That's when Hermione arrived. Sure enough, she was with someone. Michael, the self-defense instructor, teaches classes to all the female employees of the national park, including her, which allowed them to get to know each other and, in fact, to start dating recently.

Kevin clearly didn't expect Hermione to find affection in someone else's arms. Even though their breakup is entirely his fault, he seems hurt by this discovery. 
As for Fabienne, she mutters under her breath, "That's all we needed...", but luckily, quietly enough that only her husband hears it.

The newcomers settle in, Hermione next to Guylaine, as the two cousins ​​always have plenty to talk about, much to Wash and Eric's amusement.
Next to Hermione, Michael teases Suzanne, asking her once again if she's going to decide to come and take self-defense classes with her granddaughter and her friends!
Robert encouraged her.
"Yes, darling, go ahead, and you can give me demonstrations at home afterward!" he told her, laughing.

Surrounded by cheerful chatter, Ariane got up to finally light the candles on the cake. She only used eight for the units because Eric didn't want anyone to mention the tens!

Kevin didn't join in the laughter; he was lost in thought.
Just like Fabienne, who wondered if Kevin's distant behavior toward her would finally change now that he'd seen his former flame in someone else's arms.

Eric blew out his eight candles, and the delicious cake was enjoyed with Monbazillac and Muscat de Rivesaltes. The little party ended pleasantly for almost everyone.

Have a good day :-)