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The first time Gwen (9) tasted chocolate cake was when her 94-year-old grandfather died. Sandra, Gwen’s mother, made it because it was grandfather’s favorite. Sitting there surrounded by grieving friends and family, Gwen thought how odd that something so dark could taste so good. That was until she tasted it. Gwen went back for thirds not being under the eye of her vegan mother.
As Gwen went back for her fourth slice, she stopped by her grandmother who was crying on her comfortable chair.
“Grandmother, can I get you something?”
“No, dear. Just remember to always be happy and find someone to be happy with.”
“Okay, grandmother,” Gwen said confused.
“Grandmother?” Gwen noticed her eye had closed. “Did you fall asleep?” Gwen goes to shake her and grandmother’s body slumps over. “MOTHER!” Gwen yells.
Days later at her grandmother’s funeral her mother made German Chocolate Cake, grandmother’s favorite.
Gwen stands looking over the dessert table she already had a plate but is looking for more, something to quell her sweet tooth.
“What is that?” Gwen asked her Uncle Tim, pointing to a brown coconut covered chocolate cake.
“That’s grandmother’s favorite, German Chocolate Cake.”
“Does no one like it?” Examining an untouched tray.
“We all do but no one…You should have a slice,” Uncle Tim cuts and plates a corner piece for Gwen.
“Thanks Uncle.” Gwen leaves to find somewhere to eat.
A few days later Sandra breaks the news to her daughter that her Uncle Tim was hit by a bus the day of grandmother’s funeral and did not make it.
The following week Gwen stands looking over the dessert table at her uncle’s funeral.
“Why is there a chocolate cake?”
“Dobash was your Uncle Tim’s favorite.” Aunt Monica tells her.
“Oh,” is all Gwen can say.
“Want a slice?”
“NO! I mean no thank you I can’t mother.”
“She won’t mind, being what today is.”
“No, then you will or someone else… I can’t chance it.”
“Chance what?” But Gwen had already run out.
All was quiet for a long time and Sandra never made any more chocolate cakes. Gwen grew up, graduated college, and got a job as a reporter. Nearly 15 years had passed, and all was good, until…
Tuesday, October 10th. Gwen got promoted to news anchor and her boss throw Gwen a party with a chocolate cake.
“Gwen you are a great reporter and you will make a first-rate news anchor. Congratulations.”
Her co-workers erupted with platitudes and words of praise. Gwen was overwhelmed with emotions as she is handed a slice of cake. Gwen thinks nothing of it and enjoys two more slices before the secretary interrupts with news.
“Gwen your father called. You should really call him back.”
“Thanks.” Gwen leaves to her office where it’s quiet to make the call. Her father answers, “Hey father you won’t believe what happened at work. I got promoted. You’ll be seeing me on the news every night from now on. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“Gwen that’s great but…”
“But what? Why aren’t’ you happy?”
“Your mother is gone, Gwen. She was at dinner with friends and she choked on a fish bone.”
“What? When?”
“About an hour ago.”
“Okay, what can I do?”
“Come home.”
By the end of the week Gwen is at her mother’s funeral. She is the one being consoled, but Gwen is not sad or angry, she’s confused. Her thoughts are racing as she heads to the dessert table. There she sees it. A tray of chocolate cake. “Who brought this?”
“The cake?” her friend asked
“Yes, who brings this here on this day?”
“I did,” her boss steps forward.
“What is it, Gwen.”
“Nothing, I just…”
Her father, Steven sees the cake, “Why is this here? Gwen did you have any?”
“No father. It was a gift from my boss.”
“Fine but Gwen promise you won’t eat any.”
Confused Gwen answers, “Okay father, promise.”
The next day Gwen approaches her father. “Father what was that with the cake last night?”
“Gwen there is something I have to tell you and I probably should have years ago. Your great-grandfather was from France. Before he left, he was involved with a Chocolatier. As he described her, ‘she could tell things about you just by looking.’ The small village she was in caller her a witch, your great-grandfather called her beautiful. But he met your great-grandmother and they fell in love. She was American and only visiting. When she returned home, he came with her.”
“Father, I know this story.”
“Not all of it. When the chocolatier Joan found out that your great-grandfather was leaving, he said she cursed him. She said, ‘that if his children or this children’s children ever eat chocolate again a love one would die unless he returned to her.”
“Really, a curse from a chocolate witch?”
“Yes, your great-grandparents lost three children before the age of six before they took the curse seriously. I never thought much of it either until last night. Gwen have you ever eaten chocolate cake?”
Gwen takes a moment to think and she remembers her grandfather, grandmother, and Uncle Tim. Then she remembers Tuesday night,” Oh my god. Father I killed mother.”
“How many times?”
“Three.”
“You must go to France and track down this witch and make things right.”
Gwen gathers all the information her father has and heads back to the office the next day to do a little investigative journalism.
She works every spare moment to try and find this chocolate witch, but every turn is a dead end, until one late night, when she has been in the office for hours.
“Gwen what are you doing here so late it’s almost 11:00.” It’s Jack the newest reporter in the office he recently transferred from a foreign affiliate.
“Hi Jack. Just doing some research for a story.”
“In France?”
“Yeah, it’s a bit of family research. But it’s another dead end.”
“I bet I could help. I just transferred from France and I bet with my resources there we could find whatever it is you are looking for.”
“Really, that would be great.”
“But go home and get some sleep first we will start fresh tomorrow.”
“Deal.”
Gwen and Jack make many meetings and using her research and his connections they were able to track Joan’s family down till about three generations ago. But that work as taken three weeks and each night and early morning has brought them close. They find that they smile at each other. Gwen thinks about him all the time and Jack stays late just to be with her.
Four months later they find that they have stopped trying to find any one in lieu of spending time together. Soon Jack proposes and Gwen says yes.
As they plan their wedding cake Jack takes her to a small French patisserie.
“Jack, so nice,” a little woman kisses him on both cheeks, “and who is this?”
“Mama this is Gwen my fiancé.”
Gwen is taken back by this added information, “Jack you never told me we were meeting your mother.”
“Surprise.”
“My name is Joan but you can call me mama.”
“Okay, mama.” Gwen smiles.
They sit at a small table and start talking about the cake. Gwen says, “no chocolate.”
Jack looks at her questioning, “why? You never said you where allergic to anything before.”
“I’m not it’s hard to explain but just no chocolate.”
“But dear that is what I do best. I’m a chocolatier by trade, we all are.” Mama says.
“Jack you’re a chocolatier?”
“Yes, my grandmother taught me.”
“Gwen what is your last name dear,” Mama asks.
“Gwen Patrisse.”
“Was your great-grandfather names Marko Patrisse?”
“Yes. Are you related to Joan Fournier?”
Mama answers, “Yes I’m her great-granddaughter.”
“Jack that means you are the one I have been looking for.”
“But mama you always told me never curse someone.”
“My children it seems you have found each other and the fact that you did in on your own means it’s meant to be.”
“But mama please what is going on.”
“I am sure Gwen has told you the story. After Marko left Joan, she fell into a despair until she discovered she was pregnant. A daughter. She loved Marko for giving her something she never thought she would get. But by that time, it was too late to reverse what she did.”
“What does that mean for me and my father?”
“As long as the marriage goes through the curse will be lifted.”
Six months later Gwen and Jack walked up the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. Fournier. As for the cake they enjoyed a delicious spiced chocolate cake.
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