Disclaimer: I don't own Tale of Two Cities


It was a beautiful day. Thérèse always appreciated days like those. There was a longing that she had to go outside and enjoy the day but Ernest was out of town that day. She supposed she could close the shop but people felt better after coming into Defarges' Wine Shop and Thérèse didn't have the heart to put those people out of a chance to feel better. The first customer in the shop was a little girl. She couldn't have been any older than seven; probably younger. She was far too young to drink wine. They served food too. Perhaps the child was hungry. Thérèse thought the girl looked familiar too.

Walking over to the child Thérèse realized where she had seen her. She was the daughter of Evrémonde, yet Thérèse didn't feel hatred for Little Lucie.

"Hello child," she said to Little Lucie,

Little Lucie smiled shyly at Thérèse.

"Hello madame," Little Lucie replied softly.

"What's your name," Thérèse asked Lucie sitting down.

"Lucie but I'm called Little Lucie because my mother is Lucie also," Little Lucie explained.

"You can call me Thérèse," Thérèse said, "Because that's my name. I have two questions. Why are you here by yourself and what do you want?"

"I want my daddy back," Little Lucie replied, tearing up.
She didn't answer the second question.

"Your father is the son of an Evrémonde," Thérèse explained, "He is the son of the Evrémonde that hurt my family very badly."
Little Lucie eyed a girl about her own age.

"Is that your daughter," Little Lucie asked.

"Yes. I adopted her when she was just a newborn. I found her outside in the snow alone and abandoned."

"Do you love her," Little Lucie asked.

"She's my daughter. Of course I love her."

"What if she were the biological daughter of an Evrémonde," Little Lucie asked, "Should she die for that?"
Sighing, Thérèse replied in a soft tone.

"She is a Defarge in every sense," Thérèse said, "I have raised her since she was born. It does not matter to me what her biological sir-name is."

"Then why should it matter to you that my daddy is an Evrémonde? He's nothing like his dad or his uncle. He didn't hurt your family. His dad and uncle did. My daddy shouldn't be punished for that."

"You're too young to understand," Thérèse replied.

"I understand that I want you to take back your denouncement of my daddy," Little Lucie said.

Thérèse took a deep breath and counted to ten in order to calm herself down. There was no point in arguing with this child.

"Sometimes," she said, "We can't always get what we want."
Little Lucie had tears in her eyes.

"You have a family," she said, "Would you want someone to come and take away your family just because of something they can't help?"

"Well of course not," Thérèse said, "Child don't cry."

Little Lucie looked at Thérèse with a pleading look in her eyes.

"If you take back the denouncement my daddy will be set free," Little Lucie said.

Thérèse knew that was true. She was the leader of the revolution and people did what she told them to do.

"Maama?"
Thérèse looked up. She smiled at Crystal.

"Hello darling," she said.

"I'm tired," Crystal said, "Can I go take a nap or do you still need help?"

"Sure you can take a nap," Thérèse replied, "Oh this is Lucie."
Crystal smiled at Little Lucie.

"Hi," Crystal said in a friendly tone.

"Hi," Little Lucie said back.
Thérèse looked at her own daughter. She thought about the people that hurt her family. If Crystal had been related to one of those people would it be her fault? Should Crystal be imprisoned for that… or worse still die? No. Of course not. Then honestly… How is Charles Darnay any more responsible for his family's actions?

"Alright," she said, "I'm closing the bar for about an hour."
The customers grumbled good naturedly but left.

Thérèse picked up her purse and went to leave.

"Where are you going maama," Crystal asked.
Thérèse looked at Crystal. She looked at Little Lucie.

"I'm going," she said, "to correct a mistake I made."
She walked out. Little Lucie walked home. Charles was freed within the hour. Little Lucie never told her family of the visit to the bar. All they knew was that something (or someone) changed the heart of Madame Thérèse Defarge.