Since this somewhat "undesirable" cohabitation, Ruddy was constantly looking for pretexts to escape from the house. Thus to see his mother-in-law as little as possible. Tiana saw perfectly clearly in his game but she let him do it pleasantly, willingly lending herself to his shenanigans. Until now.
Tiana was busy watering the countless variety of flowers that adorned the garden, her face elegantly protected from the sun's rays by a pretty little straw hat.She was enjoying the warmth of the sun's rays on her skin, and the intoxicating fragrance that was emanating from the place. This sweet quietude was however disturbed by a visibly excited Ruddy.
-My sweet? My sweet?
-I'm here, near the hydrangea bed. What is it? You make it sound like there's a fire.
Ruddy brushed off this last remark with a vague wave of his hand.
-Something much more cheerful, my sweet.
-Let me guess...we're going for a walk?
Ruddy gave her a mischievous look.
-We're going to do a lot more than that.
Tiana rolled her eyes and, deadpan , commented:
-Sometimes I wonder why you haven't made a career in the movies. You're a master of mystery and suspense.
-Very funny, my sweet. You won't laugh at me for long when I tell you-
-Say it once and for all, will you?
-Don't cut me off!
-Ruddy, honey, stop being a child for a moment. Be serious!
-All right, no need to get upset, Your Excellency. Your humble servant has come to tell you that he has booked a week's stay at Marojejy National Park.
Incredulous, Tiana did not react immediately. This made Ruddy slightly uncomfortable.
-So, my sweet...isn't that great?
Once the shock of the announcement passed, Tiana came to her senses.
-You're kidding, right?
Ruddy's smile died on his lips. He had expected anything but this reaction.
-Don't you like it?
Tiana seemed to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, he didn't understand at all the turn their discussion was taking.
-Whether I like it or not, that is not the question. You know that I've been dreaming of going there for years.
-Yes, that's the point. So what's the problem? You don't look too happy about it.
-What's the problem? Are you seriously asking me what's the big deal? Are you making fun of me?
-Sweetheart, calm down. Why don't you tell me clearly what's wrong.
She sighed exaggeratedly before heading to the swing under the mango tree. Ruddy joined her, looking deeply puzzled.
-Did you forget a small detail, by any chance?
Before he could answer, a crystal clear voice came from the house, singing an old song at the top of his lungs. And the light went on in his mind.
-Your mother...
Only Tiana's look of approval.
-But if I want to leave, it's...
-...precisely because she is here.
-It's true that presenting it this way is not very attractive.
-I understand you, darling. Believe me, I understand you completely. However, what you're proposing is simply inconceivable. Dinner in " tête à tête " almost every night of the week is okey. Taking morning walks along the beach almost every morning is still tolerable. Engaging in a variety of activities every afternoon is exciting. Leaving the house for a week is a whole new level. It's just not possible. It's not the house she comes to see, it's us. Imagine yourself for two seconds in her place, how would you feel?
Ruddy opened his mouth to speak, but seemed to change his mind at the last moment.
-I'm listening, darling, don't you have anything to say?
Ruddy's face expressed only deep disappointment, his eyes a veil of weariness.
-Everything has been said, I think. I guess your answer is no. I'm going to my atelier, I'd like to be alone.
Putting his money where his mouth is, he stood up and stomped away. Tiana rushed after him and held his hand.
-My darling I
This one raised the hand to interrupt it, and without turning around, added:
-Leave my sweet, it is nothing. You don't need to justify yourself anymore.
Tiana looked at him and walked away with a heavy heart, her thoughts completely confused.
We all have that special place we like to go to, when we are looking for solitude or peace of mind. The studio is to Ruddy what the library is to Tiana; that is, a refuge, a haven of peace.
After visiting an art gallery as a child, he developed a passion for drawing. He drew everything from still life to portraits, with a predilection for tropical landscapes, but also and above all, his greatest muse, Tiana.
He had been watching for more than thirty minutes, with a blank stare, the white sheet of paper on his desk, the black pen suspended halfway between his face and the paper. He had too many things in mind. And the tumult of feelings that invaded him literally paralyzed him. This state was not simply related to the disagreement that had occurred earlier, he knew it very well. He was more than ever aware of the time that was passing. Each day that passed weighed inexorably the weight that he carried on his shoulders, that embraced his heart. But Tiana's happiness was far more important than his well-being and his moods. She deserved to have happy old days, he had already made her suffer so much in the past.
He threw his pen on the table and stood up quickly. Time was far too precious to waste it anyhow.
As he had anticipated, he found Tiana on the balcony of their room, looking out over the turquoise expanse, seemingly hypnotized by the rippling waves.
He came to stand behind her, and embraced her. Instinctively, Tiana settled more comfortably against him and closed her eyes, savoring his touch.
-I love to see you with your hair blowing in the wind. You look so fragile. And above all, so beautiful.
Even though he couldn't see it, he felt that she was smiling widely.
-I love it when you whisper such sweet words in my ear, it reminds me, that love still exists.
Ruddy held her even tighter.
-I brought you something from the studio, my sweet.
He placed an elegantly framed portrait before Tiana's eyes. She took it in her hands to examine it better. Her eyes became misty with tears.
-But...that's me. It must be from a very, very long time ago.
She was silent for a moment, and contemplated the charming drawing for a long time. Then she spoke again in a voice full of emotion.
-It is beautiful. How come I've never seen it before?
-Honey? Do you remember that day? The day after you slammed the door in my face. A letter carrier had come to your house, to deliver an envelope. When you saw that it was from me, you didn't even take the time to open it to see what was inside. You immediately threw it out of your kitchen window. How can I know all these details? I was on the other side of the street, I had witnessed the whole scene. My heart was completely devastated by your reaction. In this envelope so painfully scorned, there was this portrait, like a pledge of reconciliation.
-I remember that moment perfectly. I was stunned by the audacity you showed, the nerve you had, after all you had told me, to make me deliver something. I must admit that I had been very tempted to find out what was in the package, but I knew that if I gave in to that impulse, I would be lost. And all the efforts I had made to get better would be undone. So, in a gesture of desperation, I threw it out the window with all my might.
-What I cherish most of all in this sketch, my sweet, is your smile, so natural, so sincere, so overwhelming...you had it at my reconciliation dinner with my parents. I saw that smile, on your face, as my mother hugged me with all her strength...you looked so genuinely happy for me, and your face literally beamed with happiness. That expression was etched in my memory, and I just had to capture it physically.
-That's so touching, honey.
She couldn't find the words, so she simply kissed him, softly, tenderly.
-You've treasured it all these years?
-Yes, I have. This portrait has a special place in my heart. When I picked it up from the place where you had thrown it away, when I took it out to admire it...then I knew, I knew that I too had fallen.