Dance with me

Several weeks had passed since the argument. Tiana had feared that the disagreement and his refusal to go on the lovingly planned getaway would alter their relationship. Unexpectedly, it did not. On the contrary, he was even more affectionate. Which, strangely, disturbed her.

-Tia?

Tiana jumped as if a basin of cold water had been thrown over her.

-Yes, Mom?

-What's the matter? You look worried.

-Nothing, Mom, I'm just pensive.

-That's the point. Something's bothering you, I can tell.

-But no, Mom-

-Oh, you don't have to lie to me. I wasn't born yesterday. That you don't want to confide in me is one thing. But that you lie to me, that's another.

-I'm sorry mom...I just don't want to bore you with my feelings.

-As far as I remember, and my nonagenarian memory still works very well, all your moods, as varied as they are, are linked to one and the same person: my beloved son-in-law.

While speaking thus, she raised the eyes to the sky. Tiana commented with a laugh:

-Now I know where I get my habit of rolling my eyes and my unconditional love for sarcasm.

The lady replied:

-There are stronger bonds than blood ties.

Tiana took the hands of the woman of his life, his pillar, his sun, in hers.

-Mom...I love you.

-We should start getting dressed. The guests will be here any minute.

-Thanks for not rushing me.

-I've always respected your privacy and secrecy, Tia, and that's not going to change today.

At the same time they were heading to their respective room, Ruddy was coming back from the garden.

-Here you go ladies. The garden is ready for our little barbecue. Everything is set up. We're just waiting for the guests and the grilling can begin.

Tiana's mother slipped away to her room to leave Tiana and Ruddy alone.

-Great, honey. Did you manage to set everything up by yourself? Young Adrien, the neighbors' son, had offered to help you. You should have waited for him so he could assist you.

Ruddy looked falsely offended.

-You don't trust my abilities anymore? Just because I'm old now doesn't mean I've become incapable.

-Oh, but I would never doubt your abilities, dear. I know best that you still have a lot of stamina.

Ruddy laughed out loud.

-A few seconds with you and all my fatigue melts away like snow in the sun.

Tiana smiled fondly.

-You don't have to exaggerate either. Go on, take a shower. You really don't smell like a rose.

This time, he took a grumpy air.

-Try to stay more than two hours carrying tables and chairs under the December sun, you'll tell me about it my sweet.

Tiana laughed heartily.

-I'm just teasing you, angel, no need to take it to heart.

And to prove her good faith, Tiana took him fully in her arms, in spite of this one was soaked of sweat.

-Huuumm! What a sweet smell of sweat.

Ruddy got out of the way with a sudden gesture and, feigning an annoyance that he did not feel, rushed under the shower, accompanied by the light laughter of Tiana.

Thirty minutes later, freshly shaved and lightly perfumed, Ruddy was welcoming the few friends they had invited to their barbecue party, alongside Tiana.

Christmas was only two days away, but there was no harm in having some festivities in advance. Especially since these festivities had a very special flavor for Ruddy who saw the stay of his mother-in-law ending soon.

Around the delicious skewers of beef heart and kidney, chicken and grilled fish, with mango and papaya achar on the side, the discussions were going well. The jovial atmosphere, the smell of the grilled food and the cheerful conversations made Tiana radiate happiness.

This joy was quickly replaced by a gloomy look on Ruddy's face.

Apologizing to the ladies she was talking to, Tiana walked over to Ruddy, slightly behind in a dark corner of the garden.

-Something is bothering you.

It was more of a statement than a question.

Ruddy kept his eyes fixed on the guests.

-You look lovely tonight, my sweet. You always do.

Answering the compliment with a smile, Tiana sat beside him and snuggled into his arms.

-I know what's wrong with you. And I know exactly what you're thinking.

- Surprise me.

- Honey, do you remember that day? The day we went to the 25th birthday party of one of our mutual friends.

-Estelle. That was ages ago.

- Caring Estelle. May her soul rest in peace.

They observed a few minutes of silence in memory of their friend who had died a few years earlier. It had been extremely painful, especially for Tiana, it was her closest friend, one of the few friends she had. With a voice full of extreme tenderness, Tiana resumed her story.

-It was rather awkward of her to invite us both, considering the situation we were in. But I guess she had no other choice and she couldn't bring herself to choose one of us. I don't think I had ever been in such an uncomfortable situation. To be there, in the same place, in a festive atmosphere, when neither you nor I were in the mood to celebrate. The raw discomfort. And the worst was yet to come. Seeing each other, but avoiding each other. Sometimes we inadvertently brushed against each other and then suddenly moved away as if we had been burned. Looking at each other without really daring. Pure and simple torture.

Ruddy grimaced at the memory.

-I must admit that it was a particularly unpleasant episode. Especially for me.

Tiana arched an eyebrow

-Did you? And, can we please know how your situation was worse than mine?

-Do you remember my that night, my sweet? You spent the evening avoiding me, every time I tried to approach you. You coldly refused my invitation to dance and

-What did you expect, really? After all that had happened? Did you think I would just accept your proposal? It was a real nightmare. We hadn't seen each other for several weeks already and I liked to think that I was slowly recovering from my disappointment. I was sadly mistaken.

-You were forgetting the fact that you were ignoring my calls. You never gave me a chance to redeem myself.

- You were really a pretentious young man after all. You reject the girl, but you expect her to accept your letters, answer your calls and accept your invitation to dance.

He simply shrugged his shoulders and laughed.

-But seeing you in someone else's arms, even for a dance, was borderline unbearable.

Ruddy commented, teasingly:

-You should have accepted the invitation when it was extended to you.

Tiana gave him a light tap on the shoulder of a completely hilarious Ruddy.

-All right, my sweet, calm down. But tell me, why did you deliberately ignore my calls? Why were you ignoring me at all? One dance wouldn't have hurt.

Tiana shook her head in disappointment.

-Men really don't understand anything. If I had accepted your calls, I would have fallen back into the downward spiral. I would have wanted us to renew our relationship, on your terms, even if it would have hurt me. If I had accepted to dance with you, I would have suffered so much. To be in your arms, close to you, but to know that after only a few seconds you would have been far away again, inaccessible. It would have been a bit like giving a child an ice cream, parading it in front of him, letting him smell it, but then not letting him taste it.

-That's a rather equivocal comparison.

-You are really unbelievable.

-I'm just teasing you sweetheart.

-I know you're getting back at me for my teasing a few hours ago.

He winked at her.

-Maybe I am.

At the same time, on the improvised dance floor, the couples joined for a slow dance.

-Will you allow me this dance, gentle lady?

Tiana, all smiles, stood up and put her hand in his.

-Nothing would please me more.

And smiling slightly, she added :

-A nice revenge on the one I declined a few decades earlier.