Retrospective: Paris - How things happened

3.10. Mae West - Knock knock
Fall 1993, Mae's apartment

Since The Most Awkward Confession Ever, two weeks had passed. Francesco had officially registered at her place, and after a short discussion, Mae had agreed to let him pay half of the rent and food money. Not because she needed it, but she felt he did, to keep his self-respect. She rewarded him with more expensive food and herself with more cheap wine instead.

"If you're not going, you'll never know," she said, after thinking for a few seconds.

Their relationship had changed, too.

Sort of.

They were still friends, but now also - more? Not a couple, though, neither of them really wanted to put  that label on - whatever they had. And neither of them felt comfortable to tell anyone else about it.

So obviously, when Francesco'd told her how badly he wanted to return back home, she encouraged him.

"You're not gonna miss me?" he smirked and kept strumming Dante's guitar. Mae's friend had lent to him after he heard that Francesco had lost his own.
"I'll be fine," she said. "You can write me a letter when you make it."
Francesco gave her again one of his examining looks and she tried her best to hide the sudden sadness that filled her. Of course she would miss him.
"Don't lie," he smirked.

"Okay, maaaybe," she admitted, stretching the second word. "But I also want you to be happy."
She knew here he wasn't. Not only that he worked two jobs - he had found another one at a laundry service besides the bar one, to be able to afford more than just the minimum expenses - but also the grumpy inspecteur called him over for questioning almost every day.
Just to wear him down, Mae was sure, since Francesco always came back home with no other results than him being more frustrated than he was already before.
"It's not that I could leave too soon anyway", he said. "We've got time to figure things out."

He was right, Mae thought. She was not so naive to believe that being separated by half the planet for at least a year or longer wouldn't take its toll on their relationship, no matter how many letters were written. Unless they were dirt rich and could afford regular visits, which neither was.
Or married, but for that it was too early to think of yet, besides, they were both still too young for such a serious decision.
Mae wasn't even sure if she ever wanted to get married. And Francesco didn't strike her as a married-with-three-kids-and-a-dog person either.
He wanted to play his music, travel the world and sing on its biggest stages instead.

Mae was sure one day he would, but until then, it was their time.

And Mae was determined to make the best of it.

"I can't play like this", he complained between her kisses, but she could feel him smile.

Just then the hard knock on the door let her jump up and run for her clothes.
Why did someone always have to leave the house entry door open...

The two police officers made her heart almost stop.

"Nous demandons à Monsieur de la Cruz de nous accompagner, s'il vous plaît", one of them said.

So far Francesco had been called to the station by phone, or Arthur had told him he should come over the next day.
This time, something serious happened, Mae knew.
She just hoped there wasn't another witness found.

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Translations

"Nous demandons à Monsieur de la Cruz de nous accompagner, s'il vous plaît." - We would like Mr. De la Cruz to please come with us.