“If you just put enough paint on it…” Roy’s mother had her hands drenched in purple paint and she was holding onto some sort of cheap cloth. An old wooden door laid beside her.
“Three…two…One!” She yelled and dropped the cloth onto the door.
“Mom!” Roy yelled. His pants were covered in paint as was the entire bottom of the floor. The door, however, was now covered in a pretty lilac color. It was a tall cylinder shape. She then had Roy do the same thing with a pale green. He had never done something so… improper. He dunked his hands into the green bowl and swished the cloth around. She told him where to toss it. He pulled it out, hearing the paint drip on to the floor. He closed his eyes and took a breath before dropping it. A loud cheer erupted from his mother.
“Evviva!” She cried. Roy slowly opened his eyes and caw that it did look pretty. She bent down to touch the purple cloth. It was dried onto the door.
“In a short moment the green will dry. And we will have a beautiful lavender flower. Don’t worry, I’ll go ahead and cut it out of the door.” She gave him a wink and began to wash her hands in a water bucker near her. She coughed in her shoulder; the paint fumes were a little excessive so Roy opened the window above the sink. It required a bit of strength since it was behind a few busted flower pots and sponges. Once the window was cracked at the bottom, Roy’s mother began to relax. Her coughing ceased and her tense shoulders calmed down.
Another week went by, and Roy was beginning to long for Emile’s presence. In truth, Roy had wanted it since he left, but now the empty bedside as starting to become bothersome. He would occasionally wake up throughout some nights, spending hours before finding himself asleep again. He still had about a week and a half before he would return back. Saying goodbye to his mother felt difficult, but he would cross that bridge once he got there.
It was a particularly sunny day in Sicily that day and Roy’s mother, Fina, said she wanted Roy to practice his Italian.
“Your accent is horrible. You sound as if you’re French!”
“Don’t say it.” She winked at Roy and continued chopping up fruit.
His mother was eccentric, he’ll give her that. Beads hung from the ceiling and carpets were usually used to sit on in place of chairs. Of course Roy took into consideration that his mother is the poorest woman he’d met. Emile had little money, but at the very least they had some farmland and weren’t scavenging for food constantly. His mother wouldn’t accept any money he offered, so Roy just participated anyways. She bought him Italian clothes and introduced him to Italian girls, denying the fact she doesn’t get to meet his partner since he’s stuck in France. She did ask about Emile however. She always smiled whenever Roy told about the silly endeavors they shared on the orchard. He spoke about the time he and Emile tried to sneak into the kitchen after hours and eat cake. Actually, that happened multiple times. Roy also broke a milk glass one day and he convinced Emile to blame it on the cat. Of course that didn’t go over well since the orchard didn’t have any indoor cats.
“I’ll come back and I’ll bring Emile too.” She smiled and nodded. Her smiles never showed teeth unless she was laughing, but they were genuine nonetheless.
She continued to cut fruit. The only noise to be heard was from a fan and the occasional noise of the knife hitting against the wood. The calming pattern was disrupted by an urgent knock on the door. Roy’s mother dried her hands and opened the door to reveal a young male, perhaps younger than Roy.
“Ho notizie dalla città! E 'urgente!”
“Le truppe avversarie si stanno dirigendo verso la zona francese del Maestro Roy. Suo padre lo sta chiedendo a casa.”
“Grazie.” His mother turned to Roy. “Did you catch that Fitzy? Sounds like your going home early.”
Roy was astonished that his father had the courage to contact him at all.... and even go to the trouble to locate him. Considering that he did do this, Roy had to assume the man had genuine concern. Roy also was nervous for Emile since he didn’t have any means of defense besides the army that isn’t in that area.
Roy kissed his mother on the cheek and followed the messenger out of the house. He’d be back…
The trip back didn’t feel as long. Riding his horse wasn’t so much a bother, but this time it was a bit more threatening since he had no guard. But he eventually laid eyes on the familiar little house he learned to call home. Quickly tying up his horse, Roy found the front door and gave it a nudge. He always loved to see Emile, but this was the first time he had been so excited for it. That and he had become increasingly nervous that Emile wasn’t alright.
It didn’t take long for Roy to find Emile. When he did, he threw his arms around the other’s neck and cooed, “Tu m'as manqué terriblement. Donc beaucoup.” Emile smelled nice and his presence was a long awaited one.
“Êtes-vous d'accord? Nous devons revenir ... au verger.” He was probably being a bit hasty, but Roy just wanted to protect Emile at all costs. He didn’t know what their relationship qualified as, but it more than friendship.
“Tu m'as manqué beaucoup…”