Breaking up is Hard to Do

By Donna and Ev

Even though Marty was over her bad cold, she was in no hurry to move out of Luc's house.  After all, he was so busy with his winemaking stuff, getting ready for the next year's crop of grapes, that he didn't have time to keep up the inside of the house.  So she took over.  Luc really appreciated it at first, but it wasn't long before he discovered his casual style of housekeeping did not even come close to meeting her standards!

It was one thing that the place was swept and dusted more often, but it was bordering on obsessive when she swept every time he came in from outside and straightened  one of the pictures every single time she passed it.  He was trying to ignore these habits of hers, but one day, after coming in from working in the barn, he just completely lost his temper.

He remembered to take his shoes off on the doorstep, so he wouldn't track any mud inside and he brushed off as much of the dirt from his clothes as was loose, then he came in and went to wash up.  She immediately swept the floor. When he washed up and changed, she instantly came and collected the dirty clothes and started washing them.  At first he just sighed and went on, but it seemed that everything he touched, she was cleaning right away.  And still straightening that one picture that wasn't crooked!

Walking up to the picture, he put it back the way it was.  Marty, not to be outdone, immediately changed it.  And so, the battle lines were drawn!

He frowned and went back to the picture, this time tilting it way to one side and staring at her, daring her to come fix it. 

She did.  So he screamed at her in French, and to his surprise, she yelled back in his own language!  He hadn't even known she spoke it!  When he yelled that he couldn't stand any more of her obsessive cleaning, she yelled back that he wouldn't have to.  Turning on her heel, she stomped up to her room and began to pack her bags.

He didn't believe she would do it.  "Bon!"   He sat down and helped himself to a cup of tea and picked up one of the few books that he owned, pretending to read and be totally unconcerned. 

She came back down the stairs, her suitcase in her hands, and a knapsack over her shoulder.  On her way out, she defiantly fixed the picture one last time and then fled the house, tears streaming down her face.  What would she do now?  Where would she go?

He was surprised that she actually left.  It was pointless.  Where could she go here?  The town was so small, it was not as though he couldn't find her again easily.  If she wanted to leave, let her.  He told himself he didn't care. 

It wasn't long before that point of view changed dramatically.  The house seemed so empty, so *dead* without her laughter and mischievous ways.  He found himself stepping over piles of clothing and other items because he was too tired to clean up after himself when he came in.  At times he even found himself opening up the door of the bedroom she had stayed in, just to breathe in the lingering scent of her all too brief presence in his life.

Finally, he couldn't deny it any longer.  He loved her and he wanted her back, cleaning and all.   But he was sure she wouldn't want to come back after that fight they'd had.  He started to feel depressed. 

While standing on the turret of his house, Salvatore Giuliano looked over his land, and across the road to the vineyards.  When he didn't see smoke coming from Luc's house, even though it was a cold day, the Sicilian became concerned.  Riding over to Luc's place, he pounded on the door, and when no one answered, he went inside.  He found the Frenchman with a three day growth of stubble and wearing very rumpled clothes, sitting on the floor, staring at a picture on the wall.  Sal glanced at it. "It's crooked, if that is what you are trying to figure out.  And you, my friend, are a mess!"

"Elle m'a laiss'!  She left me!" he said, as if that explained everything.  He looked around, then down at himself.  Well, maybe it did.  When did all this happen?

Sal sighed deeply.  "First things first.  I'll light a fire. It's freezing in here.  When was the last time you ate?"  He sniffed the air. "Or bathed?"

"I don't remember,"  Luc admitted.  There wasn't really a way to put into words that those things just didn't seem important without Marty there. 

"Get cleaned up, then ride into town and ask her to come back!"  Sal growled as he started a fire to warm up the house.

"You make it sound so easy."  Luc sighed and started to get up.  "What if
she doesn't want me?" 

"Then convince her she does!  Get down on your knees and beg her forgiveness if that is what it takes.   Make her some delectable French dish. Bring her wine and roses! I have some blooming in my greenhouse, if you want a bouquet."

"Will this work, do you think?"  Luc felt a surge of hope, his first in days.  "I should have kept all this clean, but it made me think of her."  He sighed. 

"I'll help you straighten up," Sal offered as he warmed his hands by the fire.  "If she comes back to this filth, she will just turn around and leave again."

"I shouted at her.  That was not good."  Luc finally was on his feet and starting to collect the dirty dishes and stack them by the sink. "It was all because of this."  He straightened the painting. 

Sal chuckled.  "Do you know what they call you two in town?  Miss Goodie Two Shoes and the Big Bad Wolf!  If she wants to straighten the picture, let her!  It is not that important a thing in the whole scheme of things!"

"Oui.  I should know that.  I lost my temper over a little thing."  He started feeling a little better, just getting up and talking to Sal.  "I will get this place clean and go talk to her."  He paused, remembering something she had told him.  "And I will get a cat," he added with a grin. 

"Good idea!  I have a couple hanging around my barn.  One of them had a litter of kittens that are always underfoot.  Would you like one?" Sal asked as he helped with the cleaning.

"Yes.  She said every farm should have a cat and I have none here.  It is true.  And that will show her how I listened, yes?"  Luc began to smile as he poured the hot water for the dishes and started actually washing them. 

By the time they had the house clean, it was time for Sal to return to feed his animals.  He gave his friend a fierce hug.  "Take a bath!  Then come over and get the flowers before going to town.  Take her out to eat at the hotel or Kasumi's!"

"I will.  Thank you, my friend."  He immediately started heating the bathwater and deciding what to wear.  While he scrubbed himself in the tub, he went over and over what he would say to her. He felt good finally doing something.  Somehow he would make it work!