171
"Daughter, please. Give us a sign of life. We're very worried about you," says one of the audio messages I play.
Damn it.
With trembling fingers, I dial her number, and after a few rings, I finally hear her voice.
"Juliette, is that you?" I hear her say with a worried tone.
"Mom."
"Daughter," she responds distressed. "My girl, tell me you're okay."
"Mom, calm down, I am."
"Oh my god, Juliette!" I hear her exclaim amidst sobs.
"Is it her?" I hear another voice ask. "Can you pass her to me?"
"Juliette, is that you?" they say, and now I realize it's Chloé.
"Chloé, how are you?"
"How am I, Juliette!? We're all so worried about you. Where are you?"
"Uh..."
"Why did you disappear like this?"
"I..." I stutter as I think about what response to give. "Uh, I... needed some time for myself, just like you said, friend."
"But why not tell us, Juliette? And can we know where you are?"
"No."
"No?"
Damn it.
"Because..."
"Juliette, you have to come back. We were about to go to the police to report a missing person."
"What?" I question, stunned.
"Honey, please come," my mom says now. "I won't be at peace until I see you with my own eyes."
"Juliette," Gérard enters the room, looking at me suspiciously. "What's going on with you?"
"Who are you talking to?" he asks.
"Juliette."
I stare at Gérard, feeling cornered by both of them.
I don't know what to do or say, but I have to make a decision because my mother is really worried, and I know she'll go crazy if she doesn't see me.
"I'll come back today, Mom," I let her know, noticing the mix of anger and confusion on Gérard's face.
"Promise me, my girl."
"I promise, see you later," I say before hanging up.
After saying that, the man in front of me stares at me, waiting for an explanation. He won't like it, but I have no other choice.
"I have to go," I sigh.
"What are you talking about? Go where?"
"My friends are worried about me after my supposed disappearance, and my mom flew to Toulouse to look for me. I promised her I'd come back today."
"Why didn't you just tell them you were okay and that's it?"
"I did, but technically they demanded I come back. And I understand, Gérard. I disappeared, or rather you made me disappear overnight."
"Damn it," he says exasperated.
"You have to arrange the flight for me to leave, or I'll buy a ticket myself," I inform him with a grimace on my face.
"This is a mess," he retorts, leaving the room without saying another word.
Damn it.
I go in search of him so we can talk, and I circle almost the entire house to find him. It's when I reach the main entrance that I spot him, and I'm unpleasantly surprised to see him smoking a cigarette as he paces back and forth.
"I thought you had quit smoking," I comment, approaching him slowly.
Gérard remains silent, continuing to take drags from his cigarette before exhaling the smoke.
He continues this way until he drops the cigarette butt and crushes it with his shoe.
"I didn't until now," he replies.
"I don't want you to be upset with me over this."
"I already am."
"But there's no reason."
"Of course there is. It's always so easy for you to push me aside and go away as if nothing happened, Juliette."
"I'm not pushing you aside, I just want to avoid more conflicts. And I assumed you wouldn't want me to say I'm here with you."
"You don't have to assume, these are decisions we should make together," he scolds me sternly.
"Maybe I acted hastily."
"Maybe," he repeats ironically.
"Hey," I say, standing in front of him, but Gérard avoids my gaze. "Look at me."
I take his face, forcing him to meet my eyes.
"I'll come back, I'll just go so they can make sure nothing happened to me, and then I'll come back here with you, okay?"
"How long?"
"Well, I was just granted a month of vacation at work, so..."
"I mean, how long do you think you'll need to be with your mother?"
"One day," I blurt out without thinking.
If it were up to me, I wouldn't return. All I want now is to be with him. But I also don't want to worry Diane, so one day is enough to reassure everyone.
I then lean in to kiss him on the lips, and he accepts it while gripping my rear with his large hands.
"I'll call to have the jet prepared," he says shortly after.
A few hours of conversation pass before we leave the house and head to the airport. Gérard has decided to accompany me, and I rest my head on his shoulder.
He's still not exactly thrilled about this, but at least he understood that it's necessary for me to go home.
It will be simple. I'll arrive in Toulouse, meet with Chloé, Isabella, and my mother, and shortly after, I'll return to him. Since Gérard explained that I definitely can't tell anyone about our reunion, I'll omit that part in front of them.
Gérard and I exchange a few words during the journey until we finally reach the runway, where the plane is ready for me to board and fly home.
I wait patiently for him to say something before getting out of the car, and as if he's reading my thoughts, he breaks the silence.
"One day," he says seriously, as if reminding me. "Just one day, Juliette."
"Yes, I'll be back as soon as my mother leaves."
And don't take these words the wrong way. On one hand, I'm happy to see my mom in person after so long, but after my confession to her, our relationship feels somewhat strained, and I don't want to have to give her more explanations.