“You must stop moving
now and not make any noise. I'll come back tomorrow.”
Vivienne stares at the picture a little more. The book is open on the desk. The drawing on the right side portrays a delicate creature with the body of a young woman.
Her back supports two transparent wings. The tiny fairy, graceful and jolly, shivers before standing still. Vivienne closes the book and places it back on the bookcase with great care.Vivienne stares at the picture a little more. The book is open on the desk. The drawing on the right side portrays a delicate creature with the body of a young woman.
 |
| She opens it at the middle page with the drawing. |
Almost six o’clock: Reynald is about to come home from work. In the kitchen, Vivienne sets the stove to low to heat up the meal; then she walks upstairs to put on something more elegant. Examining the pleasant features of her face in the mirror, she, who is called the mistress of the house, notices a dark spot on her temple. With efficient gestures, she applies a tinted ointment on the stain, which becomes invisible. Reynald does not appreciate looking at Vivienne's bruises.
A delicious scent of stew wafts from the kitchen. Suddenly, Vivienne freezes. There is no cream left to be served with the apple pie. She thinks at a furious pace. Does she have another dessert? She walks down the stairs, enters the kitchen, and checks the cupboard. There are peaches in syrup and a red fruit sauce in the freezer. It will do. She ponders another moment. Will Reynald detect the smell from the pie, baked this afternoon? Vivienne throws the pastry in the garbage and sprays air freshener through the kitchen, the living room, and the hall. She contemplates with fright the mistake she just avoided.
To recover, Vivienne goes back inside the library and pulls from the shelf the book she had just put away. She opens it at the middle page with the drawing. The delightful fairy comes to life, turns around with poise, and smiles at Vivienne.
“What a nice surprise! I thought I would remain alone until tomorrow.”
“I needed you some more. It's raining, I don't have the right dessert, I'm afraid the evening won't be easy.”
Vivienne's voice trembles a little, despite her attempt at a joyful tone. Engaged in conversation with her miniature friend, she misses her husband's return. The slamming of the entry door alerts her. In a jolt, Vivienne closes the book, which makes a blunt noise.
Reynald
finds his wife sitting on the library floor, against the shelves of
encyclopedias and dictionaries. She's crying. She
fondles a children's
book, open on her lap. It presents a mixture of green and yellow
colors, depicting nothing.
Photo © https://unsplash.com/photos/0V7_N62zZcU
Photo © https://unsplash.com/photos/0V7_N62zZcU