Beneath The Orange Sunset ✔️

4

~4~

Maxime nervously scratched at the brown, wooden bench in the garden. He recalled all that Samuel had talked about earlier in the morning and he couldn't put it out of his mind now. Even if months passed he didn't think he will be able to forget.

Henrietta had come to call him for a bath but he refused to go. She brought a large umbrella and set it over his head to shield him from the sun. She returned few moments later with a cup of chamomile tea. It has been two or three hours already. He tried to guess the time and from the intensity of the sun's heat, he felt it was be between three and four pm.

Feelings - was the only sense of survival he had left. He could hear and smell normally but of what use were they right now? He had long stopped using his imagination because it was driving him crazy. The whole world was crazy. He had to think it that way for his own sanity.

He stopped scratching the wood. He tapped the surface of the table with his frail fingers and reached a cup sitting half empty. With shaky hands he picked it up and took a sip.

He heard the sound of a car drive through and stopped at the garage area. That was not his mom's jeep. He listened closely until he heard footsteps approaching him in the garden.

"Maxime, what are you doing out here in the heat?"

He recognized his aunt's voice. His dad's only elder sibling. She was jovial as her voice reflected it. But she never got along with Emile Lacroix.

"Aunty..."
Maxime tried to smile but his lips was dry.

"I heard what happened to Rochelle, are you going to be okay, sweetie?"

"Yes."

"Where is the new nurse?" Juliette looked around. "I thought I should come meet her?"

"There's no one here."

"Oh why?" she took a sit beside the young man watching him closely.

"I don't want any nurse."

"Don't talk like that," Juliette scolded mildly. "I understand how you feel about Rochelle's death, bless her soul. She's not coming back and she will be happy to see you have someone to care for just like she did."

A mild wind swept past Maxime's face. His head was turned to table. He nodded slightly when his aunt finished talking. He had vague memories of how his aunt looked like at the moment. She used to be tall, loved wearing long flowery dresses, with sunglasses over her hair. She always had the look of summer on her.

"I really don't want any nurse, I can manage on my own," his voice was bland and without emotion.

"I understand. You can do anything you want, hmm," a smile covered Juliette's oblong face. She had  dark sunglasses over her auburn hair.

"But mom doesn't want me to. Can you... convince her that I can manage."

Juliette laughed out loudly. "You know your mom and I don't always get along but I will see what I can do."

"Thanks aunt."

"Does it still hurts?" She reached out to touch the sides of Maxime's head. "Do you feel pain?"

"A little," he breathed.

"If you still feel pain, how are you going to manage?"

"I will - No one can replace Ms Philippe."

"I understand," she rubbed his back and smoothened the collar of his blue overalls. "You miss her just like you missed Alberte. I do understand."

Maxime nodded slightly. He took a deep breath of relief. Talking to his aunt was a little therapeutic. At least there was someone on his side who understood him. But she won't be here always to watch or guide him.

"I'm a little hungry. Is Henrietta in the house."

"Yes."

Juliette stood up. "Are you going to stay here alone? Let's go in together."

"I will find my way in,"

Maxime felt her scent dissipate in the air as she walked towards the front door.

I will find my way in. That sounded absurd. How are you going to do that? Maxime wondered. His sense of direction was still distorted. He knew the front door was to his left, but the whole place felt flat.

The remaining chamomile tea was cold by now. He patted the table and grabbed the ceramic cup. He tipped upside down and the remaining contents spilled on the table and dripped to the floor.

He knew so well to be careful. Ever since he got blind, he had become more sensitive than usual. He had his doubts and yearned for a form of truth as for the cause of the accident last year.

No one talked about it. No one cared to investigate. They just celebrated a quick ceremony for father, and confined him to bed.

If his hunches are true, then the plan was to get rid of him too.

Why would aunt Juliette come asking for the new nurse?

Maxime easily read meaning into simple words. He just hoped things wouldn't be late for him, like it did for his dad and Rochelle.

He extricated himself from the bench and table, picked his walking cane and slowly moved away.