My German Lover, Part 20, chapter 2

"THE CRISIS"

***

"... I can't believe your mother wrote you a letter like that...", Will said, stunned...

The letter said they had received Paul's letter, in which he was explaining to his parents he was gay and in love with Will, a German officer but not a Nazi...

In her reply, his mother said she was devastated; that, as a devout Catholic, she could no longer recognize him as her son; that he was living in sins; that he was depraved...

She went on, saying homosexuality was condemned by the Bible and by the Pope, and that she was ashamed to have given birth to a pervert!

She further wrote that he was a traitor, not only to his religion, but to France as well, being "in love" with a German officer...

Last, she wrote that, not only was she breaking all relations with her son, but that she had forbidden Paul's sister and brother to come into contact with him! Period!

Will read the letter for a second time...

Obviously, Paul's mum had carefully chosen each word so to hurt her son in what he loved the most: His contry, his love for Will and his ties to his family...

Will raised his eyes and looked at Paul, who was silently crying...

"... I... I don't know what to say, Paul... all I know is that I love you... and whatever she says, I know we're not depraved, nor are we perverts..."

"... She's my mother, Will! My own mother, for God's sake!"

"(...)"

"... I don't know, Will... I don't know what to think, really: I don't"

For the first time, it stroke Will that they were right in the middle of a big crisis... He suddenly realized his happiness was seriously threaten, and there was absolutely nothing he could do to chase the clouds away: The storm was right there, right over their heads... and he didn't know how to navigate through it...

After a long moment of silence, Will said:

"...Do you want me to leave? (...) I could move to an army camp..."

"...Not over my dead body! You're not going anywhere...", Paul shouted out, with tears in his eyes...

Will remained silent. Tears were running down his cheeks. He was totally lost!

After another long moment of silence, Paul said:

"... May I ask you something, Will?"

"Huh?"

"... Would you mind if I'd took a few days, and go to Bagatelle... alone... you know... to sort things out a bit?"

Hearing that, Will started to cry like a baby! He felt he was losing Paul... He felt helpless... All he knew was he couldn't live without Paul! Now, Paul was about to leave...

"...Hey! Don't get me wrong...", Paul said, seeing Will was desperate... " ...Just a few days: That's all I ask!"

"... But... I don't want you to leave...", Will said, sobbing like a child...

"... I must go, Will! I need some time all by myself..."

"... I love you, Paul! That's all I can say! I love you!!!"

"So do I...", Paul answered, with a very sad smile on his face...

The morning after, Paul was gone...

Will told Lutz and Franz about the message from New-York... and the fact that Paul had left. He felt sick, and had difficulty breathing...

"Did you know about that message?", Lutz asked Franz...

"Yes. We received it at the Embassy, and since it was coded, I had to decipher it...", Franz sadly answered.

"And you didn't tell me about it?", Lutz asked...

"I'm sorry Lutz... It was private, and I was under strict orders to give it to Paul, and to no one else, and to keep my mouth shut!"

"(...)"

"Now, he's all alone at Bagatelle... and I don't even know when I'll see him again...", Will sadly said...

"Don't worry Will: Paul is a strong guy... He's stronger than any of us here... and I know he loves you... Give him time...", Lutz said, giving Will a big hug...

"Lutz is right, Will!", Franz added... "Paul is my best friend, and he never failed me... I know he will be back to you, cause he loves you!"

"...Sure!", Lutz said... "But this mother of his is a real bitch, if you want to know what I think! She doesn't deserve to have a son like Paul! I hope she will rot in hell one day!"

"...Oh, I'm sure she will", Franz said... "And she will be in good company there, since her Pope will be rotting there, along with her!"

"...I'm not a Catholic... so I don't give a damn about that Pope...", Will said, grinning....

"...At least, it makes you smile, thinking he will be rotting in hell...", Lutz answered, laughing...

"Yeah!", Will replied, laughing...

"It's good to see you laugh...", Franz said. "And like the british like to say: If you're going through a storm, pull your hat over your eyes, and charge into it..."

"They have been doing that pretty well, for the last two years, haven't they?", Will said...

"Yup! And they are still there, fighting against all odds...", Franz answered, grinning...

"I'll do that!", Will said. "Anyway, what else can I do?"

_______________________________

AT BAGATELLE, A FEW DAYS LATER:
_______________________________

"Monsieur de Brion", the governess said to Paul... "Monsieur le Curé est arrivé..." (The Vicar has just arrived...).

"Oh yes... Thanks! Please, show him in...", Paul answered.

"Ah monsieur Paul: Comment allez-vous? Heureux de vous revoir... et merci pour l'invitation à souper...", the Vicar said, with a big smile on his face (Ah, how are you? I'm glad to see you again... and thanks for inviting me for supper...)

"My pleasure...", Paul said... "Please, do sit down... May I offer you an aperitif?"

"Oh, ... would you still have some of the Grand Marnier your Grandmother used to have?", the Vicar asked, with a crooked smile on his face...

Paul bursted out laughing, and said:

"...But of course, Father! I just didn't think a man of the cloth like you would be drinking Grand Marnier..."

"Oh? But why not? It's not because I'm a priest that it means I'm not living in the same world as you..."

"...Yes... I suppose so..."

A bit later, and as they were savouring their aperitif, Paul said:

"...Father... I have something here... that I would like you to read..."

"But of course... What is it?"

"It's a letter I've recently received from my mother in New-York!"

"Oh?"

"... Please: Read it!"

As the Vicar was reading the letter, Paul kept staring at him, to see any sign on his face... any trace of... disgust! He didn't see anything like that on the Vicar's face, to his relief...