Skinner: Bouquet

by Atonia

Part 3

Connie packed and repacked her bag for the last time while her smiling sister sat cross-legged on her bed.

“I wish it was me going.”

“I’m almost wishing it was you too, Penny; I don’t know what I’m getting myself into with Max.”

“Anything with Max would be wonderful, Connie and a whole week with him in London, it sounds so romantic.”

“That’s what I’m worried about, there really hasn’t been any romance between us. We spent one day touring around on his bike and lunch in Gordes.”

“I guess you’ll know him pretty well when you return, and if there isn’t any romance by then you can turn him over to me.”

Connie gave her sister a look and hoisted her bag off the bed.

Max patted down his pockets, passport, keys, wallet, and carried his bag to the car. He wasn’t taking much as he had a closet full of clothes at his flat.

“Hello, Penny,” Max greeted as he put Connie’s bag in the boot of his car.

“Hi Max, now if Connie doesn’t like London send her home and I’ll come stay with you.” She grinned.

“I’ll remember that,” He glanced at Connie and opened the car door for her. He had to wait; Aubrey came through the narrow opening with a wide smile on his face.

“Have a good time,” he hugged Connie. “Max, have a good trip.” A wink for Max.

“Thanks I’m sure we will.” Once he got Connie tucked in the car he hurried around to the other side and got in and buckled up before the staff and field workers could make their way to the courtyard. He hadn’t expected a send off and felt a little embarrassed.

“Sorry about that,” Connie said as he backed and turned around out onto the drive.

“No problem, I hope you’re not going to be disappointed after all that well wishing.”

“I don’t think I will be.” She said quickly and looked out of the passenger window.

“I had no idea you’d come,” He said stopping at the crossroads before continuing on. “I was so afraid to ask you, I must have sounded a bumbling idiot.”

“No you didn’t, but I was surprised; we don’t even know each other that well.”

“But you came anyway.”

“Yes…because I want to get to know you, Max.”

He let that sink in deep down to his bones and wondered how that was going to happen. If he told her all she would think he was deranged. “I want to get to know you too, we have a week away to see what we can accomplish.” He reached over and squeezed her hand on the car seat.

Once at the Marigane airport, Max turned his car in at the rental desk. No need to pay rental on a car sitting in a car park for a week.

They arrived in London around four o’clock and the warm sun they’d left in Luberon was nowhere to be found; it was gray damp and cold in October. “Typical London,” Max said as they exited the taxi in front of his building. “Not the best time of year to come.”

“Why did you come?” she asked as they entered the elevator.

“I need to move some money.” He smiled and picked up their bags carrying them to his door. The flat smelled fresh and clean, evidence Bert had followed through.

Connie entered the flat and noticed immediately that it held his scent; she thought she must find out what it was he wore because he always smelled good.

“This is it, I’ll uh put the bags in the bedroom.”  He only had one bedroom that was functional; the other held a loveseat and a desk with his computer equipment.

“It’s very different from the old chateau. I like it though.”

“Do you, I always thought it cold.” He walked over to his kitchen area and put a kettle on, “I could do with a cup of tea, does that sound good to you?”

“Yes, it does. I don’t think it’s cold, it’s just…unlived in.”

“That’s true,” he pulled out a white porcelain teapot and two cups. “I’ve had it for about six years now, but I spent all my time working; this was mostly a place to sleep and change clothes.” He checked the fridge for milk and poured some in a creamer.

“Why did you quit, working I mean.”

“Um I guess I was just burnt out, and when the opportunity came to change my lifestyle I took it.” He carried a black lacquered tray to the coffee table.

“Thank you, Max, and cookies too?”

“Biscuits Connie, you’ve lived here.” He smiled while she poured out the tea.

“Yes I did for five years. In Camden, I think I told you.”

“You were married then?”

“Yes I was, I was married for eight years.”

“What happened, or do you not want to talk about it?”

“We just grew apart, he was at home here I wasn’t, I never felt at home amongst his friends. I think if he’d been a different kind of person I would have made more of an effort. All that’s over now I don’t look back.”

“Neither do I.” Max sipped his tea, he couldn’t look back there was only forward for him.

“It must have been hard for you to leave your friends here.”

“Not hard at all, and look, I’m already making friends in Provence.”

“I would think it easy for you to make friends you’re very personable.”

Max had never thought of himself as anything in particular, especially since he’d come out into reality. His character had been closely defined prior to that. Something in him wanted to tell her who he really was and how he’d come to be. He didn’t like the way he had to skirt around things in conversation with her but he reasoned he couldn’t do tha;t at least not yet. He smiled, “What I want is to get personable with you,” he moved over to the sofa where she was sitting.

“Oh you do?”

“Um hm, and I thought I’d start with,”

“Oh, that’s a good start Max.”

TBC

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