The Wine-Dark Sea by A. J. Llewellyn

Author:A. J. Llewellyn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.
Published: 2013-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

A new sweetness overtook Francois. It was an almost miraculous transformation. He became engrossed in Daniel’s writing, wanting to take more of Daniel’s off-the-beaten-path tours with him. He even made a couple of wild suggestions, which Daniel was willing to try.

Francois had heard about a restaurant in the Montmartre called Refuge des Fondus, which served inexpensive fondue. They also served wine in baby bottles. Francois thought this was hilarious until they arrived at the door and watched the tourists jammed at one long table guzzling wine out of them.

“Alors,” he said. “I can’t bring myself to walk in here, even for the sake of research.”

“Alors,” Daniel mimicked. “Neither can I.”

With his deadline looming, Daniel was pleased when Francois suggested he keep his computer and work materials set up on the living room table.

“It really is the best light,” he insisted. “And I know you love to write here.”

Francois took to preparing lunch as Daniel wrote. He watched Daniel send his book and photo zip file via email to his publisher.

“That just seems so wrong,” Francois said. “I saw the movie…what was it called? The one where Kathleen Turner plays a writer…”

“Romancing the Stone.”

“Oui! Oui! And she takes her book in a huge box with a rubber band to her publisher’s office.”

Daniel laughed. “Those days are long gone, baby. Everything except my contracts is done online now. Even my edits.”

“That’s so sad.” Francois looked desolate. “No more romance.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Daniel drew his lover toward him. “I have plenty of romance. I have a hot French lover.”

Francois laughed. “How do you want to celebrate?”

“In bed with you, some brie and some strawberries.”

“I take back what I said. You, mon amant, are full of romance.”

Daniel was surprised when Francois began to insist on accompanying him on the simplest of errands.

“I am so afraid you will find a guy who has perfect hands and a smooth face,” Francois said one morning.

It shocked Daniel. It never occurred to him to look elsewhere because his lover wasn’t, in his mind, perfect.

He could hold a knife without too much pain. He could open and close doors. Daniel realized Francois did everything except the thing he loved most…paint. His hands were healing nicely and a physical therapist suggested gloves only for when he was in the hot sun, but still he refused to pick up a paintbrush.

“Why don’t you try something small?” Daniel suggested.

“I’m not a little painter. I am a big painter,” Francois huffed.

He wasn’t any kind of painter. On a shopping expedition one morning, while Francois studied some street art, Daniel found a box of edible body paints at a street stall. He bought them, quickly stashing them with the fruit and vegetables in a string bag.

They gave him a wild idea and he plotted how to execute it.

When Carys and a few other friends planned to drop by to visit the following morning—the only time Francois would accept company—Daniel slipped out on the pretext of needing fresh milk and sugar. He went to the local art supply store, Melodies Graphiques in the Saint Gervais district.

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