The Lyon Affair: A French Resistance novel by Ellie Midwood

Author:Ellie Midwood [Midwood, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-10-23T07:00:00+00:00

14

A lazy afternoon filled with transparent air and the tunes of singing cicadas rolled around them, as they lay on the blanket with a picnic basket beside them. The cotton candy of a single cloud floated delicately in the sky, glowing with a gentle radiance.

“An odd view we make, don’t you think? A Catholic priest, a Jew and her daughter on a picnic.” Augustine grinned sleepily, lulled by the golden specks of sunlight warming her face through the thick growth of a wide tree, and the red wine from the church that they drank in abundance.

Father Yves observed her relaxed state, the first time he had seen her in such a way since they met. The pain was all but gone from her eyes, her melancholic expression replaced with serenity and, if not oblivion, then acceptance. That would do for now.

“Lili needed it.” He refilled his glass, a long-forgotten feeling of a slight buzz and pleasant numbness overcoming him. He’d refused to return to his old ways as soon as he donned his black robe for the first time. He didn’t deserve the bliss of forgetfulness that a drunken stupor always brought, just like back in his army days. No; he would have to relive the horrors haunting his memory day after day, sober and clear-headed. That would be his penance.

But today was special. Today he deserved a little peace for all those years of constant inner torment. He didn’t know why; he had woken up with a feeling that a rock had finally been lifted off his chest, and all because of her. She had come into his life and brought peace, something for which he’d been striving to achieve for far too long, eventually losing all hope that it was possible.

“She can’t sit confined to four walls, learning prayers day after day,” Father Yves continued, watching the girl run around the field chasing a butterfly, or a dragonfly, carefree and blithe, just as it should be.

Augustine sighed blissfully, resting on her elbows and following her daughter with her eyes.

“Thank you for taking us out, Father.” She beamed at him, glancing up and shading her face with one hand.

He met her eyes and drowned in their depth, suddenly forgetting that he was still wearing his church robes. Today, with the wine bottle in his hand and her by his side, the thought of it was ridiculous. He wasn’t a priest; he was a former soldier who had lied when he walked into the seminary for the first time. They lay so close to each other that he could easily lean towards her wine-stained lips and kiss them greedily, like he had kissed so many women before, during the war too, before picking up his rifle and setting on his way to claim more lives.

He turned away quickly. She cleared her throat, shifting away from him ever so slightly as if sensing the vulnerability of their common situation.

“Do you think I should tell Lili?” Augustine asked quietly. “About her father.”

“I think you should.

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