Flight Before Dawn

You chose the wrong man, Victoire. Took your eyes off the target, Victoire. Why’d you do it? Why’d you let us down? Haven’t we sacrificed everything for you? You trusted the wrong man. Now we’re in jeopardy. All of us. All of us.

Her thoughts overwhelmed her. She had to know.

She set down her knife and looked intently at Leal. Her fork joined the knife in its resting position. She stared into his eyes, searching fervently for the truth.

“I can wait no longer to say this.”

Leal noticed the concerned expression on Rainier’s face. “She’s going to confront him now,” he thought. He knew this would be difficult for her and he determined to offer his support.

“It has come to my attention that I have been lied to.”

“I am so very sorry,” Leal spoke to her in a supportive gesture.

“You admit it?” She asked it with a whirling tide of hot and cold competing in her stomach.

“I am sorry, Victoire, that it is true.” Rainier offered his support this time, believing that Leal had just made a confession.

“I wanted to tell you sooner,” Leal spoke now.

“Then, why didn’t you?” He was surprised that she sounded angrier with him than with Rainier.

“I didn’t want you to be hurt.”

He said it so innocently, that it only enraged her more.

“Do you have no remorse?” she asked incredulously. Leal’s face blurred in confusion, as if he had walked onto a set mid-performance and been given the wrong set of lines.

“How could you pretend with me? How could you make a mockery of my kindness, my trust?”