Chapter 12: Tunisia

The drive wasn't too long. I hadn't asked Marcel where we were going I just simply went along with it. We reached a town and pulled up at a very fancy house, Marcel buzzed the gate and it opened. Once inside a man exits the house, smartly dressed, tall and blond, id say roughly in his late 30's. "Marcel!" He shouts across the court yard and opens his arms out wide, Marcel exits the car and embraced the man in a big hug. "It's been a while, thank you for helping an old man out" Marcel announces. "You are very welcome, I owe you one too many favos, this is the least I can do. And who pray tell is this beautiful woman accompanying you?" The man says as his eyes gaze towards my direction, "this is Flo, she has become a very close friend of mine" says Marcel holding his hand out for me to take. The man takes my other hand and kisses it tenderly with his eyes still looking up at me "she is also a very close friend to Carlo" Marcel points out with a slight smirk, "ahh I see, my apologies, well it is so very nice to meet you. A friend of marcels is a friend of mine so please do not hesitate to ask for whatever you may need. My name is Franco" The man informs as he bows with his hand across his chest. "It's nice to meet you Franco, you have quite the beautiful residence" I say while my eyes flit around taking in the glorious sandstone building, floral vines drape the walls, "ah yes, she is a beauty is she not." Franco utters.

"I'm sorry to interrupt and sound rude but we won't be staying long, I understand you have your plane set for us with a pilot?" Marcel prompts as he places a hand on Francos shoulder, "of course, follow me. I will have someone grab your belongings and load them into the plane." Franco walks off as we follow behind, we cross the court yard and go round the back of the house where a pool is laid out, many flower beds and and what looks to be a maze, we walk a little further to where the land is plain and flat with only grass, small plane is Parked up at the base of a long runway, Francos property and land is huge, tall trees line the outskirts blocking the view of any intruders or passers.

"It was a short meeting but im sure we will see one another again sometime." Franco directs at me holding my hand out and clasping in with the both of his, he then turns to Marcel where he gives him another tight hug "be safe will you." Franco mutters, "and you, I expect you already have a plan moving forward on where to go?" Marcels prompts "of course, you just worry about yourself" says franco laughing.

We board the plane and the turbines start, Franco yells out "I have a car waiting for you over there. Don't worry it's a classic, just your style!"

2 hours later and we arrive in Tunisia.

The plane stops in a landing, dry sandy ground but with surprisingly more greenery than I'd expected. The town below us bustling with noise.

"Now I know you don't haft to cover your face here but they would prefer a more modest approach with their clothing, so we won't be prancing around in those revealing red dresses for a while I'm afraid" Marcel tells me as we walk off the plane and towards a very smart car.

"He really knows your style!" I say raising an eyebrow to Marcel, "indeed he does, he's outdone himself this time, Jaguar E-type, not very practical considering the lack of luggage space but at least we will be travelling in style" I laugh at his remark but it's true, we will have to be packing more light, however there will always be a saved spot in the trunk of any car for my vase.

we drive further into town, the buildings a mix of blues, whites and sandy beige colours, some small and some tall.

people stare at us as we drive past, probably due to the very snazzy car. Marcel drives with his head held high obviously liking the attention.

we get to a hotel and wash up. "we will be staying in Tunisia for two days then we head south" Marcel informs. we sit down and put the tv on, changing channels till we hit the news, both of us on the edges of our seats in anticipation of what has happened in Italy since our departure.

Rome is still safe for now, surrounding town on the other hand have had a bit of damage, 10,000 deaths already recorded in the space of 5 hours with many people missing. "what about Carlos?" I ask looking at Marcel for an answer, "he is fine, he sent me his location as we got off the plane, he is currently on route to his mother in his hometown, they have been instructed to evacuate so Carlo will help get his mother over to a safe zone" Marcel tells me, "and then?" I push, "and then..." Marcel stops mid sentence his hands clasped together and his gaze directed at his feet, "and then he will be instructed to fight in the war and help his country" Marcels words piece me like a dagger, I open my mouth to speak but nothing come out, the sound of my struggled sobs echo in the still room, finally I am able to catch my breath and get some words out "you told me he would be meeting us here!" I cry out, "I'm sorry Flo, I had to lie in order for you to come with me, you would not have come otherwise and Italy is not safe now."

I'm unable to reply, I just walk into the bathroom and lock the door. I don't know for how long I was in there but eventually my tears run out. my check just aches, the unknow of what will happen to Carlos and the possibility of never seeing him again burns me like a hot iron leaving a life long mark. Now I understand why him and Marcel were talking so much in Italian back then, they didn't want me knowing what was going to happen.

Marcel knocks on the door and I reluctantly open it, when I see him standing there I just flop into his arms as he holds me there and stokes my head. "lets just see what happens, but for now my priority is you"

I feel a bit angry towards Marcel but at the same time I understand why he did it. There is no point in stressing over the matter now when we're oceans apart. All I can do now is hope for the best and pray Carlos makes it out alive for me to someday see him again.