Well then, you certainly took your time to go get bread, did you get lost?
…
Marc, are you okay?
Uh…
What's wrong? Did something happen?
… I witnessed an accident, right next to the bakery. And now I'm actually realizing it.
Damn, an accident! But what happened?
A car knocked over a cyclist… so… well… the firefighters arrived, there were people everywhere.
And you saw everything?
Yes, well, no… I heard the car brake. It all happened really fast. He was taken to the hospital, apparently nothing serious.
Ah, well that's already a relief, otherwise I'd be running into him at work tomorrow! But it really shook you up anyway…
Yes… it's nothing, it'll pass.
Alright then, come eat if you can.
*********
Two days later.
Are you okay today? Did you manage to sleep?
Yes, I'm okay.
It's still surprising that this whole thing shook you up so much, especially if you say the guy seemed fine when he left.
Yes… can we talk about something else? It's breakfast.
Sorry, but I'm worried, that's all. You're here for a week, you're leaving again tomorrow, and you've been literally absent for three days now, so it bothers me that you haven't really been able to enjoy your week.
Cathy, come sit down please.
Okay.
I need to tell you something before I leave.
Okay, but I'm going to work, so I can't stay very long.
Cathy… I lied to you.
Huh?
I lied to you, there was never any accident.
What do you mean? What is this story? Why would you make up something so creepy?
… So I wouldn't have to talk to you about something else… just as creepy, unfortunately.
What are you talking about? Are you sick? Did you get some bad news?
Yes… in a way. I'm not sick, at least, so don't worry about that.
Okay, so it's bad news.
… Actually… Bertille was waiting downstairs when I came back from the bakery the other day.
What? Bertille? Her again? What is this madness? Why was she waiting for you? And how does she know where we live? You're scaring me.
…
Marc, talk to me please!
She was waiting… she wanted to talk to me.
And what could she possibly have had to tell you that was so important after years without seeing each other?
She claims that Jules is my son.
Jules?
The little boy who was with her at the restaurant.
What kind of story is this? She's completely crazy, that woman. Right?
…
Marc? That's not possible, is it?
…
Marc, answer me please. It's impossible, right?
I don't know.
What do you mean you don't know? It's not possible—you must know whether you slept with her or not!
It's possible, yes.
Possible? It's possible that you slept with her? But you're not sure?
That's it. I don't remember… but she described things that are true, so now I'm not sure about anything anymore.
Wow, this is unbelievable. My boyfriend doesn't know anymore whether he slept with a woman or not. Do you realize what that means?
Yes… that potentially I'm a dad.
No! That she's screwing with you, above all!
Cathy, listen… what she's saying is possible.
Oh really? Well so is this, you know! She sleeps with you, discovers she's pregnant, says nothing, and three years later, boom, she remembers that maybe she should tell you? Isn't that a bit much?
I don't know, I don't know anymore. For three days I've been turning everything over in my head, trying to remember, I can't sleep, I don't understand how it's possible.
… But it is possible…
Yes. It's possible.
No, no, no, Marc. No!
I'm sorry, sweetheart. I can't tell you anything else.
Oh yeah, that's it? A woman tells you her son is yours and you do nothing? You accept it?
What do you want me to do? Would you want a guy who doesn't take responsibility? What would I be in your eyes?
Well right now, you're a guy who's doing nothing, and it's pathetic! At every stage of our life, am I going to have to face your exes? How many more like this do you have? Is this a test or what?
Cat', what are you talking about?
Do you want me to refresh your memory? We get together: bam, Victoire reappears. "Oh, I didn't tell you, I slept with her." Oh right, no, you'd forgotten, it seems. We pick ourselves back up. We start a life together and bam, Bertille. "Oh, I didn't tell you, we have a son together." What's next?
Fuck, Victoire! Are you going to throw that back in my face forever?
Marc, I can't live like this. This is too much. I'm sorry, you can't ask me to take this on. I won't be able to.
What are you implying?
I'm not implying anything, Marc. But I'm 23, I'm starting a life as a couple… I don't want to live it as three people. Even less with another woman's child. And maybe even another man's!
Why would she lie to me?
To find a better father than the kid's biological one, probably.
So you'd leave me?
Yes.
And how would you manage to find an apartment?
What?
If we're together, anyway, it's just for the apartment. It's not to build something, right? Or am I wrong?
That's disgusting, what you're saying!
Maybe. But not completely untrue either. Admit it.
I'm willing to admit that I wasn't necessarily in favor of us living together right away, but I still agreed to try because I love you.
But you never invested yourself in our life here.
Are you kidding? You were away in training for months, and I'm the one who didn't invest myself? And the problem isn't me: it's you who has a child! Don't change the subject!
It's the same thing. You would have found any excuse to ruin our relationship. And this time… I'm serving it to you on a silver platter.