Austin left and headed straight to the Maison Bijou in Chinatown. An evening with Monique would set the world right.
The bordello’s foyer was unattended when he arrived. So, Austin raced up the stairs as quietly as he could.
Without as much as a knock on the door, he entered Monique’s fourth-floor suite. This was an impolite practice he’d started some time ago. If the door was locked, she was entertaining a client. If it was unlocked, the rush of his entry was delightfully met with a squeal of naughtiness, as if he’d just seized his own personal heaven on earth.
He scanned the room, only to find Monique missing. Her poodle, Peaches, whined with excitement at the possibility of being released from her confining, even if plush, kennel in the corner of the room. Austin noted how the shiny gold duvet was neatly covering the bed. Though the room was bathed in the glow of moonlight, there were no burning candles to shimmer in the many mirrors scattered around the room.
He thought about how much less interesting and intriguing the room was without her there. He took Peaches out of her cage, petted her head, gently pulled her cotton-ball-like tail and put her back in her kennel.
Austin wandered down several flights of stairs. On the first floor, he headed toward the reception area to ask Madam Bijou about Monique, trying hard not to hear what was unavoidable in the hallway of a whorehouse. The audible expressions of passion and pleasure only heightened his need to find Monique.
With a kiss on an outstretched and welcoming right hand, Austin asked, “Madam, where might I find Monique on this very fine evening?”
“Mon cheri, she is out running an errand, as her engagement had a change of heart at the last moment. C’est la vie!”
“Well, that poor sap’s ‘change of heart’ will be my good fortune, when Monique returns, that is.”
He eyed Madam Bijou from head-to-toe and then toe-to-head. She must have been quite the complete package in her day, he mused.
“Is there something I can do for you?” she asked, giving him a head-to-toe and toe-to-head glance in return. The motion of her eyes stopped on the way back up on a bulge in the front of his pants, but off to the side in an unusual position. Austin followed her stare. To solve the mystery, he reached in and pulled out the wad of money he always carried.
“People tell me that I carry too much cash. But I like it, and it’s impressive. Don’t you agree?”
“Oh, yes,” she said and smiled. “Very impressive!”
Austin returned the smile, winked and went back to Monique’s room to wait for her to return. Once there, he lit a few candles and sprayed cologne from the gold-toned glass atomizer on her vanity. The room glowed in a golden way and smelled of vanilla and essence of rose.
***
It wasn’t long before Monique returned with several wrapped boxes. Slightly out of breath from climbing the numerous flights of stairs to get to the top floor of the building, she paused at the door and then entered.
“Well, hello,” announced Austin. “I thought something bad might have happened.”
“Don’t worry,” replied Monique. “With you around, it will!”
“Let me help you with those.”
“What a nice surprise to see you. Do you have any other surprises for me tonight?”
He put the packages down on the table and pulled her close with an abrupt sense of urgency. “I don’t know. But I bet if we put our heads together, we can come up with a surprise or two. You know me!”
“Yes, I do know you and somehow I still like you! In fact, I like you quite a lot.” She pulled away and took a few steps. “Stop toying with me.”
“But I’m a child and I like toys. I especially like your toys,” added Austin.
“So, how long are you planning to be here?” she asked.
“I’m all yours…for the whole night.”
“Isn’t that something I should say to you?”
“Either way, I don’t want to be home. I’d rather be here with you.”
Monique nodded. “I guess that’s good enough for this girl. My night is your night. Say, did you feel the earthquake? Everyone around town is talking about the Earth Dragon moving.”
“I don’t know about any Earth Dragon moving, but do you want to see my dragon move? Wait. Don’t answer that question. I know you do!”
He stood there and stripped away his clothes like unpeeling a banana. Liberated shirt buttons flew in all directions. Monique watched his magician-like performance until he was completely naked and a pool of clothes swirled around his feet. She took measured steps toward him to slow down his pace.
“Whoa, we have all night!” Her comment was pointless. He was ready to go. The warm, flickering candlelight revealed his “dragon” twitching and dancing erratically. For added effect, he raised his arms and made his biceps flex to an unheard drum beat. For his average size, he was more muscular than many man—especially businessmen and the city’s non-laboring elite.
“Well, I can see there’s no stopping you now!”
“No. But I’m not one to rush, am I?”
Before Monique could respond, Austin pulled her close. He cupped the back of her head and swung her down as if they’d just finished dancing the tango.
He kissed her right cheek. He caressed and kissed her left check. Austin brushed the runaway hair from her forehead and kissed there too.
He’s good. Maybe he’s the one for me. A kiss on the lips, someday, a kiss…on…the…lips. Her thoughts became fractured as he kissed her neck and expertly removed each piece of her clothing and pooled them with his nearby.
Monique glanced in one of her room’s mirrors. Now that’s a beautiful sight, she thought referring to the firm slope of his derriere. She watched how the candlelight illuminated and shaded the hallowed, smooth indentations on each side of his buttocks.
He continued to kiss her neck while he turned her around, kissing each bit of flesh on her neck as she rotated. She knew he craved her. And she craved him. Her need was overpowering like a vampire needs blood.
He kept guiding her to spin slowly. Again she peered into one of the looking glasses and witnessed Austin caressing her breasts. One...blessed…nipple…at…a…time. He rubbed and nudged their firmness. His soft fingertips traveled down to her waist as she continued to turn. His fingertip circled her navel and wandered slowly downward. His fingers swirled in curves and circles. It was as if he was elaborately frosting a cake. And how I do love icing on my cake!
Monique sensed that Austin could contain himself no more. He guided her back to the gold duvet that covered the bed. Though she was moving backward, Monique knew that their lovemaking was only going forward at this point. Most times, Austin used his body to worship her like a goddess. A goddess, yes, worship me like goddess!
However, like a starving man entering a banquet hall, Austin soon engorged himself until he was satisfied…and, as fate would have it, so was she.
Her contentment was clear by the tension escaping her naked body and the slowing pace of her racing heart. Austin sprawled on his back next to her. She could hear his breathing calming down.
“We’ll live happily ever after, you and me,” said Austin contently. He wiped the sweaty sheen from his forehead.
“Austin, people like us don’t get happily ever afters. We’re lucky to get an ‘ever after.’”
“I’m fine with that. So long as we’re together.”
Hmmmm, I like the way “together” sounds. I could get used that!
Chapter 48
Stardust
Tuesday, April 17, 1906, 10:06 p.m.
One day before the earthquake and firestorm
At last, some cool air and a chance to sit down, thought Blossom. She’d worked extra hard to close and clean up the restaurant in order to get her father and Grand Ma Maw off to bed. She was not about to miss the first possible chance to slip away to talk “things” over with Brock. She sat in the alley with her tattered sketchbook, drawing the flower pots on the shadowy window s
ill across the way. She often drew to calm herself and pass the time when time needed to pass quickly, even if the light was as low as it was in the alley.
The sound of heavy feet and the silhouette of an approaching man distracted her. As the figure entered a more well-lit section of the alley, Blossom saw Butch’s face. That’s all I need right now!
Down the alley in the other direction, Brock arrived in his carriage. “Blossom, I’m over here,” Brock announced discretely to get Blossom’s attention.
She realized that Butch was getting too close to ignore or pretend not to notice. “Butch, I hope you’re having a good evening. Bye now.”
She took off toward the carriage before Butch could get close to her. She thought she heard the word “mine” and she turned around to check. But Butch was standing there, silent as always. “Mine, gwai lo, she’s mine,” Blossom thought she heard, but did not turn back this time. Gwai lo? A white person? A ‘ghost person’…is that what he said?
Brock began to properly greet her and help her into the carriage, but she helped herself and climbed into the rig in one swift move. She put her sketchbook on her lap and her purse on the seat. “At least I don’t have Monique’s blasted skirt to trip over this time! Let’s go.”
She looked down at her silky pale blue jacket and billowy pants, and her flat black shoes.
“I like what you’re wearing. Do you?”
“I suppose. But Brock, all of my clothes look like this, and I guess they always will.”
“Well that suits me!”
Blossom swiveled on the seat and stared straight into Brock’s eyes. “Wait. Before we go, are you saying goodbye? Tell me. I can take it. But I won’t be able to bear it if you drag it out. Just say it now if you’re going to. Go ahead.”
The horses lurched forward as Butch came in their direction.
“No, not to you,” Brock said to the horses with a tug of the reins.
They smiled at each other as Brock leaned forward to kiss her, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she looked in Butch’s direction and said, “Let’s go, really…let’s go.”
Brock gave the horses the signal to go, and they did. The conversation, however, did not move forward. Silence prevailed as Blossom considered what to say next and how to say it.
***
Once they got to the outskirts of Chinatown, Blossom broke her silence. “Why do I have the feeling that I’m going to remember this night for the rest of my life? Will it be a good memory or a bad one? Come on, tell me.”
Brock stopped the horses by a glowing street lamp. He reached into the back of the carriage and pulled forward a large, white hatbox tied shut with an immense pink bow.
“Whether it’s good or bad, that’s up to you, Blossom.”
“Fair enough.”
“This is for you. It’s my turn to give you a gift,” said Brock with an ever-widening smile. “I hope you like it. I remembered something you told me, and I wanted to make that wish come true.”
He didn’t say goodbye. That’s a start. Blossom felt more at ease. In fact, she was stunned and at ease at the same time. She’d never received such a lavish package, especially with that kind of thoughtful sentiment.
“May I open it now?”
“If you want to.”
Want to? Of course I want to. But, it’s so beautiful. Maybe I should wait. No. She placed her sketch book on the carriage’s seat next to her handbag. Gingerly, she coaxed the ribbon’s knot free, which released a single long-stemmed red rose. Setting the rose to her side, she lifted the lid and pulled back the white and pink polka-dotted tissue paper that protected and concealed the box’s contents.
“Oh!” Blossom forced from her tightened throat. “It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!”
She lifted out a cream-colored hat embellished with an array of beads, pearls, lace, ribbons and elegant ostrich feathers. Also in the box was a hat pin in the shape of a pine cone that was encrusted with faceted black stones and clear crystals. Even in the nighttime light it shimmered. The hat’s wide brim sloped down in the front, which would naturally draw everyone’s attention right to her eyes.
“Brock, it’s breathtaking, it’s truly breathtaking. I don’t think I can breathe!”
“I remembered what you said the other day when you described the woman you’d seen wearing a hat with feathers on it. But what I really remembered was how you described it. I could tell you wanted one badly.”
“Thank you. I love it! Brock, you can’t possibly know how much I love it.” She smiled with every part of her face.
“I think I can see how much,” he replied as he signaled to the horses to move. “The rose is for your next flower arrangement, but you better not tell Grand Ma Maw where you got it or who you got it from.”
Blossom beamed.
They sat close: shoulder to shoulder, arm to arm, leg to leg. It was a seamless matching that was reinforced as she gracefully laid her left hand on his right thigh. It helped to steady her as the carriage jostled the pair on the way up to the stables. That was one benefit of their contact. The other benefit was simple: it felt good, even reassuring to Blossom. With both of Brock’s hands on the reins, she couldn’t hold them during the ride.
“Can we just vanish? I never knew I could feel like this. I don’t know if I can go on not feeling like this.”
“I’m guessing you want to start our conversation before we even reach Twin Peaks?” Brock responded.
“You guessed correctly,” said Blossom as she patted his right thigh.
“Where do we start?” he asked as he checked the road ahead and then her face.
“Where do we end?” she added.
The last question killed the conversation. Brock ultimately got his way, and the pair rode in silence the rest of the way to Twin Peaks.
***
After the carriage stopped on the hilltop, Brock helped Blossom down onto the hard-packed dirt near the horse barn. He lit one of the hand-held kerosene lamps and grabbed a large folded blanket.
Gubbs peered around the corner to make sure all was well, this being his place of work as well as his residence. Seeing a familiar face, he motioned to Brock to come over to him. He took Brock around the building’s corner, leaving Blossom standing alone for the moment.
“I got one last piece of advice fer yuh. Then I’ll be as quiet as tha prairie just before a tornado. Pork Chop, yuh can’t ride two horses with only one ass. Yuh need to make yer choice and be done with it.”
His crass assessment of Brock’s situation was all too true. The time had come.
“You’re right. Tonight’s the night. That’s why we’re here.” Brock thought, I just wish I knew exactly how this is going to turn out!
“Well, right now there’s a woman standin’ around the corner who I ’spect won’t be makin’ cookies in Chinatown no more.” With a wink of his eye and a pat on Brock’s back, Gubbs disappeared into the dark stable.
***
Brock returned to Blossom. “Let’s go down on the hillside.” He took her to the same spot where they’d spent time together before. It felt entirely different at night for Blossom. The hazy, fog-veiled view of the city lights and the moon on the bay were magical, even with the awkward situation. It was difficult to see where the earth ended and the heavens began. But as Blossom’s gaze went upward, above the haze she discovered a glistening tapestry of stars. Heaven on earth, that’s what this is, she thought.
Brock spread out the blanket, smoothing one crumpled corner. He placed the lantern at the back edge of the blanket closest to the tree. As the couple sat down, the light flooded behind them, creating a flickering amber glow on everything close to the blanket.
Blossom put her hand on Brock’s hand, her fingers intertwined with his.
“You’re trembling,” she said with a note of concern.
“I’ll be alright.” He exhaled and deeply inhaled, then leaned toward her. He began to form a word with his lips, but closed his mouth in what appeare
d to Blossom as frustration. His lips parted again and his words flowed. “Blossom, it seems like my life began the day we met. I have feelings when I’m with you that I’ve never had before. You make everything seem brighter and more interesting. You don’t take anything for granted. That’s how I want to be. And, when I’m with you, I am.”
Whoa, did I just hear that right?
He went on. “I know what’s expected of me on Nob Hill. That was all fine until I met you. Now, everything’s changed.”
Brock stopped and then swallowed purposefully as if to set the stage for what he was about to say.
“I love you, Blossom. There, I’ve said it. Now you know.”
Blossom looked into his eyes. “I know. I already knew. My heart beats for you…it’s beating very fast right now!”
Oh my ancestors, help me…help me to say this without it coming out a babbling mess!
She continued, “What we do with our love is up to us now. Grand Ma Maw says there’s always enough love to go around. Do you love me enough to share your life with me?”
“Yes,” he said and kissed her on the lips. “Yes,” and he kissed her more firmly. “Yes,” and he kissed her a third time.
Blossom’s heart beat even faster. It didn’t go unnoticed that he said “yes” once, twice and then three times. Surely that was a sign of good fortune.
“From now on, any step I take away from you will be a step in the wrong direction. I’ll end it with Clarissa tomorrow morning. I’m not sure how, but I will. I’m going to break a heart to follow mine…to you.” Brock paused and sighed. “Nothing will come between you and me again.”
He chose me! He…chose…me!
“What are you thinking about?”
“That you made your choice, and it was me.”
Brock replied, “Loving you is not a choice.”
She looked up at him, slowly this time. She gazed at an ecstasy that had been out of reach, until now.
“Don’t talk,” she said, turning the tables on Brock. “Just sit there.” She slowly looked down to the ground and closed her eyes. “Okay, I’ve got it!” she said to indicate that she’d captured the vision of him. She opened her eyes slowly and grinned somewhat timidly.
Blossom (The Blossom Trilogy Book 1) Page 23