I smiled at the memory from my old life. “It’s a nice dream Sophie.”
“Hmmm, yes. It is. You know what else is a nice dream? Those two hot guys from the club last night. I mean it Nina, you should come with me and Chantal next time, we’ll...”
Ding, Ding, Ding.
The little bell over my studio front door signaled someone had walked into the shop. I turned to Sophie and said, “Can you get that please?” I looked down to my arms filled with tubes of paint, “My hands are full.” Sophie spun on her feet and charged out to the front of the shop to see if she could assist the customer, who was probably a tourist. I knew one of the ferries was scheduled to dock early that day.
With Sophie not filling my mind with her constant chatter, I couldn’t help but drift back to thoughts on love. I tried to keep myself as busy as possible with work and James on the island so I wouldn’t be thinking about something I couldn’t have, but sometimes I couldn’t help it. He still managed to find a way into my mind like his presence was all around me. And it wasn’t the memory of Josh, or the idea of Samuel that still bubbled in my heart, but the guy who I had to let go over and over again. I don’t know how many times events in Morewell, New York and London played out in my head about would could have been. How Delia’s story from the Princess Bride invaded my dreams. How the color of the sea reminded me of those eyes I met at a party once, in front of a painting, and made me believe that instant true love could exist. And I wasn’t naive, and it wasn’t all in my head. It had been a brief time in my life, but it had been real. And somewhere in the future, or maybe even in my next life, it might be real again.
I was thankful for Sophie’s presence back in the storeroom because it stopped my mind from wandering further. She reappeared with an annoyed look on her face. “So...it’s not a tourist, but some guy who has just moved to the island. He’s working in marketing or accounts or something boring like that for one of the resorts and he is looking to decorate his house. He said he is very interested in your canvas pieces and wants to talk to the artist and not the shop girl. I told this guy, who looks like a Ken doll I might add, that I know everything about the artist and can answer any questions he might have, but he insists on speaking to you. I think you have another real fan of your work Nina. Not that I blame the guy.”
I was putting away cans of paint powder, and rolls of string. “That’s fine Sophie. I’m happy to talk to him. Let him know I’ll be out in a moment.”
“Okay, I’ll tell him you are on your way...” She turned but swung around trying to get my attention again.
“Yes?” I asked her.
“Well he did ask me one weird question which I thought was really strange.”
“What was that?”
“He asked me if the artist paints on the canvas naked. I mean what kind of freak would ask such a strange question? I just looked at him like he was fucking crazy. You don’t paint naked. What would give him such an idea? It’s absurd, it’s — Nina what’s wrong?”
I had dropped the contents in my arms onto the ground, floored at what was coming out of Sophie’s mouth. I had ignored the jolt I had earlier from somewhere deep within me, but I felt it now. The pull. His presence.
I bolted from the storeroom down to the front of the shop, slowing to a stop as I reached the front counter. As I moved closer, I could see his back. He was turned and slightly hunched over and was clutching the small photo of James I kept near the cash register. I watched him as I neared, moving as if I was floating on a cloud. He was holding the frame tightly as he studied his face. I couldn’t help but visualize the words ‘as you wish’ and the image of Westley in my head.
I came up behind him, not sure how to begin or what to say. Were words enough for this moment? Perhaps I should say nothing at all. The impact of silence and seeing each other again would be enough. Was it enough?
I inched closer, able to smell his cologne which had that earthy manly smell. He was in black slacks and a long-sleeved pale blue business shirt. I was so close I could reach out and touch his shoulder, but I held off, not entirely confident that my touch would be welcomed. I wasn’t even sure he’d be happy to see me.
Seconds passed, then minutes, and I still had not been able to say or do anything. If this was some kind of dream, I didn’t want to wake up. I even closed my eyes, hoping I could contain the moment as long as I could.
Then, as if he knew I was there all along, he spoke. “He is beautiful.” The sound of his voice filled me with relief, sadness, happiness and something else; guilt.
I walked around and stood in front of him, seeing those eyes again for the first time in a year.
‘Brown eyes meeting blue’ —That would have been the name of our story if someone had written one.
“He looks like his Dad,” I said softly, speaking slowly, taking in his whole face. “Especially his eyes.”
I closed my eyes for a second and then opened them to his crystal blue ones, staring into me, reaching into my soul, and bringing out something I had long believed would never be real for me again. There was no fear in his eyes, no hesitation, no regret. His being here looked like it was all he wanted and all he needed. He even looked stronger than before, like he had prepared for this moment every day since the day I left in that car. He stepped forward, without even asking if he could get close, and ran his finger along my jaw, slipping it into my hair. His touch instantly filled me with a sense of comfort from the pain of the loss of love in my life. I felt two things in his touch. Joy to see him here in front of me, and guilt for feeling that joy. I didn’t know what to do with the inner conflict of emotion.
“But how...” I spoke.
“Your Dad,” he said.
“But why...?” I asked.
“For love,” he said. He moved closer. “My life has been nothing without you in it. I’ve been empty without you. Just...incomplete.” He whispered into my ear now. “You knew I would come. You knew it the day you left.” I closed my eyes as he cupped my cheek, relishing in the swirling of senses inside my heart. I did hope, but I never assumed. He whispered some more. “I would have come sooner, but I needed to tie up loose ends, make sure it was safe, get your father’s permission and...give you time.”
Did I deserve this? Did I deserve one of the greatest loves in my life to give up his world for me?
“You moved here? But your work, your family…Why? Why would you leave that life behind?”
“Don’t feel guilty Norah. I see your heart constricting. You think you don’t deserve this, but you do. You really do. You’ve lost your mother, your life with your father and friends, and you lost Josh. Don’t deny yourself this just because you don’t believe it should be yours. He would want this for you. He would be happy for you.”
I swallowed, wanting to give in, wanting nothing more than to believe that what he was saying was true. That I would have Josh’s blessing to move on, to have this love. But I wasn’t sure. I still felt uncertain that I could accept this. I couldn’t believe that I might get everything I’d always wanted. That I could get a happily ever after.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for this,” I said. “I don’t know if I can ever move on. If I can accept it. If I’m strong enough.”
He nodded, like he knew it would not have been this simple but still looking confident and sure all the same. “Then I’ll wait for you. Right here on this island until you are ready. I’m not going anywhere, so we have all the time in the world.”
This wasn’t happening.
It couldn’t be happening.
How on earth was this happening?
I looked up into his eyes that were filled with so much love that it appeared like it was never going to change. Like it was the most certain thing in the world.
“But why?” I breathed, moving closer, wanting to hug him and be in his embrace, just so I could feel his arms around me. To feel his certainty. As if he could read my thoughts, he pulled me close to him, wrapping me up in his arms, holding on
like both our lives had been on a path to this one moment in time. Was it always going to lead to this? From the very beginning? He brought his mouth to my ear, his lips lightly kissing the skin behind my ear and near my hairline. I shivered at how much I loved the sensation of his lips back on my skin. He rested his forehead on mine and with the words he said next, I knew it was true. It was our beginning of our future.
“Because I told you once that you were my forever moment Norah...and forever moments...last forever.”
***
My first love had brown eyes,
My soul mate had green,
And the man I will spend the rest of my life with,
has blue.
Click.
“Hey.”
Click, click.
“That camera is for honeymoon snapshots.”
Clint was laying on our king-sized bed, while I was staring out of our balcony window, taking in the night-time beauty of the Rome cityscape.
“I just want some more photos of my gorgeous wife in her wedding dress. Just pretend I’m not here.”
Click, click.
“That’s kind of hard when I can feel your eyes on my back and can hear the camera snapping away.” I moved closer to the window, the sound of my dress shifting with me. It was clingy and beaded in such a way that the design work on my dress made the shapes created by the beadwork look three-dimensional. It was like an architectural drawing. The shape of the dress was simple, straight up and down with tiny beaded capped sleeves, but it was the beadwork running down my dress that made it look artistic and modern. It was perfect for me. Perfect for my wedding with Clint which took place in Rome, at the Borghese Gardens at the top of the Spanish steps. It was a very simple ceremony, just how we wanted. My father even made an appearance to give me away. He didn’t want to miss this opportunity, especially since he missed the birth of his grandson. He did however, go to very elaborate means to cover his tracks when he came here, but since we were in his homeland, keeping his movements secret, was easy.
I looked over my shoulder and at Clint, seated upright on the bed still looking through the lens as I stood near the window. “Clint, put the camera down. Don’t you have more important things to do right now...like making love to your wife?”
He lowered the camera so I could see his face. Clint had grown even more handsome as the years went on. The features in his face were more chiseled than before, and his clear blue eyes seemed filled with more love, lust and appreciation. Every time Clint looked at me, it felt like the first time. Some love never stops feeling that way, like the first moment you met. That fresh, exciting feeling that never dulls no matter how much time passes.
“I love it when you call me by my real name, but no, I won’t be giving up the camera yet.”
“Oh really,” I said, a little challenge in my voice. His eyes stalked me like a predator watching his prey. He could tell I was about to try and change his mind, but before I could say something that would most certainly get him to come ravish me, Clint lifted the camera once more.
“As much as that dress is perfection on your body Norah, it would look much better coming off.”
I bit my lip, knowing his intent now. “So, you want to watch me undress?”
“Correction. I want to take pictures of you, while I watch you undress.”
I glanced over my shoulder, throwing him a flirty smile. “Do you really think you can stay all the way over there while I’m taking off my clothes? I mean, I was hoping you would have me over your shoulders by now...Or on my back...Or on all fours.”
Clint’s eyes widened, his mouth opening, the camera dropping down from his eyes, just a little. He sucked in some air and then moved the lens up again, very slowly. “Norah, you are finally my wife. You are no longer the girl that got away. I’m trying to savor this moment...” He lowered his face back behind the lens. “With pictures.” Click, click. He swallowed, seeming unsure that he could hold out. I chuckled lightly and turned back to the window.
“Have it your way...husband,” I began undressing by reaching behind my back, unzipping my dress down a few inches. The beaded capped sleeves fell down my arms. My bare shoulders and part of my back became exposed.
Click, click.
“Do you want a little more?” I asked him, unzipping even further. “Like this?”
More of my bare back came into his view. “Yes Norah. Exactly like that.”
I pulled the zipper down to the end so the top half of the dress fell down to my waist and then it moved so it was just hanging off my hips. I heard Clint shift on the bed.
“You’ve got nothing...”
I cut him off. “Nothing on underneath. That’s right.”
Click, click, click, click.
I bit my lip even harder, looking back at him as I bent over and slowly pulling the dress over my hips so it fell to the floor. I turned my face back around, about to stand up, when I felt his hands on me. They were on each side of my hips while I was still bent over. I grinned, victorious. I loved how quickly and with such need I could make Clint want me.
“What? No more pictures Clint?” I asked the floor, still bent over with Clint grinding up behind me.
“No, I’ve waited over on that bed long enough. I can’t wait any longer to have my wife.” He spread my legs, rubbing one of his hands down and then up the inside of my thighs. “Norah, do you think you’ll be able to be quiet? You know James and Elaine are in the room just down the hall.”
“Clint, I’m sure our little four year old is fast asleep by now. Elaine too.”
Clint gave me a look which suggested that neither the distance or them being asleep could be barriers against hearing me get vocal in the throes of passion. I sighed, amused. “Fine, I will take it down a few decibels. But first, please tell me how I’m supposed to do that when my husband is giving me earth shattering orgasms. I think you’ll have to put your fingers in my mouth to gag me because I can’t promise you I won’t scream and completely lose it while you are fucking me hard.”
Clint’s nails dug into my hips. His mouth dropping open. He tried to speak, but a moan escaped his lips instead. Then he licked his lips. His voice deep and primal. “Forget what I just said Norah. Just. Be. You.” He paused, taking another breath. “Because there is nothing better.”
Our wedding night was the perfect combination of hot and sexy bedroom antics to extremely slow and romantic periods of lovemaking. It had been over three years since Clint left his old world and his old life for me. Three years of re-connecting, falling even deeper in love and growing as a couple. It was also three years before we felt it was safe enough to travel, and finally become husband and wife.
The following day, we decided to do the ‘touristy’ thing and take James to the Trevi Fountain, leaving Elaine at our boutique hotel. We wanted to spend time together as a family. I had to hand it to Clint, he took on the role as a father with gusto. He connected with James instantly when he had moved to the island, becoming involved in his care and upbringing and helping me make decisions. It often surprised me how easily he adapted to the role, but I knew his love for me soon spilled over to James, and very quickly they bonded like father and son.
We intended to tell James the story of his real father when he was old enough to understand, but for now, we were a happy little family unit, living a carefree secret life. Nina Riley and Colton White were just regular newlyweds on holiday with their son in Rome. There was nothing suspicious to look at. Nothing to question or wonder about. The years gone by had made us a little more relaxed in our surroundings and endeavors. We were so used to our new identities now, that our old ones felt like they were separated in a different world. Although, Clint and I had no problem incorporating our old life with our new one in the bedroom.
The Trevi Fountain was bigger than I expected. It was ten times the size of a regular fountain, far greater than the fountains I remembered seeing at the Weston estate. The place was packed with tourists throwing coins over their s
houlders which was supposed to bring luck. One coin to return to Rome, two for a new romance and three for marriage. I decided we would each throw in four, just for whatever the superstition may have had in store next. Clint helped James throw four coins over his shoulder and then we followed doing the same. Afterwards we all leant in to look at the fountain, just enjoying its beauty.
“It’s pretty mummy,” James said holding my hand. Clint came and stood behind me, his arms around my waist. He began kissing my neck sweetly, but soon getting a little rough. The sensation made me want to head back to our hotel room immediately. Clint then rested his head on my shoulder, leaning his mouth near my ear.
“So, Mrs. White. You keen to have another?”
“Why Mr. White, whatever do you mean?”
One of Clint’s arms came out from around my waist and rested his hand on James’s head, lightly rubbing at his wavy chestnut hair with affection. I smiled warmly at Clint, understanding what he was asking. I turned and kissed his cheek. “We can start trying tonight if you like?”
Clint didn’t need to answer, he captured my mouth with his and passionately showed me just how pleased he was at my response. It was all so wonderful. Almost too perfect. The feeling of kissing my husband like this with the Trevi Fountain as the backdrop. Nothing could bring down this moment. Nothing could take it away.
“Where’s James?” Clint asked, quickly breaking my spell. When I kissed him, I must have let go of James’s hand. My heart sank, realizing that in a split second, he had wandered off.
“I let go of his hand. Oh my God...”
Clint took hold of mine trying to settle the panic he heard in my voice. “It’s okay. We’ll find him. Don’t panic yet.” Our eyes began searching the crowd around where we were standing. James was wearing a little green collared T-shirt and khaki utility pants and a bright blue cap. My eyes scanned the crowd over and over again, looking for the bright green and blue.
All The Pieces (Pieces of Lies 3) Page 23