“Look at us, arguing like an old married couple.” Brant smiled to lighten the moment, then got up and started fixing breakfast for the both of them. “If María was here she’d be so proud. Maybe we can give her a good argument when she gets back from the village.”
“Will you tell me about the night we got married?”
“Sure.” Brant cracked an egg into the hot skillet. “It was a magical night. We chose to get married in the little stone chapel that was built when Father Delgado first came. The sun was setting and shone through the stained-glass window as we exchanged our vows, and it wasn’t till death do us part. It was forever.”
“Sounds beautiful.”
“It was. María was a blubbery mess, and even Arturo was teary. You wore a white lace knee-length dress. Your hair was down around your shoulders, with a flower behind your ear. María made you a bouquet from a large assortment of blossoms from the garden. There were even tiny pink chrysanthemums in it.” Brant smoothed down her hair as Chrissie laid her head on his shoulder, watching him cook.
“Keep going.”
“After we said ‘I do,’ we took the Audi to Caracas to stay in a fancy hotel. Our room was the penthouse on the top floor. You were impressed that we had our own pool and hot tub in our suite. You ran from room to room exploring, your face all lit up with excitement. You told me that the fanciest hotel you ever stayed in was the Best Western in California when you went to Disneyland with your parents. I sat on the bed watching and enjoying your enthusiasm. You came running into the room and jumped onto the bed. You tried to get me to jump with you, but I told you no—I would break it.”
“Then what happened?” Chrissie asked. She wasn’t crying any more, since Brant’s story was captivating her.
“I can’t tell you without trying to recreate it.” Brant laughed.
“Oh.” Chrissie blushed. “That’s the part I wish I remembered the most. I kind of feel like I’m recreating the Bible story of a certain virgin.” She smirked.
Brant put two plates of fried eggs and toast on the table in front of them. “I left the next morning to order some breakfast from my favorite bakery on the corner by the hotel. I came back, and the rest is history. My life fell apart right there.” He paused for a second and then asked, “What happened to you since you left?”
“It seems like ages ago. I only remember waking up in the Dallas hospital, but my mom said I was in and out of it since she came to get me in Caracas. I don’t remember Arturo being at the hospital. I do remember all the puzzled doctors and specialists trying to nail down a prognosis. I felt terrible.” Chrissie shuddered. “The fevers and headaches were constant until I came here. My mom and dad did their best to care for me, but I think it was hard on them. Heck, it was hard on me. Here I was, back living with my parents because I couldn’t care for myself. After living out on my own for a few years, it was more humbling than I expected. I enjoy independence.”
Chrissie ate in contemplative silence. She cleared the table and took all the dishes to the sink to wash them. Sometimes she preferred washing dishes by hand. It gave her time to think. The warm, sudsy water felt good on her hands. Brant came to help her dry the dishes and put them away.
“What are you thinking about, Brant?” Chrissie drained the sink and rinsed down the last of the suds.
Brant leaned against the sink and folded his arms across his chest. “I have a billion things running through my mind at once.” He pulled Chrissie over and gathered her into a bear hug.
“Well, start with one and go down the list,” Chrissie whispered.
“For one thing, in all my years, I have never found someone I love as deeply as I do you. I’m scared that you’ll choose to leave me in the end. Then on top of that, I’m happy that we’re expecting. They’re sort of conflicting feelings.”
“You’re happy?” Chrissie asked hopefully.
“Yes.” Brant’s solid affirmation echoed through the kitchen. “But I’m afraid you would take this baby with you if you decided to leave, taking everything that’s important to me with you … my family.”
“Make me want to stay,” Chrissie whispered.
Brant released her only to grab her face and pull her tightly to him in a deep, passionate kiss. The heat that pulsed between them rippled down to her soul. Brant slid his hands down her neck and kept continuing on down her back. He kissed her like he was hungry for her.
Chrissie began knocking down the walls in her head to let him in. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she grabbed his back, clinging to every second with him. A memory flashed across her mind of herself in a figure-hugging white lace dress, and she was smiling at her reflection in the mirror. She gasped, and Brant took the cue to push the heat farther. His hands slid up the back of her tank, sending shivers down her spine and hips.
“I remember me in the dress,” Chrissie said breathlessly between kisses.
“You do? That’s nice,” he said as he trailed his kisses down her neck. But then he released her as quickly as he had attacked. “What am I doing?” He took two steps sideways and sat down on the counter, raking his fingers through his hair to calm down. “You said you remembered.”
“That was amazing.” Chrissie stood there, dazed. “I might enjoy independence, but I enjoy a good make-out even more.” She smoothed down her messy hair.
“What do you remember, sweetheart?”
She shook the cloud from her head. “I remember me in a white dress. I had a large yellow blossom behind my ear." Her face brightened. “I never did like the idea of a big fancy wedding. I thought if I were ever to get married, I would elope.” Chrissie cringed. “I hope you asked me, and not the other way around.”
“No, I begged you to marry me.” Brant stood up, excited. “That was what you looked like when we got married.” He smiled. “Maybe we should do more snogging to retrieve some more memories. It’s been quite a while since I had a good snog.”
“I can’t even remember the last time that I … uh … snogged.” Chrissie liked the insinuation of making out. “We don’t have time to do much … Dr. Wilson will be here this morning.”
“Such a busy day you’ve had already.” Brant winked. “Come on—let’s go get cleaned up and dressed before Dr. Wilson gets here.” Brant helped Chrissie to her feet.
“Together?” The horror on Chrissie’s face made Brant nearly fall over laughing.
“I can tell by that expression that’s not what you want,” he said between chuckles. “I meant separately, in our own rooms.”
“Thanks, Brant.” Chrissie put her hand up to his cheek. “You’re so patient with me.” She stood on her tiptoes and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
“It’s my pleasure. But promise you won’t go speeding off with me on the hood of my car again.”
Chrissie punched him on the shoulder.
“Ow!” Brant rubbed his shoulder as he left the kitchen with a grin on his face. “I’m going to be sore tomorrow.”
“Blame it on the irrational hormones.” Chrissie smiled shyly.
Chapter 20
Dr. Wilson, with the aid of Arturo and Brant, carried an ultrasound machine across the threshold of the mansion. Chrissie stood in wonder as she watched. She followed them all the way up the stairs and into Brant’s room.
“Hey! This isn’t my room,” Chrissie protested.
“Your room is too small to hold all the medical equipment in it.” Brant’s breathing didn’t show the exertion of lifting half the machine up the stairs. Only Dr. Wilson was panting heavily, with sweat dripping from his brow.
“All the medical equipment?” Chrissie stared down Brant.
“Brant just bought all the medical equipment for deliveries found in the finest hospitals and is having it sent here.” Dr. Wilson looked like he was trying to hold back a smile.
“I’m a nervous first-time dad.” Brant shrugged as he plugged the ultrasound machine in next to the bed. “Besides, we’re an hour and a half away from the nearest hospital. I want t
o be prepared, just in case.”
Chrissie rolled her eyes.
Dr. Wilson unpacked supplies from a large cardboard box. “Okay, I think we’re just about ready here.”
Arturo and Brant started for the door.
“Earth to Brant! Where do you think you are going?” Chrissie sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for Brant to turn around.
“I wasn’t sure you wanted me to be here.” Brant shrugged.
“Of course I do. We are married. I want you to share in this experience too.” Chrissie lay down on the bed.
Arturo left, closing the door behind him, and Brant went and knelt at Chrissie’s side. She lifted up her shirt, exposing her stomach, and pushed down the waistband of her skirt. Dr. Wilson squirted cold blue jelly onto her stomach and began typing into the machine to get it started. He put the probe on Chrissie’s midsection and slid it around, looking for a nice picture of the fetus.
Brant held Chrissie’s hand and waited.
“We know that Chrissie has been very ill and may have ingested poison. I want you to be prepared just in case things are not as they should be.” Dr. Wilson’s serious tone made Chrissie’s heartbeat quicken.
“I’ve thought of the same things myself, Dr. Wilson. I want to know so I can adjust accordingly.” Chrissie looked into Dr. Wilson’s eyes with every ounce of courage she could muster.
Dr. Wilson moved the probe around Chrissie’s belly. “This baby is a squirrely little thing. Just when I get it into the picture, it moves.”
Brant’s eyes moved up to the screen just as the profile of the baby’s face appeared. His eyes lit up as he watched the picture change to reveal a complete spine and a heart beating.
“Heartbeat sounds good and strong. Everything looks perfect so far. Judging by the measurements I’ve taken, you’re about twenty weeks.”
“Halfway there.” Chrissie beamed at Brant.
“Would you like to know what you are having?” Dr. Wilson asked.
“Yes,” Brant and Chrissie unanimously answered.
“A girl.” Dr. Wilson typed BABY GIRL on the ultrasound screen.
Brant kissed Chrissie’s cheek. “I’m so excited to meet her,” he whispered in her ear. “I hope she’s just like her mama.”
* * *
María and Arturo stared at all the black-and-white photos from the ultrasound.
“We are going to be abuelos, Arturo!” María exclaimed.
“Sí, María, this is a very happy occasion.” Arturo slapped Brant on the back in congratulations.
“We need to start shopping enseguida.” María held out her hand insisting on a credit card.
“Well, don’t let me stop you.” Brant pulled his wallet from his back pocket and produced a black bankcard. “You girls shop until you drop.”
“Do you realize what you’ve done?” Chrissie stared in amazement. “You’ve unleashed María on the retail world. I’m not sure they’re ready for her.”
“I know exactly what I’ve done. I’m spoiling you.” Brant winked.
“You shouldn’t do that. I can pay for it.” Chrissie argued.
“You deserve everything. It makes me happy to do it.” Brant bent down and placed a soft kiss on Chrissie’s cheek. “You’re giving me more than I could ever dream of. I’m in your debt.”
* * *
If curiosity killed the cat, Chrissie was going to be dead meat. She was bored and lonely. Brant had to take one last shipment into Caracas, and Arturo and María were down in the village, leaving Chrissie to entertain herself. She found Brant’s room unlocked and she began to snoop. She justified it by the fact that he knew so much about her, and she knew very little about him.
He kept his room very tidy, or perhaps María kept his room very tidy, down to the drawers with perfectly folded clothes stacked in them. In his nightstand top drawer, she found a gun, a journal, and a photo album. She opened the photo album first, finding pictures of the two of them hiking, helping Arturo and María at their stand, one of her at the clinic in her scrubs, and her favorite, a lone wedding photo. Why hadn’t Brant shown these photos to her before? This might have helped her remember the lost six months.
She tried to justify reading the journal, thinking that somehow, it would help her recover her lost memories. The red leather journal had the number fifty-three stamped in it with gold leafing. This was probably one journal in many Brant kept, judging by the number. Chrissie opened to the first page.
I met a woman named Valencia in Caracas today. She seemed nice enough. She was overly flirtatious, which might sound like a bad thing, but I’m so lonely these days. María keeps after me to find a woman and settle down.
“Keep on looking, buddy,” Chrissie mumbled as she turned a couple of pages and scanned down farther. Most of the entries had to do with the garden and work. She found Valencia’s name again.
I’ve seen Valencia twice this week for dinner. She insists that we be exclusive. She wanted to go shopping today and ended up spending $5,000. She didn’t even blink an eye at the amount. It seemed like small change to her. She told me she would thank me later. I have the feeling she might be a real slapper.
“Wow.” The thought occurred to Chrissie that in all his hundred-plus years, there were bound to be a few women. Jealousy started to bubble up in her stomach. Something about him dating Valencia bothered her even more than him dating anyone else.
Dr. Wilson is having success studying water crystals from the fountain. He says the crystals are very intricate under the microscope, the mineral content is excellent, and it’s perfectly pure. I’m still bringing him a few large bottles of water weekly to use on the villagers. I saw a new nurse at the clinic today. She’s from the States. I noticed she was very pretty. She seems to have a happy disposition, unlike the other nurse from New Jersey. I think I might fancy her. Maybe Arturo can find out more about her.
Chrissie checked the date—March twenty-fifth. That had been her first week at the clinic. She turned a few pages.
I broke things off with Valencia. I found her in the lap of another man. I think she thinks he is richer. I highly doubt it.
“Ha! Gold digger,” Chrissie snickered. She turned one page over, completely engrossed in Brant’s journal.
Valencia actually drove from Caracas to the village today and tried to smooth things over. She said the man was just a business acquaintance of her father’s. She was trying to give good P.R.
“So that’s what they call it these days? Where I’m from, it’s called cheating.” Chrissie smiled to herself. She flipped a couple of months through the journal.
This has been my seventy-fifth carnival and this one was the best by far. I had the most amazing experience. I saw the blonde nurse walking down the street in the village. I watched her for about an hour. I eventually asked Arturo what he thought of her. He told me Chrissie is her name, and she stops by his produce stand every morning on her way to the clinic. He and María have taken a liking to her. That is a very good sign.
I finally got the courage to ask her to dance in the street. She was delightful as we danced. I think I could’ve stayed there all night with her. Although she did have a very jaded view of romance, I’m sure I can change her mind. I went home a very happy man, determined to see her again.
“Aw, he’s so cute.” She hugged the book to her chest.
Today, Valencia had the gall to tell me she would forget the whole breaking-up incident for one little trinket. The embarrassing part of the whole situation was that she confronted me at the clinic. She looked at the people there in the waiting room like they were disgusting, and it made my blood boil even more. I hold a great affection for the villagers. They are under my care. I escorted her to her car. Valencia told me she would make sure her father would cancel his business with me. It doesn’t scare me the least bit. The loss of his business won’t affect me much. Good riddance.
Chrissie heard a door shut downstairs. She briefly left her reading spot to investigate the sound. A
rturo came in, whistling while he watered the plants in the plaza. Chrissie returned to her spot on the bed and lay down. She could smell Brant’s cologne on his pillow. She inhaled his scent and continued to read.
I waited for Chrissie outside the clinic today. I wanted to see if I could take her to dinner. She said she lost her appetite with her last patient, but I could walk her home. I walked her to her door, and we stood there and talked for three hours. It only seemed like three minutes. I discovered she got out of a relationship a little over six months ago. Her boyfriend cheated on her. If I could catch that creep, I would make him regret it. I tried to read between the lines in our conversation. I know that’s dangerous territory and brings up a lot of assuming. But from what I gather, she wasn’t giving him the physical attention he wanted. What happened to being gentlemen and protecting a lady’s virtue? My mother taught me that much in my short time with her. Chrissie agreed to go out with me next week.
“Let’s get to the good stuff. What about our first kiss?” Chrissie flipped through the pages, scanning for the word “kiss.” She finally found what she was looking for. “Ah-ha!”
I dropped Chrissie off at her apartment this evening. She seemed a little nervous about being walked to the door. So I said good night and turned around, but before she walked inside, I called her name. She turned around, and that’s when I took my chance and stole my kiss. I must say that the sparks did fly once she relaxed. Chrissie is a wicked good kisser. I’ve been waiting for my chance to kiss her for nearly a fortnight! She looked quite dazed afterwards.
“Oh, how I wish I remembered that! I guess I got a second chance at a first kiss with Brant, though.”
It has been very difficult to keep my passions for Chrissie under control. The gentleman in me is fighting with the natural man most days. We went hiking to the large waterfall on the other side of the village. I fancied her cute little shorts the whole way. She doesn’t even know how adorable she is.
Chrissie read through every page after that. Their romance seemed to pick up momentum very quickly. Every word he wrote rang true, but she had no recollection of it.
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