Set In Stone
Page 22
Mom looked pleased. “See? Nothing to worry about.” I doubted anything I could say would change Mom’s view of him. In her eyes, he was walking perfection. Mine, too.
Noel was waiting by the entrance of the club as we pulled up to the valet. The heat of the day lingered in the early evening air, engulfing us as we stepped out of the car. I was anxious to get inside and back into air conditioning. Noel walked toward me, a small bouquet of white orchids in his hands.
He greeted my parents, shaking my dad’s reluctant hand. For my mom, he pulled a single orchid from the bouquet and handed it to her.
“You look lovely,” he told her.
He held the flowers out to me. “Happy birthday,” he said. He leaned closer and whispered, “You are what dreams are made of, Valerie.”
I took the flowers and brought them to my nose, inhaling their sweet scent as I tried to steady my rapidly beating heart. He looked breathtakingly handsome in his tailored black suit and brilliant white shirt. His dark hair was brushed slightly off his forehead tonight, his blue eyes dark and appreciative as he gazed at me.
“Well, we’re here to eat,” Dad said, breaking the silence. “Let’s eat.”
I worried Dad’s gruff mood would dampen the evening but, with a glass of wine and Noel’s smooth conversation, his grumpiness lifted. I watched Noel as he worked his magic with my parents: the way he innocently flirted with my mother, showering her with compliments, and the way he spoke earnestly to my father, asking questions, seeking his opinion on different things. He included me in the conversation, occasionally touching his hand to mine or speaking only to me, but I knew this was a performance for my parents. He was flawless.
We finished dinner and our waiter brought out a miniature chocolate birthday cake, complete with one lit candle. Thankfully, no one sang Happy Birthday.
“Happy sweet sixteen, sweetheart,” Dad said. “Make a wish.”
I looked at the tiny cake in front of me and at the faces surrounding me. I closed my eyes for a moment and concentrated hard, willing this particular magic to manifest and be real. I wish Noel would stay forever. I slowly expelled my breath and blew out the candle.
“What did you wish for?” Mom asked.
Before I could think of a suitable response, Dad handed me a tiny wrapped box. “Hopefully something that’s about the size of this,” he said with a laugh.
I took it, puzzled. Necklaces and earrings were Mom’s vice. I tore the paper off carefully, trying to compose a convincingly satisfied look as I took off the lid and lifted the tissue. Nestled inside was a key. A car key. My surprise and happiness were genuine.
“I know it’s a little premature,” Dad said. “You still need to do your driver’s ed. But we wanted you to know this will be waiting for you.” He pulled something out of the inside pocket of his suit and handed it to me. It was a picture of a red convertible BMW.
“This is mine?” I asked incredulously.
Mom laughed. “Claire isn’t the only one who’s been shopping for cars lately.”
I got up from the table and threw my arms around Dad. My hug for Mom was a little more reserved but it was a hug nonetheless. The waiter returned with three more pieces of cake and three steaming mugs of coffee. He set these down and returned with a snifter of brandy for Dad.
“We thought you could take driver’s ed this summer.” Dad ate a forkful of cake. “If you start now, we should have you in your new car by the time school starts in the fall.”
Mom ignored her slice. “You could start next week, after finals.”
I ate my cake slowly, nodding at the appropriate times. The thought of summer and next fall served as a bitter reminder of who wouldn’t be there with me when I took that shiny red car out for the first time. The boy sitting next to me.
Noel took a sip of coffee. “It’s a great car,” he said. “You’re going to love it.”
I said nothing, instead choosing to concentrate on chewing the bite of cake in my mouth. He watched me, a look of concern on his face.
“I was hoping it would be alright if I took Valerie out after dinner,” he said, changing the subject.
“Where to?” Dad asked. He’d finished his dessert and swirled his snifter, concentrating on the burgundy liquid inside.
“I have a gift for her, sir. It’s a surprise.”
He raised his eyebrows and looked at Noel. “Why didn’t you bring it here? To dinner?”
“It’s not something I could wrap, sir.” He leaned close to my dad and whispered something in his ear and my dad nodded his approval.
Dad straightened. “All right. You two go.” He looked at Noel. “I want her home by midnight.”
Noel nodded. “Yes, sir.” He turned to me and took my hand, an angelic smile on his face. “Are you ready?”
I nodded, trying to quell the nervousness I suddenly felt. I picked up my bouquet and, after saying a quick goodbye to my parents, we left the dining room. Other club members slowed and stared as they walked by us on their way into the dining room.
“They’re not just looking at me, you know,” he said softly. “You are a vision tonight.”
I caught my reflection in the large gilded mirror hanging in the formal sitting room of the club house. With surprise, I realized he was right. I did look beautiful, I thought.
We’d almost reached the door when Geoff walked in with his dad. They were both sweaty and disheveled, dressed in gym shorts and t-shirts.
“Val.” He stopped. “Wow. You look amazing.”
I blushed. “Thanks.” Had it really been almost a month since I’d seen or talked to him? We hadn’t spoken since our silent ride home from Fanchon’s house. He’d texted and emailed me a few times and I’d shot off quick, one-sentence responses.
Mr. D grinned a hello. “I’m gonna hit the showers. Hurry up—I’m hungry.”
Geoff nodded at his dad and turned his attention back to us. He glared at Noel. “So. You’re still here.” He did nothing to hide his displeasure.
Noel grinned. “Still here.” He curved his arm possessively around my shoulder.
Geoff ignored him. “Are you doing OK? You know…” He nodded his head in Noel’s direction.
“I’m fine,” I assured him. “Perfect.”
He crossed his arms across his chest. “When will he be leaving?”
I didn’t have an answer. I gave Geoff a pleading look, wishing he would lay off. The showdown was reminiscent of David and Goliath, with Geoff as the frumpy underdog, his sweat-dampened hair plastered to his head, showcasing his prominent ears, and Noel shining in his sleek black suit, a shimmering star in all of his godly glory.
“Soon enough.” Noel answered the question for me, his voice laced with amusement and annoyance. He’d had enough. “Come on, let’s go.” He guided me to the door.
“Bye,” I called over my shoulder.
Geoff watched me go, an indescribable look on his face. “Be safe, Valerie.”
Chapter 48
“Where are we going?” I asked.
We were in Noel’s car, cruising down the GW Parkway, away from the country club, heading further away from the city and my house. I lifted my hair off my shoulders, trying to cool myself. Noel responded right on cue and adjusted the temperature so the air blew cold.
He hadn’t answered my question so I asked again.
“My house.”
Butterflies danced in my stomach. I swallowed convulsively as they tickled their way up my throat.
He turned off the parkway and on to a softly-lit side street. Another turn, another street and he pulled into the driveway of a brick-front Colonial-style home. It was set back from the road, away from the other, equally impressive homes that lined the street. A large oak stood in the middle of the yard, its boughs heavy with leaves. Manicured holly bushes bordered the walkway, their waxy leaves glowing in the moonlight.
“Fitting landscape,” I commented.
He smiled. “Leo and I thought so.” He unlocked the front do
or and threw it open, ushering me inside.
I stepped into a formal living room filled with antique furnishings, its white, plastered walls papered with dozens of framed paintings. I kicked off my heels, relieved to be rid of them. My feet sank into the thick carpet and I curled my toes, savoring its sumptuousness.
“Is all of this yours?” I asked. I examined the paintings on the walls, convinced that there was an original Matisse hanging above the marble fireplace. I moved closer and found the artist’s signature that confirmed my suspicions.
He stripped off his blazer and draped it across the banister. “It came fully furnished.”
He led me through the living room, past the formal dining room with its mammoth mahogany table and large chandelier dripping with thousands of tear drop crystals, and in to a library. Floor to ceiling bookshelves lined two of the walls and these overflowed with books.
“This is nice,” I said. I inspected one of the shelves, searching for familiar titles.
“It’s my favorite room.”
Noel opened a small hutch next to an immaculate desk. He pulled out a bottle of wine and two fluted glasses and carried these to a low, marble-topped coffee table.
He held out his hand to me. “Sit down,” he invited.
I sat on the beige leather couch and he settled himself next to me.
“Is that for us?”
He looked puzzled for a moment but then his expression cleared and he smiled. “Oops,” he said. “Teenagers. I forgot. We don’t drink.” He stood, intending to put the glasses and bottle back, but I reached out my hand to stop him.
“Wait. I…I think I’d like a glass.” Maybe it would help relax me. I was a bundle of nerves.
“Not a chance,” he said. “I’m not into corruption. Remember?”
“But—” I stopped just as abruptly as I’d started. He wouldn’t let me have a glass of wine but he’d changed his mind about…
Something wasn’t adding up.
He watched me as I struggled with my thoughts. His brow furrowed. “Valerie. What do you think your gift is?”
“I don’t really know,” I hedged. I could feel the color creeping up my neck.
Noel frowned. “You didn’t really think…?” I could almost feel him penetrating my mind, sifting through my thoughts. “You thought I’d changed my mind? About us being together?”
I nodded, refusing to meet his eyes.
“We can’t,” he said flatly. “I won’t.”
“I know,” I mumbled. “I just thought—” I didn’t know what I’d thought.
“You thought I’d change my mind?” he asked. “That I’d decide it was OK to sleep with you once or twice and then leave? I won’t do that to you, regardless of what I want. I care about you more than that.”
“But if you care about me…” And if you really wanted me, I thought.
“I do care,” he said evenly. “I care so much that I’m giving up what I want most on this earth. You. All of you. You know that.”
I said nothing. I’d let myself hope a little, for the promise of more of him.
“Now that that’s settled,” Noel said. “Let’s move on to your gift. Your real gift.” He withdrew the tiniest of packages from his pants pocket. It was a black velvet pouch, its drawstring pulled tight. He handed it to me.
“What is it?”
It was the kind of bag science museums positioned next to large bins of gleaming, polished rocks, ready to be stuffed full by the hands of anxious children. For a moment I wondered if he was offering me a replacement stone but it wasn’t lumpy enough to contain gems.
“Open it.”
I loosened the drawstring and reached my thumb and forefinger inside. I withdrew a small glass bottle.
“Is there something inside?” I asked doubtfully.
Noel nodded. “Yes. Me.”
“What?”
He grinned. “Haven’t you ever wanted a magic lamp? You know, your own genie in a bottle that would grant wishes?”
“Like Aladdin?” I asked. “Sure, I guess.”
He gave me a satisfied look. “Well, that’s what this is.”
I peered into the bottle but the amber colored glass obscured my view, keeping the contents hidden. “So…you’re inside this bottle?”
“Kind of. Here, let me see it for a minute.” He took it from me and unscrewed the lid. There was a special stopper fitted over the top, the kind that would allow only one drop at a time to pass through the opening.
The aroma that escaped from the bottle overwhelmed me. It was a mixture of peppermint and evergreen, of fresh snow and burnt leaves, the complete essence of the god sitting next to me. I inhaled and felt him wash over me as the scent permeated my skin and seeped into my blood. This was what he was leaving behind for me, I realized. I reached for the bottle greedily.
“Do you want me to tell you what to do with it?” he asked, suppressing a laugh. He held the bottle above him, just out of reach.
What did I have to do with it except breathe it in and inhale it? I asked him this.
“It’s magic. A bottle full of wishes.” He lowered the bottle. “Well, my magic, anyway.”
“What?”
“Wishes. A drop of this and it should come true.”
“I can wish for anything?” The wheels turned in my mind as I mulled this over.
He frowned. “Well, not anything. You can’t wish for someone to die or fall in love with you. But as long as your wish harms no one and is meant for you, it’s safe to assume it will come true.”
I decided to ask. “Can I wish for you?” I paused. “To bring you back?”
He shook his head. “I won’t come,” he warned. “Don’t waste them on that, Valerie. Don’t waste your wishes on me.”
I sighed. It was worth a try, I thought. I studied the tiny vial. I already knew I’d never use it. I’d keep his essence locked inside that bottle and savor it for the rest of my life. If I couldn’t have him with me, I would have to settle for the next best thing.
“Don’t think like that,” he pleaded, once again reading my emotions, if not my actual thoughts. “Please. Not tonight. This is as much of me as I’ve ever left behind. I’ve never done this. For anyone.”
I knew it was special and I knew he was trying to tell me that I was special. I also knew that this was all I could hope for.
I did my best to turn my mood around, for his sake more than mine. “So I can use this for anything…anything that doesn’t hurt or affect someone else, right?” I looked around. “What if I wanted to go swimming right now? I just put a drop on my finger and wish for it?”
He nodded. “Pretty much. But if you want to swim, you don’t need a wish for that.”
He grabbed my hand and led me to another room, a rec room that adjoined the library. A beautifully restored antique pool table sat to one side of the room, a wall rack of pool cues mounted next to it. There was a bar complete with leather stools and a beverage dispenser with several sodas and beer on tap. The remainder of the room was occupied by a large wall-mounted flat screen with movie theater seating, two rows with four seats each, all covered in crushed red velvet. The smell of buttered popcorn lingered in the air. We walked past all of this to a set of French doors. Noel threw these open and flipped a light switch on the wall.
In-ground lights illuminated the back yard, showcasing a shimmering oblong-shaped pool. Lush shrubs and plants bordered it, framing the pool as if it were part of the natural landscape. A wall of rock took center stage in the backdrop, a six foot tower of slate gray stone slabs that served as a massive waterfall. Water cascaded over the falls and spilled in to the deep end of the pool.
“Wow.” I stepped outside and quickly moved to the edge of the pool, enchanted by the sparkling blue water and the sound of it steadily trickling over the falls. Wide, stately stairs led into the shallows and I dipped my foot in, shivering with delight. I trailed my other foot through the water.
“This feels amazing.” I sighed. A backyard
remodel that included a pool would be the one addition I’d welcome most from my mother. I could care less about remodeled bathrooms and redesigned kitchens, about bump-outs and bay windows. I wanted a pool poured in the back yard.
Noel still stood by the door, lounging against the brick exterior of his house, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He’d unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt and his chest was visible, smooth and bluish-white in the light reflecting from the water. “Jump in.”
Swimming would be a welcome escape—from my thoughts and from the oppressive heat. I motioned to my outfit. “I can’t swim in this dress. It would be ruined.”
He chuckled. “Take it off.”
“And change into what?” I frowned. “I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Who said anything about a swimsuit?”
“What?” I balked. “You mean I should…you think we should go skinny dipping?”
“I won’t be going in,” he said. “But you can.” He leaned back in to the house and hit the switch once more, sending us back into a sea of night.
He said nothing while I stood there, deciding. I debated for only a minute. Considering what I’d thought my evening was going to consist of, skinny dipping seemed relatively tame.
I reached around and slowly slid my zipper down and stepped out of my dress.
Chapter 49
My dress floated like a soft dark cloud on to the pool deck. I kept my bra and underwear on and, without a backward glance, dove in, the icy water instantly cooling me. When I finally surfaced I looked for Noel and found him still standing by the door, his arms now folded across his chest.
“You should come in,” I called to him, smiling. “The water feels great.”
He didn’t respond and I dove under, porpoise-like as I kicked my legs up and into the air. I surfaced again and glided on my side, cool and content. I closed my eyes and floated for what seemed like an eternity, letting the water wash everything away.
Reluctantly, I opened my eyes. I’d lost track of time, both sitting in the house with Noel and swimming in the pool. I had no idea how close I was to my midnight curfew.