by Leslie Pike
Actors are emotional people. That’s something we understand. The emotion of love is the basis of almost every Shakespearean play. He would have written Christos and I together no matter what the cost or how much it altered our life’s course.
I think about how Christos’ life has changed too. That first woman and child he helped altered his course. Now, alongside his standard divorce cases, he’s usually working on helping someone who desperately needs him but can’t afford his services. The effect on him is visible.
There’s no denying we’re ridiculously happy together. Living with him in the loft has sealed our love, and I can’t imagine ever being apart. Tonight I’ll stay at Auntie Anne’s house. The animals need feeding while she’s away, and I’m happy to do that for her whenever she asks. Thankfully, he’ll be joining me. It’ll be fun for us to sleep in my bedroom again, remembering that first time. Maybe I’ll sing to him.
He’ll be here soon. I slip the diaphanous white gown over my head and it slides down my body and hangs a little off the shoulders. It’s sexy and virginal in one image. The full sleeves fall in a lovely drape. Looking in the mirror, I loosely tie the satin ribbon holding the low neckline together. It shows just enough of my body to tempt. The smooth fabric makes my nipples erect as it gently glides over them with every movement of my body. Christos will be able to see through to the promise of it all.
In the background I see United pad into the room.
“Hello, baby,” I call. He has nothing to say to me. Instead he moves in front of the closed balcony doors and curls up against them.
As I dim the chandelier, I’m imagining Christos’ body cast in this golden glow. My attention is pulled by the sharp sound to my right.
Plink. Plink.
Something’s hitting the balcony doors and it’s spooked United. He bolts out of the room.
Plink.
Walking to the doors I peek out the glass. I don’t see anything.
Plink.
My head turns in the direction of the pebble that just hit the glass. I see four other stones alike in size resting on the balcony floor. The motion detector lights come on in the yard. Then I see him.
Christos.
What does he have on? I open the balcony door wide and step out into the night’s cool breeze. My gown flutters.
Oh! It’s not Christos, but my Romeo, dressed head to toe in the costume we have for the school. He looks remarkable. Tights, velvet doublet with gold embroidery, the works. He sees me and takes a paper from his pocket.
“What are you doing?” I call down.
“Remember you told me you were mad because you’d never be Juliet again, kissing her Romeo?”
I smile. “I remember.”
“Well, here I am,” he says, arms held wide.
“I’ve never loved you more than I do at this moment,” I say.
He gives me that magnificent smile.
“What’s the paper for?” I say.
He looks down and then back to me. “But soft! What light from yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun.”
My hand goes to my mouth and my eyes well with tears. He’s quoting Shakespeare for me. It’s so beautiful because he’s out of his element. When he’s embarrassed, the corner of his mouth lifts. It’s doing it now.
“Don’t expect too much. I’m gonna skip a lot. But you go ahead and say your lines,” he directs breaking character.
I lean over the rail, my hand on my face. That’s his cue. After a pause, he understands and looks at his notes.
“See how she leans her cheek upon her hand! Oh, that I was a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek.” He smiles in self-satisfaction. Then he looks at the notes again and I think realizes he wants to say more. “Oh, will you leave me so unsatisfied?” he says.
My God, he’s jumped to the heart of the scene. My stomach starts to flutter with butterflies.
I say my next line clear and strong. “What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?”
He doesn’t refer to his notes when he locks eyes with me and says clearly and with purpose, “The exchange of your loves faithful vow for mine.”
He kneels. “Marry me, Kate.”
In this magical moment I plumb the depth and take in the breadth and scale the height of love.
I turn and head for the door. I need to touch him and breathe him in. I want to feel his lips on mine. By the time I make it to the top of the stairs, he’s moving towards me taking two at a time. We fade into a new thing, in each other’s embrace. Romeo and Juliet becoming less clearly visible, Christos and Kate taking center stage.
The End
Acknowledgements
Writing seems like a solitary art, but that’s not strictly true. There are silent partners in my vision, helpers in league with the dreamer. Invisible hands lift an author so she can have a better view of herself, and sharp eyes read early efforts of every story told. There are shoulders to stand on so I can see what’s possible, letting me know what to aim for. So, to all the good-hearted companions in the dream, I say thank you. And to the generous writer, Marina Adair, who gave this story a home, an undeniable feeling of gratitude.
About the Author
Leslie Pike has loved expressing herself through the written word since she was a child. Her passion for film and screenwriting led her to Texas for eight years, writing for a prime-time CBS series. Leslie lives in Southern California with her stuntman/Director husband, Don, and their Pom-Poo, Mr. Big. She’s traveled the world as part of film crews, from Africa to Israel, New York to San Francisco. Now she finds her favorite creative adventure takes place in her home, writing Contemporary Romance.
Connect with Leslie
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Goodreads
Books by Leslie
The Trouble With Eden
Wild In Paradise
The Road To Paradise
Sexceptional
St. Helena Vineyard Series: Destiny Laughs (Santini Series Book 1)
St. Helena Vineyard Series: Destiny Plays (Santini Series Book 2)
Playlist
“SPOOKY”—Classics IV
“MONSTER MASH”—Bobby “Boris” Pickett
“LOVE POTION NUMBER 9”—The Clovers
“BELLA NOTTE”—Lou Monte
“WITCHCRAFT”—Frank Sinatra
“WE’RE ALL ALONE”—Zsa Zsa Padilla
“UNDERNEATH YOUR CLOTHES”—Shakira
“ROCKIN AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE”—Brenda Lee
“A THOUSAND YEARS”—Christina Perri
Table of Contents
Destiny Plays
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Books by Leslie
Playlist