Page 71 of His Gift
Harper
Ilook around at our house. Our beautiful house that reflects both of us. It's simple, clean lines, light colors, but every piece of art I've ever bought is on the walls and a little of me is strewn all over the place.
Now, though, the thirty guests roaming around makeit feel alien.
I've invited each one of them. I'm friends with every single one of them, though in different ways. And they are the right kind of friends. People who take me for who I am, who accept my up and downs and have my back.
But they make Conrad uneasy.
To be honest I've never seen him so unhappy and on edge.
Not that anyone else would fathom it. He's outdone himself, greeting everyone. Making sure that everyone was wined and dined. Spending half an hour with Marcus and his daughter, listening to my client going on and on about how I saved his life and gave him a future. Smiling.
But I know. I can see it. I can feel it every time he comes close and touches me, hugs me, as if to reassure himself I'm still here. Still his.
I know what others would say: that's insane, unsafe. But I said yes knowing who he was. Wanting his brand of insanity. Needing it. Needing him.
Still, I've grossly misjudged tonight. I thought our wedding party would be fun, a nice way to celebrate together. Now I know I was wrong. And I have to putanendtoit.
"Can you come with me for a second?"
I take his hand and lead him inside the house and into our room. Then I lock the door and kiss him. In a second I'm pressed against his chest, a joyful sound leaving his mouth, lines of discontent leaving his face.
"I needed this. Thank you, sweet girl."
"I'm sorry, Conrad. I don't know what I thought would happen, how tonight would go, but I'm sorry."
"You've nothing to be sorry for, my gift. You've given me the wedding I wanted. The wedding I needed. And I'm giving you this."
"It's not the same. I was happy on our wedding day. Truly happy. Tonight you're anything but. Hush. I have a gift I meant to give you after the party, but I'm moving things on. I've cleared my schedule for two weeks. We can go wherever you want. Can you organize on the spot?"
"And the guests?"
"You take care of the honeymoon, and someone who'll come to clean and close the house, and I'll take care of the guests. I'll tell them we're finally leaving for our honeymoon. They have food, music, the beach. They won't feel our absence."
"Are you sure?" I can see the hope blooming in his eyes, clouded by doubt and maybe a little guilt.
"Yes! I want to go. And I want to be alone with you. I love you, remember?"
Finally, a big grin opens up on his face. The first genuine one since the party has started.
"I'm on it."
"I hate you."
"Don't ever say that, my gift." Conrad gives me fake puppy eyes, a smug smile lingering on his lips.
"Oh, is that so? Not even when you are a sadist who teased me all through the trip to the airport and the long, long flight? Will you at least tell me where we are going, now?" The signal to fasten our seatbelts has gone off a few minutes ago, followed by the hostess discretely knocking at the bedroom door. The bedroom where Conrad has driven me crazy, unable even to express myself for fear of being heard.
"I love you, sweet girl. I can't get enough of you, you know that?"
"I do. I love you too. Where are we going?"
"Europe. Paris is the first stop, then we'll visit as many or as little capitals as you want."
"Paris?" He nods and dips down to kiss me.
"I want to give you the world, my gift. And if you let me, I will. We can start here, for now. And just so you know, no. You're not coming tonight. We'll make love tomorrow morning, watching the Tour Eiffel."
