Aurora POV:We walked into the house. "This house is so huge" I gasped I'm almost calm as I follow him down the stairs, through the dark cold hall, and into the dining room. Everyone is already eating. The room is low-ceilinged and comfortable in a William Morrisy sort of way; the air is warm from the fire crackling in the small fireplace and the windows are so frosted over that I can't see out. He goes over to a thin woman with pale red hair who must be his mother, who tilts her head to receive Leo's kiss, and half rises to hug me too. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Jordan.""Oh, but you must call me Lucille, everyone does," she says and smiles in an exhausted but warm sort of way."This is my elder brother Gus" He pointed to a man who couldn't be older than him with a year or two. He wasn’t a male model but he should have been, truly beauty ran in their house. We take our seats across the table from each other. Leo is sitting between Gus and an elderly woman they all call Great Aunt Dul
Aurora POV: I was glad when Leo came in. He was wearing a funny peaked green cap with a big tassel hanging off it and an ugly yellow skiing sweater over blue jeans. He's flushed from the cold and smiling. I stand up and he throws his arms around me and then just as quickly she turns to Sharon and says, "I just heard! Congratulations!" "Thank You, Leo""There's an hour before dinner and no one will notice if we're gone. "Come on," He told me "Let's go outside." "Must we go?" I asked "Yes" he replied "And go where? Last I heard it’s eighteen degrees outside.” Sharon said“Which is why you’ll be wearing my coat." He replied “Where are we going?”“You’ll see…”We put on coats and boots and hats and gloves and tromp through the house and out the back door. The sky is clear ultramarine blue and the snow over the meadow reflects it lighter and the two blues meet in the dark line of trees that is the beginning of the woods. It's too early for stars but there's an airplane blinking its
Aurora POV:When I meet him in the hall he is resplendent in a black suit, white shirt, maroon tie with a mother-of-pearl tie clasp. "Goodness," I say. "You've shined your shoes!""I have ," he admits. "Pathetic, isn't it?""You look perfect; a Nice Young Man. When in fact, I am the Punk Librarian Deluxe." I chuckled "They will adore you, just like I adore you" He said I could feel my cheeks turn pink.He and I stand before the full-length mirror at the top of the stairs, admiring ourselves. I am wearing a pale green silk strapless dress which belonged to his grandmother.He had shown me a photograph of her wearing it on New Year's Eve, 1941. She's laughing. Her lips are dark with lipstick and she's holding a cigarette. "It looks so beautiful on you" I had to admit I look great in the cloth, I was expecting a naf, but this was nothing short of spectacular. "How is still good, it look nothing like a fabric dated 1941" "It is a family heirloom and maximum care is taken. Besides, th
Aurora POV:All through dinner Lucille has been careening wildly from sadness to elation to despair. Her entire family has been carefully navigating her mood, driving her into neutral territory again and again, buffering her, protecting her. But as we sat down and began to eat dessert, she broke down and sobbed silently, her shoulders shaking, her head turned away as though she was going to tuck it under her wing like a sleeping bird. At first, I was the only person who noticed this, and I sat, horrified, unsure what to do. Then Philip sees her, and then the whole table falls quiet. He's on his feet, by her side. "Lucy?" he whispers. "Lucy, what is it?" Leo hurries to her, saying "Come on, Mama, it's okay, Mama... " Lucille is shaking her head, No, no, no, and wringing her hands. Philip backs off; To my surprise, it's Great Aunt Dulcie who breaks the stunned stillness. "Child, if anybody's a hypocrite here it's you. You did the same thing and I don't see that it ruined Philip's
Aurora POV:An oblong ice rink with a low wall or railing around the familiar perimeter, winter sights surrounding the rink.The whole place was devoid of life this late in the night, "Sometimes I enjoy skating alone, just to wallow in my thoughts, but I've never had the opportunity of coming out here this late before."I felt the cold air hit my skin, but it wasn't unbearable. I squinted away from the floodlight's bright glare. the over-bright white of the snow gave me a sudden headache, it reminded me of the short stint at the hospital, but just as it came it disappeared.The smell of Ozone, ice, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, food smells from nearby eating establishments, and hot dogs cooked at the concession stand all day still hung in the air. I knew edibles were not allowed on the rink, I knew the lingering smell would probably disappear when we got to the rink."When you said you know a spot, I wasn't expecting something like this," I said "You've never skated before ?" He asked
Aurora POV:I stopped on the front porch and looked down at my black loafers, worn with knee-high hose. I grimaced because one of them was scuffed. But, I reasoned, Michael was going to be more interested in the rest of me than in my shoes. I straightened my purse’s shoulder strap over my shoulder and walked resolutely to my old but reliable car.It was the first time I was going to his house, I'd never had a reason to be there before, and it never occurred to find out where my boss lives. It wasn't hard to find it, I followed the description to the last detail and there I was in front of his house.Michael was on the front porch of his house when I drove up. I marveled at how big the house was, I knew he was financially well off but not this rich. It had gingerbread patterned woodwork and a real turret room. The whole thing was painted white, brilliant and new looking, and there was a porch swing and rocking chairs on the long, wide front porch. There were bird feeders everywhere. I
Aurora POV:We trotted down the large hall.This house is very big, too big for one person. “I love the color,” I remarked. “It reminds me of the ocean.”He laughed out loud. “It’s the color of Yow’s eyes, and she knows it. She loves to sprawl on the carpet. Mee prefers the couch or my bed.”I caught my breath as I walked into the formal dining room. There was a cherry wood table, already set with linen and crystal and china, and beyond it was a kitchen that would have been any cook’s dream. There was a tile floor, modern appliances, a huge combination sink, and a counter big enough to use for dressing half a steer. Over the sink was a large window overlooking the pasture and forest behind the house.“I’ll bet you enjoy working in here,” I remarked.“I do. I like enough space to move in. Cramped kitchens are the very devil.”“Indeed they are, and I could write you a book on them,” I whined “I bump into the refrigerator or the stove every time I turn around at home.”“What would you
Aurora POV;My sudden intake of breath made him hesitate, but only for a second. His other hand came up to my softly rounded chin and he tilted it up, just a fraction. ” he whispered as his mouth hovered “I want to kiss you as much as you want me to.”“Re…really?” I choked.He smiled gently. “Really.”His lips teased over my full mouth, nibbling my upper lip while he tasted it with a lazy stroke of his tongue. I jumped and shivered. The contact was completely out of my experience. I’d dated a few boys, but I didn’t seem to appeal to any of them physically. This was different. I wished I knew what to do so that he wouldn’t stop.He lifted his head and looked into my rapt, expectant eyes. I was breathing like a distance runner. My breasts were shaking under the whip of my pulse. " I thought you were experienced with the way you responded at your place, but it seemed I was wrong"His thumb moved to my lower lip and tugged it down gently as his head bent again.“We have to start somewhe
Epilogue Aurora POV:The warm sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden glow on the bedroom walls. I lay in bed, feeling the gentle rhythm of my husband's breathing beside me. It had been a long and arduous journey for us, but today was a day of happiness—a day to cherish the love and resilience that had brought us together.I watched him for a long time, I enjoyed watching him sleep. there was something particularly soothing about watching him sleep.As I stretched my arms above my head, my eyes fell upon the photograph on the nightstand. It captured a moment frozen in time, our wedding day. We got married on a beach in Oregon. It was the most beautiful day of my life. Michael's eyes were filled with unwavering devotion, and I couldn't help but smile at the memory. The vows we exchanged that day held the promise of a lifetime of shared dreams and unbreakable bonds.We had toured the world like he had promised leaving with beautiful memories everywhere we we
Michael POV:As I stood before the graves of my parents and Beatrice, a mix of emotions washed over me. It was the first time I had brought anyone to this sacred place. I watched as she knelt down, her face solemn and filled with respect, paying her respects to the departed souls who had unwilling been absent to shape my life."Who are they?" She askedI was yet to tell her whom they are and name on the graves gave no clues to whom they were. "The first two are my parents and the third is my elder sister" She looked taken aback"I thought you never knew them""I was lucky to find out, with some help of some friends. I wanted you to meet them too"She nodded, her eyes filled with awe. Aurora's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her words carrying a weight of sincerity and determination. "I promise you, dear parents and sister, that I will take care of Michael. I will be there for him, just as you were. I will cherish him, support him, and love him with all my heart. You have left
Michael POV: The town recieve the news about Calhoun with mixed feelings. The next few days was spent uprooting every corrupt official on Calhoun payroll and his drug warehouse was ruthlessly shut down. It was finally Mark's funeral, I had dreaded this day because of the effects I knew it would have on me.I stood there, my heart heavy with sorrow, as I gazed upon the somber scene before me. The room was filled with mournful whispers and tear-streaked faces, each one reflecting the immense loss we all felt. "Today, we gathered to bid farewell to a dear friend, a courageous soul who had given his life in the line of duty. He was a cop, a protector of the innocent, and his untimely death"The eulogies began, each one a testament to his character and the impact he had made on countless lives. His family, friends, and fellow officers all shared their stories, their voices trembling with a mix of grief and admiration. They spoke of his courage, his selflessness, and his unwavering deter
Aurora POV: It's been days since my search and rescue. I never imagined that freedom could feel so overwhelming. After enduring the horrors of being kidnapped and held captive, the sweet taste of liberation should have been pure bliss. Yet, as I cautiously navigate this newfound freedom, it feels as though the world around me is still holding its breath, afraid to disturb the fragile existence I've fought so hard to regain.The news of my rescue spread like wildfire, and people showered me with words of relief and gratitude. They embraced me with tender hugs, their eyes brimming with tears of joy. But beneath their smiles, I sensed a subtle unease, an unspoken fear of shattering my fragile state of recovery. It's as if they see me as a porcelain doll, easily broken with a single misplaced step.Every interaction now feels calculated, as if everyone around me is walking on tiptoes, afraid to say or do anything that might trigger painful memories or send me spiraling back into the dark
Aurora POV:I stepped into the familiar warmth of Michael's house. He came back to pick me up the next morning after spending considerable time with my mother. He had insisted on staying with him for the time being and my mother was only happy to agree. It is a mix of relief and apprehension flooding my senses. The events of the past few days had been a nightmare, one that had finally released its grip on me. I glanced around, taking in the comforting sights of our living room, but the shadows of the ordeal still lingered in every corner.Michael stood beside me, his eyes filled with a mix of worry, love, and a determination to keep me safe. I understood his concerns; after all, I had been taken away from him against my will. But as much as I craved his protective presence, I also longed for a sense of normalcy and the freedom to heal at my own pace.Michael furry companions who seems to have been waiting anxiously for my return, approached cautiously, sniffing the air with curiosity
Michael POV:As I walked Mr. Eyre and Jane to the airport, the weight of sadness enveloped us, casting a somber atmosphere over our conversation. The news of Calhoun, being responsible for his daughter's death had left us both of them speechless and devastated.Jane walked in front while Mr. Eyre and I walked behind her."I can't believe it, Michael," Mr. Eyre whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief and pain. "How could someone commit such a heinous act? I can't wrap my mind around it."His words echoed the thoughts that swirled in my own mind. I struggled to find an answer, my voice choked with emotions. "I don't know, Mr. Eyre," I managed to say, my voice laced with sorrow. "We continued walking through the airport, the surroundings a blur as our conversation grew heavier with regret and guilt."I blame myself, Mr. Eyre " I confessed, "I can't help but wonder if there were signs I missed, if I could have protected her somehow. And to think I have wined and dined with her kill
Aurora POV:I stood there, watching the flames dance and devour the remnants of the cloth I had worn during my unimaginable ordeal. The crackling fire illuminated the night, casting a warm glow upon my face as i gathered around its flickering embrace. The crackling of the flames seemed to echo the tumultuous journey I had endured, a journey that had tested my spirit to its very limits."Aurora" My mother called, I turned to see her creeping on me. I saw glint of sadness in her eyes, when she saw what I was burning. What was suppose to represent a joyous day, now represents a traumatizing experience, it's existence needed to be erased."Libby and Mabel are here to see you. Should they wait for you in the Living room""Let them join me in the backyard" I replied softly "Ok dear" I heard their footsteps few seconds later, before Libby reached out and gently touched my shoulder. "We came as soon as your mother called you are back" Her voice trembled with emotion as she spoke, "We miss
Michael POV:"Are you okay, Aurora? I'm here now, everything is fine now" I held her tightly like someone would try to steal her from my hand againHer tear glands finally gave in to the waterworks. "I was so scared" she said choking on her own words. "I thought I was not going to see you again""Then I had Mark died in my arms, I watched him died, life sucking out of him slowly. Then I had to stare at his dead body for hours""You are fine now"I patted and rocked her body like one would a baby. It felt soothing to have her in my arms again. My heart races in my chest, adrenaline still coursing through my veins as I hold her tightly in my arms. We've just escaped from the clutches of danger, and the relief surges through me like a tidal wave. I can feel her trembling against me, her breath coming in short gasps, and I know she's just as shaken as I am. As I look into her eyes, gratitude and love swirl in the depths of my being. The thought of losing her, of never seeing that radian
Aurora POV: I sat resting on the wall while staring into the oblivion. I sit here, trapped in this cold, desolate room, my spirit drained and my body weary. The flickering overhead light casts eerie shadows on the peeling walls, reflecting the dismal state of my existence. My mind is numb, and my once fiery gaze has dulled into a vacant stare.Hope, once a flickering flame within me, has been extinguished. Not the long for my mother's smile and Michael touch could rekindle the hope. It has been replaced by a resignation, a surrender to the cruel fate that has befallen me. The days and nights blend together, a blur of monotony and fear. I have lost track of time, as each passing moment feels like an eternity.Calhoun intentions are unclear, his motives shrouded in darkness. If he wanted to kill me he should have already. All I know is that he holds complete control over my life, and I am at his mercy. The uncertainty gnaws at me, devouring any remnants of strength I have left. I wonde