Draw Me A Picture (28 page)

Biting her lip, Michelle felt she must flee this man with the sexy grin before she embarrassed herself further. She stood up hastily.

“I... think ...uh... maybe we should go inside?” she suggested, her voice unsteady. William stood too, a knowing smile on his face.

“I’ll get it out of you, you know,” he said, kissing her hand.

“I’ve no doubt,” Michelle murmured. “You have a way of making me admit things that no one else could; things I never wanted people to know about me.”

“Oh?” William said, allowing himself to cross into dangerous territory once more. “Enlighten me.” Michelle felt as if she were a vat of chemical rapidly approaching critical mass.

“William,” she whispered, “This is hardly the place to discuss such things.”

William chuckled.

“Darling, you’ve no idea how ardently I feel about you,” he said, sighing. “It’s not just your sweet little personality, or your brilliance, but your more... physical attributes drive me nearly mad.” Michelle blushed down at the pavers at her feet, trying to breathe normally. “They do,” William repeated, pulling Michelle into his embrace. He could feel warmth radiating from her face.

“There you are.” A dark voice spoke up, from outside the lit branches. “Having a moment are we?”

William grimaced. He silently called down a pox on Luca’s head. Stepping back, he drew aside the branches to let them back out of the enchanted little hideaway. Michelle regarded him with a rather dazed smile as she walked beside him.

“Yes, Luca,” William said, putting on his polite face. “I am sure even you can imagine was true love feels like. Michelle has just agreed to be my wife.” Luca D’Angelo’s eyebrows rose significantly.

“I see,” he said, pretending to look crestfallen. William chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder.

“Don’t look so down, old boy. Plenty of rich, single women in the world left for you to seduce.”

“Yes, well… maybe I want one of those,” Luca said, pointing at Michelle.  As he spoke he withdrew a cigarette from a silver case; he lit it, drawing the smoke thoughtfully. “Let me be the first to congratulate you.” He addressed this short speech to Michelle, but she was still looking at William.

“He has dimples,
” she thought, gazing at the man lovingly.
“How come I didn’t notice that before?”
 

Luca sighed.

“She is in love with you, my friend,” he said, heavily. “My mother will give me no peace now… thanks a lot.” William laughed, feeling a little giddy.

“Anytime,” he said. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, I want to get Michelle inside out of this chill.”

“I don’t feel cold,” Michelle responded, dreamily. William smiled at her. The ring on her finger sparkled.

“Dios... that’s a big stone,” Luca said, looking at it. He glanced at William. “It cost a pretty penny, no?”

“It matches the color of my eyes,” Michelle said, softy, still looking at William. Her fiance beamed.

“You clever girl; you noticed,” he said, proudly. Michelle smiled up at him, too happy to speak. They walked towards the house, still very much looking at one another. Luca watched them go. He sighed, moodily smoking his cigarette alone in the cold.

Inside the ballroom, not many people were still dancing; groups of people stood around talking, well-re-enforced with champagne. Michelle didn’t care where they walked; it was all a blur from which William stood out sharply. An ethereal smile graced her face, her mind far away.

Margaret saw them ambling along and broke away from her group to greet them.

“There you are!” she said, merrily. “Are you both having a good time?” Michelle looked at William’s mother, her eyes bright.

“Yes,” she said, simply. Margaret clasped her hand in a friendly way.

“I’m so glad, really this place is...”

Something on Michelle’s hand distracted Margaret from finishing the sentence. The elegant lady looked down; she looked back up at Michelle and then over to William, her eyes as wide as saucers. Her son gave her one, short nod and grinned. Margaret squealed.

“Oh, my word!” she said, clapping her hands; her face was the picture of glee. Unable to speak for a moment, she hugged William and kissed Michelle’s face. “My dear girl...” she said, looking Michelle in the eye. The woman actually had tears in her eyes; Michelle felt like crying as well, but not from sadness. To have this affluent, cultured woman be happy to have her as her daughter-in-law was felt extraordinarily comforting. “You sly thing William!” Margaret was saying, dabbing at her eyes with a lace hankie. “I had no idea! Oh, I’m going to go insane! Not really... oh this is wonderful! Have you set a date?”

“Not yet,” William said, grinning at his mother’s emotional display. “But, don’t worry; I wish to make her
mine as soon as possible.”
 

Sophie drifted nearer, drawn by Margret’s strange behavior. She immediately saw Michelle’s ring and smiled, poking William in the shoulder.

“So, that is what took you so long today,” she said. She gave William a kiss on his face and Michelle as well. “Bless you both, How lovely a couple you make. Now only if this has inspired Luca to do the same...” William chuckled.

“I think just meeting Michelle did that,” he said, smiling. “He’s fairly green with envy.” Sophie seemed pleased at this information and wandered off to find her son.

Various people in the room came by, speaking similar congratulations and glasses raised in informal toast; Michelle saw nothing and merely nodded and smiled still reeling from the past few minutes herself. The rest of their time there went swiftly, though Michelle did not remember much of it. She remembered William smiling at her almost constantly. Everything else just didn’t matter. Even Alfred came up and gave her a fatherly peck on the cheek, and shook William’s hand heartily. He looked genuinely pleased.

No one looked more cheerful than William; he fairly glowed with happiness. Michelle thought he was the most gorgeous man on the planet. She climbed out of her daze as their small party drove home; William sat very close to her, his arm about her shoulders securely. Now and then he’d kiss her forehead. No one spoke; words just didn’t seem necessary. The silence itself felt serene and content, almost like a sigh of relief.

Back at Margret’s domicile the lady of the house gave Michelle and William each a hug before gleefully retreating upstairs. Alfred grinned at the two lovebirds, something he didn’t often do.

“I am very happy for you both,” he said; with this, he wandered up to his room, leaving William and Michelle alone in the grand foyer. William looked at his fiancée.

“I couldn’t sleep just yet,” he said. Michelle nodded, still smiling.

“Me either,” she said, her eyes bright. “I feel as though I could play a whole concert... in front of people.” Chuckling, William took her hand in his; the ring looked well against her skin.

“Then play me something, if you will,” he requested. Michelle took his arm and they strolled into the parlor together. Sitting at the piano, Michelle smiled down at the keys, feeling absurdly like a ten year old at their first recital.

The keys felt cool to the touch; a melody began flowing through her fingers and she played, not really thinking about what song she played. William sat by her on the bench, his eyes closed. His lady played quiet, moving piece he listened to often to help him 'unwind' after work. Listening with a slight smile on his face William felt his shoulders relax as Michelle played the soothing, lulling tune; he could smell apple blossoms and hear the faint rustle of his fiancee's gown as she moved. Michelle felt the notes  emanated from her very soul; they seemed to express her relief and happiness more than words ever could.

“I found him,”
she thought,
“My companion."
 

The last notes settled on the happy couple like snowflakes. Michelle felt William’s finger slip under her chin; his lips found hers as if by instinct. Reaching up, she slid her arms around William’s neck. It was a move of trust; the significance of it was not lost on William.

Drawing back from Michelle was exceptionally difficult; there existed a few matters he had to discuss with her, sans distractions. She was not his quite yet, at least fully. William saw Michelle watching him with a look he’d seen before on her features, a sort of guileless happiness. Sitting up a little, he took up one of her hands in his; they seemed so small and slim in his own and her fair skin made his seem very tan in comparison.

“Michelle,” William began, clearing his throat. “I have a question for you.” Michelle smiled, adorably.

“Another one?” she teased. William wrinkled his nose, stifling a grin.

“Be serious...” he silently told himself. “Yes, minx. I want to know something.” His serious tone sobered Michelle’s urge to joke with him. “I want to know if you... well... er, want to wear white. On our wedding day.”

The question puzzled Michelle for some moments.

“I think most brides do,” she said at last, tilting her head a little; she knew William was not one for obvious statements. The man next to her seemed to be awfully uncomfortable with the entire subject all of the sudden.

“Well, um… it has occurred to me...” William said with difficulty. “I've suspected for some time that, well… that you are, perhaps, one of those girls that actually can... wear white.”

Michelle’s face turned completely red.

“Oh,” she said, falteringly. “That’s what you meant.” William smiled at her embarrassment.

“Am I right?” he asked, already knowing the answer. Michelle nodded. “Not that’s it s a condition, or anything.” William continued hastily. “I just wanted to know if you want to keep it that way, until the wedding.”

Michelle glanced up at William's face, taking heart at his concerned expression.

“If possible,” she said, giving him a half smile. “I hope you don't mind.” William laughed. Michelle wrinkled her nose at him; she was encased in a tight hug for a moment.

“Silly girl,” William said, affectionately. “I don't. I just wanted to know your preference, my love.” He whispered the words into her hair, making her feel like taking back her previous words. “It’s perfectly fine. Just don’t be angry with me, or depressed, if I seem a little ‘distant’ with you 'til then.”

“Distant?” Michelle asked, curiously. William grinned a little, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.

“Well, my love, if said preference is to be a reality, I’ll need to take a more ‘hands-off’ approach to our relationship until we’re married,” William enlightened her. “You have a profound effect on me, sweetheart. Earlier today, I nearly had you in that little reading loft. In public.” Michelle cleared her throat, a little.

“I see,” she said, softly. “And, I understand what you’re saying.” She smiled. “I promise not to ask you ‘what’s wrong?’ every five minutes.”

Hearing this, William looked relieved… and happy. He allowed himself one more kiss and a smile at his lovely fiancée before standing to go. He escorted her upstairs and said a soft ‘goodnight’ at her door. Not wanting to cause William any further discomfort, Michelle smiled at him shyly and disappeared into her room with a swirl of her green skirt.

William sauntered happily down the corridor despite the knowledge that a cold shower was forthcoming; Michelle was his, finally.

“Not even Luca D’Angelo could steal her attention away,”
he thought, with satisfaction. In his room, William turned on the shower and began his nightly ritual. Having undressed, he wrapped a towel around his waist and began hanging up his suit.
 

He was just laying out his robe when a muted shriek came to his ear, then another. They seemed to be originating from the hallway. Yanking open his door, William hurriedly stepped out of the door, oblivious to his lack of formal attire.

To his surprise, his mother stood in the hall in her housecoat and slippers. She shrieked again, pointing at the ceiling. Alfred stood nearby, armed with a broom, evidently trying to hit something small and black above him; it fitted around on the ceiling in erratic circles. A bat. William rolled his eyes.

“All this fuss over a bat?” he said, pointing.

“Get it Alfred!” Margaret called out, wringing her hands. “I hate bats! How on Earth did it get in?”

William snorted. Strolling over to Alfred, he relieved the elderly man of the broom.

“You’ll give yourself a heart attack, old boy,” he said, grimly. “Allow me.” Striding down to the end of the corridor, William threw open a large window. Walking back, he stood next to his mother and Alfred, arms folded. The bat stayed on the ceiling for several seconds, and then flew right out the window.

“They aren’t monsters, you know,” William told them.

About to lecture both of them on the idiocy of fearing bats, William heard the soft sounds of muted laughter; he looked up the hall, towards Michelle’s door. His fiancée stood in the doorway, laughing quietly into her hands. Allowing himself a chuckle at the situation, William wondered if he could blackmail his mother with this later, perhaps if she tried to strong-arm him into something.

After a second or two Michelle straightened up, wiping her eyes. That’s when her eyes caught the sight of William, wearing just a large towel wrapped around his waist. It covered his lower half decently but she couldn’t take her eyes of his muscled torso. She had no idea he was so cut.

“Where does he get time to work out?”
she thought. Some strange urge to drool struck her and Michelle bit her lip, blinking. “Look away...looks away...” Her eyes weren’t listening. Michelle reminded herself to breathe.
 

Sensing her scrutiny, William slowly looked over at Michelle; he grinned when she looked quickly away, her cheeks pink. Still smiling he leaned back against his door jamb and watched her. Michelle hastily withdrew into the safety of her room.

“Stupid, attractive... man,” Michelle mumbled, ending it with a sigh. She ran both her hand through her hair; her face felt like it was on fire. Shaking her head, she made a beeline for the shower. She stayed in the water a long time.

“Nobody has the right to look that good,” Michelle thought, darkly. Turning the cold water on a little more, she grinned in spite of herself. “At least he’s mine.” Giggling softly, she sat and brought her knees up to her chest. “I hope he doesn’t want a long engagement,” she thought.