CHAPTER SIX – ON A NEW SLATE
Settling into America was quite a thing, the overwhelming culture shock, and the difference in lifestyle. In all Teddy found it nice to finally leave her old life behind, she enrolled in a school to take a few classes and picked up an American accent.
Adapting to life alone was not an easy thing for her, she took classes on things she felt would be of interest as a means to socialize, to get back into life, and leave the old ones behind, the letter she had written still sat on her bedside drawer afraid to make that connection, what if the mail was intercepted, what if Karl had survived and lay in wait or was desperately looking for her.
A few years after leaving Paris in haste that morning the events of the day remained fresh in her head, the sight of the commander being shot dead, she wondered if Karl had been shot dead too,
As Teddy sat in the art class, one of the things she found funny, grown up and aging Americans were taking up drawing as a means to relax, none of them ever drew an actual painting, sometimes they messed around with the brush and called the finished work a masterpiece,
"To find relaxation you need to look deep within, think of something that makes you happy, think of something that makes you smile, hold that thought, do not lose it, now try to draw it out, imagine it in your head and paint it out," the artist said as she walked around, looking at each persons painting,
Teddy sat at a spot and after long hours of looking at a blank space she picked up the brush and closing her eyes she moved the brush and wrote "WILHELMINA" As she opened her eyes she stared at the writing she had painted her daughter's name all in black, and she decided it was time to finally make that connection, reach out to her daughter and damn the odds if it did not turn out well, at least she gave it her shot.
"Is this the name of someone," the teacher said from behind her,
Grabbing the piece, Teddy tore the big paper into shreds, she dreaded anyone finding any links to her past, The teacher looked at her with a confused and dazzled expression, and the rest of the class paused and stared at her, they had not expected that kind of reaction, Teddy bent over parked the bits of paper and walked out of the studio.
The air outside was blazing hot, it was summer time and the day was of significance to her, on this day ten years ago, she had pushed Wilhelmina out, and she remembered the joy with which she celebrated her child, though having her meant giving up her chances of having another, she still clung to the memory of what was.
"Excuse me miss, I think this belongs to you," Teddy turned and a stranger was behind her with her bag, she had run off and left her bag in the studio,
"Thank you very much," Teddy said and collected the bag, she still stood at the spot and the man stood with her, he looked at her and Teddy was getting uncomfortable,
"I'm sorry for the discomfort, I'm Rex Bellmont, and we are in the same art class, I doubt you have ever noticed me," The man said extending his hand for a handshake,
Teddy turned to look at him and she noticed for the first time his freckles of white hair, he looked young but the white hair gave him away, she stared at him for too long as though trying to figure out if she had seen him before,
"Hi, I'm Theodore Vo-Knight," Teddy said choking up on the words Knight, she was still trying to drop the Von, but it came up anyways, sometimes not on purpose like today, she took his hand in his and soft feel of his palm made her relax,
"VoKnight? sounds strange" Rex said smiling,
"Knight I meant to say Theodora Knight, please call me Teddy if you please," Teddy said, he smiled widely and displayed a finely arranged dentition,
"Alright then Teddy, Teddy sounds just fine," Rex said still looking at her,
"Thank you, I have to go now, thank you for the purse, I suppose I'll see you next time," Teddy said with a smile on her face, Rex smiled as well and released her hand,
"Yes of course, same time tomorrow," Rex said,
Teddy turned around to go, but as she walked away Rex stood at that spot and watched her go, he was stunned by how beautiful she looked and her voice dazed him. Years after he lost his wife, he had yet to meet someone who would make him feel this way, he rubbed his hands together remembering the feel of her hands on his.
Rex Bellmont was a simple man at heart and after losing his wife all he did was live off his investments and wealth and attend kinds of stuff like painting, all in desperate need to fill up the void his wife had left in him. He turned around and as he approached the art studio, he turned around and entered his car instead and drove home, with thoughts of Teddy in his head, he mouthed the words Theodora as he drove home.
Teddy walked into her apartment picked up the envelope, held it to her chest, and mouthed a few words to herself,
"I hope this finds you," She walked out to the postbox in front of her home placed it inside, and left. She lay in bed thinking of Wilhelmina, trying to picture what she looked like, she drew an imaginative image in her head, wondering what she was like now, how tall she had grown, and how beautiful had face was, she hoped and prayed Behrens was not planning to give her daughter away into an arranged marriage, then her thoughts drifted off to Rex, there was something about him that interested her, either way he spoke or how his facial features but something about him made her feel something new about him, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, smiling, she smiled for finally getting the courage to mail a letter she wrote years ago, she smiled when she remembered Rex, and then she slept off
************
As she walked into the art studio she hoped she was not being looked at weirdly, she felt many eyes staring at her and she hoped all was well, she found a seat right next to Rex, he waved at her and she went to him,
"Good morning Theodora," Rex said, his voice was a deep baritone and he smelled of coconuts, his cologne was good, his voice sent shivers down her spine and his white hair was styled in a way that made him look hip,
"Good morning, Rex, I see you decided to go for the full name," Teddy said, looking at him, she realized also that his eyes were blue, and they looked small, and fit perfectly with all the other features on his face,
"I spent the whole night practicing it, and it sounds very nice I like it better," Theodora in his eyes was perfect, and as Rex watched Tedd settle into the chair beside him, he had that look of satisfaction on his face, he felt good like things were just how they were meant to be,
"Welcome everyone and Good morning, remember yesterday, we were able to reach within and bring out our source of happiness, and we all did beautiful paintings, unfortunately, Theodora would not want to share her happiness with us," the class burst into a burst of short-lived laughter, and she continued, "I need you to understand that after finding your happiness it's completely okay to guard it jealously, it is important and you should handle it with care and defend it with all your might,"
Rex turned to look at Teddy as the artist walked around talking, something about what she said, finding your happiness and guarding it jealously, he had finally found his happiness and he was not going to let Teddy slip out of his hands,
"Can we go on a lunch date after this," he whispered to her,
"Sure, why not," Teddy replied,
The rest of the day went bland as always and when they finished, Teddy took her time getting her stuff together, she waited for the studio to be empty then she approached the artist,
"I'm sorry how I reacted yesterday, I got scared and could not let you see it, I reacted rashly and I'm sorry about that," Teddy said,
"It's fine Teddy, I do hope you are fine,"
Teddy looked at Rex waiting for her at the door, he had rolled up his artwork and was waiting for her,
"I will be," Teddy smiled and walked away,
The two walked together as they left the studio, Rex tried to hold her hand and she let him, he smiled, and the artist watched the two of them walk out and smile as well.
The drive to a restaurant Rex suggested was quick and had no traffic. Rex stopped his long American car in front of the restaurant and turned it off, he got out of the car and walked over to the other side to open the door for Teddy, but before he could reach for the handle she opened the door and let herself out,
"I was going to get that for you," Rex said helping her out, her white gloves were long ones and stretched out to her elbow, she held her small purse and arranged her hat on her head, and smiled,
"Maybe some other time you will," Teddy smiled, she felt the butterflies in her tummy sensation, at the thought that he wanted to open the door for her.
As the two walked into the restaurant they shared a joke about something that happened at the art class and laughed.
Rex pulled out the chair for Teddy and she sat comfortably before he took his seat, the waitress appeared seconds later and took their orders.
"I believe you will like the meal here," Rex said as he looked at the menu over and over again,
"I hope I do," Teddy replied,
"So, will you share with me the happiness you tore up the other day," Rex asked smiling,
Teddy froze as he asked, alarm bells blared in her head, what if Rex was a spy, what if he was a friend of Karl, what if he had been watching her all this while and just wanted to confirm she was the one he was looking for, her expression was blank and she immediately eyes the front and back door as an exit route if anything happened,
"I uhm," Teddy stammered,
"It's fine if you don't want to share, you don't have to," Rex said and placed his hands on hers calming her down,
"I think I can, but maybe not now, some other time, I will tell you, just not today," Teddy replied, the color had returned to her face and she half smiled as she spoke,
The waitress returned with the meal and they ate and talked about other random things, Rex talked about his flair for painting, and Teddy made it known she had no love for it,
"I simply do it to pass time, I don't fancy it, I'm more of a knitter," Teddy replied between each bite, Teddy wondered why she was this free and open with a total stranger she just met.
"Perhaps you could join a knitters club or something like that," Rex suggested as he ate,
"And what would we talk about, cat food and annoying grandchildren?"
"Would you like to, no that came out wrong, uhhm please join me,"
"What are you trying to say?" Teddy cut him off,
"I'm trying to ask you to dinner tomorrow," Rex said
"Sure, why not?" They laughed at the generic reply she always gave.
CHAPTER SEVEN – REX BELLMONT
Rex Bellmont made her feel comfortable, the dinner dates, the tours, the times he made her feel like the only one in the world, they had spent much time together and they knew themselves so well,
On this particular night, they were taking a tour around the city, new buildings were sprouting up and the news carried news of making America great again. They held hands and walked in the night light,
"You never told me about what made you happy that day," Rex asked,
"What day?" Teddy asked rubbing his hand,
"That day at the art studio, the painting you tore up," Rex said,
"Oh, uhm, can I trust you with this, it's a big secret and I have held onto this for a while," Teddy said looking at him,
"You can trust me, Theodora," Rex said,
"Well Wilhelmina, is the name I wrote that day, that is my daughter and I think she was my only source of happiness then, thinking of her made me feel happy," Teddy paused,
"Where is she?" Rex asked,
She liked that he was asking the right question and most of all his voice did not change, teddy had worried how she would be seen if she told Rex about her old marriage and also about her role in the war, though there was nothing she could do, it was sad to know that she benefitted from the spoils of war,
"She is with her grandparents, I had to send her there for her safety," Teddy knew that answer would birth more questions, and she was ready for it, ready to be open to him and tell him everything,
"Safe from what?" Rex asked,
Teddy closed her eyes and prepared her mind to do this, telling Rex about Karl and everything would change things and she was not ready to lose the relationship that had just started to bloom, all the same, she felt the need, to tell the truth, and not go with the lie,
"Rex, I have been married before now, I had a daughter from that marriage and sadly after that childbirth I had to do an operation and the doctor deemed me unfit to bear another child, my husband was Karl Von Behrens, he was a soldier and a member of The Fuhrers inner circle, I lived in fear of him and I was abused and raped nearly every day, my child Wilhelmina was my only source of joy, Karl was 45 when he married me I was 17, it was an arranged marriage and I had no choice, Wilhelmina is currently with Karl's parents," Teddy took a deep breath when she finished talking, she took a deep breath and waited to hear what Rex would say,
"Wow!" Rex said,
"I understand you would be angry with me for not telling you about something like this when you had previously told me all there is to know about you, I was too scared of losing you I could not bring myself to tell you about this," Teddy explained further, Rex only looked at the ground and had no expression, he had paused when Teddy started her life story,
"What about Karl, is he alive?" Rex asked,
"I have no idea, we were in Paris in 1940, when the rumors of the fall of the third rich began, he woke one morning and said he would be back by now, I eavesdropped on his meeting the previous day and I knew he was in trouble with The Fuhrer, I ran to America that day, and started life here, I have no idea if he is dead or alive," Rex was confused,
"Do you still keep in touch with your daughter?" Rex asked,
"I keep tabs, I send money and I get pictures of her, but I'm afraid to speak to her through a letter I would rather meet her in London," Teddy said as she remembered the big stack of letters she kept,
"You have been through a lot Teddy, and I admire your strength through all of this, thank you for being open with me, I love you and as long as you love me this doesn't change anything between us," Rex said holding her Teddy's hand tight, he closed his eyes and kissed her hands,
"Are you serious? You still love me after knowing all these things about me, I am speechless, I love you too Rex," Teddy squeezed his hand tighter.
They continued the rest of their discussing other things, they shared a joke about a few things and laughed a bit too loudly, Teddy was dee in though even as she laughed, it bothered her that she didn't know anything about Karl, was he alive was he dead, what if he was in London with her daughter, what if?
"Teddy we have been together for a short while and we have shared the most insane memories, we both have a dark spot in our past we are trying to run from but when I'm with you I don't feel the need to run from anything, I love you Teddy, and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you by my side," Rex got down on a knee as the got to where his car was parked, "Theodora Knight, will you marry me?" Teddy brought out a tiny box from his pocket with a shiny ring in it,
Teddy paused and felt tears pouring out her eyes, she felt too happy and wanted nothing more than to be with him,
"Yes Rex I will marry you," Teddy replied and gave her hand to him, Rex slipped the ring into her finger and kissed her hands.
The two kissed and hugged themselves tightly, Rex held the car door open for her to get in, and as she lowered her head into the car, she whispered to him
"I hope you don't get tired of holding the door open for me," she laughed and sat,
"Never," Rex replied as he closed the door.
The drive home was a delightful one, Teddy continued to kiss her fingers over and over, she remembered the first wedding she had, she was never happy about it, she remembered the gloom that covered her face when she walked around during her wedding, she remembered the moment with Baline, she remembered the abuse she felt with Karl, and for the first time she was experiencing true love, she was in love and she was getting married to a man she loves.
"I can't express my joy in words," Teddy said as she slipped her hands on Karl's lap,
"And I promise this joy will remain for the rest of our lives," Rex said and held up her hands and kissed it.
************
The wedding arrangements were meant for a small crowd, Teddy invited her friends from the art studio, Rex invited his friends from work, the union was blessed and the feasting began.
As the people mingled and made merry Rex was occupied with his friends and Teddy walked away to get a drink for her friends as well, as she stood trying to pick a wine glass, a man in a black suit walked up to her,
"I hope you don't need alcohol this time?" the man said,
Teddy looked at him closely, the words gave her a sense of nostalgia, about the drinks she needed at Karl's wedding,
"Blaine?" she asked looking at him,
"Took you that long," Blaine said and laughed, "a coincidence right, my wife told me her friend Theodora Knight was getting married I had to come see for myself to be sure it was you," Blaine said as he laughed and picked a glass of wine for himself,
"I must say I'm shocked to see you, your wife?" Teddy asked, who is your wife? "Ashley?" she's the only Blaine I know,
"Of course, she's the one, I heard what happened to Karl, I am sorry," Blaine said as he emptied his flute of champagne,
"What happened to him? I fled from Paris and never heard from him," Teddy said,
"He was shot dead, by The Fuhrer's orders, something about mismanaging funds meant for the army," Blaine took another glass and raised it to his lips, then paused,
"Glad to know that, I was always worried about his whereabouts, I hoped he would not show up one day and run it all for me," Teddy said smiling then she clinked her glass with Blaine's, "Cheers to a good life, it was really good meeting you after such a long time, I'm happy to see you," Teddy hugged him and walked away, she was jumpy and happy, first she had felt bad for losing Karl, but she was glad she knew he was out of her life finally.
Rex walked up to her and collected the drinks, he handed them over to a friend of hers and whispered into her ear,
"Come dance with me Teddy, they're about to play our song," Rex held her hand and led her to the center of the room, he kissed her lips and they slow danced to the song, they closed their eyes and for that minute everything else was silent, Rex could feel Teddy's heartbeat on his chest, soft and normal, and she could feel his as well, it felt as though they were having a heart-to-heart connection,
"I love you, Theodora," Rex whispered into her ears,
"I love you too Rex," she replied, with her head on his shoulders,
"I saw you with a friend," Rex spoke in whispers,
"That was Blaine, he just told me about Karl's death,"
"Oh, sorry about that,"
"I'm not mourning Rex, I have the most perfect man in the world in my arms and he just whispered his love to me, nothing else matters,"
"I love you too," Rex stopped and looked at her and kissed her lips again,
"That was intense,"
"Let's move to Oklahoma, I have a home there, we could live peacefully and enjoy our alone time,"
"That is perfect,"
The song ended and other couples joined them on the dance floor. Teddy watched Blaine dance and she smiled at what could have been looked at Rex and smiled more at what was.
***************
The move to Oklahoma was a refreshing idea for both couples, Teddy made plans to start up a business and Rex thought of joining her, to support her, he had worked his whole life he wanted to rest off.
Teddy kept tabs on her in-laws regarding her daughter, and on the