Shawn drove us to a very familiar place. A place that I missed visiting the most.
It was the City's famous old museum where I usually go to aside from the park before I met Eric.
'Did you bring your phone with you?', Tori asked as she prepares to get out of the car.
'Yes, it's in my bag', I said thoughtlessly. My brain is in a blank surface.
'I'll go get it', Shawn offered, he must have thought I lost my wits.
'W-what are we doing here?', I stared and asked Tori, absentmindedly.
She just flashed me a smile.
'Come now, they're waiting', Shawn said after locking the car doors and offered me his right arm.
'Give me her phone, she might drop it', Tori.
'Who are they?', me, asking about whom Shawn is referring to.
To some people I must have looked laughable. I really don't have a clue what's going on here.
But they both ignored me.
We walked the steps with Tori right behind me until we reached the landing of the massive front door.
Shawn as the gentleman, opened it for us.
I can visibly see the dim lights from inside, at the far corner of the building.
'Ladies?', Shawn gestured us to enter.
'Isn't this suppose to be close at this time?', I asked.
Both of them didn't answer me.
Yet again, I'm talking to the air.
They both walked ahead of me as we were passing thru some old-age antiquities and relics. Each of those items has their own stories to tell and are a part of our history.
Suddenly, we stopped right infront of another massive door.
I frowned. I don't remember going into this room before. It was off-limits to the public.
'Where's the scarf?', Tori hissing, whispered to Shawn.
'Relax woman, I got it', he took it from his inside coat's breast pocket and handed it to her. 'Here'.
'Turn around', she instructed me, smiling.
'What? Why?', I giggled nervously as she covered my eyes with it.
'Don't remove this, okay?', Tori said excitedly.
I nodded.
'Make sure she can't see', Shawn.
'I know', she fixed it. 'All done', Tori said afterwards.
'Ready?', Shawn.
'Ready', Tori.
I heard the door opening then they assisted me to walk inside the room.
After atleast ten steps...
'Here's your phone. Don't take your blindfold off not until someone tells you to', Tori bossingly said, handing me my mobile.
'Yes ma'am!', I said eagerly, grinning anxiously.
Unknowing I was already left alone in that room by those two not until I heard the door closing.
I bit my lip.
I started fidgeting.
Gosh! The suspense is killing me!
I stood there momentarily awaiting what was to come.
Impatiently waiting.
Then I jolted when my phone rang. It resonated upon the large room.
I almost dropped it.
I answered it automatically.
'Take your blindfold off', Eric's soft voice instructed from the phone.
Then he hanged up.
I frowned but did what he said.
My eyes opened slowly then squinted, the bright lights from the antique chandeliers pained my eyes a bit.
I blinked rapidly then focused on something on the wall right infront of me.
My eyes widened.
Affixed there, about the same height as mine, is a painting of an angel with large wings surrounded by white clouds, who look exactly like me.
I gasped.
Slowly walking towards it, assesing his great work of art.
Then my eyes uneasily wandered about the room. One by one I started viewing atleast a hundred pieces of framed paintings of me in various sizes.
This is his surprise?!
Too astounded of what I'm witnessing, my eyes filled with tears. I nervously covered my mouth in shock.
He painted me?!
But why these much?!
I started laughing, crying at the same time. So overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
Most of the paintings are drawn in wild, vivid colors.
There are paintings of my face in different angles.
Paintings of me in the beach.
Paintings of me sitting in a cafe with a coffee cup on the table.
Paintings of me walking in a sidewalk.
Paintings of me lying down on a bed of roses.
Paintings of me standing at the edge of a cliff.
Even paintings of me semi-naked in a bubbly bath.
Provocative paintings of me standing beside a fireplace wearing a dark red robe.
Paintings of me lying on a satin made bed with a blanket flirtatiously covering my private parts for which it made me laughed hysterically.
He made me look like a Greek Goddess in those.
But mostly, there were paintings of me sitting on a park bench with my face gazing longingly at a distance.
Just like the painting I saw in his office.
So that means, I was she.
I was the woman in his dreams!
I lost count how many paintings are there.
Still in a fuzz, standing here looking at more than a hundred Nicolaa's staring back at me, my phone rang once more.
I answered it, with my hand slightly shaking, tears falling rapidly from my eyes.
'H-hello', sniffing. Trying to compose myself.
'Is this Nicolaa?', Eric.
'Y-yes', I whispered.
'It's me'.
I bit my lip. Recalling the prank phone call I had before in the hospital.
'Oh Eric', my face crunched up. I wanna cry like a baby.
'Please turn around', he asked gently.
I did so, slowly.
Wearing a dark suit that made him look more handsome, suave and gorgeous, he stood there, with a lopsided grin on his face.
His phone still upon his ear, he started walking towards me. Carrying a bouquet of roses. Just like the one I had during our wedding.
I started sobbing, biting my knuckle. He's reliving the past.
'I was preparing this for our first wedding anniversary. These are my gifts for you my love. I told you I'll sort them out one by one', he said over the phone as he started walking over to me.
'Oh!', was my only reply. I forgot today is our first wedding anniversary.
No wonder Tori asked me what day it is today? That sneaky witch!
'I went to five different countries just to hunt every last piece of them. The last two I got from Paris. I regret putting some of them up for auction but they did helped a lot of kids in the charity', he turned off his phone as he stood right infront of me and handed me the bouquet. I kept staring at him, can't quite let go of his dark coral blue eyes that darkened with desire and full of love.
'Last two?'
'The other two paintings in the hotel were of yours', he explained. 'If you opened those packages, you wouldn't have left me. But the consequence if you did is that you'll find out about this. It might ruin my surprise'.
'H-how?', I asked, still puzzled.
He lovingly brushed my tears away and looked at me sincerely.
'I was becoming obsessed about you. My therapist told me to slowly let go with that comes totally erasing you from my memory. That's why I gave some of them away'.
'I-I don't understand, Eric', I slowly shook my head. My mind is in chaos.
'This face healed me', he explained. 'It was fifteen years ago when I had an accident during one of my final race. I was badly wounded Nicolaa, that I almost died. All I can remember was a bright light and a face of this beautiful angel that constantly visits me in my dreams'.
'She is always there, smiling at me. Giving me hope where there is none. I have never met her but she looks very familiar as if I have known her for a very long time. I never wanted those dreams to end. Maybe that's the reason why I stayed in coma for three months, but I need to wake up. My family needs me', he took a deep breath. 'I swore to myself, once I'm well, I'm gonna find her. She gave me the will to fight for my life'.
His voice cracked.
'When I finally opened my eyes, the first thing I asked my mother was to give me a pen and a paper. Even though I was weak, I manage to draw your face before I passed out again. I just didn't want to forget how you look like once I recovered baby'.
'Stubborn!', I said kissing him on the lips which he answered back ardently.
'Then it was summertime...'
'There's more?!', I asked, amazed.
'Yes, hear me out'.
'Okay', I indulged him.
'It was summertime two years ago when the people I hired finally found you. Imagine how happy I was to learn that you were working at our hospital. You were just right under my nose and I almost missed you. My operation search Miss Angel finally ended'.
'Since then I started following you. I first saw you standing by the park. My heart started beating hard. It recognized it's owner. He knows he belongs to you. I desperately wanted to approach you for the first time but then I saw a man kissing you. I learned who he was. My heart bled that day baby, I was too late', he was referring to Simon.
'I was devastated, I was searching for you but when I found you, I saw you with another man', he said somberly.
'Sometimes I saw you dating him, it pains me to see you together but I have to endure it hoping that someday you'll notice me'.
'I told myself I need to keep my distance. I always kept my distance but I'm always there with you'.
'So imagine how happy it made me when you broke up with him'.
I listened attentively. These are his revelations.
'One time, I saw you in the park crying. I wanted to approach you but you got a phone call then you left before I even got the chance to cross the street'.
'Another time I saw you with your sister shopping, I wanted to introduce myself to you but you were in a lingerie section'.
I giggled.
'You might think I'm a perv so I waited outside the shop and by the time you were done, I lost you in the crowd'.
'Another time I saw you--'
'Oh Eric', I cut him off.
'It was always wrong timing'.
'Wrong place, wrong time?', I grinned, new tears forming.
'Yeah'.
He kissed my eyes and breathe against my lips.
'Then that last time you were with Mina...'
'Shh... That's enough baby. I know what happened'.
'It was my chance to finally meet you, I was impatient'.
I nodded.
'I wasn't in my right mind, all I can think of is that you're within reach. No Simon, no phonecalls...'
'No lingerie?', I teased.
'Yes, that too'.
We grinned silly.
'I need to find you so I may be whole again. Every night that I dreamnt of you, I'm begging God hoping you'll feel the same once I introduce myself to you. I know that if I see you in person, everything will be alright. The darkness I was in will turn to light. So I was so surprised when I woke up after that second accident, seeing you sitting there, staring at me longingly, as if you know me too. That I wasn't a stranger to you'.
'You weren't. I've been dreaming of you too since I was twelve. Fifteen years ago to be exact'.
'You did?', he was surprised.
'I did, I still do. But my dreams aren't...' I blushed. 'They weren't... Well, I-- I dreamnt of...', I bit my lower lip and blushed profusely.
Recognition dawn on him. He knew my dreams about him are of an erotic kind.
So shameless of me?
He laughed heartily and wrapped me tightly on his strong arms.
'No wonder you were so great that first time. Was I well endowed in your dream?'
I pinched his side, my face crimson red.
'How did I compare?', he laughed heartily. 'Did you touch yourself afterwards or during?', he whispered teasingly.
'Lower your voice, they might hear you', I hissed, burying my face upon his neck.
'Baby, it's too late for that. Knowing our family they've been eavesdropping since you came in. Is that right, Dad? Mom?', he inquired.
Wolf whistling by Shawn obviously, a burst of laughter and a round of applause from the rest of them can be heard from the other side of the door.
'See? Told you', Eric said, grinning naughtily.
'Mom's here too?', I asked shyly.
'You betcha. So are we', Jodel.
'Yes we are', Mina.
'They need to witness this', Tori.
'My daughter is freaky!', Mom, and everybody laughed.
'Oh my God!', I hid my face upon my hands. God, this is too much. Now everybody knows my secret.
He laughed joyfully and lovingly removed my hands from my face.
His blue eyes became serious and softly caressed my features with his loving gaze and leaned over to kissed my mouth softly, gently.
'I was overwhelmed with my emotions towards you, Nicolaa. I memorized every angle of your face. Your eyes, I wanna get lost in them', he kissed my closed eyes, drying away my tears.
'Your lips, God how I longed to kiss you. I never wanted to erase them from my memory. I vowed to myself once I wake up from my coma, I'm going to look for you. I'm going to find you, Nicolaa. And I did'.
'Indeed, you did', I smiled against my awashed tears.
'Now you know why I have to forced you to be my wife. I don't want anyone else to have you. I'm all yours coz you're the one. You're the woman of my dreams. The only one I've ever loved, baby. Don't you ever forget that'.
I nodded. 'I wont. I won't'.
'I love you, Nicolaa James'.
'I love you too, Eric Dominic Morisson'.
***
'I wonder why you never told me Portia is your cousin', I asked him as we laid down on bed after a freaky hot, over the top, mind boggling sex on our bed.
Three hours ago, I was surprised to learn that the Morisson Family are huge contibutors of the museum. No wonder he was able to pull that kind of stuff. Booking that historical place for free at my expense.
After that declaration of love and the confession of a dreamer thingy at the museum, we ended up having dinner with the whole family and friends right in that venue.
They all helped in the planning and decorating, so it was just right for them to be there with us celebrating our first year as a married couple.
Tonight, I learned from Tori that Eric mentioned his side of the story to my family and bff's Mina and Jodel when he was desperate of trying to win me back. He asked for their help. No wonder my sis and friends especially Mina didn't question me on my stubborn decision of leaving him for they knew I would never do that. Instead, they encouraged me to verbalized my feelings but was already plotting to return me to my hubby in a silver platter with strawberries and grapes on the sides as soon as I collect my sanity.
They already knew that I would only end up going back to him no matter what. I just don't have the guts to do it because I am so in love with him. They know me more than I knew myself.
'I wanted to see your reaction', he said, his face buried against my hair.
We were spooning. Both of our right hands caressing my small, rounded tummy.
'My reaction?'
'Yes, I knew you were insanely jealous of her, weren't you?'
'No, I wasn't!', I denied.
He laughed.
He knew I'm lying.
I met Portia's Jonathan and their eleven months old baby boy Jean-Luc at the museum. They explained the French newspaper story to me. It was written there that Eric and Portia were having a lovers' tryst when in fact they only met in that hotel because her husband asked Eric to paint her. Silly me, I didn't understood the content of that article but due to my jealous rage, I jumped into the wrong conclusion. I asked for their forgiveness and guess what? Portia and Jonathan just laughed at my honest mistake. Gosh! She is one hell of a weird French lady but I think I'm going to like her. No wonder the people in Eric's office adores her.
'I wanted to know, Nic'.
'Wanted to know what?'
'If you really love me'.
'I do I already told you yesterday and today', I teased.
'Actually, I just want a confirmation if what you said before was true'.
I frowned. Turned around and faced him. Wanting to hear another of his confessions.
He kissed the tip of my nose.
'One night when you thought I was sleeping, you said you love me Nicolaa', he whispered.
I gasped. 'You heard me?!'
'Oh yes baby, I heard you', he grinned. 'And I kept awake every night. Sometimes almost sleepless nights, after that, hoping to hear you say it once again'.
'Oh my poor baby', I pouted. 'You could have just asked me outright'.
'I can't'.
'Why not?'
'Coz I'm waiting for the right time and it's gonna ruin the moment'.
'What moment?', I frowned.
He got on top of me.
'This moment', and playfully giving me loud wet kisses on my neck.
I giggled hysterically.
So carefree.
So happy.
So lucky.
Coz I have a husband with a romantic soul and Thank God was blackmailed to become the wife of this handsome man.
He thrusted deep and we both gasped upon each other's mouth.
'I can spend the rest of my life being inside you. Because inside you, I am home', he whispered upon my lips as he started swinging his hips heavily.
Sending me to the clouds and letting me soar like an angel towards heaven.
Over and over again.
***
Epilogue
Four years later...
'Mom! Mom!', a little boy with blonde hair and coral blue eyes, the same image of his father was waving at me.
We came to the hospital where I used to work, to visit my bff Mina for once again she delivered a baby. This time, she had twins.
He was standing on my favorite spot, the park bench where I usually sit while babysitting him and waiting for his daddy to fetch us.
I smiled, my heart swelling with pride, for here is the fruit of our love and faithfulness to each other.
Our son, Aaron Dominic Morrison was talking with a beautiful woman, a stranger whom I never met before.
She look devastated. She has been crying. Maybe that's the reason why our baby spoke to her.
I smiled at her when she glanced at me, knowing that the pain she felt was of a brokenheart.
'Can I give her my lollipop? I still got one extra left from Aunt Del', he looked so sure of himself. He was trying to console her. My little man, all acting so grown up now.
I nodded my head in approval.
He went to her and offered her the sweets. She took it and wiped away her tears.
'Thank you', she said, her voice cracking up.
'You want a hug? Granny said if mommy is crying I must give her a hug to make her feel better', he explained. The same arrogance and domineering traits obviously taken from his father shows. The woman looked at me shyly so I smiled at her to reassure her.
'He loves doing that', I said, so she agreed.
I bit my lower lip in amusement coz he was even tapping her back while they were embracing.
'You okay now, miss?', he asked when they parted after a minute or two.
She nodded.
'Sweetie, introduce yourself to your new friend', I squatted beside him and they introduced themselves to each other.
He grinned at me, proud of himself for having found a new friend. So I kissed him on the cheek, showing him how proud I am of him.
'A.D. we need to go now, say your goodbyes'.
'Bye Miss Clarissa. We're going to see grandma tonight. I hope we'll see each other again'.
'I know we will', the woman answered politely.
We both stood up to bid each other goodbyes. As a nurse who handled a lot of patients with emotional concerns and as an appreciation for being nice to my son, I hugged and whispered to her.
'Whatever it is you're going through this time, just be strong Clarissa. You're not alone. I know how it feels like for I'm going through the same heart aches as you', telling her she isn't alone in her predicament.
She nodded and we left her standing there at the bench staring at the sunset.
'Mommy, do you think she'll be fine?', my baby boy frowned, worried that his new friend will cry again.
'Of course she will be baby. You gave her a lollipop. And besides, she met a great friend in you', I looked down at him as we were walking in the cemented pathway.
He grinned smugly, so proud of himself, then his eyes widened.
'Daddyyyyyy..!', he shrieked, immediately let go of my hand and run like his feet were on fire.
'Careful!', my eyes were round with shock when I saw him catapulted into his dad's strong loving arms.
He giggled as Eric showered his face with kisses.
'Oh God, I miss you, you little rascal!'
Aaron shrieked with laughter.
I walked towards them and Eric wrapped his right arm around my waist. Kissed me chastely and lingeringly on the lips then bit his lower lip as if savouring my kiss.
'And I missed you too, Mrs. Morrison', he kissed me again. Three times.
I groaned.
'I know, I missed you too. How's work?'.
'Oh God baby, that's the last time I wanna talk about. Right now I wanna ask, what was this little playboy doing strutting his stuff with that lady sitting over there on our favorite spot?', he nodded his head towards the woman's direction.
'You were spying on us?', I grinned.
We started walking with A.D. being carried by him on his left arm and his right arm still wrapped upon my waist. Heading towards his parked car.
'I wasn't strutting', A.D. pouted.
Eric kissed his cheek to placate him.
'You asked?', I laughed. 'Well Mr. Morrison, it seems to me your little self here loves to play the hero such as yourself and wanna save damsels in distress. Atleast, he didn't blackmail her into befriending him', I slitted my eyes on him.
He laughed.
'You Mrs. Morisson will pay for that later'.
'Oh really? How?', I teased him back.
'By letting you worship my Juju'.
I grinned.
'I'll do that for free', smiling saucily at him.
'Oh, I bet you will'.
Aaron placed both of his hands on his dad's face to earn his full attention.
'Daddy, what's blackmail?', him seriously frowning.
'Ahh... It's how I earned your mommy's love'.
'Eric!', I reprimanded him.
'What? I'm just telling him the truth', he grinned.
I rolled my eyes at him. 'Sicko'.
But A.D.'s frowned deepened.
'What's the matter baby?', I asked him. He lifted his stubborn chin and pouted.
'Just like what daddy did to you mommy, when I grow up I wanna blackmail a lady', A.D. declared with fierce determination.
'No!', I gasped.
Eric laughed aloud.
Oh My God!
Like father, like son.
The End.
***
:D
I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I did writing this.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I believe that every woman deserves a happy ending and that every man should give it to her.
It might seem like a once in a lifetime love story but just maybe, it did happen in real life.
:D
Well, who cares, right?
As long as I made you grin silly like a teenager with a crush from time to time, that's enough for me.
I'm so overwhelmed with pure happiness when I learned most of my readers are fluent in english but still you guys read my stories eventhough I have poor grammar and all.
Like I said before, it's the thought of the story that counts. I'm so thankful for your great kindness and support.
Once again,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
:)
~ TGM