Morning After

The eerie calm before the storm was upon them. Moray knew this better than anyone. For every action there is a consequence, and his was the gravest of them all. He was up against Katherine Glendenning; her obsessive tendencies only but promised her full wrath upon himself and begrudgingly to him, Denise. If he could shield her from this, he would. Sadly there was no other way he could think of to shelter her from the storm that was to rage upon them both. He may lose the store, his reputation, money, everything. However, nothing valuable enough as Denise by his side. She was the strength and the pull that forced him forward.

He buried his face in his hands, trying to rid himself of this terrible feeling of impending doom, but he could not shake it off. What an awful mess he had conjured up.

Denise would have stayed at the paradise but John insisted that she go to her uncle's shop. He assured that she would be safer there from all the buzzing gossip and rumors. The truth was she could not hide forever and she was not blind to the fact that they had triggered a domino effect of chaos. She woke from what seemed like a perfect dream, Moray's arms around her, his hot mouth on hers. It was no dream but a very real memory. Yesterday afternoon's developments made her head spin with such a frenzy, he had picked her! Her! A simple small town shop-girl. Her thoughts quickly drifted off to the sleeping dragon…Miss Glendenning. Miss Glendenning would surely not rest until she see her stripped of everything she holds dear, her uncle, his shop, the store…John. Oh what a mess it was! Why could it not have been simple. Why had she not resisted her feelings, kept her mouth shut, all of this would have been avoided. Denise knew that in the depths of her soul that could not be, she could never deny the feelings she had for John. She had never felt this way about no man. Never. Their passions matched, entwined, she understood him and he understood her. It was perfect. She secretly wished she was back at Peebles, their romance would have gone unnoticed, how she wished she could untangle herself from this mess. Of course there was still the matter of the store. The Paradise. What would happen to her position? Would she ever be able to do what she loves without scandal and gossip surrounding her. Oh and Pauline and Sam…Clara. Miss Audrey. What would they all think of her? Will they see that what she feels for John is real and true not a scheme to further herself in the ranks.

"Denise."

Denise was startled back to reality by her uncle. His blue eyes bore into hers. His concern and worry was not ignored by her.

"Uncle…" she whispered meekly.

"What has happened Denise? Is it true? Has Moray really jilted Miss Glendenning at the alter for you?"

Edmund's face was blanched. Denise simply nodded what her uncle already had presumed.

"Oh My dear girl."

Denise rose from the table and hurriedly entered her uncle's embrace. She lost herself in her despair and worries.

"It'll be alright." He whispered into her hair. His embrace tightened around her.

Denise soaked her uncle's shirt with her flow of tears. She could not bring herself to stop. The distant sound of bells startled them both. Someone had entered the shop.

"Denise…"

She knew that voice. How it soothed her instantly.

He appeared in the doorway, his hair disheveled, his eyes sunken in. He too had been worried, for them both.

"John!" His name escaped her mouth like a helpless cry of a child who was lost. His arms opened to her and she ran into his embrace. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and let the tears endlessly flow. Moray held her tight to her, as if his hold could shield her from all the harm that was heading towards them like a speeding freight train. He could not contain his despair at seeing this woman he adored shatter in his arms.

"…Denise…Denise…look at me." She hesitantly detached herself from him. Her hands in his. He squeezed them gently. Their eyes speaking for themselves.

"Your hands are terribly cold," He looked up at her tear-stained face, his heart ached to see her in such a way. "we mustn't give up hope. This will pass. I promise you this will pass. Denise all we need is one another. We must remain each others strong hold. Can you do that for me?" his voice was but a whisper.

"Yes…I can." Denise breathed out. She wiped away a few tears, and forced a smile.

Moray knew she was trying to be strong for him. He admired that. He would be strong for her too.