In the morning Jean had to keep looking at her ring to remind herself that it was all real. But when she looked at her new fiancé, and the smile of delight perpetually on his lips, she knew it had happened.
"Good morning, my dear," he said softly as he leaned down to kiss her.
She returned it eagerly, and matters quickly escalated. They joined together, and their lovemaking seemed even deeper and more substantial, now that they'd committed their lives to each other.
In the afterglow she cuddled against him, her head on his shoulder and one hand smoothing over his broad chest. "What do you think? Should we tell the world our big news?" she asked him.
"I don't even want to think about the rest of the world at this moment," he murmured before dropping several quick kisses to the top of her head.
She smiled. "We could spend the day right here, couldn't we? Although I suppose we'd need to get up for something to eat at some point."
"And I need to listen to yesterday's session," he said with a grimace.
She pushed herself up against the headboard. "You haven't told me how it went? I was concerned at how long Alice was here. Did something go wrong?"
"Actually that was something going right," he said. "She was so pleased at how well I got through the second retelling of it all that we moved onto discussing the next stage."
"Really? I'm so proud of you," she said, leaning over to kiss him.
"It's all down to you, my dear," he insisted.
"Nonsense. If I played a part in it, then I'm glad, but you're the one who did all the hard work," she told him firmly. "Now, what does the next stage involve?"
"The next stage is facing up to all the things that trigger the episodes, things like fireworks, any sudden loud noises really."
"So will you be going to a shooting range or a violent war movie or what?"
"That's what we were discussing," he told her. "The best way to go about it. Alice is going to see about getting some recordings so that we can work through it in a private, safe way."
"That sounds reasonable. What do you think?"
"I think if I could get through reliving the events themselves, there's no reason I can't manage the rest of it. I intend to put the past behind me, all of it, and focus on the future with my soon-to-be wife."
"Do you want it to be soon, the wedding?" Jean asked.
"I'd do it tomorrow, if we could, but you should have the kind of ceremony and celebration that you want. If you tell me what that is, I'll do my best to make it happen."
"I'll think about it, and let you know. Would you mind terribly if I told you I'd like to be married in a Catholic Church?"
He smiled gently. "I thought you might. As long as it's sturdily built so there's no danger of the roof falling in when I step inside, I think we could manage that. But I'm afraid you'll have to handle most of the details of that one."
"Yes, of course. Thank you," she told him. "Do you think we can arrange it so that Li can attend?"
"I have absolutely no idea," Lucien admitted. "I'll let her know we're engaged and ask her about her schedule."
"Maybe we could have an engagement party at least while she's in the city for her appearance at the Hollywood Bowl. There isn't enough time to arrange a church wedding that quickly, but it would be lovely if we can make her feel a part of it. What do you think?"
"I think you're very thoughtful and kind, but I knew that already. One of the many, many reasons I love you and want to share the rest of my life with you." He kissed her again. "As soon as we let those closest to us know about our engagement, I'll call Yamashiro to see if we can book a private room for a party that weekend."
"Perfect," said Jean, thinking it was only right that they celebrate their engagement at the site of their first date.
He was silent, his brow furrowed in thought.
"What is it?" Jean asked.
"I was thinking, is there any chance Christopher and Jack and their significant others could be our guests at the club tomorrow night?"
"With your parents? You want to give them the news all at once?"
"If you have no objection. Matthew and Alice will be there, and Cec."
"And Mattie and Ned," Jean added.
"Ah, good. Is there anyone else you think needs to be included?"
"You need to be sure you tell your daughter before the news becomes public."
"Yes, I'll call her first thing tomorrow morning." He smiled tenderly. "I so much want the two of you to meet and become acquainted."
"I'm looking forward to that as well," said Jean, although in truth she was somewhat apprehensive at the prospect. The young woman was a world-renowned classical musician. She couldn't help but wonder what Li would make of her when they did meet.
"I'll call Jack and Christopher now," she said.
"And I'll make us something to eat. Then I'd better do my homework for Alice."
"Thank you, Lucien. I'll be down soon."
She called Jack first, and he readily agreed to an evening at the club with his girlfriend. Christopher, in the middle of packing up his home for the impending move to Las Vegas, took more convincing. She told him that he and Ruby deserved a break from the work, and finally managed to talk him into it without revealing the reason why.
By the time she got down to the kitchen Lucien had prepared omelettes, coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice. "This looks lovely," she said as she sat down and he joined her.
"While I was fixing it, I was thinking of all the things we'll need to decide," he said, pouring the juice into glasses.
"Aside from the wedding itself?"
"Yes. As I said, I'll leave the details about the sort of wedding you want up to you. But we'll need to decide where we want to live, for instance."
She looked up at him. "You don't want to live here?" she asked.
"I thought you might want to think about starting afresh, somewhere that isn't yours or mine, but ours."
She reached over to take his hand and tangle her fingers with his. "That's very thoughtful of you, but I love this house, Lucien. I'd like to stay right here, unless it holds too many bad memories for you."
"No, I love this house as well, but I wanted to give you the option."
"Then it's settled," she said firmly. "But if you have no objection, though, I'd like to plant some flowers. I may need to bring in some soil to make a bed. They won't grow in sand."
"There are actually window boxes for many of the windows. I took them down when it became clear that I can't grow plants to save my life, but the boxes themselves and the frames to hold them are in the attic. if you think that would work I can bring them down for you, and hang them after you finish planting."
"Really? That would be lovely," said Jean. She thought begonias would really brighten up the exterior.
"I'll take care of it as soon as we finish eating," he promised. "Then you can see what you're in for and get the seeds or seedlings you want."
"Perfect," she told him. "Now, what else do we need to decide?"
"About the club," he said somewhat hesitantly.
"Yes? What about it?"
"If you want to cut back on your schedule, or even stop working altogether, well, there's no need for you to continue unless you want to, after we're married."
"Would you prefer that I stop working, Lucien?"
"I would prefer that you have the option to do whatever you want. You've had some difficult times, and you've worked at jobs that weren't exactly fulfilling because you needed to. But you don't have to do anything you don't want to do now, if you'll allow me to do that for you, at least."
She hadn't really given much thought to his wealth. She appreciated that she would no longer have to worry about paying the rent or the utility bills, but that had no bearing on her love for the man. "It's sweet of you to give me the choice. But I've been making my own way for many years."
"I know you have, my dear, but that's the point: you were forced to do that by circumstances beyond your control, but those circumstances no longer apply."
"Lucien, I didn't agree to marry you so I could live a life of leisure," she said stiffly.
"Are we having our first fight?" he asked, his eyes narrowed with concern.
At once she felt guilty for letting her pride get the better of her. "Hardly a fight. A difference of opinion, that's all. We're bound to have those from time to time, no matter how much we love each other."
"I suppose it had to happen sooner or later," he said. "You know I only ever want the best for you, whatever you decide that is."
"Yes, I know that," she assured him. "But I do want to work regularly. I love singing for a crowd of people. Maybe we can take some time off together regularly, though. It would be nice to have an evening out every now and then, dinner and a movie, maybe. As long as we don't leave Matthew in the lurch with no entertainment."
"As a matter of fact, I have an idea for someone to take over for us eventually, if we sign a contract with Tony and wind up going out on the road."
"Is that right? Anyone I might know?" Jean asked.
"I may get this person up on stage with us tomorrow night actually."
"Now you've made me curious."
"And on that note, I'll go up to the attic and see about those window boxes," said Lucien, giving her a quick kiss.
"Can you put them out on the porch, please? That should give me plenty of room to work, and while you're doing that, I'll clean up here."
There proved to be a dozen boxes, one for most of the windows in the house. Jean could just picture what it would look like with boxes of begonias in bloom all around. Lucien offered to go with her to a local florist who happened to have a greenhouse where she could get the potting soil she'd need, as well as either seeds or the actual plants if she preferred. They would leave after he finished listening to the prior day's session.
"Do you want me to stay with you while you listen?" she asked him.
"I always want you to stay with me, but it isn't necessary today. Thank you for the offer, though."
"Well, then, I'll get started cleaning the window boxes so they'll be ready for planting."
She took her time, wiping off the dust that had accumulated during their years residing in the attic and cleaning the traces of old dirt that still clung to the insides. She wanted to be sure they were ready for an entirely fresh start. With a dozen of them to do she lost track of the time. When she finally glanced at the clock, she knew Lucien's replay of the session should be over by now. Strangely, she thought she could hear classical music coming from downstairs, but it wasn't coming over the housewide audio system. It wasn't like Lucien to put music on to play and keep it to himself.
She washed her hands and went to investigate. As she descended the stairs, she could hear that it was a single piano playing Beethoven's Ode to Joy. She was no expert, but it sounded amazing to her, played with utter... joy.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she peered around the open door to see Lucien sitting at his baby grand piano, playing it with his eyes closed and the widest smile she'd ever seen on his face. She stood and watched him radiating such happiness at finally being reunited with his first love, classical music. A tiny voice inside her wondered if the blues would now take a back seat in his affections, but then she recalled that the blues for him were a connection to his dear late brother Tommy. Surely there was plenty of room in his heart for both genres. And how could she be anything but delighted for him when he was clearly so ecstatic at this development?
He finished the piece, then opened his eyes. When he spotted her, his smile bloomed once more. "Look, Jean," he said, holding his hands out in front of him. There was not a single tremor. "It's returned to me. And I owe it all to you."