Drabble prompts: #21 "We're in the middle of a thunderstorm and you wanna stop and feel the rain?"
#49 "Well this is awkward…"
They stroll through the gardens, enjoying some much needed time alone. There seems to always be someone at the house these days between Matthew, Alice, Charlie and Rose, that the stolen moments that they get is not enough any longer. Lucien wants a few moments alone with his love, away from prying eyes and ears.
Lost in each other's company, the ominous dark clouds go unnoticed above. "What did the letter from Melbourne say?" Jean doesn't want to ruin the mood but her curiosity and the delicate nature of the subject gives her little choice but to ask now while they are alone.
Lucien leads them to a bench off the path, though they seem to have the gardens to themselves. "It said that Mei Lin agrees with my petition. They have accepted my filing under drunkenness and cruelty. I need to be at the courthouse on Monday the twenty-third." He sees the cringe in her face knowing that she hates that him being called a drunk will be on a permanent record.
"And that's it?" Jean's look skeptical. Too many things have occurred for her to be too hopeful until things are truly finalized.
"That is it. In less than two weeks the divorce will be final and we can focus on us."
"I'd like that very much." He leans in to kiss her when a large raindrop hits his nose.
Jean looks to the skies as a rumble of thunder shakes the air. More large raindrops fall and a crack of lightning lights the sky. "We should go, Lucien."
"I suppose we should." Jean starts to head to the car only to have Lucien pull her the other way. "We will be drench by the time we get to the car. The pavilion is closer. Come on."
The rain gets heavier and the thunder louder drowning out their laughter as they run towards the pavilion. Jean's arm gets pulled back when Lucien stops. She turns to see him looking towards the sky. "Lucien, what on earth are you doing? I thought we were trying not to get so wet?"
"Feel the rain Jeanie!"
"We are in the middle of a thunderstorm and you wanna stop and feel the rain?"
"Yes." He pulls her close, both now thoroughly soaked from the steady deluge of rain. He kisses her passionately, more passionately than ever before. There is a freedom of the rain washing away the past. Freedom in the knowledge that in no time Jean will truly be his to have and to hold.
She feels it too because her body responds with equal longing. The rain around them is a blanket of privacy. It is the crack of lightning nearby that pulls them apart. Safety taking precedent not propriety this time.
They dash to the pavilion where upon entering Lucien scoops Jean once again in his arms to resume kissing the love of his life. The pounding rain and thunder drowning out the world around them.
It is Jean who hears the sound of someone clearing their throat that causes her to pull away from Lucien. The blush in her cheeks gets redder as she speaks. "I don't think we are alone."
Lucien spins to see Bill step out of the shadows. "Doc, Mrs. Beazley." Bill grins, "well this is awkward. Maybe I should leave?"