Chapter Five
" Night papa. " Serenity hugs her father kissing his cheek softly as a butterfly's wings on the air then she adds in a sweet whisper to his ear, " thank you. " She smiles sweetly as any daddy's girl would as he leaves the room heading to bed. He trusts his baby girl, whether he has decided to trust Parker yet or not.
She turns to face Peter who was sitting on the antique white sofa in her perfectly organized living room, it was obvious she had decorating control and had taught her father how to keep things perfectly tidy. She walks over to him sitting down beside him on the sofa but facing him with one slender leg tucked under her. She had already changed into an ankle length short sleeved baby blue night gown or more technically, chemise. " Did you survive? " She giggles softly leaning her side against the back of the sofa with her elbow propped up on it, her cheek resting on her upturned hand.
Parker wearing long sleeve flannel pajama set his feet covered by his navy blue slippers. He looks up at her smiling gently and says, " I'll survive, I guess. Does he usually go to such lengths to interrogate every guest you bring home? "
She shakes her head softly a faint hue of crimson dancing over her ivory cheeks giving them a soft glow in the dim lamp light. " Actually no. You're the first, but I think that's because you're a man, and you aren't related to Annette. " She wasn't sure if that was a comfort or not but it was the truth. She reaches up toying with a strand of gold that was falling slightly loose from her current braided bun, like what she had done before the whole wedding incident. " Your Aunt May was very pretty. "
He nods softly as he says softly, " yes she was… "
Her pale rose coloured lips part softly just before her hand lifts to cover her mouth, a yawn passing through softly as a mouse's chitter. She leans her head fully against the back of the sofa now looking at him through half lidded eyes for a moment before pushing herself up and standing to her feet. She nods in the direction of the stairs as she speaks softly. " Come with me.. " Once he stands she leads him up the stairs down towards the opposite wing of the house from where he is staying. He is of course in the guest wing. She stops at a sky blue door that doesn't match the gray walls of the hall surrounding it. She grasps the knob turning it then ushering him in. She shuts the door behind them softly so as not to wake her father of course then has him follow her towards the large four poster state bed in the very center of the front wall wrapped in ground length baby blue curtains and sheer white ones beneath. They were presently pulled back to each post held there with black cords. She then has him turn to face the opposite wall with their backs to the foot of the bed and points up at a very large painting that almost encompasses the wall between her bedroom door and the large oak vanity in the opposing corner. She points up at the painting as she says softly. " That… is my mother… " The painting is of a woman sitting on a board that is suspended from a from a tall tree with ropes, a weeping willow interweaving itself over the woman faintly. Surrounding the woman are millions of roses in shades of crimson and pale pink, yellow, white, lavender, and blood red almost black. The woman is beautiful, not much older in appearance than Serenity is. Sunshine gold locks flow around the woman who looks to be in motion on the swing the locks flowing behind her and in front of her brushing the grass beneath her. Her one bare foot extending in front of her the other bent back behind her, a pale rose coloured Victorian style dress adorns the woman accenting every curve elegantly. A vibrant smile dancing over her crimson lips and eyes shinning almost like tiny almond cut diamonds. Her arms are lifted half way up bent at the elbow, her delicate hands curled around the ropes, her back slightly arched in motion. In truth she was nineteen when the painting was done.
He has a bit of a dazed look on his features as he stares up at the painting his voice betraying that further as he speaks. " She's beautiful… You look so much like her Serenity… "
She shakes her head softly staring back up at the painting. " I am no where near that beautiful. My mother was breath taking. My papa told me… Did you know.. He's seven years older than my mama was… "
" Yes you are Serenity… At least as beautiful… "
" Her name was like mine… Serene… She found out she was going to have me the day this was painted.. " She tears her gaze away from the painting to let her sapphire blue eyes look up at him softly.
" I want to know more about your mother but I think it should probably wait until tomorrow, for tonight we should both get to bed. " He smiles softly and walks to the door opening it before turning back as an after thought he adds, " Good night… " Then steps out into the hall heading down to the guest wing and into his room going to bed as Serenity does the same.