Day Two – Tuesday 21st December
Clarisse had her nails painted red, with tiny diamante studs on her little finger nails. You may laugh but it was one of the sweetest things I've ever had the chance to witness. Two little girls, age 11 and 13 side-by-side painting their monarch's nails, and all in the name of charity. We also played the tombola, I danced with about twenty young ladies, Clarisse read to the youngest children on the hospital ward and we brought goodwill and cheer to Genovia's young ambassadors.
We arrived at the hospital around 10 and didn't leave until at least 7:30 in the evening, Clarisse was exhausted I could tell but she didn't let it show. She smiled and she greeted and she was graciousness personified as always. It wasn't until we collapsed in the back of the car that she relaxed, threw her head back and slipped her shoes off and her head fell to my shoulder.
"Thank you for today." She whispered.
"I hardly did anything."
"You did, you supported me, you danced." She laughed. "And danced and danced."
"Ahh you noticed." I hugged her close. "You were wonderful, as usual, and I adore your nails."
She held her hands up. "Mia would be proud, they do look quite wonderful though not at all appropriate."
"Being appropriate isn't always for the best."
"Hmm…" She closed her eyes and settled back again.
"Did you think anymore about my suggestion from last night?"
"A little. A break would be good."
"Only good?"
"Perfect, a break would be perfect, but I've not spent a Christmas away from home in the last thirty-five years. Things are expected of me."
"I know, roles and responsibilities. We don't have to alter too much, we can still have the ball and meet and greet, you can be the ideal hostess."
"And you, you are afterall my husband this year."
I kissed her neck, nipping her ear with my teeth. "We can leave early, helicopter ride away and we're free and alone and secluded. And Christmas will be celebrated in a divine manner."
She laughed, warm and open then looked up at me smiling brightly. "You haven't even told me where you intend for us to go."
"Somewhere that's nowhere… as I said private."
"Cryptic." She pulled my tie from my shirt. "And if I agree to this little trip how am I to explain it to those who have been invited for Christmas day?"
"Let them have it, only without your charm to run the day. I want that to myself."
She sat up, folding her hands and mulling it over. "I guess I do have a few days left to organise things."
"Yes. We're here." I said glancing over the drivers head to the gates drawing open before us.
"Oh…" She slipped her shoes back on, the façade slipping back into place.
I exited the car, moved round and took her hand helping her up. Charlotte greeted us at the door with a heap of messages, most importantly a call from Mia which brightened my wife's face considerably.
"I'll leave you to your duties." I whispered in her ear before exiting the foyer and retreating to our suite.
"Just a little higher, it aches right there…"
She sighed, a glorious satisfying sound to my ears. The water splashed around her arm as she settled it back in the bathtub. Her head fell back against my chest and I rubbed her shoulders as she relaxed against me.
"You should cut down on the work, rest more."
"As you keep telling me."
"I'm only saying."
"I know, I know… now stop talking and keep rubbing."
"Yes ma'am. No problem."
"So this trip you want me to take…"
"I thought you said it was impossible."
"And you said it was important."
She looked up at me, smiled, those wonderful eyes sparkling with mischief.
"So is that a yes?"
"It's a yes."
I kissed her forehead. "Thank you. You will enjoy yourself."
"Of that I have no doubt." She returned to her relaxed position, settled down and closed her eyes.
"And how is Mia?"
"Wonderful, she was the one who encouraged me to go."
"Ahh I see, not my requests then."
"To some extent." She allowed herself a giggle. "But anyhow. She is dancing, spoiling her baby brother, gossiping with her friends… she's enjoying herself, what can I say?"
"She's missed her home, it's going to take a while for her to get used to being away. She's done well, almost five months."
"It's certainly been interesting."
"A roller coaster year. Is that enough?"
She rolled her neck. "Yes, thank you."
"I am going to read a little before bed. Will you be long?"
"Not too much."
"Good."
I left her to her bath and read in the lounge by the fire.
She was settled down in bed when I joined her, the sheets wrapped around her body, her head sinking into the pillows, eyes closed, face blissful.
"Are you sleeping?" I whispered as I removed my robe.
"Not quite… so, will you tell me a little about where we're going?"
I slipped into bed next to her. "It's quiet, nobody around, nothing to do… read, relax, play cards."
"I'm not very good at cards."
"Exactly my point."
"Hey!" She moved towards me, rested her head on my chest, we've settled into this routine. A new favourite position to lie in. I've never been more comfortable.
"And who lives there?"
"Nobody… now."
"Who used to live there?"
"I don't know, a nice old couple, they played Scrabble, he smoked a pipe and cut wood for the fire. She baked cookies and made malt drinks."
Clarisse laughed, I felt her body shake against me. "How about a young couple, first Christmas together, and scrabble is something they play between eating and making love."
"Active imagination behind that proper outward demeanour."
"Too long hiding it…" She bit my chest.
"Ow!"
She kissed the place she'd just nipped then turned onto her back, lying her head down.
"Switch the lamp off dear, I'm tired."
I obliged. "It's late, a long day."
"And another tomorrow."
"Christmas, a supposed time of rest."
"Supposed, I like that."
She held my hand in the darkness. "Carol service tomorrow afternoon, Opera in the evening."
"I know, I'm prepared, have done my background reading."
"Full marks to the nice man with the kind voice."
"Goodnight sweetheart."
"Goodnight."
Sleep in heavenly peace...
I am still working on Cold Water but it's taking a while for me to write the next chapter, bear with me... In the meantime this is nice silly diversion!