Chapter 11 - Forgiveness

Late that afternoon when she arrived back in her room she found a single red rose with a black ribbon tied around it and next to it a sealed envelope. She knew that the letter was from Erik and she smiled as she picked up the rose to smell its sweet scent. She put it down and picked up the envelope and opened it.

'Dearest Kimberlee,

Please forgive me for the words I spoke to you earlier and the way I behaved. You did not deserve it. If you will forgive me please allow me to be your escort this evening. I will await your answer behind the mirror.

Love always, Erik'

Kimberlee put Erik's note and the rose back on the dresser and went to her desk where she took out a pen and paper and sat down to respond to his request.

'Dear Erik,

I'm also sorry for what was said and yes I forgive you, if you will also forgive me. I shall meet you by the lake at 8:00 don't be late.

Love, Kimberlee'

She snuck into Carlotta's dressing room, opened the mirror and placed the note just on the other side. Then closing the door and making sure it was locked she made her way to supper, her stomach now calm, and prepared to give her father the answer regarding her education.

Erik was waiting a few feet down the passageway when he saw the mirror open and a note placed. He was glad that she had gotten his note and had decided to respond, but suddenly felt a knot tighten in his stomach. What if she had decided that she no longer loved him, what if she didn't forgive him for the way he had behaved? He knelt down and picked up the note and quietly walked back to the lake, only once reaching his destination did he open the note. He sat in her chair and read her words; he smiled and felt relief wash over him. She forgave him; he looked at the clock and saw that he only had just over an hour to get ready for tonight.

At supper, Kimberlee walked over to her father and sat beside him. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and when he and Michael were finished talking she spoke up.

"UCLA" she said.

"I'm sorry, what was that honey?"

"I said UCLA, that's where I want to go in the spring."

"Alright, UCLA it is then. So where did you go today?"

"I took a walk around Paris and ended up at the Gardens of Versailles. It was perfect weather today to walk around, not too hot and not too muggy either."

"Sounds like you will sleep well tonight, after all that walking."

"Yes, once supper is done I think I'll head off and get a good nights rest, after some reading of course."

"What are you reading these days anyway?" Jonathon asked

"Oh you know, just some cheesy harlequin romance novel, I picked a few up at a flea market a week ago. If you want to dad you could borrow one."

"No I don't think so; I'll leave you to it. However, the next flea market you go to perhaps you could see if there are any John Grisham novels and pick one or two up for me."

"Sure dad, well I'm going to go now. I'll see you both in the morning" she said kissing her father's cheek and then her uncles.

"Goodnight Kim, sleep tight" Michael said to her.

Kimberlee put her dishes on the cart and went to her room. She had just under an hour now to get ready for her date with Erik and she had warned him not to be late so she had better not be. She dashed into her room and straight to the closet and took out a light pink summer dress, it wasn't that cold out yet this evening so she took a shawl also, slipped into her favourite sandals and then tied her hair up into a ponytail. She then left her room and down a passageway from the dormitories that would lead her to the lake where she would meet Erik. When she arrived it was near 8:00 and he was not here yet, worry started to enter her mind. What if he decided that he wouldn't come after all? Then she heard the sound of a paddle gently rowing a boat toward her and saw Erik standing in his gondola coming toward her. When he reached her he held out his hand to her and smiled.

"I'll bet you thought I wasn't going to come, didn't you?"

"There was a moment when I thought maybe that was the case, but then I saw you coming toward me."

"Sit down, tonight we go another way" he said kissing her hand.

"And just where are you taking me sir?"

"That is for me to know and you to find out" he replied gently rowing in another direction under the opera house.

When they reached the other side of the lake he stepped out of the boat first and then lifted her so her dress would not get wet. He placed her down, smiled and then gently kissed her hand once more before leading her out of the opera house and into the city.

"Where are we going?" she asked laughing

"We are almost there, I promise" he said linking her arm with his own. "Tonight, we will be like any other couple, you deserve an evening out on the town and I want to give it to you."

"As long as you are with me, that's all I care about" she said and leaned into him resting her head on his shoulder.

Erik led them toward a fancy French restaurant and led them inside. Once they were seated the ordered two coffees and desserts. The restaurant had a large dance floor and there was a live band playing tonight. There were already a few couples on the dance floor and putting down his fork, Erik stood up and held his hand out to Kimberlee. She took his offered hand and stood up, he led her to the floor and held her close to him and began to move in time to the music.

"Got a picture of you I carry in my heart
Close my eyes to see it when the world gets dark.
Got a memory of you I carry in my sould.
I wrap it close around me when the nights get cold.
If you ask me how I'm doing I'd say just fine.
But the truth is baby if you could read my mind.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of you
After all this time you're still with me it's true.
Somehow you remain locked so deep inside.
Baby, baby, oh baby; not a day goes by."

They stayed on that dance floor for quite some time. When they did finally go back to their table, their desserts long forgotten and coffees cold, the waiter came by to check on them.

"Will you need anything further Monsieur?"

"No thank you, if we could just have the bill please?"

"I am afraid that I cannot give you the bill Monsieur, the couple at that table over there has taken care of it for you both."

"Oh, thank you" Kimberlee said reaching to take Erik's hand before he could say anything.

Once the waiter had left them they stood up to leave, but before they did they walked over to the table the waiter had indicated. There sat an elderly couple and when the woman saw them coming, her face lit up.

"Thank you Monsieur and Madame, we appreciate your gift" Kimberlee said.

"You are most welcome my dear" said the old woman.

"But may I be so bold as to ask why you did what you did?" she asked

"You and your young man here remind me of when we were younger, our futures unknown. All we knew was that we were in love and we could do anything together" she said taking her husbands hand in hers. "My husband has not been himself for a couple of years now, he has Alzheimer's but when he saw you both dancing he remembered back to when we were young and in love, just like yourselves."

"Thank you, I only hope that we can be in the same place you are one day."

"If you love and stick together through the good and the bad, then anything is possible."

"Thank you again Madame" Erik said.

They walked out of the restaurant arm in arm toward the Eiffel tower. The night air had gotten cool and Erik could sense that Kimberlee was gently shivering under her shawl so he removed his cloak and wrapped it around her. When they reached their final destination they looked up at the tower all lit up. Kimberlee looked at Erik, he was staring with complete awe, and he had only ever seen the tower from the rooftop at a distance. She turned his face to hers and kissed him. They held each other oblivious to the world around them, lost only in each other. When they parted there were fireworks shooting off around them from the tower.

They once again linked arms and made their way back to the opera house. When they got back they danced once more and then fell into Erik's bed. Their lovemaking that night was gentle filled with desire neither knew they truly possessed. They took turns fully exploring the other's body and discovering new ways to please the other. When they did finally go to sleep they held each other close, Kimberlee with her head upon his shoulder, he with his arm wrapped around her firmly but gently. Neither suspected that this would be their last night together.