The incident had been forgiven, but hardly forgotten, as they prepared to walk down the beach to the pier for supper. In the past, the beach front restaurant had been one of their favorite places to eat, especially with Sunny, who had loved the outdoor seating and the brightly colored beach umbrellas that covered each table. It would take them only fifteen minutes to walk there, but Klaus worried that the trek there and back would be too much for Violet.
"Should we just take the car?" he suggested.
"Don't be silly. We always walk," she replied graciously.
"But, you might be tired after dinner even if you feel good now."
Violet smiled. "I'll be fine. I promise." She was still dressed in her jeans and buttoned blouse, but her fine hair barely covered her scalp and wouldn't do much to keep her warm after the sun went down.
"Well, at least bring a sweater, okay? The wind might feel chilly later and I won't mind carrying it for you if you don't need it." She shook her head in mock exasperation, but went back up the stairs to get something warm to wear. "And maybe a hat, too," he called after her. "Violet?"
"Yes, yes," he heard her call from her room. "I heard you."
The walk up the beach was pleasant. Most of the tourists were gone and a bright orange sky filled the horizon, fading to pink then to blue as the sun set. Klaus took Violet's hand, reminding himself to savor each moment he had with her. Watching her smile and point to a flock of pelicans that flew directly overhead made him want to etch this small detail into his brain forever, so he could take it out like an old love letter from a yellowing envelope and read it over and over again when he was missing her.
He stopped her so they could watch until the sun fell completely beneath the water's edge, their bare feet in the cooling sand, shoes swinging from their heels in their curled fingers. When the sun became a spotty reflection over the ocean the pair counted down in unison. "Three, two, one!" and then the sun disappeared, the orange horizon fading to light blue almost immediately.
Violet laughed delightedly. How many times had they done that together and it never got old. It was always like magic, like they had control of the entire world for a few seconds. Sunny used to cry about it when she was younger. She would get so mad at her siblings for making the sun go down. "Why couldn't you let it stay just a little longer?" she would cry piteously.
Violet must've been thinking about Sunny, too, because she said, "I miss Sunny."
Klaus pulled her into his embrace as they continued to look out at the ocean. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he leaned his head down just a little so they could be cheek to cheek. "Me, too," he agreed.
Turning her face, she pressed her lips into his cheek. "But I am so glad you're here." He closed his eyes and relished the closeness of her, the feel of her breath across skin, the smell of her, and longing to fill up his senses, he wanted to taste her. Before he could think too hard on the what's and the why's, he turned his face down to hers, letting his shoes fall to the sand below so he could wind a hand around the back of her neck.
The kiss was gentle and ambiguous, tasting like honey sweet nostalgia, beach and wind and Baudelaire. It was perfectly chaste in almost every way, just a press of his lips to hers, except for how he lingered there. He slid his hand to rub a thumb across her cheek and pulled back to see her expression, flicking his eyes over her face, memorizing her little surprised half quirk of a smile. "Are you cold?" he asked, reaching into his back pocket to pull out her beanie before she could even answer. He slid the hat over the top of her head, tucking the tips of her ears into the knitted material, then kissed her again, a short peck on the lips.
And even though it was silly to be nervous with Violet he suddenly felt that way, and was very aware of the hot blush that crept up his neck and over his cheeks. Without another word he picked up his shoes, gathered her to his side with an arm around her shoulders and continued to walk down the beach toward the pier. She wrapped her arm around his waist and hooked a finger through his belt loop on the other side, alternately gazing out at the waves and then up at him.
At the restaurant, Klaus asked the hostess if there were any tables out of the wind while Violet insisted she was fine. Naked light bulbs hung in strands crisscrossing the ceiling of the pier and autographed posters of various celebrities lined the few wooden planks that made up the walls. In the corner closest to the entrance was a live band plugging their guitars into amplifiers and men doing soundcheck with the mics. Klaus pulled Violet to sit down right next to him on the bench seat instead of across. "So that I can keep you warm," was his excuse to hold tight to her hand.
A distracted waitress approached them right away. "Can I get you started with something to drink?"
"I'll have a Bud Light, please," Violet requested. Klaus gave her a funny look. Too much alcohol generally didn't mix well with her medications, but he had to remind himself that it obviously wasn't an issue anymore. "What?" she said when she saw his confusion.
He shook his head and looked up at the waitress. "I'll have the same." When she left to get their drinks, he said, talking loudly now that the live music was starting up. "Have to have a beer with a burger, right?"
Nodding, she leaned up closer to his ear to be heard. "They do have the best burgers here." That was it for conversation for a little while. Though country was not the sibling's go to choice for music, they still enjoyed it and the band was very good, covering a lot of good songs and Klaus could just hear Violet singing along, barely audible over the lead singer and the drums.
Halfway through their burgers the lead singer made an announcement. "All right girls and gents, we've got one more song for you before we take a quick break and I'd like to invite all those handsome men out there to grab a lovely lady by the hand and swing her 'round for a special dance. This song is for you!" He gave a count to the drummer and before they'd finished a few chords Klaus recognized the song as one their parents used to dance to long ago. His mother would always look at their father and say, "They're playing our song."
Violet's mouth opened in astonishment and then broke into a joyful smile, looking at Klaus with round eyes. He laughed at her, then stood, holding his hand out to her. "May I have this dance?"
Giggling, she shook her head self consciously. "No. I can't dance."
"Neither can I, but look," he gestured to the people around him. Many were standing to dance. They wouldn't be the only ones.
She pressed her lips together, but nothing could hide her smile. She wiped her mouth quickly on her napkin, and stood, joining hands with Klaus. He led her closer to the stage, turned to face her, pulled her arms over his shoulders and rested his hands over her waist.
Their moves consisted of swaying back and forth to the music, but he especially enjoyed the way Violet scratched her fingertips over the short hairs just above his collar. "Do you wish Mother was with you, Violet? I mean, now, when you're sick?"
She nodded, but said, "Yes and no. Of course it would be nice to be mothered, but I don't like being the cause of pain. It's hard enough to burden you and Sunny."
"That's not your problem to deal with. I'll worry about me and Sunny. You don't ever need to feel guilty. This wasn't your choice. Definitely not your fault. Nobody blames you."
"I know, but…" And he understood because she really was causing him a good deal of pain, but how could he blame her?
"Well, I think we've inherited this song," he said, changing the subject. "From now on, this can be our song, what do you think?"
"That might be the best idea you've had all day," she said grinning at him.
"No, I'm pretty sure ordering that burger was the best idea for today," he replied with a huff of a laugh, lifting his arm to twirl her awkwardly. She faltered a little and stumbled against him, but he held her steady. Or maybe Violet had the best idea earlier that afternoon.
"You know I love you, right?" she said out of nowhere.
He was nodding, and he held her gaze far too long, and he didn't know when exactly he decided during the course of the day that he wanted this, wanted her, wanted to give her everything her heart desired, but now it was all he could think about. Something in his expression must have given away his intentions, because when he leaned down to kiss her, she was expecting it this time, meeting him with an upturned face and parted lips.
The nature of this kiss was undeniable. It was lingering and soft, as first kisses often are, tentative, but gradually gathering confidence until Klaus's tongue reached hers and his hands encircled her waist protectively, pulling her close. Their simple dance had been forgotten in the midst of this new sensation, and the reality of what they were doing only hit them when their parent's song, no, their song, came to an end.
Everyone clapped a round of applause for the band as they exited the stage. Violet stared at Klaus, pressing her fingers to her mouth, her eyes full of questions, but he only led her calmly back to their table by her hand. He finished his meal in impatient silence and as soon as Violet took her last bite, Klaus waved the waitress over and asked for the check.
Back out on the sand, the temperatures had dropped to a comfortable coolness and a breeze played with the ends of his hair. Klaus took a short moment to make sure Violet's hat was secured snugly over her head and that her sweater was buttoned all the way up. He wanted to get home and continue what they'd started at the restaurant, but halfway there a hard tug on his hand pulled him up short.
"Klaus," she said, exasperated, as if they'd been in the middle of a fight.
"What?" he asked.
"What was that back there? Why did you kiss me?"
He scoffed a little. "Why did you kiss me?"
"Klaus!" she repeated, her voice rising. "I don't want to play games. You said you didn't want me like that."
"No," he stated calmly. "I never said that."
"You said I was out of my mind!" She clutched at her head and would have pulled at her hair had it been long enough to tug.
He just stood there and squinted at her. "It is a crazy idea, Violet. But, honestly, it isn't even the craziest one you've ever had." She hit his arm and he laughed. He reached out to her, grasped her upper arms and pulled her close again, resting his forehead against hers. He put aside his silliness, for it really was no laughing matter. Taking a deep breath, and then another and another, he said, "I'd like to take you home now and make love with you…if you'll have me?"
Laying a cool hand on each of his warm cheeks, she replied, "Oh, Klaus. You don't have to. I promise it's okay." But she didn't pull away when he kissed her again, purposefully and desirously, supporting her head so that he could lean fully into the kiss, pulling an approving hum from deep in Violet's chest.
Stopping abruptly, Klaus said, "Can we please go home now? I can't wait much longer or I'll have to take you right here on the beach." His eagerness surprised Violet. She'd been expecting the sweet, shy Klaus of Isadora's descriptions, if she'd been expecting him at all, but this Klaus was assertive, belying a carnal charm that he didn't normally possess, and this interested Violet, piquing her curiosity even more. She could only nod in response, following along when Klaus turned once again for home.