The weekend getaway bliss and their newfound relationship had left Belle and Robert quite refreshed. The seaside cottage four hours down the coastline was the perfect home away from home. Exploring the small seaside town had been an adventure in itself, along with sailing along the shore, and partaking in midday picnics and late night fireside chats within the allotted three days and two nights. But they both had jobs to return to and Belle had a number of concerned messages on her phone. With a toss of her phone, she decided to deal with father and friend alike when she was done at the library on Monday. They got back into town late on Sunday evening and it was odd parting with him, after spending day and night with him for so long, but she forced herself to leave with a kiss and a push after he grumbled about his neighborhood being safer.
"You own the apartment. Do something about it," she teased before closing the door.
Her bedroom beckoned as her feet dragged while turning the kitchen and living room lights on. She set her bags on the bed and started to unpack, the Harvard sweater was still safely in her keeping and she set it aside to change into, hoping, like every school girl with her boyfriend's sweatshirt, it would still smell like him. She blushed at the insipid thought, but still didn't put the sweater in her laundry basket or closet with the rest of her clothes. After finally finishing and changing she attempted to wind down, but found herself distracted by thoughts of bright points during the weekend. Robert's thwarted attempts to ward away seagulls with his cane, sweet stolen kisses during their walks along cobblestone pathways... She picked up her phone to call Robert, but decided against it and forced herself, instead, to clean her entire apartment. Space was good for the beginning of a new relationship. She couldn't let a relationship send her into some lackadaisical romantic fit.
On the other side of town, Gold was fighting with the same struggle. He of course could be checking his list of who needed a visit for rent collection or what shipments would be coming in this week, but all he could think about was Belle and the ocean breeze whipping through her hair, the brightest smile on her lips, picnics that only partially consisted of eating, and a dozen other dazzling moments from the happiest weekend of his entire existence. He shook his head and sat down to mindlessly watch The Newsroom, but was interrupted by his phone buzzing. Expecting Belle he frowned when he saw who was actually calling.
"Gold," he answered gruffly.
"Quite menacing for someone who has been tucked away in a seaside love nest for an entire weekend," a jovial voice replied.
"Is there going to be a point to this conversation Jefferson or should I just hang up now?"
Jefferson's boisterous chuckle issued from the speaker of his phone, "Can't I razz you a bit before I cut to the chase?"
Gold remained silent.
Jefferson sighed, "Alright, alright, I need a favor."
Gold's eyebrows rose, "A favor? What would this favor entail?"
"Legal work. I want to get custody of Grace again."
"Ah I see, quite a serious favor to be asking for."
"That's why you're the only man for the job Gold. I need you," Jefferson's joking tone was gone and replaced with an all too serious one Gold was unfamiliar with.
"I'll do it free of charge. Just meet with me tomorrow morning."
Jefferson sighed, "Thank you Robert."
The emotional edge to his voice combined with the use of his first name was too much for Gold, "Don't thank me. Thank Belle. She's made me…" He couldn't find the right word.
"Grow a heart ten sizes bigger?" Jefferson hedged.
"Ha ha, come in the back entrance. I'll leave it unlocked for you." With that he hung up the phone.
He sighed, thinking about Belle and how she had changed him. In ways that he hoped were for the better.
"Oh fuck my pride…" he grumbled and pulled up his messages and typed out a short message. Sentimentality be damned.
Belle didn't hear her phone beep while she Swiffered her floors, but once she had finally tired herself out enough she climbed into bed and checked her phone for anything new. A grin creeped onto her face when she saw a short message:
I miss you. Very much.
She still had the urge to call him, but it was too late and she wanted to get to the library at a reasonable time. She typed out her own and then turned off her light, hoping for some small amount of sleep.
He was nodding off during a Jeff Daniels monologue when his phone buzzed again. Jerking awake he shook his head and opened the reply:
I miss your bed…No that's not completely true…I miss your sheets too.
In all seriousness, I miss you too. Get some sleep Robert, maybe a certain librarian will visit you during her lunch.
He smirked at her message and put his phone in his pocket. With a yawn he rose and headed up the stairs to his bedroom a smile plastered to his face.