13.
7.29.11
Sage & Citrus
TeddyVictoireLysander
galore, maraschino, blast
On the eve of her wedding to Teddy, Lysander brought Victoire a box of sliced citrus fruits coated in maraschino.
"Oh, my God, you remembered," she whispered, popping a slice of orange soaked in the red sauce into her mouth. Lysander watched her close her eyes as the blast of flavor assaulted her senses.
"Of course, I did," he said. That day had always stood out in his mind, apart from the others—so long ago, stepping into a small café in London that had sage burning in all its corners, waiting patiently as Victoire searched the menu for the dessert she swore by.
"It's the most decadent thing you will ever eat," she had said. "I have to have this before my wedding—right before. I'll sleep happy and wake up happy."
He hadn't said anything, just smiled as he watched her plan for a night that he'd never even thought of until that moment in the café when he decided that he'd be the one to marry her.
But someone had beaten him to her.
And here he was, standing on her doorstep now, with, not gifts galore (that was Teddy's forte, not Lysander's), but a humble box of her favorite sweets and a silent apology.
"I've gotta go," he said, already halfway down the pathway.
"See you at the wedding!" she called after him.
He waved, then stood and watched as she closed that door between them forever.