A little fire is quickly trodden out; Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench
William Shakespeare, King Henry VI, Part III, 1590
VI
At times it can be little things that can become like the proverbial watershed on a continent that forces a stream to choose a path that –once chosen- is irreversible; forces of nature prohibit. In theory that stream could forever surcease at the invisible line without going either way, but it never does, it would not be streaming, not live. Just like in life at a certain point, a choice has to be made, without knowing where the trail will end. Consciously, subconsciously we make choices that are as irreversible and will have known and unknown effects. Actions speak louder than words, the proverb will. While one may contribute more to words; and though it's true they have been capable of inspiring, gifting, destructing: against some physical gestures they can never hold, no matter how short, small, insignificant or in this case cogent.
How much hardship can one endure that is rendered obsolescent by the gratitude of just a single kiss? A musing she was only capable of answering very late at night as she lay on her bed wide-awake. Very much. As his lips had tenderly descended upon hers in that enthralling kiss, the rags of doubt, hardship and even pain were dispersed and gone were the times she could only long for something like that.
With each sensual caress of his tongue he managed to make her heart flutter with the notion she had chosen the right path when she accepted their new assignment despite her reservations. Stirring the fire that burned inside, her passion for him, with every second their magical bond lasted until it was forever imprinted on her soul.
Parting for much needed air they reluctantly broke contact. She still had her eyes closed, their dazzling journey not yet to an end within. She felt how he rested his forehead against hers and how his breath gently touched her chin. For what seemed ages they stood there, her hands seeking him to hold. It was only then she opened her eyes again and he was able to peek into the depth of them seeing the blaze he had ignited colouring her hazel eyes brightly.
"I eh…" he began but she silenced him by placing her finger on his lips. "Don't talk," she whispered as she tenderly lured him inside through the opened door. "Just hold me…" The more than sufficient lighting in the hall made her flushed appearance visible, her cheeks rosé with the mix of cold air and the warmth smouldering within, those moist lips that had begged him to kiss at last as she had formed the words of approval he sought to execute the plan he had had ever since he saw her peaceful sleeping figure last night.
"You're beautiful," he said as he pointed at her and his right hand -fingers spread in a 5-shape- circled in front of his face, closing into a flattened 'O' then moving his hand away from his face fingers spread again.
Sue dipped her head for a second feeling how his words made her knees go weak as she relived the moment earlier he let her feel just how much he meant those words. She smiled a joyous smile he had not seen often before as she looked up again, her bound heart now unbound as a journey had come to an end and a whole new one was starting. She gasped nevertheless as his hand changed, extending the pink, index-finger and thumb, palm facing left, thumb pointing at him. Forming his hand into a fist, thumb over the fingers, in an 'S', he immediately made the sign for 'GROW' and smiled tenderly. "ILY ns. SUE."
Literally silencing him by taking his hands she pulled him closer as her lips captured his in slow-motion, she wanted to taste him again and let her love be felt through her tender caress when he said the words she longed to see in her native language.
She rested her head against his but hold on to his hands. He looked down to see how her hand formed a drawn 'J' with her little finger across her heart as her other hand tenderly guided his hand to do the same and finally she pointed at him. His eyes met hers again. She smiled.
"(me) GIVE (you) NAME SIGN fs. JACK (that) ns JACK. FINISH LIFE ME ENTER YOU, NOW HEART ENTER ALSO."
He slowly repeated the sign she just taught him, the quintessential proof he belonged to her, had become part of her life as a name-sign could only be contributed to you by a Deaf. The form it took manifest of how much he meant to her. "THANK YOU," he said, feeling a lump forming in his throat as he kissed her hands. "GIFT BEAUTIFUL." With that simple sign she told a story that would need so many words, held so much emotions and feelings, longing and yet, through the beauty of Sign Language, was summarised by one single gesture.
"ILY ns. JACK." She smiled. "TIME ALL ME SURE (not) YOU LOVE ME. NOW-NIGHT SURE ME."
"ME SAME," he reciprocated, "ns. SUE, SORRY ME. TIME ALL TELL WANT ILY, SCARED TINY AGAIN AGAIN." He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "ME WONDER HAPPEN WHAT TELL YOU TIME EARLY, SUPPOSE YOU HURT (not) QQ"
She sneaked her arms around his neck as she looked deep into his eyes. "I have you now, here, that's all that matters, don't start about the whats and ifs and just feel, just feel…" She placed her hand on his heart as she put his hand on hers. She smiled tenderly. "Feel that? That's all that matters…nothing else…"
A whole array of feelings and emotions battled for most of the night as she, unsuccessfully initially, tried to fall asleep. Acutely aware the situation of last night, whilst bearing the similarities, was set under completely different stars this night. Physically as well as emotionally exhausted they had chosen their own rooms once again, the only way to recuperate, knowing everything was different from now on as sleep gradually fought its way into her system.
"GOOD MORNING," she said as soon as he came in the kitchen rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Barefooted, a light-grey T-shirt over a pair of denims that highlighted the tinted skin of his arms and face as well as it did nothing to obscure each line and curve of his upper body. Hair just modelled with some water, his chin unshaven he made her heart race and halted her breath, to a point she almost swooned like a High School teenager. He smiled seeing she beat him getting to the kitchen. "GOOD MORNING." He didn't disappoint her when he took her in his arms and his lips tenderly kissed hers. Her heart racing, the butterflies in her stomach twirling as the morning she envisioned many future mornings unfolded just like she had hoped for. Reluctantly she let go of him, the spot where his lips had caressed hers still tingling and she smiled. Man, if every day was going to be like this…"Sleep well?"
His eyes shone bright with joy. "Hardly at all. You?"
She shook her head, amused with his confession. "How could I? Well, eventually…"
"Same here," he said as he gratefully accepted the cup of coffee that she offered. The dark sweet roasted aroma of the freshly ground beans had lured him downstairs, as well as the realisation the woman of his dreams was there as well. She sat down opposite of him holding her cup in both hands, the circling steam competing with the curls of her hair that fell over her shoulders and framed her beautiful face where two lively hazel eyes lovingly looked into his. "I've been thinking," she said.
"Oh?" He grinned mischievously, "I had hoped my actions had rendered you unable…"
She stuck out her tongue. You know exactly how much. "As I said, I've been thinking…"
"Yes?"
"When you agreed on this assignment, just what assignment did you plan to execute?" She bit her lower lip as she smiled over the rim of her cup. "What do you think?"
"I think you went undercover within this undercover."
"Well," he said as he leaned a bit forward and stroked a curl of her hair aside. "I think I like your thinking." She took hold of his hand and pressed it against her cheek. "Well?"
"I also think you've been thinking the right thing." She frowned a little, amused. "That's a lot of thinking you did."
"As I said, I couldn't sleep last night. Oddly enough." He let his thumb gently caress the side of her lips and felt her shiver of joy. "You wouldn't happen to know why, would you?"
She shook her head and the curls danced with the motion, her expression joyous. "I wouldn't have the slightest clue. But, oddly enough," she quipped, "I had the exact same thing, so I think the question is justified whether you know more than I?"
"Somehow I got the impression you were involved, seems I was mistaken."
"Let's refresh your memory then," she said and inched closer to him and her lips found his. God, how on earth did she manage to get by in those years without this…
"Definitely more clear now," he quipped when they had parted again.
"Good," she said smiling. "Glad I could be of assistance." She took a bowl and shook some Kellogg's Special K in them and reached for the milk to add. "Now we've been to Oscar's house, what's your impression?"
He lay back down the toast he was about to eat. "He's amicable, smart, definitely one to be careful about. What do you think?"
"I don't know yet. He's very kind. The last one you would suspect."
"Usually the ones that get away with things…"
"True, but he really is the last one to expect it from. Maybe because he doesn't meet the regular standards of bad guys and girls we come across."
"It's not the realm of crime either where they'd roam freely."
Sue slowly emptied her bowl of cereals, a contemplating expression on her face that granted her an absent look he immediately admired. "THINK WHAT QQ" She focused back on him. "Sorry," she said and smiled. "I was just thinking about ways to lure him out, so to speak."
"Entrapment, you mean?"
"Yeah, sort of." He shrugged, "might work, but it has to be good, I don't think Oscar's easily fooled. Nor tempted."
"By the looks of it, he's not twenty-four-seven an art thief, or fencer. He doesn't have to be. I think he's in it for the thrill of it, and the additional profit as well."
"Ah, a Thomas Crown Affaire…" She smiled. Oh, yes, starring you and me… "You know your classics…"
"Thank you." He gently bowed, grinning. "We'll just have to wait and see what Oscar's business will bring in the time to come. Maybe he has a slip of the tongue, anything."
"You're serious about this assignment as well, aren't you?" Sue smiled warmly at him. "Plan B," he said. "To some as important as Plan A to me."
"Would be quite something if we bodged this one, wouldn't it?"
"Not good." He stroked her hand. "But not as bad as the other…"
Somehow, someway, she had managed to get to bathroom and shower before she would walk Levi. She decided the easiest way to get dressed was to put on what she had worn last night. She combed her hair briefly and zipped her boots shut over her trousers. Temperature had not climbed much since their nightly escapade, and she opted for gloves as well as she stepped out of the house into the fresh morning air.
As Levi trotted back and forth she couldn't resist scooping up the piled up leafs with the toes of her boots, enjoying the twirling and dancing colours when she did. She was sure she had the most goofy grin on her lips as her mind kept rewinding the events that had passed and inwardly she glowed once again with passion as her thoughts of the man that had stayed at home kept recurring. Home, she mused and liked the word. A watery sun cautiously pierced through the thinning crowns of the trees and touched the red-brown leaf-covered soil every here and there like the dots on the fly amanitas that peaked above the grass, gently moving, disappearing and appearing as the branches swayed lightly with the wind.
She stopped to let the image of her house sink in from the distance, the chandelier that hung centred between the columns as an iron and glass marker that pinpointed exactly where her happiness had sprouted that night. She smiled, her house, who would've thought, and began walking again, Levi dashing off after whatever he found worthy of chasing. Nearby her house, movement caught her eyes and she saw Tamsin sweeping leaves out of the front lawn. She waved as soon as she saw Sue.
"Good morning," she said.
"Good morning," Sue answered and smiled. "You're up early."
"I know, and I don't even have an adorable dog to walk, mind you." Tamsin laughed and put the broom aside. "Morning's air is a healthy medicine."
"It is." Sue motioned Levi to sit down. "I'd like to thank you once more for that lovely dinner last night."
"Why thank you," Tamsin said, "It was our pleasure as well. I most enjoyed it."
"We did too."
"I hope Oscar didn't bore you with his endless obsession with antiques?"
Sue shook her head. You should know… "Far from it, I'm a sucker for decoration and furniture." She smiled. "Why don't you join us for a cup of tea and I'll show you around."
"That would be lovely, dear," she said as she pulled her gardening gloves from her hands. "Let me drop these off first." She followed Sue over the garden path to the house. Sue let her in and took her coat. Smiling she followed Tamsin's enthusiasm as she took in the scenery of the hall. "It's beautiful, Sue, very classy. I already heard Oscar's praise but he tends to get carried away by even a baccarat ash-tray, but he was right; it is splendid."
"Thank you."
"Oh I love that chandelier, where did you get it? I always am on the lookout for one."
"We bought it on an auction after a foreclosure," Sue answered. "Being in the real estate has its benefits." Tamsin nodded as she looked at the glass again. "I can imagine."
"I liked that Louis XIV cupboard you had in the living room, Sue said as she escorted her to the living room. "The colour palette is still pristine. Unscathed as well."
"Yes, it is one of his treasures. I don't know how he came across it and why they even sold it. He actually bought it on an antique fair somewhere in Massachusetts." She sat down on the Chesterfield sofa and looked around at the room. "You have a gift for decorating, dear. Care to share a few tips?" Sue laughed as she retrieved tea cups and saucers. "Oh I don't know…"
"You're too modest," Tamsin stated, "there's good money in it. You should try."
"I might, one day, when real estate gets boring."
"Oscar always said the same thing. And look now."
"What kind of work does he do?"
"None, that is, apart from the arts and antiques." She smiled at Sue's frown. "He had a rather generous bonus when he was senior-director of Marks and Spencer. So generous he could devote his time to his passion, and move over here as well."
"Well, here's to hoping I'll be rewarded as well," Sue said and she poured tea in the cups. She sat down as well and pulled the legs of her boots up a little. "I can imagine he must travel for those bargains and fairs." Tamsin nodded after she took a sip. "If I had hoped that he would from then on be home more regularly, I'd be most disappointed." Sue smiled compassionately. "But I'm not complaining, dear. If I want to, you're just one door down." She laughed and winked.
"The door's always open, Tamsin."
"Very kind, dear. As a matter of fact, if you're interested in anything, Oscar's going away today for a day or two up north in Pennsylvania. I can ask him to look out for things for you."
"Well, I don't know…"
"He's seen your taste and style, maybe there's something he stumbles across."
"Who knows. Does he have a catalogue of some sort? Or how does he usually work. I hate to buy without seeing it first."
"Oh no, it's not compulsory. He usually drags home a lot, and then you could take a look. I meant that he would this time look more specifically for your taste."
"That would be most kind. If it isn't a problem…"
"Absolutely not. I'll tell Oscar to keep an eye open. Preferably two."
They chatted away for a while until she excused herself again to help Oscar pack. After she left Sue ran a hand through her hair and climbed the stairs. "Jack?" She halted on the threshold of his bedroom where he sat behind his laptop. He looked up and smiled. "Hey, sweetheart." Seeing his lips form the word she felt truly loved and wonderful.
"I like the sound of that," she said as she took his hands and pulled him closer. His eyes expressed joy as he inched closer. "Do you now? And how does it sound?" She smiled. "Like coming home." And she tenderly kissed him.
"What's the news?" he asked after a while.
"Tamsin's been round."
"I know."
"And told me that Oscar's off to Pennsylvania later today for a few days. We could alert law enforcement to be alert on burglaries in museums and houses for arts and the lot." He still had his arms round her waist and gently swayed her. "You've been busy I hear."
"Someone has to. You?"
"I checked with our databases about various high and low-profile items that might fit things we saw next-door." She stole a kiss from him and smiled. "Good thinking, partner."
"Thank you," he said. "We make quite a team don't we?"
"I'd like to think so."
"You know what I just thought of?" The lights dancing in his eyes gave them a mischievous appearance she found mesmerising. "What?"
"With Oscar away for a few days, that means the case is on hold as well."
"Meaning?" she asked, but the butterflies in her stomach already gave account of where he was heading to. "Meaning, we have plenty of spare time, waiting to be filled…"
Sue felt a shiver of joy trickling down her spine as his remark settled. Oh, god, yes… "I like your thinking…" She leaned closer to him and longingly she found his lips once more.