Spring

"Papa." I leaned into the living room where my father sat on the chair practicing his violin "Raoul is taking me on a trip today." I smiled as I moved into the living room, in a newer than new powder blue dress "I was wondering if you needed anything before I left?" I moved to the chair and sat on the arm rest as I put my tiny white gloves on my hands.

My father looked up from the violin and smiled "No, but you do look beautiful Christine." He smiled and rubbed at his beard "I'm so happy that you let Raoul court you."

I gave him a half smile and looked down "Papa, the poor guy was practically at my feet in a puddle of mush begging me, how could I have said no?" I hopped up off the side of the chair and went to grab the white sun hat "Besides, what's the worst that could happen? I don't have to get married to him. If I don't like him, I can just tell him." I looked out the window at the approaching carriage "But there are lovely perks." I walked back over to my father and kissed him on the cheek "I'll be back soon."

My father smiled and looked at me as I walked backwards towards the door "Not too soon." He winked, causing me to stick my toungue out at him "You're a lady, behave like one!" He chided with a laugh as I walked out the door to meet my suitor.

"You look beautiful, Christine." Raoul smiled as he got out of the carriage.

I laughed slightly and played with the skirt "The skirt is beautiful! It's a bit bigger than what I'm used to." I laughed nervously "I haven't had a hoop in, in forever." I smiled "but really, thank you for the gift. The lace on the bodice is my favorite!" I smiled as he helped me and my large hat into the carriage "So, where are we going?" I looked over at Raoul who sat next to me and promptly took my hand. The man was smitten and I wish I could have said the same.

"Well, it's a surprise. Quite a drive though." Raoul opened the door to the carriage "let's get a move on old chap!" I smiled slightly as he shut the door and the carriage started to move "I hope that you had no trouble getting into your outfit. I should have sent one of my mothers ladies over to help."

I shook my head "No, I got into it fine." I smiled "My father used to help my mother into dresses like these. He usually ties my corset, no one can tie it tighter!" I laughed awkwardly. It was true, my father tied my corset the tightest, sometimes to the point where I'd pass out for a couple of minutes but it was always so uncomftorable to breathe, laugh, eat, enjoy the day. But I was a lady, and ladies wore corsets.

"good.. I'm glad." Raoul eyed me before he turned his attention outside the carriage.

"it's a beautiful day out." I looked outside my tiny window at the people walking along. Ladies carried umbrellas while the men wore their bowler hats.

"Yes, it is."

I chewed on my bottom lip, this was going to be the most awkward carriage ride I ever had.

"We're here." Raoul smiled and slid out of the carriage. I looked out my window to see the golden haired man's face right outside mine causing me to smile slightly. What could be the harm in marrying him later on? He opened my doors for me like a proper gentleman would, he bought me extravagant things and took me on little day trips like this one often.

I stepped out of the carriage and looked around, frowning slightly "it's just a field. You brought me to a farmers field?"

He frowned slightly and shook his head "No, it's on the other side of the road.." he led me around the back of the carriage and it was then that I had seen it, a beautiful field of flowers that had just bloomed.

"It's gorgeous!" I looked over at Raoul and smiled before I took off across the road and into the field, letting the flowers dance along my sides and tickle the tops of my fingertips. It was a wonderful feeling, a beautiful smell and it was perfect. I watched as Raoul passed me up, his blond hair flying behind him. I laughed and chased after him; just like we used to do.

After Raoul and I had chased each other in the flower field he treated me to a lovely picnic lunch with delicious cold cuts from the local butcher, his grandmother's homemade bread and some wine; it was delicious although I had nursed my one glass all afternoon until it was time to go home, which I was secretly thankful for.

"Well… here you are. Safe and sound back at home, just in time for supper." Raoul smiled as he stood up on my stoop. "Do you want to enjoy it with me? We can go to.."

I pushed a gloved finger upon his lips and smiled slightly "Raoul. You speak too much sometimes." I smiled and moved my finger from his lips "I'm fine to eat at home. I believe I should spend time with my father, no moment should go un-wasted." I smiled slightly and slid the key into the lock "Thank you, for a wonderful afternoon." I smiled and looked up at him through my eyelashes, which closed when his lips touched mine. I let him linger there for a second before I pulled away shyly "it's not proper to do such things in public, dear Raoul." I smiled and slipped into the apartment, quickly shutting the door behind me and turning the deadbolt. "Papa! I'm home!"

"Christine! I'm in the kitchen making a pot of tea, would you like some!?"

I took the hat off and threw it on the couch along with my gloves "Yes, I'd love some!" I smiled to myself and wiped at my lips. Kissing Raoul had been like kissing my grandmother. She didn't welcome it and when I had kissed her cheek it was always awkward and I didn't like it. "Papa…" I leaned in the doorway to the kitchen "Raoul kissed me tonight."

My father looked over at me as he poured some water into cups, which promptly poured over the sides. I laughed and walked over to him, gently taking the tea kettle out of his hands "He did what?"

I poured what hot water I could into the kettle again before pouring it back into the cups in even amounts "He kissed me." I looked up at my father who was still flabberghasted "Oh papa, it was awful!" I laughed and put the tea strainer in the cup "it was like kissing my cousin! Oh! It was awful!" I shook my head laughing slightly. "I told him that it wasn't proper to do such things in public and I came inside." I sat down at the table and my father sat across from me "He's just… not the one." I looked at the table.

My father stood up quickly and got the milk from the ice box along with some sugar cubes and placed them on the table before he sat down again "Well, your mother always said you'd know. She always trusted you on these types of things."

I smiled and looked at him sadly "I just wish I did."

He smiled and patted the top of my hand "Well, if it makes you feel any better I got a job! It's a temporary job but it pays well enough to keep a roof over our head and food in our stomachs."

I smiled and prepared my tea "oh yeah!?" I giggled "That's exciting! Where is it at?"

"The worlds fair is happening here in Chicago this year, I'm sure you're well aware."

I nodded "Yeah, of course! I want to go." I took a sip.

He nodded "Well, I get to play my violin there, I went to preform while you were lunching." He winked at me "It starts next week, I was wondering if you could sing at least one song for the opening day."

I felt my stomach drop "of course papa, but I haven't sang since mother died…" I looked at him "a week?"

He nodded and smiled "A week."

"are you ready to go Christine!?" My father knocked on my door "We have to leave right now if we don't want to be late!"

I opened the door, my head just sticking out "I'm almost finished! I promise" I exhaled deeply before I removed my head and shut the door. I contuned to pace around my bedroom "Okay christine," I mumbled to myself "you can do this! You've practiced this song since you were sixteen! You're practically a pro! What's the worst that could happen?" I looked at myself in the mirror "you could forget your lyrics, you could reverse the whole song, you could make your father look like a loon." I rubbed my face before I put a bit of blush on my cheeks "No, you're a strong woman; now show them what you've got!" I smiled at myself and walked out of my bedroom and into the living room where my father was moving hastily. "ready?"

My father looked up at me and smiled "you look lovely, Christine. Red really is your color."

I smiled and played with the skirt. It was a smaller skirt like the other one, but it wasn't a straight skirt. I liked them fluffy, made me feel more like a lady than an old matron. "thank you." I smiled and traced a small black line down the skirt, the dress was covered in pencil lines.

My father and I made our way down the streets of Chicago, taking in the sights of all the people who were marching along one by one, to the same destination that we were headed. My stomach was tied in knots; my hands were shaky and my palms were sweaty. I had to keep reminding myself that this was something I was born to do, I was born to be on the stage, or at least that's what my mother told me.

"Okay, We are here. This is our designated spot." My father smiled "right at the entrance."

I smiled "A lot of extra tip money huh?" He nodded and picked up his violin and started to play. I waited the two bars before I started to sing "When love is kind, cheerful and free, love's sure to find welcome from me. But when love brings heartache and pang, tears and such things love may go hang." I smiled sweetly to the group who was beginning to form around my father and me "If love can sigh O'er one alone, well pleased am I to be that one. But, should I see, love giv'n to roam to two or three then goodbye love!" I smiled at the man who just approached, he looked an awful lot like Raoul "Love must in short keep fond and true to good report and evil too. Else here I swear, young love may go, for all I care to Jericho!" I smiled as people clapped and threw change into my fathers violin case.

"You were wonderful darling." My father hugged me tightly "I think Raoul and his family are attending todays fair, why don't you join them." He pointed over to the boy who I thought looked a lot like Raoul "go on. I'll be here until close."

I smiled and looked at my father "are you sure? I can come back and sing some more! It was enthralling!"

My father laughed "Go, enjoy yourself."

I smiled and kissed him on his cheek "See you later papa. Meet me here, you have to walk me home." I smiled and made my way to the family, scared that it wasn't Raoul.

"Christine!" He smiled as I approached "I didn't know you sung in public places. Un-lady like." He took my arm and looked around "Where to first?"

I clinched my jaw and looked around at the tents "Why not that magic show? Right over there…" I grunted and pulled myself towards the tent with the blond anchor behind me.

Authors Note:"when love is kind" was going to be my song for competition when I was in chorus. I don't know when it was written but I love the song, it's so feisty! The music is also just so bouncy too, which I think makes it a bit of a funny revenge song Ha. Also, you guys I'm SO SORRY that it took so long to update! My mothers car broke down the day after Christmas and we just got it back yesterday (Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013) so today I finally got to go to the library and upload. I start my class on Monday the seventh and I'll be writing more then. I'm going to upload this story on Fridays since I'll be at school (instead of the Tuesdays with my other story)